Vijayawada, Nov. 19 -- A top intelligence official maintained on Wednesday that the most wanted Maoist commander and mastermind Madvi Hidma was killed in a fierce gun battle in a forest area and not eliminated after he was apprehended. Some extremists had in fact managed to escape, Andhra Pradesh Intelligence Additional Director General Mahesh Chandra Ladda admitted.
Addressing a press conference here, ADG Ladda denied reports in a section of the media that it was a fake encounter. When asked if Hidma wanted to surrender before police and had written letters to journalists in this regard, the ADG clarified that he had no knowledge about this. He, however, added that many Maoists had indeed surrendered.
Ladda said that 50 Maoists were arre...