Top Maoist leader Madavi Hidma killed in trijunction encounter

New Delhi: Top Maoist commander Madavi Hidma, wanted for 26 major attacks, was killed by security forces on Tuesday morning at the Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh-Telangana trijunction. Union home minister Amit Shah had set a deadline of November 30 to hunt down the dreaded Maoist leader. Along with Hidma, his wife Madakam Raje and four others identified as Deve, Lakmal (Chaitu), Malla (Mallalu) and Kamlu (Kamlesh) were also killed.

The development comes ahead of the Union home minister's deadline of March 31, 2026, to wipe out Maoism from the country. Alluri Sitaramaraju district superintendent of police (SP) Amit Bardar said the encounter happened between 6.30 am and 7 am in the forested area of Maredumilli mandal.

"Today (Tuesday) morning, between 6:30 am and 7:00 am, an exchange of fire occurred between Maoists and the police party in Maredumilli Mandal area. During the encounter, six Maoists were neutralised," an official press release said.

Born in Sukma in 1981, Hidma was commander of a battalion of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and a member of the Maoist Central Committee.

He was believed to be the only tribal member from Bastar to be part of this top leadership group. His direct involvement was found in more than 26 major attacks, making him one of India's most feared insurgent leaders.

At a recent security review meeting, Shah had told top security officials engaged in anti-Maoist operations to eliminate Hidma before November 30. "He was killed 12 days before this deadline," an official source confirmed. Sources added that the way the operations against the Maoists are underway, Left-wing extremism is likely to be over ahead of the March 2026 deadline.

(With Agency Inputs)