Andhra police arrest 50 Maoists including three seniors after Hidma encounter

The Andhra Pradesh police arrested 50 CPI (Maoist) cadres in a coordinated intelligence-led operation across several districts, dealing a major blow to the South Bastar and Dandakaranya networks. Senior leaders were among those held, and arms, cash and memory cards were seized

Kothagudem: In what officials described as a pin-point, silent and coordinated intelligence-led, multi-agency operation, the Andhra Pradesh police arrested 50 CPI (Maoist) cadres across Krishna, Eluru, NTR Vijayawada, Kakinada and Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema districts.

Andhra Pradesh ADG Intelligence Mahesh Kumar Ladda, who produced the arrested Maoists before the media in Vijayawada on Wednesday, said the arrests delivered a major blow to the Maoists’ South Bastar and Dandakaranya networks.

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Of them, 28 were from Bijapur district, 21 from Sukuma and one from Narayanpur district. Most were closely associated with Madivi Hidma, the PLGA first battalion commander, who was killed in an encounter on Tuesday. Hidma’s encounter led to the arrests.

Three senior Special Zonal Committee Members, Sode Lachu alias Gopal of the South Bastar DVC, Podiyam Rengu of the BNPC battalion headquarters company and Udde Raghu, a key organiser of the BNPC battalion headquarters company, were among those arrested.

Their presence inside Andhra Pradesh indicates an attempt by the Maoist leadership to reconstitute command structures after sustained pressure and major leadership losses in Chhattisgarh. Their capture marks the collapse of the top command layer of the CPI (Maoist) in the Dandakaranya region, officials said.

Those arrested include Sodi Lakma alias Bhima, DVCM of the Jagargonda Area Committee, Gangi Lakshmi alias Maade, DVCM attached to the Kerlapal Area Committee under the Dharba Division, Sode Manila, DVCM in charge of the Pamed AC, SBT DVC and DKSZC, Madakam Madan alias Madhanna, DVCM overseeing the Jagargonda AC, SBT DVC and DKSZC, and Madavi Handha, DVCM of communication and CyPC Team of the SBT DVC.

ADG Ladda said not a single cadre escaped, not a single civilian was harmed and not a single police officer was injured in the urban-area detentions that were carried out with near-silent precision. Even a minor miss would have alerted cadres.

The killing of senior Maoists Gajarla Ravi alias Uday, Kakuri Pandanna alias Jagan, Aruna, Hidma and their close associates resulted in the collapse of both the AOB political-organisational structure and the South Bastar operational command, he added.

Police seized 39 firearms, 302 rounds of ammunition, 20 pellets and two magazines along with Rs 12.72 lakh and 34 memory cards from them, he said.