Three Individuals Sentenced to 7 Years for Supplying Arms to Maoists in Chhattisgarh
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Synopsis
A special court in Chhattisgarh has sentenced three men to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for supplying explosives to Maoists for attacks on police and CRPF. They were arrested in Sukma district while waiting to deliver materials to the banned group.
Key Takeaways
- Three men sentenced to seven years in prison.
- Supplied explosives to Maoists for attacking police.
- Apprehended by NIA and state police.
- Evidence included electronic detonators and Cordtex wire.
- Related to CPI (Maoist) activities in Chhattisgarh.
Raipur, April 24 (NationPress) A specialized court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Chhattisgarh has imposed a sentence of seven years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) on three individuals, along with a monetary fine, for providing explosives and other supplies to Maoists intended for assaults against police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The trio was taken into custody on March 8, 2023, in Belpocha village within the jurisdiction of Konta Police Station in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.
They were caught while waiting to deliver explosive materials to members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) militant group.
The accused, named Semal Deepak, Nara Bhaskar, and Telam Mutta, all hailing from Sukma district, have been found guilty and sentenced under multiple provisions of the UA(P) Act and the Explosive Substances Act. Their sentences will run concurrently, resulting in a total of seven years of imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 500 each.
Should they fail to pay the fine, the convicts will serve an additional month of RI as mandated by the court. The three men were identified as over-ground operatives for the CPI (Maoist), apprehended by state police, who later confiscated an electronic detonator, Cordtex wire (a type of detonating cord), and gelatin from them.
A fourth suspect, Putti Pappy Reddy, was also arrested later but has since been acquitted.
NIA inquiries uncovered that the trio maintained contact with active Maoist members and were engaged in sourcing and supplying explosives and necessary items for these militants. The NIA, which took charge of the investigation from state police in February 2024, uncovered both verbal and documented evidence that corroborated the case against the defendants, resulting in their conviction.
Authorities seized one motorcycle (number CG-26J-0754), two mobile phones, twenty batteries, forty-five pieces of electronic detonators, forty-three pieces of gelatin rods, Cordtex wire, electrical wiring, and a red Naxalite banner inscribed with Konta Area Committee BCP Maoism.
The suspects were acting under instructions from Vetti Bhima, a Maoist commander, and were anticipating the arrival of Rama, a local from Gompada, to deliver the explosives and materials for distribution to Maoist members. The materials were reportedly intended for an impending attack on the Central Reserve Police Force and local police to steal their firearms and ammunition.
