New Delhi, Dec 30 (UNI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted five accused, including four absconders, in a 2024 Chhattisgarh case relating to the procurement and supply of explosives to the banned CPI (Maoist) terror organisation.
Arrested accused Manish Sodhi, along with fugitives Sodhi Kesa, Manila, Madkam Kesa and Sodhi Lakhma, who all are residents of Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, have been indicted by the NIA under various sections of IPC, Explosive Substance Act and UA(P) Act. Manish Sodhi alias Hurra was arrested in July this year by NIA, which has so far chargesheeted seven persons in the case.
In its supplementary chargesheet filed in a NIA Special Court in Jagdalpur on Tuesday, the anti-terror agency has named all five for their active involvement in the procurement of explosives and other incriminating items for the proscribed outfit.
The five accused were found to be in unlawful possession of incriminating materials intended to be used by CPI (Maoist) PLGA Battalion No.01 members and the cadre active in the Jagargunda area of Sukma district. The Maoists had planned to prepare IEDs with the said materials for use against security forces, NIA investigations in the case have revealed.
The case was originally registered by the state police following the arrest of two accused, Mantosh Mandal and S. Nagarjun, on September 25, 2024. Based on their interrogation, the police had seized explosive materials, including tiffin bombs, detonators, potassium nitrate and aluminium metal powder, along with other incriminating material like packaging wrappers, Naxal literature and mobile phones.
Further investigation in the case had led to the establishment of a trail of terror funds and a supply chain linking the seized materials.
NIA, which took over the case from the local police in December 2024, is continuing its investigations.
