Police trek 12 km to take injured Maoist to hospital in Chattisgarh

He said a team of 35 constables had been dispatched to bring the Maoist commander from a village in the jungle where he was being treated. The team carried Hidma for 12 km crossing rivers and rough terrain.

Updated on: Sep 3, 2019, 24:50:43 IST

Hindustan Times, Ranchi | By Ritesh Mishra

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A Chhattisgarh police team trekked 12 km through jungles to carry an injured Maoist commander to a hospital in Dantewada on Sunday, a police officer said on Monday. Madkam Hidma, who carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, is now undergoing treatment for gangrene. He developed gangrene after he was injured about a fortnight ago when he fell while laying an improvised explosive device (IED).

Hidma being carried through rough terrain. (ANI/Twitter)

“It is heartening that police personnel even after knowing that he had fallen while laying the IED carried him on a cot and admitted him to the district hospital,” said Dantewada’s police superintendent Abhishek Pallava.

He said a team of 35 constables had been dispatched to bring the Maoist commander from a village in the jungle where he was being treated. The team carried Hidma for 12 km crossing rivers and rough terrain. There were no other Maoist in the village.

“I instructed the force to bring the injured Maoist commander to hospital and did not waste time in interrogating him. Hidma developed gangrene and the infection could have been life-threatening,” said Pallava.

A member of the Maoists’ Malangir Area Committee, Hidma has over 10 cases registered against him for attacks on security forces in Sukma and Dantewada districts of Bastar region.

Pallava said that Hidma was injured in the forests near Nagarguda village in Sukma district.

“He was being given faith healing and local treatment. Despite the swelling and blackening of limbs, he was not allowed to get allopathic treatment,” Pallava said.

Police had been tipped off about an injured man whom they later identified as Hidma.

Pallava said the police could consider recruiting Hidma.

“First, we treat all Maoists as citizens of the country and they have a right to medical treatment. If they have committed any crimes, courts will later try and punish them. Secondly, it sends a positive signal to villagers that policemen are there to help them and thus boosts the perception of police and thirdly, Hidma can be an asset for future Naxal operations if he surrenders and joins the police force,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More