Most Wanted Naxal Commander, Madvi Hidma, Killed in Andhra Encounter

Madvi Hidma, a Mastermind of 26 Deadly Attacks, Neutralised by Police

Madvi Hidma, an Indian Naxalite, has been killed by the police in an encounter in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. The Maoist commander was responsible for various deadly attacks on the security forces in Chhattisgarh and the Darbha Valley. He was one of the important leaders in the Communist Party of India (Maoist) hierarchy. Security officials shared that Hidma was killed on Tuesday morning on 18 November 2025.

Naxal Commander Madvi Hidma Killed

Madvi Hidma was the head of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1. This battalion is considered the most lethal strike unit of the CPI (Maoist) outfit. He was also the youngest member of the Naxals' Central Committee and was allegedly the mastermind behind the previous 26 deadly armed attacks. This includes the 2010 Dantewada massacre, where 76 CRPF personnel were killed. Additionally, his name also came up in the 2013 Darbha Valley attack.

A bounty of over Rs. 1 crore was placed on Hidma by central and state agencies. His wife, Madakam Raje, and four other Maoists were also reportedly killed in the operation.

Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta stated that, “In the exchange of fire, six Maoists were killed, including a top Maoist leader. A massive combing operation is currently underway.”

A key Maoist leader had surrendered recently, including Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi, who ordered his companions to lay down the weapons and join the mainstream. After the surrender, he shared that “Active Maoists must leave the way of violence, surrender, and join the mainstream and work among people.”

Impact on Naxal Insurgency in Bastar and Dandakaranya

The death of Madvi Hidma marks a significant triumph in India's counter-insurgency efforts. Hidma was regarded as one of the key operational commanders in the Bastar region. His killing creates a major leadership gap within the Maoist command structure. This is especially true for the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee. Officials believe Hidma's death could trigger further actions in the Maoist organization.

However,  this incident has weakened the operational capabilities of the Naxalites across central India as Hidma possessed an extensive knowledge of the Sukma-Bijapur forest belt. Security officials consider his elimination as the "last nail in the coffin" for the insurgency in Bastar. On the other hand, the Bastar IG called it a "decisive advantage" for the security forces.