In a major breakthrough against Naxalism, top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, wanted for at least 26 major attacks on security forces and civilians, was killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharamaraju district. Born in 1981 in Sukma, Hidma carried an Rs 50-lakh bounty. A November 30 deadline had been set to capture him, but security forces accomplished the mission 12 days ahead of schedule.
His wife, Raje alias Rajakka, was also killed in the encounter. Other Naxal members, including Chelluri Narayana alias Suresh, SZCM and Tech Shankar, Malla, and Deve, who served as Hidma’s guard, were among the dead.
Encounter in Marud Palli
The encounter began around 6 a.m. in the dense Marud Palli forests of West Godavari, near the Andhra Pradesh–Chhattisgarh–Telangana tri-junction. Security forces launched a coordinated combing operation after credible intelligence inputs, leading to a fierce exchange of fire. Six bodies have been recovered so far, and the operation continues.
