Jheeram Ghati Naxal attack: NIA court convicts all 10 accused in 2013 massacre

New Delhi: A special NIA court has convicted all 10 accused for planning and executing the 2013 Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, which had wiped out almost the state's entire Congress leadership. Special Judge of the National Investigation Agency court in Jagdalpur, Abhay Singh Rajput, convicted the 10 accused, including 2 women, defence lawyer Arvind Choudhary said in Jagdalpur.

The order on the quantum of punishment has been reserved for September 16, he said, adding that statements of 101 witnesses were recorded during the trial, he said. We will appeal against the verdict in the higher court. We have not received the copy of the judgment. We will be able to give the grounds for appeal after receiving it," Choudhary added.

The convicted individuals are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumitra alias Sumitra Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandvi, Kosa Kavasi alias Kosaram, Aayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Anna alias Chamru alias Denga, and Mahadev Nag.


The incident had taken place in Bastar's Jheeram Ghati on 25 May, 2013, when the Congress leaders were holding a 'Parivartan rally' ahead of the 2013 state elections. According to reports from the time, around 250 naxals in civilian clothes had launched the attack. Eleven senior Congress party leaders were killed, including then state party chief Nand Kumar Patel and his son Dinesh Patel, former Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma, former Union minister V.C. Shukla, former MLA Uday Mudliyar and local Congress leader Yogendra Sharma. Several security personnel were also killed.

The main target was Mahendra Karma, who was leading Salwa Judum, a state-backed movement against Maoist insurgency which involved arming of local youths. It was later declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

The NIA took over the probe into the case and charged a total of 39 cadres of the banned outfit, including one Barse Sukka, alias Deva. Deva was then in-charge of the Darbha Divisional Committee and was appointed the overall commander to carry out the attack by the top leadership of the banned outfit, according to investigators. Deva had surrendered before Telangana Police in January this year.

(With Agency's Inputs)