If you’ve barely recovered from the breaking news alert of Madvi Hidma’s fall and then saw “7 more Maoists killed” trending the very next day, same, buddy. Andhra Pradesh’s Maredumilli forests just witnessed two back-to-back clash points that could basically rewrite the insurgency status quo. Two operations, two days, a literal jungle chessboard. Let’s skip the badge-flaunting, get to what really happened, and why this is not your regular Tuesday news cycle.
Image courtesy TripAdvisor
1. So, Here’s What Actually Went Down
Two encounters. Zero chill. On November 18, 2025, Andhra’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district woke up to a six-hour jungle standoff, six Maoists down, with AP police confirming top commander Madvi Hidma among the deceased after a 6 am firefight. Not even 24 hours later, officials reported seven more Maoists killed, three of them women, in Maredumilli, with leader Meturi Joka Rao (aka Shankar) possibly among them. Weapons, ammo, and absolutely no time for insurgent recoup.
2. The Backstory: Who Was Hidma, And Why Was Everyone Looking For Him
Not a Netflix villain, but definitely the arc’s big boss. Hidma was CPI (Maoist)’s strike-ops face, linked to headline-making attacks for over a decade, quietly helming red corridors across three states with a knack for jungle warfare. His fall? A major throwback to when earlier ‘top brass’ either surrendered or were taken out, leaving Maoists scrambling for a script rewrite.
Image courtesy The News Mill
3. Why Andhra, Why Now: The Jungle Chessboard Moves South
So, why did all roads point to Andhra’s forests this week? As Bastar and other Red Corridor areas heat up, Maoist cadres are regrouping further south, Maredumilli’s winding roads became their chessboard, but the Greyhounds were playing aggressively in the middle overs. AP’s elite unit, known for all-weather jungle ops, brought their A-game, long treks, heavy kit, no shortcuts. With anti-naxal strategies on full throttle, Andhra is no longer just a passive backdrop, but a high-stakes hotspot for both sides.
4. The Day-After Strike: What Wednesday’s 7 More Deaths Mean
Don’t call it random; Wednesday’s encounter was SQL-level “fetch next target” using fresh intel from the previous morning. Police recovered a whole arsenal, dozens of weapons, hundreds of rounds, hinting they’d busted a real command centre or moving unit. Among the reported dead, Shankar (AOB’s tech/arms commando specialist), but as always, early numbers can change while IDs are officially verified. Plot twist unlocked, but keep refreshing for forensic updates.
Image courtesy Hindustan Times
5. Human Sidelights You’ll See In Your Feed
Behind every byline and cheerful anchor smile, there’s a local family getting news, or a mother prepping to claim a body as protocol dictates. For local admins and security, it’s a public order scramble; for villagers, it’s fatigue, grief, relief, and everything in between. Security appeals for surrenders are getting more airtime, and with top-level losses or walk-outs stacking up, the leadership hierarchy is shakier than ever. Read the headlines, but don’t forget the human subplot; decades of fear and waiting are stitched into every new update.
Two encounters, 24 hours, and the Andhra forest map just did a hard refresh. If the last decade was classic cat-and-mouse, this week felt like an endgame speedrun, bodies, borders, and strategies shifting overnight. What’s your take: have we hit a real turning point, or is it too soon to say?
