2023 Army jawan's murder: NIA chargesheets 5 Maoists

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a supplementary chargesheet against five CPI (Maoist) cadres for their alleged role in the murder of an Indian Army personnel in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district last year.

The chargesheet, submitted before the NIA Special Court in Jagdalpur, names Bhawan Lal Jain, Suresh Kumar Salam, Shailendra Kumar Baghel, Anduram Salam and Sonu Hemla. They have been booked under the IPC, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the agency said in a statement.

According to the NIA, Army jawan Motiram Achala was shot dead by armed Maoists in February 2023 while visiting his family. He was targeted at a village fair in Useli, Amabeda area of Kanker district.


Investigations revealed that Jain, Salam, Baghel and another Salam were working as overground supporters of the Maoists, while Hemla was an armed cadre of the Kuyemari Area Committee in North Bastar. Along with a senior Maoist leader, they allegedly identified Achala and executed the attack at the local bazar.

The agency said all five were arrested in March 2024 as part of the conspiracy probe, which it described as an attempt to spread fear among local residents. Earlier, in June, the NIA had chargesheeted another accused, Ashu Korsa, after taking over the case from state police in February this year.