The 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack was planned nearly three months in advance, with the CPI (Maoist) surveying the route, arranging food and logistics, mobilising cadres and conducting a rehearsal before ambushing a Congress convoy, according to the detailed order of a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur.
The evidence also showed that Patel and his son Dinesh were taken towards the hill after Patel identified himself as the state Congress president, and subsequently killed. The court rejected the defence argument that the accused had assisted Maoists out of fear. It held they had actively participated in the conspiracy.
The court sentenced all 10 convicts to death after a trial on September 16 and released the detailed order on Friday.
When the convoy reached Jhiram Valley , an explosion took place and Maoists opened fire from both sides. The Congress Parivartan Yatra left Sukma for Jagdalpur around 3 pm on May 25. The order records around 206 bullet marks on vehicles.
A special team was formed for the operation, with Barse Sukka alias Deva, then a member of the Darbha Divisional Committee, assigned responsibility. The conspiracy was hatched at a South Regional Unified Command meeting held between February 16 and 25, 2013, according to the NIA investigation.
