Vishakhapatnam: Madvi Hidma, the head of the Maoist the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1 killed on Tuesday in an encounter in Alluri Sitaramaraju district in Andhra Pradesh.

Another six Maoists were also killed in the encounter. According to the official sources apart from Hidma, the other Maoists killed in the encounter are Hidma’s wife Madagam Raje, along with Lakmal, Kamlu, Malla, and Deve. Officials have recovered firearms including two AK-47,  one pistol and a revolver.

A few maoists ran away during the encounter and the operation is still going on. The security forces are keeping a close watch on other areas such as Vijayawada, NTR and Kakinada. The security forces have arrested 31 people, of which nine are security guards of central committee members and the remaining are from a battalion in South Bastar.

According to the Alluri Sitarama Raju District SP’s office, no security personnel were injured in the operation, and combing efforts are continuing in the region. Sundarraj Pattlingam, IG, Bastar Range, said the encounter was carried out between 6.30 am and 7 am in the forested area of Maredumilli mandal. Yes, six Maoists were killed in a joint operation carried out by various wings of the police department in Alluri district, he said.

Madvi Hidma, a resident of Sukma district, who remained a prominent tribal face for the Maoists in Chhattisgarh, is said to be the youngest Central Committee member. Hidma is known for his role in several Maoist attacks. These include the 2010 attack in Dantewada that killed 76 CRPF personnel and the 2013 attack in Jhiram Ghati that left 27 people dead. He carried a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head in Chhattisgarh.