Key Points
- Six Naxalites killed in Alluri Sitaram forests operation
- Police confirm death of dreaded leader Hidma and his wife Raje
- Operation launched jointly by Andhra’s Greyhounds and Chhattisgarh Police
- Continuous gunfire heard along the Andhra–Chhattisgarh border
- Security tightened as operations expand to Abujhmad region
- Naxalite memorial demolished in Bijapur’s Dondimarka area
A fierce encounter between Greyhound Commandos and Naxalites erupted early Monday in the dense forests of Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh, close to the Sukma region of Chhattisgarh. In the intense gun battle that lasted several hours, six Maoists were killed, including the most-wanted Naxalite leader Madvi Hidma and his wife, Raje.
The police have officially confirmed their deaths, though formal verification of Hidma’s identity is still underway. If fully confirmed, it will mark the most significant success for security forces on the Naxal front in more than a decade.
Who Was Hidma?
Hidma, regarded as one of India’s deadliest Maoist commanders, headed the PLGA’s Battalion No. 1 and was the alleged mastermind behind several deadly attacks, including the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur ambush in which 22 jawans were killed. His elimination, according to officials, will severely weaken the Naxal command structure across Bastar and surrounding regions.
Longest Operation in Alluri Sitaram Forests
This high-risk operation was conducted in the forests near Gujjimavidavalasa Panchayat’s Nellore village, an area known for heavy Naxal activity. According to sources, the gunfight began early in the morning and continued until late evening, with reports of heavy arms fire echoing through the forests.
By nightfall, Greyhound commandos recovered six bodies, all believed to be senior cadres of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Search operations are ongoing as security forces suspect more injured rebels may be hiding in the nearby hills.
Local police sources revealed that this was one of the largest coordinated anti-Naxal operations in recent years, involving advanced surveillance, drone reconnaissance, and multiple platoons of elite Greyhound commandos.
Security Forces Expand Operations in Abujhmad and Bijapur
Even as the Alluri operation concluded, security forces intensified their offensive in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad and Bijapur districts. In the Erabor police station limits of Bijapur, a separate encounter took place after intelligence inputs on Maoist secretary Magadu’s movement. One Naxalite was killed, and several others sustained injuries.
To disrupt Naxalite networks, security personnel demolished a memorial structure in the Dondimarka area believed to be used as a Maoist meeting point. Authorities confirmed that the police are pressing ahead with “Operation Clean Corridor,” aimed at regaining control of major Naxal-dominated zones.
17 New Camps and Tightened Security Grid
The police have further strengthened their presence with the establishment of the 17th new security camp in Dhobai, part of a wider drive to improve mobility and response time in remote forested areas.
Meanwhile, nearby districts have been placed on high alert amid intelligence reports suggesting that several injured Naxalites managed to flee deep into forest terrain. Security has been reinforced across inter-state borders, while combing operations continue nonstop.
Officials described the latest operations as part of a sustained strategy to dismantle the Maoist network from the southern tip of Chhattisgarh to the Andhra and Odisha borders — an area long regarded as India’s “Red Corridor.”
The Beginning of the End for ‘Red Terror’?
With Hidma’s elimination, security experts believe the Naxal movement has suffered its most devastating loss since the death of Kishenji in 2011. His death not only deprives the Naxals of a key military strategist but also sends a powerful message that the government’s integrated counterinsurgency strategy is producing results.
For security forces, however, the mission is far from over. Intensive search operations are underway to track down remaining cadres believed to be regrouping in smaller forest clusters across the Bastar division and north Andhra region.
