Jhiram Ghati verdict: 10 Maoists sentenced to death, families of victims and accused unhappy

A special NIA court in Bastar has awarded the death sentence to 10 Maoists convicted in the Jhiram Ghati attack case, a verdict that has left families of both the accused and at least one prominent victim dissatisfied.

The 2013 ambush saw more than 150 Maoists target a Congress Parivartan Rally convoy, killing several people, among them senior party leader and former MLA Mahendra Karma, state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel and his son Dinesh, and former MLA Uday Mudliyar.

The trial stretched beyond a decade and involved at least 294 hearings. After final arguments concluded this month, the NIA court delivered its judgment on September 5, with the quantum of punishment pronounced on Wednesday.

Those sentenced to death are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumita alias Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandvi, Kosa Kavasi alias Kosaram, Aayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Sanna alias Chamru and Mahadev Nag. An 11th accused died during trial, while 28 others named in the chargesheet remain wanted.

Defence counsel Arvind Choudhary said the families of the convicts are not satisfied and that an appeal will be filed in the High Court within the stipulated 30-day period.

Guddu, brother of convict Kosa Kavasi, claimed his brother and Mandvi had been falsely implicated. He said both men were busy with preparations for a family wedding when the attack took place and were not present at the scene. "Those who were involved have surrendered and are living freely, while those who were not involved are paying the price," he said, adding that the families are distressed.

Disappointment also came from the family of Mahendra Karma. His daughter Tulika questioned why Maoists who have since surrendered were not among the convicts. She said the family was not satisfied with the outcome and did not feel safe, and asked on what basis those who surrendered had been removed from the list of the accused.

She alleged that Barse Deva, commander of the surrendered Battalion 1 of the Maoist army, executed the attack, and demanded a narco test of then chief minister Raman Singh, his cabinet colleagues and senior officials in charge at the time.

Among those chargesheeted but still listed as wanted are Devuji, a CPI (Maoist) politburo member who surrendered in Telangana in February this year; Barse Deva, who surrendered in January; and Ganesh Uikey, a central committee member killed in a December 2025 encounter in Odisha.

Asked whether surrendered top Maoists such as Devuji and Deva would ever face trial in the case, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma said states have their own surrender policies and that decisions were taken based on the situation at the time. Further decisions would also follow the surrender policy, he said.

A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said both Deva and Devuji can be prosecuted under the rehabilitation policy. Surrender does not automatically lead to the withdrawal or closure of a criminal case, the official said, and the policy does not provide for automatic acquittal or termination of proceedings. Any withdrawal from prosecution must follow applicable law and remains subject to the approval of the competent court.

Under the mechanism, a district-level committee examines the cases registered against an individual, including the nature and gravity of the offences and conduct after surrender. Its recommendations may then be reviewed by the police headquarters and the home department before being placed before a cabinet sub-committee. Where central laws are involved or the Centre's consent is legally required, the prescribed procedure for obtaining approval is followed.