"Major step in ongoing anti-Naxal operations": Congress' TS Singh Deo on Maoist leader Madvi Hidma's encounter

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], November 18 (ANI): After top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma was neutralised by security forces on Tuesday, Congress leader TS Singh Deo welcomed the development and termed it a "major step" in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations.
Speaking to ANI, former Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Deo said that Hidma was believed to be one of the key Naxalite leaders who had refused to surrender.
"This is a major step in the ongoing operation. Hidma was believed to be one of the Naxalite leaders who refused to surrender.HM Amit Shah is cooperating with the state government, and the action is the state government's responsibility," he said.
Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Arun Deo Gautam described the elimination of Hidma as a "milestone in the history of Naxalism in the country".
"The killing of Hidma (Naxal leader Madvi Hidma) today is a milestone in the history of Naxalism. In the last few years, Hidma and Naxalism have become synonymous. His armed group, his PLGA battalion, which wants to usurp power on the basis of arms, ended today. The remaining elements are leaderless now," the DGP said.
He appealed to the youth of Bastar to shun violence and join the mainstream. "Hidma was a local youth of Bastar who used to inspire the youth here to pick arms. After his death, the youth of Bastar will be motivated to come to the mainstream and be rehabilitated. The force of the development of the state is with them; it is working for the development of Bastar. I appeal to the youth of Bastar to step forward, and together we will bring in development in Bastar," DGP added.
The 43-year-old top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was responsible for at least 26 deadly attacks against security forces and civilians, including the 2017 Sukma attack in which 26 CRPF personnel were killed, was eliminated during an encounter on Tuesday. He was also involved in the 2010 Dantewada attack, which resulted in the killing of 76 CRPF personnel.
Along with Hidma, his wife Raje and other members of the Maoist group, including Chelluri Narayana, and Tech Shankar were also killed, sources said.
"Today, an encounter took place between the Andhra Pradesh security forces and Maoists. Following the encounter, the bodies of six Maoists were recovered by security forces. One of them was Madvi Hidma, a Central Committee member of the Maoists who was formerly the commander of a PLGA battalion and is known as a face of terrorism. His body was also recovered in today's encounter. The bodies of Hidma's wife and four other Maoists were recovered, a total of six Maoists, and a large quantity of 47 AKs and ammunition were also recovered from the spot," Bastar IG added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to top officials after the neutralisation of Madvi Hidma, who was eliminated even before the November 30 deadline set by the troops for his capture, they said.
Maoist commander Madvi Hidma was born in 1981 in Purvathi, Sukma, Chhattisgarh. He served as the head of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, which is considered the Maoists' deadliest strike unit. Hidma was the youngest member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the only tribal from the Bastar region to hold this position. A bounty of Rs 50 lakh was placed on his head. (ANI)