National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed chargesheet in MLA Bhima Mandavi murder case in the designated NIA Court, Jagdalpur, against 33 accused persons on October 1, 2020. Of these, 6 have been arrested, 22 accused persons are absconding and 5 accused have already expired.

 

The chargesheet has been filed against all 33 accused persons under Sections 120B, 121, 121A, 147, 148, 149, 307, 302, 396 of Indian Penal Code, Sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 18A, 20, 23, 38, 39 and 40 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Sections 25(1A) and 27(3) of Arms Act, Sections 3 and 5 of Explosive Substances Act.

 

As per the details given by NIA, the six arrested persons are Madka Ram Tati, s/o Hidiya Tati alias Idia Tati, resident of Dantewada; Bhima Ram Tati alias Bhima Tati, s/o Joga Tati residing at Dantewada; Linge Tati alias Kumari Linge Tati, d/o Late Joga Tati residing at Dantewada; Laxman Jaiswal alias Laxman Sao, s/o Late Vishnu Sao, residing at Dantewada; Ramesh Kumar Kashyap alias Ramesh Hemla, s/o Apu Ram Kashyap, residing at Dantewada; and Haripal Singh Chauhan alias Haripal Chauhan, s/o Late Shiv Nayak Chauhan residing at Dantewada.

 

NIA informed that the case relates to an IED blast followed by indiscriminate firing on April 9, 2019, near Shyamgiri village in Kuakonda Police Station of Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh, in which Bhima Mandavi, the then BJP sitting MLA from Dantewada was killed by operatives of CPI (Maoist), along with four police personnel of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF). The arms and ammunition of the martyred security personnel were also looted by the assailant Naxalites.

 

A case (Crime No. 11/2019 dtd.10-04-2019) u/s 147, 148, 149, 302, 396, 307 & 120B of IPC, sections 25 & 27 of Arms Act, section 3 & 5 of Explosive Substances Act, Sections 13(1)(a), 38 & 39 of UA(P) Act, 1967 was registered at police station Kuakonda in Dantewada district. Subsequently, NIA re-registered the case as RC-11/2019/NIA/DLI on 17.05.2019. However, actual investigation of the case could be taken over only on March 17, 2020 due to certain legal issues raised by State Government.

 

With no clues available initially, break-through was achieved in the case after examining several witnesses, surrendered Naxal cadres and rigorous technical analysis. During the course of investigation, NIA arrested six accused persons Madka Ram Tati, Bhima Ram Tati, Linge Tati, Laxman Jaiswal, Ramesh Kumar Kashyap and Haripal Singh Chauhan, who had provided shelter, food, logistic support, electric wires and steel containers to the Naxalites.

 

Investigation established that the decision to kill Bhima Mandavi, the then MLA of Dantewada, was taken at Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) level meeting held in December 2018 in West Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Later, another meeting at Darbha Division Committee level was held in the end of February, 2019, in the Gonderas Forest area of South Bastar, Dantewada, which was chaired by Giri Reddy alias Shyam alias Chaitu, DKSZC member and In-charge of Darbha Division.

 

NIA further informed that during the meeting, as part of Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC), it was decided to kill Bhima Mandavi, along with other political leaders, police personnel and disrupt the election process. Bada Deva alias Barse Sukka, Secretary of Darbha Division Committee, was made overall In-charge to carry out the objectives of TCOC.

 

Under the leadership of terrorist Bada Deva, cadres of CPI (Maoist) were mobilised and an IED on the Nakulnar-Bacheli road was placed near Shyamgiri village, where the annual fair was being organised. The place was pre-decided because the Maoist leaders believed that prominent political leaders, including Bhima Mandavi would attend the annual fair scheduled on April 9, 2019.

 

The NIA investigation also established that top Naxalite leadership of CPI (Maoist) namely Nambala Keshava Rao alias Gaganna alias Basavraj (General Secretary of the CPI (Maoist) and Secretary of the Central Committee were actively involved in the conspiracy along with Kattam Sudarshan alias Anand (Secretary of Central Regional Bureau), Mallojulla Venugopal alias Bhupati alias Sonu (Polit Bureau and Central Committee member), Thippari Tirupati alias Devji (Central Committee Member and Secretary, CMC), Roulla Srinivas alias Ramanna (CC member and Secretary, DKSZC), Hidma alias Hidmanna (DKSZC member and Commander, Battalion No 1), Ganesh Uike alias Pakka Hanumantu (DKSZC member and Secretary, South Regional Committee). Further investigation in the case is continuing.