Death sentence for all 10 convicts in 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack case

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh awarded death sentences to all 10 convicted in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack. 27 people were killed in the attack on 25 May 2013, including senior Congress leaders Vidya Charan Shukla, Nand Kumar Patel and Mahendra Karma.

“Special NIA Court, Jagdalpur today awarded death sentence to all 10 convicted accused persons, finding them guilty under Sections 147, 148, 149, 121, 121(A), 122, 341, 302, 307, 396, 397, 12 Penal. 1860), Sections 25 and 27 of the Act of Arms (, 1959), Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Sections 16, 18, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the UA (P) (Unlawful Activities (Prevention), Act), NIA Case, 1967 RC-06/2013/NIA/DLI (Jheeram Ghati Attack),” the NIA said in a report issued on Wednesday (September 16 2026).

Verdict guilty

Earlier on September 5, an NIA court convicted 10 persons — Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumitra alias Sumitra Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandvi, Kosa Kavasi alias Kosaram, Aayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Sng — Mahru alias for The Mahru alias killing.

During the trial, the agency informed the court that members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) attacked a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying Congress leaders. The attackers triggered a landmine blast that blocked the path of vehicles participating in the Parivartan Yatra. Indiscriminate firing and lobbing of grenades followed, resulting in 24 deaths on the spot and injuries to over 35 persons.

Among those killed on the spot were senior Congress leaders Nand Kumar Patel, Mahendra Karma, Uday Mudaliyar, Dinesh Patel and 10 policemen. Later, three victims, including former Union minister VC Shukla, succumbed to their injuries.

The attackers stole nine AK-47 rifles, seven INSAS rifles, two SLR cameras, four 9mm pistols and magazines before fleeing.

The NIA filed charges against 39 people, including two top Maoist leaders, Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji and Barse Dev, who surrendered recently. Although charged, they were wanted during the trial. The initial trial against the 10 accused ended after the recording of evidence from 101 prosecution witnesses. One accused died in judicial custody during the trial.

“The NIA investigation has established that armed cadres of the banned terrorist organization CPI (Maoist) in connivance with local committees and divisions were part of a criminal conspiracy to attack and kill senior Congress leaders and security personnel in the Parivartan Yatra convoy as part of their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC),” an NIA official said.

Congress protest

Opposition Congress leaders, who had earlier expressed displeasure with the guilty verdict, reiterated their stance on Wednesday (16 Sep 2026). They demanded that senior Maoist leaders involved in the conspiracy behind the Jheeram attack be booked and that the political conspiracy angle be probed.

“Those who hatched the conspiracy and those who carried out the massacre are still walking free. At whose behest, one wonders that the NIA has already blacked out the names of top Naxalite leaders; they have not even been charged. Neither the NIA nor the commission of inquiry has investigated the conspiracy. BJP leaders have consistently created obstacles to stall our trial and prevent the investigation from stalling. We still insist that justice remains incomplete as the investigation itself has not been completed,” said former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on X.

Chief Minister’s reaction

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the verdict as a victory for justice and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for eradicating Naxalism from the country.

“The death sentence awarded by the NIA court in Jagdalpur to the 10 Maoists found guilty in the case is a victory for justice. The manner in which the NIA has conducted this investigation is also to be commended. Today, under the iron determination and strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, we have freed the state from the clutches of armed Bastar Maoism, which is now suffering from the new Maoism. peace, trust and development,” said Mr. Sai.

The chief minister further said that the occasion is also a time for introspection, especially for those who play “politics on the corpses of tribal communities and those who provide intellectual and ideological support to terrorism”.

Meanwhile, human rights organization People’s Union for Civil Liberties expressed concern over the death sentence.

“The imposition of the death penalty in this case also raises serious concerns about unequal access to justice, individual culpability and the disproportionate impact of the harshest punishments on the poorest and most marginalized sections of society,” the PUCL said in a statement.

Published – 16 Sep 2026 21:28 IST