India, Sept. 8 -- Senior Maoist commander and central committee member Mandvi Hidma has reportedly been appointed as secretary of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKZC), one of the most powerful decision-making bodies of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), according to a senior Maoist functionary who surrendered in Andhra Pradesh two months ago.

Hidma is the first resident of Bastar region, the only place where Maoists still have some influence left, to head the committee.

A senior Chhattisgarh police functionary said that surrendered cadre, Kamlesh, a member of the South Zonal Committee, gave this information during his interrogation by the Andhra Pradesh police.

According to police, Kamlesh had escaped during the Thulthuli encounter ...