In recent years, Indian government led by Narendra Modi has been cracking down hard on the leftist terrorism that has plagued India for years. The infamous “Red Corridor” has now shrunk to just a few districts. As part of the same effort to eradicate Naxalism, top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, behind 26 deadly attacks, has been eliminated in Andhra Pradesh.
Notably, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that by March 2026, Naxal terrorism will be eliminated from India.
43 years old Madvi Hidma was involved in several attacks, including the 2010 Dantewada attack and the 2013 Jhiram Valley massacre. He had long been under the surveillance of security forces and finally they got to him.
He was also instrumental in the 2021 Sukma encounter when 22 security personnel lost their lives.
Hidma was the head of PLGA Battalion No 1, the Maoists’ deadliest strike unit. He was the youngest member of the Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist). He was the only tribal from the Bastar region to join the committee. Notably, Hidma was born in Chhattisgah’s Sukma in 1981.
This has come as another major blow to the Maoists operating in India following the death of their General Secretary Basavaraj in may this year, and the elimination of several top Naxal leaders. Hundreds of Naxals have also surrendered this year as they see the futility of their alleged ’cause’.
