Raipur/Jagdalpur: An NIA special court in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur Tuesday sentenced 10 convicts to death in the Jhiram Ghati massacre case, in which 29 people were killed in a Maoist attack on a Congress party convoy May 25, 2013.
The ambush targeted the Congress ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in the Darbha region of Bastar. Among those killed were then Chhattisgarh Congress president Nandkumar Patel, senior leader Mahendra Karma, and former Union minister Vidyacharan Shukla.
The attack began with an IED blast, followed by the felling of trees to block the road and intense gunfire from the surrounding forest. Maoists separated political leaders from security personnel during the assault.
The trial, which lasted nearly 13 years, involved the recording of statements from 101 witnesses and the submission of extensive documentary evidence.
The National Investigation Agency had filed a charge sheet of approximately 1,000 pages in 2015.
The court originally tried 11 accused; one died during the proceedings, and the trial continued against the remaining 10. The 10 convicts sentenced to death are Pramila Modiyam, Sumitra Punem, Kosa Kawasi, Mukka Mandavi, Markami Deva, Aayat Markam, Bajami Sena, Chaitu Lekam, Joga Markami and Mahadev Naga.
All are currently lodged in central jail. The prosecution had sought the death penalty, while the defence argued for a lighter sentence. The judge noted that the death sentences are subject to confirmation by the High Court, and the convicts have the right to appeal within 30 days.
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Investigations revealed that the attack was planned weeks in advance. The Maoists had initially intended to target a security force outpost in the Minpa area of Sukma. However, at a meeting held in Pidia village of Bijapur in February 2013, attended by senior Maoist commander Devji, the plan was changed to strike the convoy in the Darbha region instead.
The Jhiram Ghati incident remains one of the deadliest attacks on political leaders in Chhattisgarh.
With the trial court verdict now delivered, attention has shifted to the High Court, where the convicts are expected to challenge the death sentences.
