Additional details reveal the targeting of specific individuals, the role of the Salwa Judum campaign, and further charges filed in relation to the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack.
On Wednesday, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court handed down life sentences to 10 individuals for their involvement in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack. The incident took place on May 25, 2013, during Bastar’s Assembly elections, where more than 150 Maoists ambushed a Congress convoy in Jhiram Ghati, resulting in 29 deaths and around 28 injuries. Among the deceased were Congress’ state unit chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh, former MLA Uday Mudliyar, and party leader Mahendra Karma. The attack targeted Karma, who played a significant role in organizing the anti-Maoist state-sponsored militia Salwa Judum.
The Salwa Judum campaign was launched in 2005 to target villages seen as harboring Maoists. Armed vigilantes allegedly torched homes and forced villagers to flee to government-run camps, a practice translated as ‘purification hunt’ in the Gondi language. The state government presented Salwa Judum as a spontaneous movement by the region’s Adivasi community against the Maoists; however, human rights activists have accused the Salwa Judum of coercing residents into leaving their villages and supporting the group.
An investigation into the Jhiram Valley attack showed that it was primarily targeted at Karma. Apart from the Congress leaders, 10 security personnel were killed.
On September 25, 2014, the NIA filed a chargesheet against nine persons arrested in the case. The agency had filed a supplementary chargesheet on September 28, 2015, against 30 more accused persons. While 11 persons accused in the case were arrested, one of them died during trial. At least 28 more accused persons are wanted.
The 10 persons who have been sentenced to death are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumita alias Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandvi, Kosa Kavasi alias Kosaram, Aayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Sanna alias Chamru and Mahadev Nag.
Source:
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