Raipur: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its operations into cases related to CPI (Maoist) across the states. In latest development the sleuths of the agency have raided multiple locations in the insurgency-hit state of Chhattisgarh in connection with a plot hatched by the cadres of the far left group to launch a major assault on the security forces in March last year.
In the searches conducted on Tuesday, September 02 the officials of the agency raided multiple premises linked to suspected Over Ground Workers (OWGs) of CPI (Maoist) associated with various frontal groups of the outfit, in conflict-ridden zone of Narayanpur districts.
Premises of four suspected members of the frontal organisation were raided in sensitive areas of Kastturmeta, Madali and Malkal village on Tuesday, informed the agency in a press note issued on early morning Thursday, September 04.
The case pertains to an incident of March last year when cadres, supporters of the proscribed group had blocked the Narayanpur-Orchha main road by digging various trenches, cutting trees, and placing small and larger rocks at several place with an intend to kill police parties and loot arms. A total of 35 accused have been booked by NIA in the case.
The NIA’s investigation into the case has revealed involvement of a few OGWs/supporters of the Maoist’s outfit suspected to be members of “Maad Bachao Manch”, a frontal organisation of the outlawed group. The suspected members were believed to have assisted CPI (Maoist) in orchestrating the crime.
The agency’s investigation into the case has further unveiled that Maad Bachao Manch organises protest against encounters and helps setup new camps for the proscribed organisation, besides providing them with logistic support.
NIA Conducts Searches in Chhattisgarh CPI (Maoist) Road Blockade Case pic.twitter.com/45OVmq7l4n
— NIA India (@NIA_India) September 4, 2024
“They (Maad Bachao Manch) also organise various meetings under the banner of “Maad Bachao Manch” for propagation of the CPI (Maoist) ideology. Members of the frontal outfits also work to deliver essential material etc. to the Maoist cadres,” read the NIA’s release further. Notably, the agency has already charge-sheeted Lakhma Ram alias Lakhma Korram, a leader of Maad Bachao Manch at Nadipara protest site, Orchha in connection with the case.
Involvement of members of frontal groups in various schemes linked to CPI (Maoist)
It is worth mentioning here, that the NIA in June this year had filed a charge-sheet against as many as four cadres of the CPI (Maoist) in connection with a case linked to abduction and killing of a secret police personnel (Gopniya Sainik) in December last year.
The NIA’s investigation into the case has revealed that the charge-sheeted accused are associated with various frontal outfits of the CPI (Maoist) such as “Moolvasi Bachao Manch” and Chetna Natya Mandali, a cultural wing of the proscribed Maoist group
NIA Chargesheets 4 CPI (Maoist) Cadres in Chhatisgarh Gopniya Sainik Murder Case pic.twitter.com/yDUe3NU1HL
— NIA India (@NIA_India) June 21, 2024
In the chargesheet filed before a special NIA court in June, the agency had named Guddu Kursam alias Vishnu Kursam, Hunga Mandvi alias Sunil Mandvi, Dula Kursam along with a juvenile, all residents of Bijapur district for the abduction and murder of Gopniya Sainik, Kishan Kurasam. The accused were charge-sheeted under the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
It must be noted that the premiere investigative agency has amplified its efforts in cracking down on OGWs/supporters/sympathisers and cadres of the banned outfit group in connection with a number of cases investigated by the agency in the state marred by Maoist violence since long.
Recent raids conducted by the agency in Chhattisgarh
- The sleuths of the agency on June 26 raided a dozen locations in connection with a case linked to brutal murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ratan Dubey in November last year. Searches were carried out at several premises linked with various suspects and Over Ground Workers (OWGs) and supporters of the Bayanar Area Committee under the East Bastar Division of the outlawed CPI Maoist leading to the recovery of several mobile phones and cash amounting to around Rs 10 lakh along pamphlets and literature linked to the Maoists.
- Raids were conducted at half a dozen locations in remote villages of Amabeda, Jiwalamari, Mujalgondi, Kalmucheche in Kanker district in the last week of June. Several digital devices, printer and cash was recovered during the searches.
- The agency’s officials have carried out searches as part of their investigation in Chhattisgarh assembly polls Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast case. NIA team conducted searches at premise linked with nine suspects in the Maoist infested sensitive areas of the remote Chhotegobra village under Mainpur police station on Saturday, August 31. Earlier officials had also carried out a similar search operation in the Chhotegobra village in June this year leading to recovery of Rs 298000 in cash alongside mobile phones of suspected individuals believed to be working as Over Ground Workers (OGWs)/supporters of the banned Maoist outfit.
Other than the raids conducted, the agency has also charge-sheeted over a dozen accused in connection with separate case being investigated by the agency in the state since June this year, underscoring amplified operations against the outlawed outfit.
