Chhattisgarh: NIA court sentences 10 persons to death for 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack

They have been convicted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to criminal conspiracy and murder.

A National Investigation Agency court on Wednesday sentenced 10 persons to death for their role in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack that killed 29 persons, including senior Congress leaders, The Indian Express reported.

They were convicted on September 5 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to criminal conspiracy and murder.

On May 25, 2013, more than 150 Maoists had ambushed a Congress convoy in Bastar’s Jhiram Ghati ahead of Assembly elections. Besides the deaths, around 28 persons had been injured.

Among those killed were the Congress’ state unit chief Nand Kumar Patel and his son Dinesh, and former MLA Uday Mudliyar.

Party leader Mahendra Karma, who played an instrumental role in organising the anti-Maoist state-sponsored militia Salwa Judum, was also killed in the attack.

The campaign was launched in 2005 to target villages seen as harbouring Maoists. Armed vigilantes allegedly torched homes and forced villagers to flee to government-run camps.

Translated as “purification hunt” in the Gondi language, Salwa Judum was presented by the state government 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. With the tribal community split between both sides, there were several deaths over several months.

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.

Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.

Corrections and clarifications: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the 10 convicts were sentenced to life terms.