With the killing of the most-wanted Maoist leader, Madvi Hidma, in operations launched by the anti-Naxal Greyhounds of the Telangana Police at Maredumilli forest in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, the nation heaves a sigh of relief. After decades of suffering, the Maoist menace is nearing its end. While there are still four months before we reach the March 31, 2026, deadline set by Home Minister Amit Shah, we will hopefully start the new year without the burden of Maoism.
The surrender of 258 Maoists, including some of its top leaders at Gadchiroli and Jagdalpur in mid-October, has had a cascading effect, with many Maoists coming forward and laying down arms to join the mainstream. The trend of mass surrenders and killing of several Maoists including their top leaders and arrest of many more in back-to-back operations launched by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Battalions, the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Chhattisgarh police and its District Reserve Guards, point towards the debilitating impact on the Maoist leadership. With Hidma’s death, the Maoist ranks are rudderless. They have two options: Surrendering or getting killed in operations.
Hidma, born in Puvarti village of Sukma in 1981, had spread a reign of terror in the Bastar division by leading attacks on the security forces. He won the confidence of the Maoist rank and file with his strategic planning and leadership. His intelligence network helped him evade the dragnet of security forces while inflicting heavy casualties on them. His young age and enthusiasm, coupled with a high degree of personal discipline, catapulted him to command the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army. Soon, he joined the Central Committee, which was then dominated by leaders from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
However, in 2024, the penetration of the security forces into Abhujhmad became his Waterloo. Displaced from Abhujhmad, he had to seek shelter in the forests of the Karregutta hills at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. Again, a massive operation, resulting in the death of 31 Maoists, reportedly forced him out of the caves. He escaped to neighbouring Telangana. The Greyhounds got wind of his presence. Operations were launched to nab him, and finally, he was killed in the encounter.
With the last of the top leaders eliminated, many of the remaining Maoists might surrender and join the Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation programme initiated by the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Cafeterias have been opened where the surrendered Maoists are employed after being trained by the government. They could also join the police forces, start businesses, for which the government is providing them with skill training.
Today, CRPF personnel have reasons to exult over the near-end of Maoists, as a large number of personnel have laid down their lives combating Maoists, particularly in Chhattisgarh.
The writer is Inspector General of Police (Retd), CRPF
