Why Were Three Kerala Maoist Guerrillas Charged by NIA in the 2023 Forest Office Attack?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The NIA charged three Maoist guerrillas from the Kabani Dalam squad.
- The incident involved an attack on a Kerala Forest office.
- Charges include violations of multiple laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
- The guerrillas were part of a larger anti-national agenda.
- Four attackers were arrested, with one surrendering to police.
Ernakulam, May 31 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against three members of the Kabani Dalam squad for their involvement in an attack on a Kerala Forest office. This incident, which involved the restraint of an official and the pasting of Maoist posters in Wayanad in 2023, was confirmed by an official on Saturday.
The individuals charged include C.P. Moideen alias Girish alias Salil alias Sajan, Manoj P.M. alias Ashique, and P.K. Soman alias Shahid alias Akbar. They were part of a larger group of five Maoists who attacked the Kerala Forest Department Corporation (KFDC) office, shouting slogans in line with their violent anti-national agenda, as detailed in the chargesheet.
The assailants restrained a KFDC Manager, causing significant damage to public property and equipment with iron rods. They also shouted Maoist slogans and pasted CPI (Maoist) posters on the premises, according to the chargesheet filed on Friday.
The charges against the guerrillas include violations of various sections of the IPC, the Arms Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the Kerala Forest Act, 1961, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, noted an NIA official.
The accused, along with two other armed Maoists, unlawfully assembled and criminally trespassed into the KFDC office on September 28, 2023, as stated in the chargesheet.
Following the attack, four of the assailants were apprehended by law enforcement, while one surrendered to the police.
Upon taking over the case, the NIA discovered that C.P. Moideen, Manoj P.M., and P.K. Soman, along with H. S. Ravindra alias Kotehonda Ravialias alias Manoj alias Ramu and Santhosh Kumar A alias Sandhosh Kumar alias Raja, were affiliated with the Military Wing People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) of CPI (Maoist).
They established a local guerrilla unit known as Kabani Dalam in the forests of Wayanad, actively engaging in acts of terrorism aimed at instilling fear in the public and undermining the government. The attack on the KFDC was part of their violent agenda, according to the NIA.