A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jagdalpur has convicted all 10 surviving accused in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack case, bringing a major legal development in one of Chhattisgarh’s most consequential political violence cases more than 13 years after the massacre.
The court delivered its verdict on September 5 after a prolonged trial. Eleven accused had originally faced proceedings, but one died during the trial. The court has scheduled September 16 for deciding the quantum of punishment. The prosecution examined 101 witnesses during the proceedings.
The conviction has, however, reignited a political dispute in Chhattisgarh. Congress leaders have welcomed the court proceedings but questioned whether the wider conspiracy behind the attack was investigated. The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the NIA probe and described the verdict as evidence of the investigation and judicial process.
What Happened in the Jhiram Valley Attack?
The attack took place on May 25, 2013, when a Congress convoy returning from a Parivartan Yatra in Bastar was ambushed by Maoists in Jhiram Valley in the Darbha area.
Several senior Congress leaders, including Nand Kumar Patel, Mahendra Karma and former Union minister Vidya Charan Shukla, were among those killed. Current reports put the death toll at 29, while dozens of others were injured.
The attack devastated the top leadership of the state Congress and became a deeply sensitive issue in Chhattisgarh politics.
10 Accused Convicted After Long Trial
The NIA took over the investigation after the attack and subsequently filed chargesheets against Maoist cadres accused of involvement in the conspiracy and assault.
The trial eventually proceeded against 11 accused. One died during the proceedings, leaving 10 to face the final judgment.
According to current reports, the prosecution presented documentary and other evidence and recorded the statements of 101 witnesses. The final arguments were completed on August 10, after which the court reserved its decision.
The defence has indicated that it is not satisfied with the verdict and intends to challenge the decision before a higher court.
Bhupesh Baghel Questions NIA Probe
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said he respected the court's decision but argued that the verdict did not answer questions surrounding the alleged larger conspiracy.
Baghel has questioned why senior Maoist leaders allegedly named in connection with the case were not brought before the court and why the alleged political conspiracy and security-related questions were not fully examined.
He also referred to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted during the previous Congress government and alleged that the NIA had opposed the state probe. Congress leaders have described the outcome as “incomplete justice”.
These are political allegations and not findings established by the September 5 judgment.
BJP Defends NIA Investigation
The BJP has rejected Congress's criticism and welcomed the convictions.
Chhattisgarh BJP president Kiran Deo said the verdict reflected the strength of the NIA investigation and the impartiality of the judiciary. He also questioned Baghel over his earlier claims of possessing evidence connected with the Jhiram case, asking what evidence he had produced during his tenure in government. (Vocal TV)
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma similarly argued that the case had been investigated by the NIA and that the court's verdict supported the agency's findings.
Congress Seeks Answers on Larger Conspiracy
Congress leaders have maintained that convicting the 10 accused does not settle their questions about who planned the attack and whether there were lapses in security arrangements.
PCC chief Deepak Baij and other Congress leaders have alleged that the people who planned the attack were not brought before the court. Families and survivors have also continued to seek clarity over the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Such claims remain contested. The September 5 conviction establishes the criminal liability of the accused who faced trial; it does not by itself establish the separate political-conspiracy allegations raised by either side.
Sentencing on September 16
The next major development in the case will be the court's decision on punishment.
With all 10 surviving trial accused now convicted, the court is scheduled to hear the matter of sentencing on September 16. The defence is also expected to pursue legal remedies against the conviction.
The verdict therefore closes one stage of the 13-year-old case while leaving the wider political debate over the attack, its planning and the security arrangements surrounding the convoy far from settled.
