2 days ago
Jhiram Ghati Verdict Set After Thirteen Years of Investigation
In 2013, Maoists attacked a vehicle convoy in a place called Jhiram Ghati in Chhattisgarh.
The convoy carried Congress leaders traveling to a political rally.
Twenty-seven people were killed, including several important leaders and security personnel.
Mahendra Karma was believed to be the main target because of his role in Salwa Judum, a campaign against Maoists.
The National Investigation Agency began investigating the attack two days later.
It later charged 39 people, and the trial included at least 294 hearings.
A special court is scheduled to give its verdict on August 31.
Political parties still disagree about whether the full conspiracy was investigated.
Congress also says important Maoist suspects were removed from the case, while BJP leaders have disputed or challenged those claims.
A Maoist ambush in Jhiram Ghati on May 25, 2013, killed 27 people, including senior Congress leaders and security personnel.
The attack targeted a Congress Parivartan rally convoy near the Bastar-Sukma border, with Mahendra Karma identified as the main target.
The National Investigation Agency took over the case two days later and filed chargesheets against 39 accused in 2014 and 2015.
After at least 294 hearings and more than a decade of trial, an NIA court is scheduled to announce its verdict on August 31.
Congress and BJP leaders have exchanged allegations over whether a larger conspiracy was investigated and whether Maoist leaders’ names were removed from the case.
- Who
- The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) was accused of attacking a convoy of Congress leaders and security personnel; 27 people were killed.
- What
- A Maoist ambush on a Congress rally convoy killed senior leaders including Nand Kumar Patel, Mahendra Karma and Vidya Charan Shukla.
- Where
- Jhiram Ghati, on a national highway near the Bastar-Sukma inter-district border in Chhattisgarh.
- When
- The attack occurred on May 25, 2013, at about 4:15 p.m.; the NIA court is scheduled to announce its verdict on August 31.
- Why
- Mahendra Karma was identified as the main target because of his association with the Salwa Judum movement; the convoy was also conducting a pre-election Parivartan rally.
Congress allegations
BJP position and counterclaims
Whether the larger conspiracy was investigated
Congress allegations
Congress leaders, including Bhupesh Baghel, alleged that the NIA did not investigate the full conspiracy and questioned why the names of Ramanna and Ganapathi were removed from the FIR.
BJP position and counterclaims
Raman Singh said Baghel had not provided evidence for his allegations. BJP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda separately alleged that some Congress figures had provided inside information to Maoists, without naming anyone.
Status of the state investigation
Congress allegations
The Congress government formed a 10-member SIT in 2018, and a fresh FIR was registered in 2020 after a complaint alleged that the conspirators remained free and the NIA probe had not covered the wider conspiracy.
BJP position and counterclaims
The later status of the SIT investigation is unclear. The NIA sought to have the new case transferred to it, but the Supreme Court refused to interfere.
Key facts
- Deaths
- 27 people were killed.
- Attack date
- May 25, 2013, at approximately 4:15 p.m.
- Investigation agency
- The National Investigation Agency took over the investigation two days after the attack.
- Chargesheets
- The NIA filed a chargesheet against nine arrested people in 2014 and a supplementary chargesheet against 30 accused in 2015.
- Trial hearings
- At least 294 hearings took place over more than a decade.
- Weapons reportedly looted
- Police records listed one 9-mm pistol, two AK-47 rifles, 10 hand grenades, communication sets, magazines and ammunition.
- State SIT
- The Bhupesh Baghel government announced a 10-member SIT, which registered a fresh FIR against unknown persons in 2020.
Quotes
Bhupesh Baghel
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister who questioned the removal of two alleged conspirators from the case.
“I saw the Jhiram Ghati incident. I want to say with full responsibility… Jhiram Ghati’s incident details and inside information was not given by anyone else but the people among them (Congress) who wanted to get their own people killed and were in touch with Naxals.”
indianexpress.com
“Why is the Modi government saving this duo?”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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