Maoist Commander Hidma's Death Marks Major Blow to CPI (Maoist) in Chhattisgarh

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The death of Maoist commander Hidma in a gunfight with security forces in Andhra Pradesh has been hailed as a significant victory for anti-Naxal operations in the region. Hidma, a 50-year-old commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), was a key figure in the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and had been responsible for numerous attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh. According to officials, Hidma was killed along with his wife, Madkam Raje, and four other cadres in the encounter in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. His death is seen as a major blow to the CPI (Maoist) as he was a central figure in the organisation's military structure. Hidma, who belonged to the Muriya tribe, was recruited as a child cadre of Maoists in 1991 and rose through the ranks to become a commander of the PLGA Battalion Number 1. He was known for his operational planning skills, which relied on layered security, reconnaissance, and the use of forest ridgelines to shield gunmen during ambushes. The senior officer overseeing the operations said that the sustained pressure on the Maoist leadership had disrupted their mobility, and Hidma was increasingly pushed into unfamiliar spaces. His death adds to a series of setbacks for the Maoist high command, which has seen at least nine members of the Central Committee being killed in operations in recent years. Surrendered Maoists have hailed Hidma's death as a turning point, with many expected to surrender in the coming days. The elimination of Hidma is seen as a significant victory for the security forces, who have been working to wipe out left-wing extremism from the country by March 2026.