Top Maoist commander Madivi Hidma killed in AP encounter

Top Maoist commander Madivi Hidma, carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore, was killed along with his wife and four gunmen in an encounter in Maredumilli mandal. Intelligence inputs led to the operation, and combing is continuing as some Maoists escaped.

Kothagudem: The CPI (Maoist) party suffered a major setback as one of its top commanders, most wanted and dreaded Maoist Madivi Hidma, was killed in an encounter that lasted for around 20 to 25 minutes in the forests of Maredumilli mandal in ASR district of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

The Maoist Central Committee Member (CCM), PLGA first battalion commander Madivi Hidma alias Hidmanna alias Santosh carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 crore, was killed along with his wife, Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) Madakam Raje alias Rajakka, in the encounter.

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Hidma, aged around 45 years, was believed to have taken part in around 25 to 30 major EoFs in which a large number of security personnel were killed.

Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha, speaking to the media, said that the EOF took place at Guthuluru hillock five kilometres away to the north of Maredumilli. The operation started between 6.30 and 6.40 am and finished by 7 to 7.10 am.

It was carried out based on intelligence inputs over the past few weeks about increased Maoist movement along the AP-Chhattisgarh-Odisha borders. Hidma’s gunmen Kistaram area headquarter company commander Deve, first company platoon commander Lakmal alias Chaitu, first company third platoon B section commander Malla alias Mallalu and first company second platoon A section commander Kamlu alias Kamlesh were killed in the encounter.

There had been information about the movement of Hidma’s team, which had been moving in and out of Andhra Pradesh from Chhattisgarh for the past couple of months due to continuous pressure in Chhattisgarh. Some of them tried to take shelter in cities and some in the forests.

The team went to the Karregutta area in Telangana and then into AP to reorganise locally. The security forces waited for the right time to catch the entire team. Combing operations were continuing in the surrounding areas to ensure complete sanitisation and prevent further Maoist activity as some of the Maoists escaped from the encounter, Laddha said.

The identification of the bodies was done based on information given by surrendered Maoists and the information was 99 percent accurate. If there were any variations in the details, the media would be informed later, the ADG said.

Police recovered two AK 47 rifles, one pistol, one revolver, one single bore weapon, 28 AK 47 rounds, five pistol rounds, empty AK 47 and pistol shells, explosive materials, electrical detonators (15 × 25), 150 non electrical detonators, 25 metres fuse wire, one electrical wire bundle and seven kit bags from the encounter site, he said.

The ADG further said that as many as 31 Maoists, including nine members of Central Committee Member Devji’s security team, were arrested in Vijayawada, Kakinada and other places in Krishna district. Around 15 Maoist cadres escaped and police teams were searching for them. Except the Devji security team, all others were members of the first battalion.