Who was Madvi Hidma? From child recruit to most-wanted Maoist leader behind 26 armed attacks, gunned down days after mother’s emotional plea

Madvi Hidma stood out as the only tribal member in Bastar to rise from child members to one of the highest positions in the CPI (Maoist). Earlier this year, he ascended to the Central Committee, the Maoist organisation’s second most powerful body after the Politburo, marking a major turning point in his decades-long militant career.

Early Recruitment and Rapid Promotion

Hidma’s journey began in 1991, when senior Maoist leaders Ramanna and Badranna recruited her into Bal Sangham, the child cadre wing of the Maoists. He was born in the remote Puvarti village on the Sukma-Bijapur border and soon made his mark.

He was posted in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh in 2002. Two years later he was appointed secretary of the Konta District Committee. His rise continued when he became commander of No. 3 Company in 2007 and deputy commander in 2009, and eventually chief of PLGA No. 1 Battalion, the Maoists’ most feared combat unit.

Lethal Operations at Your Command

Hidma gained notoriety for leading some of the bloodiest ambushes against security forces. Under his leadership, PLGA No. 1 Battalion carried out attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least 155 people. Basic operations associated with it include:

• 2010 Tadmetla ambush: 76 CRPF personnel killed
• 2017 Bankupara attack: 12 CRPF jawans shot dead
• 2017 Burkapal attack: 25 CRPF jawans killed
• 2020 Minpa-Burkapal encounter: 17 personnel killed
• 2021 Tekalgüdem-Pedagelur ambush: 22 personnel killed

In 2021, Barse Deva replaced him as commander of No. 1 Battalion, but Hidma continued to exercise her influence as part of the Dandakaranya Special Regional Committee.

Repeated Calls to Surrender

Over the years, the government, mediators, and security forces pressured Hidma to lay down her arms. Just a week before his death, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma met his mother Punji Madvi and made an emotional plea, urging her to return home. Despite this, Hidma remained determined and vowed to fight ‘even if she was the last one standing’.

Significant Influence in Maoist Leadership

Following the death of Maoist General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao in May, Hidma was reported to have strong influence despite the appointment of Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji to lead the organisation. Tribal cadres in the Bastar and Dandakaranya districts are increasingly rejecting the dominance of Telugu leaders and granting immense authority and loyalty to one of their own, Hidma.

The leadership change and internal bickering also pushed senior leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao to leave the organisation.

Encounter and the End of an Era

Hidma and her husband Madakam Raje, head of the Maoists’ Mobile Political School, were killed in an encounter this week. Security forces believe that his death marks a serious defeat for the Maoist movement, given his influence, operational experience and deep roots among tribal cadres in Dandakaranya.

With the loss of its most feared field commander, the CPI (Maoist) faces a critical blow at a time when its power is already weakened by continuous operations and increasing surrenders.