New Delhi, Nov. 18 -- Madvi Hidma, the most wanted leader within the Naxal ranks, was killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh this morning.

Hidma, alias Santosh, a key figure in the CPI (Maoist) hierarchy, was killed early Tuesday morning, 18 November, in an encounter in the Maredumilli forest region of Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitarama Raju district, security officials said.

The 51-year-old leader, long regarded as the organisation's most dangerous strategist, was killed along with his wife, Madakam Raje, and four other Maoists, officials said.

Hidma and his group were attempting to flee from Chhattisgarh when they were intercepted between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM. Intelligence inputs over recent weeks had alerted agencies to Maoist moveme...