Did NIA Charge Maoist Operative for Targeted Killing of Indian Army Personnel in Chhattisgarh?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NIA charges Maoist operative Ashu Korsa.
- Targeted killing of Indian Army personnel Motiram Achala highlights security issues.
- Evidence links Korsa to CPI (Maoist) conspiracy.
- Public safety concerns have escalated in the region.
- Ongoing investigation aims to uncover additional conspirators.
Raipur, June 7 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a charge sheet against a Maoist operative in relation to the targeted assassination of Indian Army personnel Motiram Achala in Chhattisgarh, as stated by the agency on Saturday.
The accused, Ashu Korsa, a resident of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, has been chargesheeted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 302 (murder) in conjunction with 120B (criminal conspiracy), along with various clauses of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – specifically Sections 16 (terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy), 20 (membership of terrorist gang or organization), 38, and 39 (supporting a terrorist organization).
The chargesheet was presented before the NIA Special Court in Jagdalpur.
According to the NIA, investigations indicated that Korsa was involved in a larger conspiracy orchestrated by the outlawed terrorist group CPI (Maoist) to eliminate Achala, who was visiting his hometown at the time of the incident.
On February 25, 2024, Achala was shot dead in broad daylight by armed Maoist militants while he was participating in a local fair in Useli village, located in the Amabeda area of Kanker district, alongside his family.
The horrific murder sent shockwaves throughout the region.
The case was initially logged by local authorities but was transferred to the NIA on February 29, 2024, due to its implications for national security.
During the investigation, the agency discovered that Ashu Korsa was an active armed member of the Kuyemari Area Committee under the North Bastar Division of the CPI (Maoist).
The inquiry further confirmed that Korsa, alongside another senior Maoist leader, had pinpointed Achala and orchestrated his assassination as a calculated strategy to instill fear in the local populace and dissuade individuals from associating with security forces.
The NIA apprehended Korsa in December last year concerning the conspiracy and announced that further inquiries are ongoing to identify additional conspirators and construct a comprehensive overview of the Maoist network implicated in this operation.