Major crackdown continues as security forces target regrouping Maoist cadres near inter-state border
Fresh Encounter One Day After Hidma’s Death
A day after top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma was killed in a major encounter, seven more Maoists were gunned down by Andhra Pradesh police during an early-morning operation in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district, close to the Andhra–Chhattisgarh–Odisha border.
The gunfight began when a joint team of the Greyhounds and district police launched a search operation based on fresh intelligence inputs.
Recovered weapons include multiple AK-series rifles, ammunition, Maoist documents, and survival materials.
Identities of the Slain Maoists
Police confirmed several key Maoist members were among the dead:
- Metturi Joga Rao (Tech Shankar) — a top IED specialist
- Jyothi (Saritha) — former guard commander to a senior Maoist leader
- Suresh (Ramesh) — previously active in Chhattisgarh
- Lokesh (Ganesh) — former militia commander in Jagargonda
- Sainu (Vasu) — once deputy commander in Jagargonda
- Anitha
- Shammi
The encounter is believed to have disrupted a regrouping attempt by Maoists fleeing operations in Chhattisgarh.
Major Arrests and Seizures Across Andhra
The latest encounter is part of a month-long crackdown. Over the past few days, Andhra Police have:
- Arrested 50 Maoist cadres across several districts
- Seized 39 firearms, including country-made weapons
- Recovered Maoist literature, memory cards, explosive materials
- Confiscated over ₹12.7 lakh in cash reportedly linked to Maoist networks
These actions are aimed at dismantling Maoist logistic support in the region.
BACKGROUND: Who Was Madvi Hidma?
Madvi Hidma, whose encounter took place just a day earlier, was one of India’s most wanted Maoist commanders. He led the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, a unit known for high-intensity ambushes and guerrilla warfare.
Key Facts About Hidma:
- Age: About 45
- Known as the mastermind of major attacks in Bastar, including:
- The 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack that killed top Congress leaders
- The 2021 Sukma-Bijapur ambush which killed over 20 security personnel
- Responsible for shaping Maoist military strategy across Chhattisgarh
- Carried a huge bounty due to his central role in Maoist violence
- Operated mainly along the Andhra–Chhattisgarh–Odisha forest belt
His death is considered a major psychological and operational blow to the Maoist movement, which is already weakened by declining recruitment and rising surrenders.
Security Implications of the Encounter
- It signals that Maoist cadres attempting to regroup after Hidma’s death are being intercepted quickly.
- Eliminating mid-level operatives like Tech Shankar disrupts IED manufacturing and logistics.
- The crackdown strengthens security control in border districts historically used as Maoist corridors.
- It reinforces the success of intelligence-led counterinsurgency operations in both Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
