Tue Nov 18 06:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:

Headline: Top Naxal Commander Hidma Killed in Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh Border Encounter

Raipur/Hyderabad: Notorious Naxal commander Madvi Hidma, 43, has been killed in a major encounter with security forces in the forests along the Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh border. Hidma’s wife, identified as Raje, was also among the six Naxals killed in the operation.

The encounter took place early this morning, between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM near Maredumilli in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. Security forces engaged in a fierce gun battle with the Naxal group, resulting in the deaths of Hidma, his wife Raje, and four other Naxals identified as Lakmal, Kamlu, Malla, and Deve (Hidma’s guard).

Security forces recovered a significant cache of weaponry from the slain Naxals, including two AK-47 rifles, one revolver, and one pistol.

Hidma, also known as Santosh, was a key figure in the CPI (Maoist) organization, heading the PLGA Battalion No. 1, the deadliest attack unit of the Naxals. He was the youngest member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee and the only tribal member from the Bastar region to hold that position. He was wanted in connection to at least 26 armed attacks. A reward of ₹50 lakh was offered for his capture. He was implicated in numerous high-profile attacks, including the 2010 Dantewada attack that killed 76 CRPF personnel, the 2013 Jhiram Valley massacre that claimed 27 lives including top Congress leaders, and the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur encounter in which 22 security personnel were martyred.

Intelligence inputs from AP SIB over the past few weeks indicated increased Naxal movement along the AP-Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, leading to the launch of the operation. Combing operations are still underway in the area.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had set a deadline of November 30, 2025, for security forces to eliminate Hidma. Following the success of the operation, Shah congratulated the security forces involved.

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