On November 18, 2025, India's most wanted Naxalite commander Madvi Hidma — a Central Committee member and former PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) Battalion Commander of the CPI (Maoist) — was killed in an encounter with Andhra Pradesh security forces in the Maredumilli forest area of Alluri Sitharama Raju district. His wife Madakam Raje (alias Rajakka) and four other Maoists were also killed. Hidma, who carried a bounty of over ₹1 crore, was linked to at least 26 major armed attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh — including the April 2010 Dantewada massacre (76 CRPF personnel killed) and the 2013 Darbha valley attack on Congress leaders. The encounter was hailed as the 'last nail in the coffin' of the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) insurgency by Chhattisgarh Police. The operation reflects the sustained anti-Naxal strategy under SAMADHAN and the Home Ministry's vision of eliminating LWE from India by 2026. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) listed Hidma as a Most Wanted absconder. Rajasthan, though not directly a Naxal-affected state, shares anti-LWE coordination frameworks under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Top Naxal Commander Madvi Hidma Killed in Andhra Pradesh Encounter: Blow to Maoist Insurgency
On November 18, 2025, India's most wanted Naxalite commander Madvi Hidma — a Central Committee member and former PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) Battalion Commander of the CPI (Maoist) — was killed in an encounter with Andhra Pradesh security forces in the Maredumilli forest area of Alluri Sitharama Raju district. His wife Madakam Raje (alias Rajakka) and four other Maoists were also killed. Hidma, who carried a bounty of over ₹1 crore, was linked to at least 26 major armed attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh — including the April 2010 Dantewada massacre (76 CRPF personnel killed) and the 2013 Darbha valley attack on Congress leaders. The encounter was hailed as the 'last nail in the coffin' of the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) insurgency by Chhattisgarh Police. The operation reflects the sustained anti-Naxal strategy under SAMADHAN and the Home Ministry's vision of eliminating LWE from India by 2026. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) listed Hidma as a Most Wanted absconder. Rajasthan, though not directly a Naxal-affected state, shares anti-LWE coordination frameworks under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Key facts
- Top Naxal commander Madvi Hidma was killed in an encounter on November 18, 2025.
- He was a CPI(Maoist) Central Committee member with a bounty of over ₹1 crore.
- The encounter occurred in Maredumilli forest area of Alluri Sitharama Raju district, AP.
- Hidma was linked to 26 major attacks including the 2010 Dantewada massacre of 76 CRPF men.
- The operation reflects SAMADHAN strategy to eliminate LWE from India by 2026.
- NIA had designated Hidma a specially designated terrorist under UAPA.
Mains angle
Q: Evaluate the significance of eliminating Naxal commander Madvi Hidma for India's anti-LWE strategy under SAMADHAN.
Answer (50 words):
On November 18, 2025, CPI(Maoist) Central Committee member Madvi Hidma was killed in Alluri Sitharama Raju district. Carrying a bounty exceeding 1 crore rupees, he was linked to 26 attacks including the 2010 Dantewada massacre killing 76 CRPF personnel. This advances eliminating Left Wing Extremism by 2026.
Static prep for this topic
Read the permanent syllabus behind this story.
6-axis classification
Appears in these topics
Source: Business Standard / India TV News / The Federal / Tribune India / Opindia
Frequently asked questions
Who was Madvi Hidma and what was his role in the Maoist insurgency?
Madvi Hidma was a top commander of the CPI (Maoist), holding a position on its Central Committee and serving as Battalion Commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). He was India's most wanted Naxalite, carrying a bounty of over ₹1 crore, and was linked to at least 26 major armed attacks on security forces, including the 2010 Dantewada massacre in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed.
When and where was Madvi Hidma killed, and who else died in the encounter?
Hidma was killed on November 18, 2025 in an encounter with Andhra Pradesh security forces in the Maredumilli forest area of Alluri Sitharama Raju district, AP. His wife Madakam Raje (alias Rajakka) and four other Maoists were also killed in the operation.
What is the SAMADHAN strategy and how does this encounter reflect it?
SAMADHAN is the central government's comprehensive counter-LWE strategy — an acronym for Smart Leadership, Aggressive Strategy, Motivation and Training, Actionable Intelligence, Dashboard-based KPIs, Harnessing Technology, Action Plan for each Theatre, and No access to financing. Hidma's elimination is a milestone in this strategy, which targets eradicating Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from India by 2026.
What legal designation did the NIA confer on Hidma?
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had designated Madvi Hidma as a 'Specially Designated Terrorist' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), making him one of the most legally targeted Maoist leaders in India's counter-insurgency framework.
What is the significance of the 2010 Dantewada massacre that Hidma was linked to?
The April 6, 2010 Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) ambush is the single deadliest attack on Indian security forces in the Maoist insurgency, killing 76 CRPF personnel. Hidma is believed to have masterminded this attack. The event underscores the operational lethality Hidma represented and explains the strategic significance of his elimination.
Was this useful?
Share corrections or missing exam angles with the editorial team.
Send feedback