2013 Jheeram Ghati attack: NIA court awards death to 10 convicts

New Delhi: A special NIA court in Jagdalpur on Wednesday awarded death penalty to all the 10 convicted persons, having found them guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in which top leadership of Chhattisgarh Congress was wiped out at Jheeram Ghati in 2013. One of the arrested and chargesheeted accused died in judicial custody.

On September 5, the trial court had found the 10 accused persons guilty and convicted them under various sections of UAPA, IPC, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, reserving the award of the quantum of punishment. "The case relates to the planned attack by armed cadres of the proscribed organisation CPI (Maoist) on the convoy of the INC Party's 'Parivartan Yatra' in Jheeram Ghati, Darbha, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, on NH-221 on May 25, 2013," NIA said in a statement.

The case relates to an IED blast, indiscriminate firing and grenade detonation, resulting in on-the-spot death of 24 innocent civilians and police personnel, with more than 35 civilians and police personnel severely injured. Three of the injured later succumbed to their injuries. CPI (Maoist) cadres also looted arms and ammunition, walkie-talkie sets, mobile phones and other belongings from the deceased and victims, as per NIA.