Jagdalpur, September 5 (Daily Kiran) : A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Jagdalpur has delivered a significant ruling, convicting ten individuals associated with the banned organization CPI (Maoist) in connection with the Zheeram Valley attack.
On Saturday, the court found all ten defendants guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
This case stems from a deadly attack on May 25, 2013, targeting the Congress party’s “Parivartan Yatra” convoy in the Darbha region of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district. The assault occurred on National Highway 221 and specifically targeted Congress leaders and security forces.
According to the NIA, the attackers deployed IEDs, opened fire indiscriminately, and launched grenades during the ambush. The attack resulted in the immediate deaths of 24 civilians and police personnel, with more than 35 others sustaining serious injuries. Tragically, three more individuals later succumbed to their wounds.
Following the attack, Maoist cadres reportedly looted weapons, ammunition, walkie-talkies, mobile phones, and other items from the deceased and injured. The NIA filed its first charge sheet on September 25, 2014, followed by a supplementary charge sheet on September 28, 2015, naming a total of 39 accused.
Throughout the investigation, the NIA recorded statements from 101 prosecution witnesses. Initially, the trial focused on the ten defendants, who have now been convicted. The agency’s findings revealed that armed cadres of the CPI (Maoist) conspired with local committees and divisions to carry out the attack as part of a “Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign,” aiming to assassinate senior Congress leaders and security personnel participating in the Yatra.
Sentencing for the convicted individuals will be announced separately. This ruling marks one of the most significant developments in the Zheeram Valley attack case, which shocked the nation in 2013.
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