New Delhi [India], July 1 (HBTV): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted a key accused in the 2023 IED blast case that killed 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and their civilian driver in Chhattisgarh. The attack was carried out by members of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit in April the previous year.

According to an official release, the accused, identified as Bandra Tati alias Hunga, has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Explosive Substances Act, the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam, 2005, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act).

During the investigation, the NIA found that Bandra Tati was the president of the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangh (DAKMS), a frontal organisation of the CPI (Maoist), operating in Acheli village in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh.

He was involved in the transportation of IEDs used in the attack, which was carried out in Aranpur with the intent to loot weapons from security forces as part of a larger criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India and instil fear among the public.

The NIA further revealed that Tati was in possession of prohibited explosive materials, which he had received from senior cadres of the proscribed terrorist organisation. He had also attended conspiracy meetings organised by the CPI (Maoist), according to the agency’s findings.

As per the release, state police had initially chargesheeted 26 accused in 2023, before the NIA re-registered the case as RC-07/2024/NIA/RPR on February 23, 2024.

Further investigation in the case is underway.

(ANI)