The 2013 Maoist attack on a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh’s Jhiram Valley, which claimed 27 lives, was the result of a detailed conspiracy involving months of planning, route reconnaissance, cadre mobilisation and a mock rehearsal, according to a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court judgment in Jagdalpur.
The court’s detailed order, which sentenced all 10 surviving convicts to death, reconstructs the attack on the basis of the NIA’s investigation and testimonies from survivors, injured personnel and eyewitnesses.
According to the verdict dated September 16 and uploaded on the court’s website on Friday, the conspiracy was allegedly planned around three months before the May 25, 2013 attack at a meeting of the South Regional Unified Command of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), held between February 16 and 25.
A special team comprising members of different Maoist military units and local cadres was subsequently formed to execute the operation targeting senior Congress leaders.
The Jhiram Valley area fell under the Darbha Divisional Committee of the Maoists’ South Regional Unified Command, which functioned under the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC).
According to the judgment, Barse Sukka alias Deva, then a member of the Darbha Divisional Committee, was assigned responsibility for the operation, while cadres from different areas were directed to assemble in Darbha.
The NIA said the attack was planned as part of the Maoists’ Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC).
Food and Logistics Arranged Before Attack
The investigation found that members of the Kanger Valley Local Committee, including Sonadhar, along with convicted accused Sumitra, Mahadev Nag and Mukka Mandavi, Jan Militia members, Sangham members and others, held several meetings to prepare for the attack.
According to the court order, around 25 sacks of rice, each weighing approximately 50 kg, were collected from Koleng village and stored at Mahadev Nag’s house in Kandanar.
At a meeting in Chandameta village on May 22, around 50 Jan Militia members were allegedly instructed to transport rice and cooking supplies to a designated location. The material was subsequently moved to a temporary Maoist camp in the Jhiram Nala area.
Villagers who assisted in transporting the supplies were allegedly required to remain with the Maoists on May 23 to prepare food, collect firewood and perform other tasks.
The Maoists also conducted reconnaissance of the Sukma-Jagdalpur national highway and selected the Jhiram Valley location for the ambush.
The court said a rehearsal was conducted in a forest near Ekkam-Chakpal six to seven days before the attack. It was allegedly carried out under the direction of Maoist leaders, including Surender, Jaylal, Deva, Vinod, Hemla Masa and Sonadhar.
On the nights of May 22 and 23, an armed group of around 100 Maoists, accompanied by Jan Militia members from the Kanger Valley area, established temporary command centres on both sides of the road.
The cadres were armed with AK-series rifles, self-loading rifles, light machine guns, .303 rifles, grenades and country-made firearms, according to the judgment.
Congress Convoy Trapped in Jhiram Valley
The Congress Parivartan Yatra was scheduled to hold a programme in Sukma on May 25, 2013. The meeting ended around 2.30 pm, after which party leader Ajit Jogi left by helicopter.
Other Congress leaders had lunch at the circuit house before departing Sukma around 3 pm for Keshloor. The convoy reached the Jhiram Valley area between approximately 3.30 pm and 4.20 pm.
The location was particularly vulnerable, with a hill on one side of the road and a deep gorge on the other.
According to the court order, the Maoists felled trees and placed them across the road to block the convoy. They had also planted explosives, including PETN and TNT, weighing approximately 8-9 kg.
Witnesses told investigators that a truck at the front of the convoy came under fire and stopped, causing the vehicles behind it to halt. The Maoists then opened fire from the surrounding area.
One witness estimated that around 150 to 200 Maoists, including women, were involved in the attack. Many were dressed in black and green uniforms, while others wore civilian clothes. The attackers allegedly communicated in Gondi and Hindi and carried firearms as well as bows and arrows.
Investigators later found around 206 bullet marks on the vehicles. The investigation also established that nine AK-47 rifles, seven INSAS rifles, four 9-mm pistols and two SLRs were looted during the attack.
Maoists Searched for Mahendra Karma
Witness testimonies recorded in the judgment describe how the attackers searched for specific political leaders after surrounding the convoy.
One witness said the Maoists repeatedly asked, “Where is Karma?” After security personnel ran out of ammunition, around 60 to 70 Maoists reportedly came down from the hill and began searching the vehicles and people.
Mahendra Karma eventually surrendered.
Another eyewitness said Karma and Phoolo Devi Netam stood up when the firing resumed and told the attackers they were surrendering. Karma identified himself and appealed to the Maoists to stop firing at innocent people.
According to the witness account, Karma was taken towards the hill along with a woman cadre and his driver, Bittu. He was allegedly shot, attacked with knives and struck on the head with a stone. A witness who was some distance away said they heard three or four gunshots.
The judgment states that the Maoists celebrated Karma’s death.
Karma had been a prominent leader of the Salwa Judum anti-Maoist campaign and, according to the NIA investigation, had long been a target of the Maoist organisation.
Nand Kumar Patel and Son Also Killed
Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh Patel, Kawasi Lakhma, a personal security officer and driver Dasharam were taken away by another group of around 15 to 20 Maoists.
Around 45 minutes later, commander Vinod allegedly arrived carrying an AK-47. When Patel questioned him, Vinod allegedly ordered the cadres to tie up Patel and his son.
Lakhma and the driver were eventually told to leave. They initially refused to go without Patel and his son but eventually complied after being threatened. Lakhma later reached Darbha police station on a motorcycle.
The NIA concluded that Deva and his group subsequently killed Nand Kumar Patel and Dinesh Patel.
Another witness, Rajiv Narang, was travelling towards Darbha to welcome the Parivartan Yatra when the first explosion occurred. His vehicle came under fire, injuring him and another person. They managed to escape, reached Darbha police station and informed the police about the attack.
Several other survivors also escaped through the forest and reached the police station.
Another witness, Malkeet Singh Gaindu, who was travelling in a vehicle with Karma and other Congress leaders, said Vinod communicated over a walkie-talkie and asked whether Nand Kumar Patel was present.
The witness said Vinod subsequently announced that the “mission” concerning Karma had been completed.
According to the judgment, the firing continued for several hours, with witnesses placing its end between approximately 6 pm and 6.30 pm.
The attackers also searched vehicles after the firing and allegedly took away mobile phones, wallets and weapons.
The court order states that the spokesperson of the DKSZC later sent an email and voice message to media organisations claiming responsibility for the attack and saying it had been carried out to punish Mahendra Karma.
Investigation, Chargesheet and Trial
Following the attack, a case was registered at Darbha police station under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The NIA filed its chargesheet in 2014 and a supplementary chargesheet in 2015 against 32 accused who were absconding.
Joga Madkami was arrested by the NIA in June 2016, while Sumitra alias Sumitra Punem alias Sumitra Tati alias Aayti Modiyam was arrested in November 2019 and subsequently included in the case.
During the trial, the defence argued that the accused were villagers who had assisted the Maoists out of fear. It also cited their lack of previous criminal records, their nearly 12 years in judicial custody and the possibility of their rehabilitation.
The prosecution, however, argued that the case fell within the “rarest of rare” category and sought the maximum punishment.
After examining the evidence, the court concluded that the accused had actively participated in the conspiracy and activities associated with the banned CPI (Maoist).
The court held that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating factors and sentenced all 10 surviving convicts to death.
The convicts are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam, Sumitra Punem alias Aayti Modiyam, Mukka Mandavi, Kavasi Kosa alias Kosaram, Aayata Madkam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Sanna and Mahadev Nag.
The judgment also noted that Tippiri Tirupati alias Devji and Barse Sukka alias Deva were among the 27 accused who remain absconding in the case.
