India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jagdalpur on Wednesday ordered death penalty to 10 Maoists for their role in the 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack, which was one of the deadliest Maoist strike targeting political leader.
The 10 accused had been found guilty under various provisions of Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act. The quantum of punishment was announced on September 16, following their conviction by the court on September 5.
A Jagdalpur NIA court sentenced 10 Maoists to death for their role in the deadly May 25, 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack in Bastar, targeting a Congress convoy and resulting in multiple fatalities.
The accused were found guilty under various IPC provisions such as rioting, murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy and waging war against the state. Besides, charges under UAPA, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act also stuck.
The case pertains to the May 25, 2013 ambush in Jhiram Valley, Bastar, in which Maoists had attacked a Congress convoy returning from a ‘Parivartan Rally’ resulting in the killing of several prominent Congress leaders and others. The attack dealt a severe blow to the party’s leadership in Chhattisgarh.
The attack is being probed by NIA and is one of the most important cases of Maoist violence in the state. The trial has been going on for over a decade and the statements of 101 witnesses have been recorded. The 10 Maoists accused of perpetrating the attack include two women. One of the accused died in the course of the trial while several other people named in the case are still at large, the reports said.
The defence has said the verdict will be challenged in a higher court after going through the detailed judgment.
The Jhiram Ghati attack continues to mark one of the biggest episodes in the history of Left-Wing Extremism in Chhattisgarh. The 2013 ambush was one of the most devastating attacks as it targeted not just Congress leaders, but also civilians and security personnel.
