10 get death in 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack on Congress convoy

In Chhattisgarh, a special NIA court on Wednesday convicted 10 Maoists and awarded them death on charges of criminal conspiracy and murder for their alleged involvement in the Jhiram Ghati attack in Baster  under seven of the 24 charges against them and fined them Rs 800 each. The sentence can be executed only after the high court's order and the convicts will remain in the central jail until then. They can appeal against the verdict in the high court within 30 days.  The NIA's investigation established that armed cadres of the banned organisation CPI (Maoist), acting in conjunction with its local divisions, were part of a criminal conspiracy to attack and kill senior Congress leaders and security personnel in the convoy of the Parivartan Yatra. This was done as part of the Maoists' Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign. The attack near the inter-district border of Bastar and Sukma districts was primarily aimed at Karma, it said. NIA lawyer Dinesh Kumar Panigrahi says, “In the Jhiram case, the court had earlier recorded the conviction. Today, arguments were heard on the question of sentencing, and the sentences were pronounced under the relevant sections. The maximum punishment, including the death penalty, has been awarded."

VIDEO | 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack case: All 10 convicts sentenced to death.

NIA lawyer Dinesh Kumar Panigrahi says, “In the Jhiram case, the court had earlier recorded the conviction. Today, arguments were heard on the question of sentencing, and the sentences were… pic.twitter.com/kY1VnYpgBg

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 16, 2026

In the 2013 attack, armed cadres of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) had surrounded and launched an attack on a Congress convoy, killing at least 27 people and almost wiping out the state party leadership. As many as 38 people had suffered injuries.NIA judge Ajay Singh Rajput convicted the accused under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The death sentence was awarded for criminal conspiracy (120 B) and murder (section 302) of the IPC.
The 10 who have been convicted are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumita alias Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandvi, Kosa Kavasi alias Kosaram, Aayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Sanna alias Chamru and Mahadev Nag. An 11th accused died during trial while another 28, named in the chargesheet as accused, have been listed as wanted.
On May 25, 2013, Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders, who were returning after attending a Parivartan Rally, on a national highway in Jhiram Ghati (valley), under the Darbha police station limits in Bastar district. Among those killed were senior Congress leaders, including then-state party chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh, former Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Mahendra Karma, former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla, and former MLA Uday Mudliyar. Several security personnel and civilians were also killed.
The NIA took over the investigation two days after the attack. On September 25, 2014, it filed a chargesheet against nine arrested accused before the NIA Special Court in Jagdalpur. On September 28, 2015, it filed a supplementary chargesheet against another 30 accused. A total of 11 accused were arrested in the case but one of them died during trial. At least 28 more accused who were charge sheeted are wanted in the case. The trial lasted more than a decade, with at least 294 hearings. After final arguments were completed this month, the NIA court delivered its judgment on September 5 followed by quantum of punishment on Wednesday.

(Freelance Journalist)