JerilynCropper5 at 08:32, 11 February 2026

2026-02-11T08:32:49Z

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{{Short description|Indian Maoist (1981–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Madvi Hidma
| image = Madvi Hidma.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth year|1981}}
| birth_place = Purvati, [[Sukma district]], Madhya Pradesh (present–day [[Chhattisgarh]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and given age|2025|11|18|44|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Alluri Sitharama Raju district]], Andhra Pradesh, India
| death_cause = [[Gunshot wound]]s
| other_names =
| known_for = Member of [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)|CPI (Maoist)]] and [[People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (India)]]
| organization = [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)|CPI (Maoist)]]
| occupation =
| spouse = Raja alias Rajakka
| criminal_charge =
| criminal_penalty =
| criminal_status =
}}

'''Madvi Hidma''' (1981 – 18 November 2025) was an Indian [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|Naxalite]] who at the time of his appointment was the youngest member of the Central Committee of the [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]]. Hidma was responsible for various attacks on the security forces in [[Chhattisgarh]], including the [[April 2010 Maoist attack in Dantewada]] and [[2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley]]. He was on the [[National Investigation Agency]]'s [[NIA Most Wanted|list of most wanted]] criminals. He had a bounty of more than ₹1 [[crore]] at the time of his death.

==Militant activities ==
Hidma was born in Puvarti village of south [[Sukma]] in the Indian state of [[Chhattisgarh]], in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bhardwaj|first=Ananya|date=6 April 2021|title=Madvi Hidma, the 'ruthless' Chhattisgarh Maoist 2,000 security personnel went hunting for|url=https://theprint.in/india/madvi-hidma-the-ruthless-chhattisgarh-maoist-2000-security-personnel-went-hunting-for/634729/|access-date=6 April 2021|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Arrested-2016">Hidma WAS listed as 35 in 2016. {{Cite news|title=Seven naxals held in Chhattisgarh |date=23 September 2016 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Seven-naxals-held-in-Chhattisgarh/article14015875.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405184325/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Seven-naxals-held-in-Chhattisgarh/article14015875.ece |archive-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SATP-2">Hidma is listed as 36 in 2017. {{Cite web|title=Maoist Insurgency: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2017 |date=9 September 2017 |publisher=The Institute for Conflict Management |url=https://www.satp.org/terrorist-activity/india-maoistinsurgency-Sep-2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405190815/https://www.satp.org/terrorist-activity/india-maoistinsurgency-Sep-2017 |archive-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also known as Hidmalu alias Santosh and was the face of the [[Maoism|Maoists]] in [[Bastar district|Bastar]]. After completing his education up to class 10, he joined the Party and became a master strategist of military operations and [[guerrilla warfare]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cpi-maoist-commander-hidma-promoted-to-central-committee/article19653439.ece|title=CPI (Maoist) commander Hidma promoted to Central Committee|website=The Hindu|date=9 September 2017 |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/why-ruthless-madvi-hidma-s-promotion-will-change-maoist-dynamics-in-bastar/story-BmCecql2ioWMXcxmBWYSLN.html|title=Why ruthless Madvi Hidma's promotion may change Maoist dynamics in Bastar |newspaper=Hindustan Times |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref> He reportedly received guerilla warfare training from a militant group in the [[Philippines]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chhattisgarh Naxal encounter: Who is Maoist Madvi Hidma? |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/chhattisgarh-naxal-encounter-who-is-maoist-madvi-hidma-971049.html |access-date=20 November 2025 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalita |first=Jayanta |date=8 April 2021 |title=How A Philippines-Trained Maoist Commander Laid A Deathtrap For The Indian Security Forces |url=https://www.eurasiantimes.com/how-a-philippines-trained-indian-maoist-commander-laid-a-deathtrap-for-security-forces/ |access-date=20 November 2025 |website=EURASIAN TIMES |language=en-US}}</ref>

Hidma was arrested in 2016 along with six other alleged [[Naxalite|naxals]]; at the time he was considered a low-level participant.<ref name="Arrested-2016" /> About that time, Hidma became the area commander of People's Liberation Guerrilla Army Battalion No 1<ref name="SATP-2" /> and an active member of the [[Dandakaranya]] Special Zonal Committee of the [[CPI (Maoist)]],<ref name="SATP-1">{{Cite web|title=India Hidma is the new Maoist militia leader in Chhattisgarh |date=12 January 2020 |publisher=The Institute for Conflict Management |url=https://www.satp.org/terrorism-update/hidma-is-the-new-maoist-militia-leader-in-chhattisgarh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405181227/https://www.satp.org/terrorism-update/hidma-is-the-new-maoist-militia-leader-in-chhattisgarh |archive-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> which operates in the Sukma, [[Dantewada district|Dantewada]] and [[Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh|Bijapur]] areas.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Drolia |first=Rashmi |date=16 September 2018 |title=Hidma, the most wanted but least known Maoist leader |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hidma-the-most-wanted-but-least-known-maoist-leader/articleshow/65826025.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916184252/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hidma-the-most-wanted-but-least-known-maoist-leader/articleshow/65826025.cms |archive-date=16 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was promoted to the Party's Central Committee as the youngest member.<ref name=":0" /> It is believed that Hidma was one of the masterminds behind a number of attacks on security personnel, including the [[April 2010 Maoist attack in Dantewada]] and the [[2017 Sukma attack]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/maoist-caution-before-polls-in-chhattisgarh/cid/1671286|title=Maoist caution before polls in Chhattisgarh|access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maoist-commander-hidma-among-other-ultras-booked-for-sukma-attack-4631012/|title=Maoist commander Hidma among other ultras booked for Sukma attack|date=27 April 2017 |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ranjan |first=Alok |date=25 April 2017 |title=Sukma Naxal attack: Who is Hidma |newspaper=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sukma-naxal-attack-hidma-crpf-jawans-chhattisgarh-973433-2017-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314032624/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sukma-naxal-attack-hidma-crpf-jawans-chhattisgarh-973433-2017-04-25 |archive-date=14 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> All told he is cited as having been responsible for twenty-six separate attacks.<ref name="Drolia">{{Cite news|last=Drolia |first=Rashmi |date=5 April 2021 |title=Maoist threat: Operation aimed at Hidma, but he is a 'bundle of photographs' |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/81904357.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405172636/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/operation-aimed-at-hidma-but-he-is-a-bundle-of-photographs/articleshow/81904357.cms |archive-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Indian Agencies also declared a ₹45 lakh bounty on his head.<ref name="Drolia" />

===2021 activities===
Hidma was the objective of the security forces' planned 3 April 2021 attack on the Maoists; their intent had been to capture Madvi Hidma along with his associates. The planned attack of approximately 2,000 security forces, consisting of [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]]'s specialised jungle warfare unit [[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action]] (CoBRA) combined with some of its regular battalions, and with units of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of the [[Chhattisgarh Police]] was in turn ambushed by about 400 guerrillas. In the five-hour battle, there were twenty-three deaths among the security forces as per the police report: eight CRPF, eight from the district reserve group, and six special task force members. Also thirty-three others were listed as casualties, with thirteen being severely injured. In this battle the Maoists lost around fifteen members of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army including a woman who was killed in the attack as per the police. The ambush occurred in the south [[Bastar District|Bastar]] forest where security intelligence had indicated that a major meeting of militants was to occur.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Drolia |first=Rashmi |date=5 April 2021 |title=23 jawans massacred in Maoist ambush, finds rescue team |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/23-jawans-massacred-in-maoist-ambush-finds-rescue-team/articleshow/81903146.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405164859/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/23-jawans-massacred-in-maoist-ambush-finds-rescue-team/articleshow/81903146.cms |archive-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2025 Karregutta encirclement ===
Beginning in April 2025 with [[Operation Black Forest]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Animesh |title=Op Black Forest dealt big blow to Naxals in Bastar: Security forces |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/op-black-forest-dealt-big-blow-to-naxals-in-bastar-security-forces/ |access-date=19 November 2025 |work=[[The Tribune (India)|The Tribune]] |date=15 May 2025}}</ref> Hidma was the subject of much news attention as he was allegedly at the centre of the [[Central Reserve Police Force]] encirclement of over 1000 Maoist guerrillas in the Karregutta hills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Karregutta Hills, Madvi Hidma and the Vision of a New Republic |url=https://thewire.in/rights/karregutta-hills-madvi-hidma-and-the-vision-of-a-new-republic |access-date=5 May 2025 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=31 Maoists killed in 21-day anti-Naxal operations at Karregutta hills; Amit Shah hails 'historic breakthrough' |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/31-maoists-killed-in-21-day-anti-naxal-operations-at-karregutta-hills-amit-shah-hails-historic-breakthrough-11747231629503.html |access-date=19 November 2025 |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=14 May 2025}}</ref>

==Death==

On 18 November 2025, security forces reportedly killed Madvi Hidma, his wife Madakam Raje (alias Rajakka), and four other Maoists in an [[Encounter killing|encounter]] in the Maredumilli forest area of [[Alluri Sitharama Raju district]], Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Sreenivas Janyala |author2=Jayprakash S Naidu |author3=Nikhila Henry |title=Madvi Hidma, top surviving Maoist leader behind 26 lethal attacks, killed in encounter |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madvi-hidma-top-surviving-maoist-leader-lethal-attacks-killed-encounter-10371983/ |access-date=27 November 2025 |agency=The Indian Express |date=19 November 2025 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=TNM Staff |title=Top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma among six killed in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/top-maoist-leader-madvi-hidma-among-six-killed-in-andhra-pradesh |access-date=27 November 2025 |agency=The News Minute |date=18 November 2025}}</ref> According to police authorities, the operation was part of an intelligence-based cordon-and-search after inputs about Maoist movement near the Andhra–Chhattisgarh–Odisha border; a gun battle ensued between roughly 6 am and 7 am, and all rebels, including Hidma, were killed.<ref>{{cite news |author1=U Sudhakar Reddy |title=Top Maoist military strategist Hidma killed in AP forest encounter |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/top-maoist-military-strategist-hidma-killed-in-ap-forest-encounter/articleshow/125419959.cms |access-date=27 November 2025 |publisher=The Times of India |date=19 November 2025 |language=English}}</ref>

However, the Maoist leadership and associated tribal activists rejected the official account, alleging that Hidma and others had been detained alive earlier and later executed, calling the encounter a "fake".<ref>{{cite news |author1=TNM Staff |title=CPI (Maoist) says top leader Hidma was tortured and killed by cops, seeks probe |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/telangana/cpi-maoist-says-top-leader-hidma-was-tortured-and-killed-by-cops-seeks-probe |access-date=27 November 2025 |publisher=The News Minute |date=22 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Express News Service |title=Hidma, others killed in fake encounters: Maoists |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2025/Nov/22/hidma-others-killed-in-fake-encounters-maoists |access-date=27 November 2025 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=22 November 2025}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hidma, Madvi}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian guerrillas]]
[[Category:Indian Marxists]]
[[Category:Naxalites]]
[[Category:Anti-revisionists]]
[[Category:People from Sukma district]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Maoist) politicians]]
[[Category:People shot dead by law enforcement officers in India]]

Madvi Hidma - Revision history

JerilynCropper5 at 08:32, 11 February 2026