Maoist Commander Madvi Hidma Killed, Marking Shift in Insurgency
On November 18, security forces killed Madvi Hidma, the last commander of the Maoist Central Military Commission, in Andhra Pradesh's Papikonda National Park. His death follows the earlier killing of General Secretary Nambala Kesava Rao in May and signifies a major decline in the Maoist insurgency. Hidma, who joined the movement at 16, led numerous attacks, including the 2010 Tadmetla assault that resulted in 76 CRPF deaths. The CPI(Maoist) has seen a significant reduction in strength, with only 10-12 Central Committee members remaining from 45 in 2010. Since 2024, over 2,120 Maoists have surrendered and more than 560 have been killed. The insurgency, which began as a tribal movement, now faces its most severe crisis, prompting calls for a shift towards welfare and integration for tribal communities.
Published 12 days ago • 23 Nov 2025, 02:17 AM IST