Notorious Maoist Leader Madvi Hidma Gunned Down in Maredumilli Forest Clash

JNS: Notorious Maoist commander Madvi Hidma — long considered the most feared face of left-wing extremism — was killed in a gun battle with security forces in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharamaraju district early Tuesday.

The encounter erupted around 6 am in the dense Maredumilli forests, near the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Police have so far recovered the bodies of six Maoists, including Hidma, and combing operations are still underway.

“Andhra Pradesh DGP Harish Kumar Gupta confirmed the firefight lasted between 6 am and 7 am. “Six Maoists, including a senior leader, were neutralised. A large-scale search is in progress,” he said.

Who Was Madvi Hidma?

Feared across central India, Hidma — also known as Hidmalu and Santosh — was one of the most wanted Maoist commanders in the country. Born in 1981 in Sukma, he rose through the Maoist ranks to become the youngest member of the CPI (Maoist)’s Central Committee and the only tribal leader from Bastar to reach the top tier.

A Rs 50 lakh bounty was placed on his head. His wife, Raje alias Rajakka, is also believed to have been killed in Tuesday’s encounter.

Over nearly two decades, Hidma became synonymous with precision guerrilla strikes in the Dandakaranya forests, heading the dreaded Battalion No. 1, the Maoists’ elite assault unit. His deep knowledge of the Abujhmad–Sukma–Bijapur corridor made him one of the toughest insurgent leaders for security forces to track.

Linked to India’s Worst Maoist Attacks

Investigators say Hidma’s imprint is visible on nearly every major Maoist attack in the past 20 years, including:

• 2010 Dantewada massacre – 76 CRPF personnel killed

• 2011 Tadmetla ambush – 75 CRPF men killed

• 2013 Darbha Valley attack – senior Congress leaders assassinated

• 2017 Sukma twin attacks – 37 personnel killed

• 2021 Tarrem encounter in Bijapur – one of the deadliest recent clashes

His name appeared on the NIA’s most-wanted list, with rewards from multiple agencies crossing Rs 1 crore.

Even this year, in April 2025, Hidma reportedly escaped a prolonged gunfight in the Karregutta hills, where 31 Maoists were killed — a close shave that once again highlighted his infamously elusive nature.

Hidma’s killing marks one of the most significant blows to Maoist operations in recent years, though security agencies say search operations in the Maredumilli belt will continue over the next few days.