HC upholds life term for 4 tied to Maoist ambush

RAIPUR: Maoists ambushes are a grave threat to

national security

, Chhattisgarh HC has said, and upheld the

life imprisonment

of four men convicted for a 2014 ambush that resulted in the deaths of 15 security personnel and four civilians.
The ambush occurred on March 11, 2014, near Tahakwara village, barely 4km from Tongpal police station in Bastar and 390km from Raipur. A road opening party (ROP) of CRPF and state police was targeted by 150-200 Maoists of Darbha Division led by Surendra, Deva, Vinod. The insurgents inflicted heavy casualties and looted six AK-47 rifles, an Insas LMG, eight Insas rifles, and two SLRs.
Some suspects were arrested during probe and four of them - Kawasi Joga alias Pada, Dayaram Baghel alias Ramesh Anna, Maniram Korram alias Boti and Mahadev Nag - were sentenced to life imprisonment by an NIA court on Feb 12, 2024. They filed an appeal in HC.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal said that these attacks are "not isolated criminal acts but part of a larger, well-orchestrated insurgency aimed at destabilising the state and undermining democratic institutions".

The court highlighted the pre-planned nature of the ambush, the use of sophisticated tactics and weaponry, and the intent to inflict maximum casualties. "These attacks are pre-planned, highly organised, and politically motivated, making them far more dangerous than common crimes," the court observed.
Such cases are difficult to prosecute due to challenges in identifying and apprehending naxalites, and the reluctance of villagers to testify due to fear of reprisal, HC noted, adding that circumstantial evidence, coupled with witness testimonies and recovery of arms and explosives, can be sufficient for conviction.
In this case, the court relied on testimonies of several witnesses, including some former Maoists, to establish the presence and involvement of the accused at meetings where the ambush was planned. The court also considered disclosure statements of the accused and recovery of incriminating materials. The court dismissed the appeals of the Maoists and confirmed the order of the NIA court.