NIA Court Convicts 10 in 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist Attack That Killed 29

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region has convicted 10 people in connection with the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack, which killed 29 people and virtually wiped out the state's Congress leadership.

The attack, one of the worst instances of left-wing violence in recent years, occurred on May 25, 2013, when Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders on a national highway in Jhiram Valley, under the Darbha police station limits in Bastar district. The leaders were returning from a 'Parivartan Rally'.

Among the deceased were senior Congress figures, including then-state party chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh, former Leader of the Opposition Mahendra Karma, former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla, and former MLA Uday Mudliyar. Several civilians and security personnel also lost their lives.

Special Judge Abhay Singh Rajput of the NIA special court in Jagdalpur convicted the 10 accused, including two women. The quantum of sentence is expected to be announced on September 16.

The case was initially registered by Bastar police but later transferred to the NIA due to its gravity. The NIA filed its charge sheet in September 2014 and presented 101 witnesses over the years. Two judicial commissions were also constituted to probe the attack.

The verdict, originally expected on August 31, was deferred to September 5 before being delivered.

The conviction has drawn political reactions. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged that the NIA suppressed facts and prevented the state government from investigating the case, while also accusing the previous BJP government of failing to provide security. Former Chief Minister Raman Singh countered, saying Baghel was politicising the issue.