Sukma (Chhattisgarh) [India], December 3 (HBTV): Following the killing of top Naxal commander Madvi Hidma in a police encounter, residents of Puvarti expressed hope for a return to normal life. Villagers, who had lived under Hidma’s influence for years, said they were relieved that the violence had come to an end.
Sukma district has recently seen the establishment of government camps issuing identity and benefit documents for locals. Villagers said that camps for Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards have been set up since last year, noting that Naxal influence had earlier prevented such facilities from functioning.
Speaking to ANI, a local resident said that Hidma’s mother lives in the village and that the slain Maoist leader had been ‘taken away’ by Naxals at a young age and later became involved in multiple killings. The resident added that Hidma’s body would be brought back to the village.
‘His mother lives here. Hidma was born in this village. He was taken away by them (Naxals). He had killed several people. His body will be brought here. He had made several people in the village join Naxalism, but now they have all surrendered and joined the mainstream. Earlier, there were no amenities here due to Naxals, but now we have water and electricity,’ the resident said.
Hidma’s death is seen by locals as a major setback for the Maoist movement, potentially weakening its organisational structure and signalling a near endgame. The development comes shortly after a deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate the most-wanted Maoist by November 30, 2025.
Another villager spoke of the lack of schools in the village and the need for students to travel long distances for education. He expressed hope that children would now be able to study within the village.
‘Earlier, there was no school here, and we had to go far away to study. Students had to go outside the village to study. It would be good if students could study in schools here itself. Roads have been built here. The water supply has reached here. There were no amenities here because of the Naxals. I first heard Hidma’s name in 2022–23,’ he said.
Another local resident said he recently obtained his ration card after government camps were set up in the area.
‘Camps for Aadhaar, ration card, voter ID have been set up here. Doctors have also come for medical check-ups. Experts on animal and bird rearing have also visited. I got my ration card made. Earlier, there were no schools here. Camps were not set up either. Students had to go to adjacent districts for schooling. Naxals don’t come here anymore. I heard about Hidma. He had killed people,’ he said.
Madvi Hidma, aged 43, was responsible for at least 26 deadly attacks against security forces and civilians, including the 2017 Sukma attack in which 26 CRPF personnel were killed. He was also involved in the 2010 Dantewada attack, which resulted in the deaths of 76 CRPF personnel.
Along with Hidma, his wife Raje and other members of the Maoist group — including Chelluri Narayana and Tech Shankar — were also killed, according to sources.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to top officials following the neutralisation of Hidma, who was eliminated before the November 30 deadline set by the troops for his capture, they said.
Madvi Hidma was born in 1981 in Purvathi, Sukma, Chhattisgarh. He served as the head of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, considered the Maoists’ deadliest strike unit. He was the youngest member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the only tribal leader from the Bastar region to hold this position. A bounty of INR 50 lakh had been placed on him.
Hidma was responsible for numerous major attacks, including the 2017 Sukma attack and the 2013 Jhiram Valley massacre in which 27 people, including senior Congress leaders from Chhattisgarh, were killed. He was also involved in the 2010 Dantewada attack and the 2021 Sukma–Bijapur encounter, which resulted in the deaths of 22 security personnel.
(ANI)