Maoist Commander Madvi Hidma Slain in Chhattisgarh: A Major Blow to India's Insurgency
Image Source: Internet
The death of Madvi Hidma, India's most wanted Maoist commander, marks a significant turning point in the country's decades-long insurgency. Hidma, known for his intimate knowledge of the dense forests of the Dandakaranya region, was killed in a security operation along the border of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Hidma, a native of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, had spent nearly two decades rising through the Maoist ranks. He was believed to be the chief of Battalion No. 1, considered the most lethal strike unit of the CPI (Maoist), and was linked to nearly every major Maoist attack in the past two decades. The 2010 Dantewada massacre, the 2013 Darbha valley attack, the 2017 twin attacks in Sukma, and the 2021 Tarrem ambush in Bijapur are some of the major incidents attributed to Hidma. His notoriety earned him a place on the NIA's most-wanted list, with cumulative rewards from central and state agencies exceeding ₹1 crore. Hidma's killing comes amid the Union government's intensified offensive under Mission 2026, which aims to dismantle the last remaining Maoist strongholds in Bastar. According to Inspector General of Police Sunderraj P, the operation marks a "decisive phase" in counter-insurgency efforts. Security agencies believe Hidma's death may lead to a significant leadership vacuum within the Maoist ranks in south Bastar. However, they caution that operations will continue to track other senior leaders and dismantle the network further. For the Bastar region, where the insurgency has shaped everyday life, governance, and security for decades, Hidma's killing marks a critical moment.
