Ten convicted in 2013 Jheeram Valley Maoist attack that killed 27
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, has convicted ten Maoists in connection with the 2013 Jheeram Valley massacre in Sukma district. The attack, one of the deadliest Maoist strikes in India, resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people, including senior Congress leaders from the state.
The convicted individuals are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumitra alias Sumitra Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandvi, Kosa Kavasi alias Kosaram, Aayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Snna alias Chamru alias Denga, and Mahadev Nag. Court sources indicate that most of them held lower-ranked positions, such as commanders or armed guerrillas within the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation.
Arvind Choudhary, the defence lawyer for the convicted, confirmed the judgement and stated that the court will announce the quantum of punishment on September 16. He added that his clients intend to appeal the conviction before the High Court.
Shiv Singh Thakur, who was injured in the attack, expressed respect for the court's decision but noted that the NIA had largely carried out procedural arrests by focusing on low-ranking Maoists. “They had asked our leaders’ names before gunning those victims down. There was a definite conspiracy which needs to be unearthed; only then will we get closure,” he told The Hindu.
The case relates to the incident on May 25, 2013, when a large group of Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders near Jheeram Valley, about 10 km from the Darbha police station in Sukma. The convoy was returning from a 'Parivartan Yatra' rally, a political campaign organised by the Congress party against the then-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the state assembly elections.
According to the prosecution, Maoist cadres first detonated a landmine, creating a crater that halted the convoy. They then opened indiscriminate fire, hurled grenades, and carried out targeted killings. The assault claimed 24 lives on the spot, with more than 35 others injured; some of the injured later succumbed to their wounds.
Among those killed were Nand Kumar Patel, then president of the Chhattisgarh Congress, and Mahendra Karma, former Leader of the Opposition. Former Union minister Vidya Charan Shukla was critically injured and later died in hospital. Mr. Karma was reportedly the main target because he had led the Salwa Judum, a state-backed civilian movement against Maoist insurgency. The movement, which involved arming local youths, was later declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
The NIA took over the investigation and charged 39 cadres of the banned outfit. Investigators said Barse Sukka alias Deva, a top commander who surrendered before the Telangana Police in January this year, was the overall commander of the attack. He was then in charge of the Darbha Divisional Committee and was assigned by the Maoist leadership to execute the operation.
Monday's conviction marks a legal milestone in a case that has seen years of investigation and trial. However, survivors like Thakur have stressed the need for a deeper inquiry into the conspiracy behind the attack, pointing to the roles of higher-ranking leaders who remain unidentified. The court is scheduled to hear arguments on sentencing next week.
