Bhubaneswar, May 29: In a major success for anti-Maoist operations, Odisha Police have arrested dreaded Maoist leader Kunjam Hidma from the Petaguda forest near Baipariguda police station in Koraput district. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to curb left-wing extremism in the region.

Koraput SP Rohit Verma confirmed that Hidma, a resident of Jhanaguda village in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, had been involved in several high-profile Maoist incidents in both Koraput and Malkangiri districts. He had joined the Maoist outfit at the young age of 14 in 2007 and quickly rose through the ranks. The Odisha government had announced a reward of ₹4 lakh for his capture, while the Chhattisgarh government had declared a bounty of ₹8 lakh.

Based on a reliable intelligence input, a team led by the SDPO of Koraput launched a well-coordinated operation to nab Hidma. During the arrest, police recovered a huge cache of arms and explosives, including 47 firearms, 27 detonators, Maoist literature, communication devices, and other materials.

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