New Delhi [India], April 8 (HBTV): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a fresh chargesheet naming six more accused, including three absconders, in connection with the 2024 case related to the attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Chhattisgarh by Naxals.
The accused named in the chargesheet include Awalam Bhima, Madkam Nanda and Madkam Deva alias Ratan. Among them, three are absconders, including a Special Zonal Committee (SZC) member. All six have been charged under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
With this supplementary chargesheet, the total number of accused in the case has risen to 23. The agency had earlier chargesheeted 17 Naxals in June last year.
A dozen CRPF personnel were injured in the attack on the Dharmavaram camp by Naxals armed with automatic weapons and indigenously manufactured barrel grenade launchers.
Besides the Dharmavaram camp, the Naxal cadres had simultaneously attacked two more CRPF camps at Chintawagu and Pamed in Bijapur district on January 16, 2024.
Investigations revealed that the coordinated attacks were aimed at targeting security personnel and looting weapons and equipment from the camps as part of a larger conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India.
The NIA found that the attackers were in possession of prohibited arms, ammunition and indigenously manufactured explosive materials during the assault.
Further investigations revealed that the Naxal group had created a dummy replica of the targeted camps to train and motivate its cadres. They had also conducted reconnaissance of the camps before executing the attacks.
The NIA, which took over the case on February 9, 2024, had re-registered it against 21 accused persons and 250–300 unidentified armed Naxal cadres. The agency said the investigation is ongoing as part of efforts to dismantle the Naxal network.
(ANI)