Madvi Hidma, a most-wanted Maoist leader, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitaramaraju district on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Hidma, who headed the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1, was reportedly gunned down just days before the November 30 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate him. His death is a major blow to the insurgency in Bastar.

Born in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, around 1981, Hidma, also known as Hidmalu alias Santosh, rose through the ranks of the CPI (Maoist) to become the youngest member of its Central Committee. He was the only tribal member from the Bastar region to hold such a high position. After completing his education up to class 10, Hidma joined the party and became a master strategist in military operations and guerrilla warfare. He commanded a battalion of 130–150 armed cadres.

Hidma's name is linked to numerous major Maoist attacks carried out in the Dandakaranya region over the past two decades. Security agencies believed he was directly involved in more than 26 major Naxal attacks, making him one of India's most feared insurgent leaders. Some key cases that cemented his reputation as a most-wanted Maoist include:

• 2010 Dantewada Massacre: Hidma was linked to the attack that killed 76 CRPF personnel.
• 2011 Tadmetla Attack: Agencies believed he was present during the attack in which 75 CRPF men lost their lives.
• 2013 Darbha Valley Attack: Hidma was responsible for the Naxal attack in Darbha valley that wiped out the top Congress leadership in Chhattisgarh.
• 2017 Sukma Attacks: He was linked to the twin attacks in which 37 personnel lost their lives. Another source mentions the 2017 Sukma attack resulted in the death of 26 CRPF personnel.
• 2021 Tarrem Ambush: Hidma was linked to the ambush in Bijapur.

Hidma had a bounty of more than ₹1 crore on his head and was on the National Investigation Agency's list of most wanted criminals. In April 2025, he narrowly escaped a prolonged encounter in the Karregutta hills, where 31 Maoists were killed.

The operation that led to Hidma's death took place in the dense Pullagandi forests, located at the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. According to Andhra Pradesh Police chief Harish Kumar Gupta, the exchange of fire began at 6 am. Six Maoists were killed in the encounter, including Hidma and his wife, Madakam Raje, who was also a member of the CPI (Maoist). Security forces recovered two AK-47s, detonators, and ammunition from the site.

The elimination of Hidma is considered a major success for security forces, who have increased their counter-insurgency operations under the Union government's Mission 2026. Authorities expect his death to create a leadership vacuum in the Maoist ranks in south Bastar and potentially paralyze their military structure. Bastar Inspector General of Police, Sunderraj P, stated that the operation was part of the "decisive phase" of counter-insurgency efforts.