In the dense, sprawling jungles that blur the lines between Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, a long and brutal chapter of insurgency has finally been slammed shut. On the morning of November 18, 2025, security forces achieved a monumental victory by neutralizing one of India's most wanted men: top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. This wasn't just another skirmish; it was the culmination of a high-stakes operation that ended the reign of a man responsible for some of the deadliest attacks on our security forces.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Notorious Naxal commander Madvi Hidma, 43, was killed in a major encounter.
- ✓ The operation took place on the Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh border, neutralizing a total of six Naxals.
- ✓ Hidma's wife, Raji, was also killed in the firefight, alongside four other cadres.
- ✓ A massive bounty of ₹50 lakh was on Hidma's head for his role in at least 26 deadly attacks.
- ✓ The operation was a huge success for security forces, meeting a deadline reportedly set by Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Dawn Raid That Ended a Reign of Terror
It all went down in the early hours of the morning, a time when the jungle is cloaked in mist and silence. Between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM, a fierce firefight erupted near Maredumilli, in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitarama Raju district. This was no chance encounter. It was a well-planned joint operation, executed with precision by state police and security forces who had been tracking Naxal movement in the area for weeks.
When the smoke cleared, the outcome was decisive. Six Naxals lay dead, and among them was the big prize: Madvi Hidma himself. Alongside him, his wife Raji (also known as Rajakka), a fellow cadre, was also eliminated. The other neutralized insurgents were identified as Lakmal, Kamal, Malla, and Deva, who served as Hidma’s personal guard. The success of the mission was further confirmed by the recovery of a significant cache of weapons, including two AK-47s, a revolver, and a pistol.
Who Was Madvi Hidma? The Man Behind the Mayhem
To understand the significance of this operation, you have to understand who Madvi Hidma was. Born in 1981 in Purvati village of Sukma, Chhattisgarh, Hidma, whose real name was Satish, wasn't just another Naxal leader. He was the mastermind, the strategist, and the face of Maoist terror in the Bastar region for over a decade. He was the head of the dreaded PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) Battalion No. 1, considered the most lethal and organized attack unit in the entire country.
What's more, he held a unique and powerful position within the Maoist hierarchy. At just 43, he was the youngest member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee, a testament to his ruthlessness and strategic importance. He was also the only tribal from the entire Bastar region to ever reach this high-level committee, which gave him immense influence and control over local operations. The government had placed a staggering ₹50 lakh bounty on his head, a clear indicator of how dangerous he was perceived to be.
A Legacy of Bloodshed
Hidma's name is synonymous with some of the most horrific attacks in India’s history of left-wing extremism. He was the architect behind at least 26 major armed assaults. His name first burst into national infamy after the 2013 Jhiram Ghati massacre, a brutal ambush that killed 27 people, including senior Congress leaders. This attack sent shockwaves across the country and established Hidma as a cold-blooded killer.
But his trail of terror didn't start or end there. He was the mastermind behind the 2010 Dantewada attack, where 76 CRPF personnel lost their lives in a devastating ambush. More recently, he orchestrated the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur clash, which resulted in the martyrdom of 22 security personnel. Each of these incidents was a stark reminder of his capability to plan and execute large-scale, deadly operations, making his neutralization a top priority for security agencies.
The Strategic Takedown: A Victory for Intelligence
This successful operation was anything but luck. For the past several weeks, intelligence agencies, particularly the AP SIB (Special Intelligence Branch), had been receiving crucial inputs. These reports pointed to increased Naxal movement specifically along the sensitive tri-junction border of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. The security forces acted on this specific, actionable intelligence, mapping over 125 villages in their relentless search for Hidma.
The takedown of Hidma is a testament to the effective use of intelligence, combined with the courage and determination of the jawans on the ground. Following the successful encounter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with top officials to discuss the future strategy. He personally congratulated the officers and jawans involved in the operation. The main goal now is to ensure that no new leadership can emerge from the vacuum left by Hidma's death and to maintain pressure on the crumbling Naxal organization. Even as we speak, combing operations are still underway in the region to flush out any remaining insurgents.
Conclusion
The elimination of Madvi Hidma and five of his associates is more than just a successful encounter; it's a turning point. It's a massive blow to the morale and operational capability of the Maoist insurgency in Central India. For years, Hidma was a symbol of terror and defiance, but his death sends a clear message about the unwavering resolve of our security forces. This victory, born from precise intelligence and bravery on the ground, has undoubtedly made the region safer and brings an end to the bloody legacy of one of the most ruthless Naxal commanders the country has ever seen.
