At least 50 CPI (Maoist) cadres were arrested across five districts of Andhra Pradesh in a major anti-Naxal operation, which coincided with the killing of top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma in an encounter at Maredumilli in Alluri Seetharam Raju district on Tuesday.
Thirty-nine weapons, 302 rounds of ammunition, detonators, cordtex wire, communication devices and Rs 13 lakh in cash from various locations were recovered during the operation.
"Following Hidma's killing, we launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation across five districts and apprehended 50 CPI (Maoist) cadres," said ADGP Intelligence Mahesh Chandra Laddha.
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The arrested cadres included special zonal committee members, divisional committee members, area committee members and regular party members.
The operation was carried out by joint teams of the State Intelligence Department, Special Investigation Branch (SIB) and district police units across Krishna, Eluru, NTR, Kakinada and Konaseema districts.
"The entire operation was executed with silent precision, ensuring no cadre escaped and no civilian was harmed," SIB chief PHD Ramakrishna told PTI news agency.
On Tuesday, at least seven Maoists, including Madvi Hidma, one of the most-wanted Maoist commanders, were killed in an early morning encounter with security personnel in Alluri Sitaramaraju district of Andhra Pradesh.
Hidma, also known as Hidmalu, is responsible for at least 26 armed attacks against security forces and civilians in the country.
He is believed to be the mastermind behind the 2010 Dantewada massacre, the deadliest attack by the Maoists on Indian security forces, in which 76 CRPF soldiers lost their lives. |
