Bastar (Chhattisgarh) [India], December 2 (HBTV): After top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma was neutralised by security forces on Tuesday, Bastar IG P Sundarraj described the development as a decisive advantage for the troops.
Speaking to ANI, IG Sundarraj said that the Maoists now have no option other than surrendering and joining the mainstream.
He said, ‘This is a decisive advantage for the security forces, not just for the Dandakaranya region or Bastar but for the entire country. The security forces have led campaigns against the Maoists, during which the bodies of their general secretaries and politburo members have been recovered in 2025. This has forced Maoist cadres to leave Bastar and take shelter in other regions. But wherever they go, they have no choice now. Even if they go underground or in the sky, they have no option left but to surrender and be part of the mainstream, or else they will have to suffer the consequences.’
The 43-year-old Hidma, responsible for at least 26 deadly attacks against security forces and civilians, including the 2017 Sukma attack in which 26 CRPF personnel were killed, was eliminated in an encounter on Tuesday. He was also involved in the 2010 Dantewada attack that resulted in the killing 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, sources said.
‘Today, an encounter took place between the Andhra Pradesh security forces and Maoists. Following the encounter, the bodies of six Maoists were recovered by security forces. One of them was Madvi Hidma, a Central Committee member of the Maoists who was formerly the commander of a PLGA battalion and is known as a face of terrorism. His body was also recovered in today’s encounter. The bodies of Hidma’s wife and four other Maoists were recovered, a total of six Maoists, and a large quantity of 47 AKs and ammunition were also recovered from the spot,’ IG Sundarraj said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to senior officials after the neutralisation of Madvi Hidma, who was eliminated even before the November 30 deadline set by the troops for his capture, officials said.
Madvi Hidma was born in 1981 in Purvathi village in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. He served as the head of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army Battalion No. 1, considered the Maoists’ deadliest strike unit. He was the youngest member of the Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist) and the only tribal from Bastar to hold this position. A bounty of INR 50 lakh was placed on his head. (ANI)