Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack: Special convicts all accused involved; Verdict on September 16
The NIA Special Court in Jagdalpur delivered its verdict on Saturday, 13 years after the Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. The court has reserved the announcement of sentences for 16 September 2026.
The top court convicted all ten accused, including two woman involved in the attack that took place on May 25, 2013, when armed Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders returning from a ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in Bastar ahead of the Assembly elections.
The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Abhay Singh Rajput. The defence meanwhile has hinted plans to appeal the verdict after reviewing the court’s judgment.
Around 29-32 people were killed in the attack, according to different reports. Those killed included then state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, former Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma and former Union minister Vidya Charan Shukla.
The trial spanned more than a decade, with at least 294 hearings and supplementary charge sheets against additional accused who were not convicted in this verdict. Overall, 101 witnesses were put under trial.
The convicts are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumita alias Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandvi, Kosa Kavasi alias Kosaram, Aayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Snna alias Chamru, and Mahadev Nag.
The investigation was initially helmed by the Bastar Police before being transferred to the NIA days after the attack. The agency filed its first charge sheet in September 2014, followed by a supplementary charge sheet a year later.
The case also saw a parallel investigation by judicial commissions and special investigating teams at different stages. During the trial, one of the 11 arrested accused died, while several other individuals named in the charge sheet were either killed in encounters or surrendered.
The NIA finally issued a public advertisement in 2023 seeking further information related to the case. or surrendered.</p><p>The NIA finally issued a public advertisement in 2023 seeking further information related to the case.