Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh: In one of the biggest anti-Maoist operations in recent years, Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested 50 CPI (Maoist) cadres across five districts in a coordinated, intelligence-led crackdown, senior officials announced on Wednesday.
The statewide operation followed the November 18 encounter at Maredumilli in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, where top Maoist commander M. Hidma and five others were killed. “After Hidma’s neutralisation, we launched synchronised operations across five districts and apprehended 50 CPI cadres,” said ADGP (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha at a press conference in Vijayawada.
Police said those arrested include members across the Maoist hierarchy—special zonal committee members, divisional and area committee members, and regular cadres operating in the south Bastar–Dandakaranya zone.
The crackdown spanned Krishna, Eluru, NTR, Kakinada, and Konaseema districts, including Vijayawada City, and was executed jointly by the State Intelligence Department, Special Investigation Branch, district police units, and the Vijayawada Commissionerate.
According to officials, several Maoist operatives had fled from Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, and West Bastar districts in Chhattisgarh due to sustained security pressure before being tracked and detained in Andhra Pradesh.
During the operation, police recovered 39 weapons, 302 rounds of ammunition, detonators, cordtex wire, communication equipment, and ₹13 lakh in cash.
ADGP Laddha noted that the arrests mark a major leadership setback for the Maoist organisation. “Three special zonal committee members and several divisional committee members are among those arrested, significantly weakening their reorganisation efforts,” he said.
SIB chief PHD Ramakrishna described the operation as “silent and precise,” ensuring that no cadre escaped and no civilians were harmed.
