Hailing from Puvvarti village in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, Hidma, an Adivasi with only a fifth-grade education, joined the Maoist movement at the age of 25. Now 44, he rose through the ranks to become the commander of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1 and a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.
The operation was bolstered by advanced surveillance tactics, including satellite imagery and drones deployed to track Maoist movements. Strategic reinforcements replaced fatigued troops to sustain the momentum of the campaign. Unconfirmed reports suggest nearly 30 Maoists were killed in fierce gun battles, but official statements are yet to verify these figures.
The encounter resulted in the deaths of two security personnel, one from the District Reserve Guard and the other from the Special Task Force. Two other jawans were injured and airlifted to Raipur for medical treatment. The injured personnel are reported to be out of danger.
“Methane gas can accumulate under the ground, and there are many coal mines in Surajpur,” explained Pradeep Khalkho, Executive Engineer of the PHE Department. “Pouring sand slowly will help extinguish the fire and prevent any further danger.”
