Who was slain Maoist commander Hidma? How Andhra police reclaimed its lost glory

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Police have set a new benchmark in the fight against left-wing extremism (LWE).

After many years, the AP police have drawn national attention for their anti-Maoist operation that has significantly boosted their reputation.

The recent joint action carried out by AP Police, Greyhounds, and Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS) has been widely praised, including by the Central Government.

Over the past five years, controversies have eroded the police force’s image. However, last week’s massive encounter with Maoists—where 13 extremists, including top commander Madvi Hidma, were neutralised—has restored the force’s standing. With this operation, officials say long-pending objectives have been achieved.

On November 18, 2025, in a special AP Police operation, Hidma and several top Maoist leaders—including his wife Rajakka—were killed, marking one of the biggest victories in recent anti-Maoist operations.

End of Maoist Activities?

With Hidma’s killing, authorities believe the Maoist movement in Andhra Pradesh has effectively reached its final stage. The AP Police successfully executed one of the most impactful operations in the four-and-a-half-decade history of Maoist insurgency, pushing the CPI (Maoist) to the brink of collapse.

The elimination of the most-wanted Maoist leader, who had evaded central forces for years, is being described as a breakthrough achieved through precise strategy, strong coordination, and exceptional intelligence.

Who Was Madvi Hidma?

Hidma, aged 51, was one of the most feared Maoist commanders and was responsible for the deaths of over 300 security personnel and civilians. Police records state he often dragged the bodies of commandos through roads to instil fear. His extreme methods reportedly caused friction even within the Maoist Central Committee.

He was known by several aliases—Hidmanna, Hidmalu, Santosh, Deva, and Vilas—and held several top positions in the CPI (Maoist), including Central Committee Member (CCM), PLGA Battalion In-Charge, and DKSZC Secretary.

Biographical Timeline

• Born: 1974, Puverti village, Sukma district, Chhattisgarh

• Education: Studied up to the 5th standard

• December 1997: Joined CPI (Maoist)

• Worked in Basaguda, Gadchiroli

• 1998: Transferred to Dandakaranya arms unit

• 2001: Area Committee Member

• 2005: Divisional Committee Member; Company-2 Platoon Commander

• 2006–2009: Company-3 Commander

• 2009: Commander of newly formed PLGA Battalion

• 2011: Battalion Committee In-Charge; DKSZC Member

• 2020: Member, Dandakaranya Secretariat

• August 2024: Promoted to CPI (Maoist) Central Committee Member & DKSZC In-Charge

His wife: Madakam Raje alias Rajakka, BNPC, SZCM rank, from Veerapuram, Sukma.

Additional insights: • Maintained distance from CC members except late CC member Ramanna, whom he served as guard

• Avoided journalists, suppliers, and activists

• Met his father only occasionally at the outskirts of his village

• Did not travel with his wife for security reasons

• Ate food prepared only by assigned cadres after poisoning incidents

Why Was Hidma a Prime Target?

• Deep knowledge of Dandakaranya forest terrain

• Highly aggressive and skilled in guerrilla tactics

• Commander of PLGA Battalion No.1, a 200-member mobile armed unit

• Youngest Central Committee Member in CPI (Maoist)

• Key decision-maker in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee

• Led 23 major attacks over two decades

• Responsible for killing more than 300 security personnel

Major Attacks Led by Hidma

• Tadmetla Ambush – Sukma (06.04.2010): 76 security personnel killed

• Darbhaguda IED Blast – Sukma (2006): 28 Salwa Judum members killed

• Burkapal Ambush – Sukma (24.04.2017): 25 SF personnel killed

• Tekulugudem/Jonaguda Encounter – Bijapur (03.04.2021): 22 SF personnel killed

• Urpalmetta Attack – Sukma (2007): 23 SF personnel killed

• Minapa Ambush – Sukma (21.03.2020): 17 SF personnel killed

• Manikonta Attack – Errabore (2006): 15 killed

• Kasalpada Attack – (01.12.2014): 14 CRPF personnel killed

• Tadmetla & Tharlaguda (2007): 12 personnel killed in each attack

• Bhejji–Kottacheru Ambush (11.03.2017): 12 CRPF personnel killed

• Minapa EOF (2009): 10 personnel killed

• Kothacheru (2006), Injiram (2005): 9 and 6 killed

• Asirguda–Injiram Blast (2009): 7 SF + 4 villagers killed

• Mettaguda (2007), Palodi (2018), Tondamarka (2017): 8, 8, and 7 killed

• Pidmel Ambush – Sukma (11.04.2015): 7 STF killed

• Singanamdugu EOF (20.09.2009): 6 CoBRA commandos killed

• Irrapalli–Pamed EOF (10.02.2020): 2 SF killed

• Kistaram Helipad Firing (15.05.2009): 1 SF killed

• Dharmavaram Camp Attack – Bijapur (16.01.2024): Heavy IED and BGL attack; 3 Maoists killed

Hidma was also involved in numerous murders, arson cases, and explosives planting. A reward of ₹1 crore was announced for his capture.

Hidma’s Special Tactics

• Superior knowledge of forest routes and elevated positions

• Use of villagers for intelligence

• Splitting squads into small hit-and-run groups

• Heavy deployment of IEDs, rockets, UBGLs

• Operated Battalion No.1 as a “ghost unit” — mobile, unpredictable, untraceable

Impact of His Death on the Maoist Movement

• Major leadership vacuum

• Weakening of PLGA Battalion No.1

• Sharp decline in Dandakaranya operations

• Further disintegration of the Maoist structure

• End of a 20-year chase by security agencies