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.

 The Chhattisgarh Congress has announced a three-day statewide agitation against rising electricity bills and the implementation of smart meters, culminating in a protest outside the Chief Minister's residence in Raipur on August 3.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) president Deepak Baij alleged that increasing electricity charges and higher consumer bills have placed an additional financial burden on households across the state. He said the party would intensify its campaign by taking the issue directly to the people.

Three-Day Protest Plan

The Congress has scheduled a phased statewide programme from August 1 to August 3.

On August 1, district Congress units will hold press conferences at district headquarters to highlight issues related to rising electricity tariffs, inflated power bills and complaints linked to smart meters.

On August 2, party workers will conduct a door-to-door outreach campaign across urban and rural areas. During the campaign, they will interact with electricity consumers and collect written representations against high power bills and the installation of smart meters.

The campaign will conclude on August 3, when Congress leaders and workers from across the state will gather in Raipur to stage a protest and lay siege to the Chief Minister's residence.

Congress Targets State Government

Deepak Baij alleged that electricity consumers have been receiving unusually high bills in recent months, affecting household budgets. He claimed that the introduction of smart meters and revisions in electricity charges have added to the financial pressure on families.

According to the Congress, the proposed agitation aims to build public opinion against what it describes as "expensive electricity" and to press the government to review power tariffs and provide relief to consumers.

Door-to-Door Campaign

As part of the outreach programme, Congress workers will visit homes to collect complaints from electricity consumers. The party plans to submit these representations to the government, demanding corrective measures regarding billing issues and electricity tariffs.

The Congress said the campaign would cover both rural and urban areas in an effort to mobilise public support on the issue.

Warning of Bigger Agitation

Baij said the Congress has been raising concerns over electricity prices and smart meters for several months and is now expanding the campaign into a statewide movement.

He warned that if the state government does not provide relief to consumers or review the electricity tariff structure, the party would intensify its agitation in the coming weeks.

The Chhattisgarh government has not yet responded to the Congress' announcement of the proposed protests.

A Congress-led protest march over the demolition drive in Chhattisgarh's Nakti village turned tense in Raipur on Wednesday after party workers and police were involved in a brief scuffle near Make in India Chowk. The protest, led by Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij, was organised to demand rehabilitation of families affected by the recent bulldozer action and culminated in a march towards Raj Bhavan.

The 14-kilometre 'Nakti Nyay Yatra' began from Nakti village and moved through VIP Road before heading towards the Governor's residence. As the procession advanced, police deployed barricades and heavy security arrangements at several locations, including Ram Mandir Chowk, where the march was expected to be halted.

Tension escalated near Make in India Chowk when protesters attempted to move past police barricades. Police personnel intervened to stop the march, leading to pushing and jostling between demonstrators and security forces. The confrontation caused temporary traffic congestion on the route, although the situation remained under control.

Earlier in the day, Congress leaders and displaced residents staged a symbolic sit-in on the road, sharing a meal together as part of the protest. Women from the affected families raised slogans demanding that they be rehabilitated within Nakti village itself rather than being relocated elsewhere.

Addressing the gathering, Congress leaders alleged that poor families had lost their homes in the demolition drive carried out on June 29 and accused the state government of failing to provide adequate rehabilitation. They said the party would continue its agitation until affected residents received permanent housing and justice.

Former MLA Vikas Upadhyay said the Congress would not end its movement until every displaced family was rehabilitated in Nakti village. He reiterated that the party's demand was for proper resettlement and an impartial inquiry into the demolition exercise.

During the march, Deepak Baij suffered a recurrence of an earlier foot injury. Party leaders said he experienced severe pain while walking and later proceeded towards Raj Bhavan by car. Despite the injury, the Congress leadership confirmed that a delegation would meet the Governor and submit a memorandum highlighting the demands of the displaced families.

The delegation includes several senior Congress leaders, including former MLAs Anita Yogendra Sharma, Anila Bhediya, former Raipur Mayor Pramod Dubey, and other party functionaries, along with representatives of the affected families.

Traffic restrictions were imposed for nearly five hours between Shri Ram Mandir Tiraha (Currency Tower) and Telibandha Police Station Tiraha on the service road due to the march. Traffic police advised commuters to use the main carriageway and avoid the affected stretch.

The protest follows weeks of political confrontation over the Nakti demolition drive. The Congress has consistently alleged that the operation displaced economically weaker families without ensuring proper rehabilitation. The issue has already been raised in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, and the party has indicated it will continue both legislative and public protests until its demands are addressed.

The Raj Bhavan march marks the latest phase of the Congress campaign, with the party seeking intervention from the Governor over rehabilitation, compensation, and an independent inquiry into the demolition action.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi made a one-day visit to Chhattisgarh on Sunday, stopping at Abhanpur near Raipur to address the Congress party's ongoing ten-day residential training camp for newly appointed district and city unit presidents. The visit lasted around four hours before Gandhi left for the airport — but not before pulling over at a roadside tea stall, where he had chai and fed biscuits to PCC chief Deepak Baij.

The camp, being held at Ashutosh-Alka Agarwal Mangal Bhavan in Abhanpur's Chandi Mor area, is part of the party's Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan — a ground-up organisational exercise ahead of future elections. Gandhi addressed district and city Congress presidents in a special session, focusing on booth-level strengthening, anti-BJP political narrative, and electoral strategy. Before that, he met senior leaders and former ministers for about 40 minutes, followed by a separate meeting with a delegation of around 70 people including former MLAs and MPs.

Sachin Patel, Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo, and Charandas Mahant were among the senior leaders present. The camp itself covers a range of sessions beyond political speeches — participants are being trained in yoga, martial arts, personality development, media handling, public outreach, and booth management. Leaders have also been assigned to stay in villages, understand ground-level conditions under MGNREGA, and engage with communities on issues like drug abuse.

The day, however, had its share of embarrassing moments for the party. State Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant was caught in the crowd crush at the venue gate and reportedly could not get inside — a video of the incident circulated widely. A party worker from Jaijapur in Sakti district had ridden a motorbike all the way to meet Gandhi, having earlier made a failed attempt to meet him in Delhi the same way.

There was also quiet resentment over the welcome posters. Three state Congress co-in-charges — Sajrita Letfhlang, Sampat Kumar, and Vijay Jangid — objected to their photos being missing from the posters while other leaders' pictures featured prominently. The matter, according to sources, has been flagged to the party high command.

BJP hit back swiftly. MLA Purandar Mishra questioned what Gandhi had come to teach Congress workers, sarcastically asking whether it was a training in corruption or recycled political gimmicks. He also took a dig over Lord Ram, noting the irony of Gandhi visiting Chhattisgarh — described as Ram's maternal home — given the Congress's past statements on the issue. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, attending a Yoga Day event in Ambikapur, remarked drily that people know what happens wherever Rahul goes.

Congress fired back just as quickly. Former MLA Vikas Upadhyay called Mishra an "accidental MLA" making unnecessary statements to stay relevant, adding that if BJP could not treat his apparent ment+al distress, Congress would be willing to step in.

The training camp has Patel scheduled to address participants in upcoming sessions as well, with the party positioning the exercise as its most serious attempt yet to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots before the next round of state and national elections.

In a significant organisational reshuffle, the Raipur Congress Committee on Saturday announced its new city executive, marking a fresh round of changes in the Chhattisgarh Congress setup. The new team was cleared after approval from state Congress chief Deepak Baij, following which Raipur city Congress president Kumar Menon formally constituted the new panel.

The Raipur Congress Committee has formed a 61-member executive, with the leadership indicating that the new structure has been designed to strengthen the party at the grassroots and improve coordination ahead of the next electoral cycle.

61 members named

According to the list released by the organisation, the newly announced Raipur Congress Committee executive includes 12 vice-presidents, 19 general secretaries, 20 secretaries and 10 executive members.

Party functionaries said the distribution of responsibilities was carried out with a clear focus on organisational balance and booth-level expansion. The structure reflects an attempt to build a wider leadership base within the city unit while assigning defined roles to office-bearers.

The latest development is being seen as part of a broader internal restructuring exercise underway in the state unit, where district and city committees are being recalibrated to improve efficiency and electoral readiness.

Fresh faces preferred

A key feature of the new Raipur Congress Committee is the visible inclusion of several new faces in the city organisation. At the same time, a number of leaders who held positions in the previous executive have not found a place in the new list.

The move is being viewed within the party as a signal that the leadership is looking to infuse fresh energy into the organisation and reward workers considered active at the ground level.

Sources indicated that the latest exercise was aimed at improving participation among younger and more active workers, while also addressing complaints of organisational stagnation in some segments of the city unit.

Focus on expansion

Party insiders said the reconstituted Raipur Congress Committee has been shaped with a strong emphasis on expanding the organisation and improving its local reach across wards and booth clusters.

The leadership is understood to have prioritised stronger coordination between senior office-bearers and grassroots workers. According to officials, the objective is to sharpen the party’s city-level presence and ensure quicker mobilisation on civic and political issues.

This is also expected to help the Congress improve its response mechanism on local governance matters, public campaigns and ward-level outreach.

Election strategy in view

The timing of the new Raipur Congress Committee assumes significance as the Congress begins preparing its political roadmap for upcoming elections. Party leaders are expected to use the revamped city structure to accelerate public engagement and strengthen campaign machinery.

The new executive is likely to play a central role in expanding voter outreach, coordinating ward-level activities and amplifying the party’s messaging in urban constituencies.

As per reports, the leadership wants the city unit to take a more active role in public contact programmes and issue-based mobilisation in the months ahead. This aligns with broader Government Updates and political recalibration being tracked under Latest News Today and India News Update.

Workers show enthusiasm

The announcement has generated visible enthusiasm among party workers in Raipur, with local leaders viewing the new appointments as an opportunity to revive momentum in the city unit.

Party workers said the reshuffle has created fresh expectations within the organisation, particularly among those who had been seeking a more active and accountable structure in the city Congress.

The inclusion of new office-bearers is also expected to widen participation and improve internal coordination across different organisational layers.

What comes next

The immediate focus for the Raipur Congress Committee will now shift to implementation. The newly appointed office-bearers are expected to begin organisational meetings, ward-level reviews and outreach planning in the coming days.

With the new executive in place, the Raipur Congress Committee is expected to concentrate on cadre activation, local issue campaigns and voter engagement as the Congress looks to consolidate its urban base.