Bhopal, April 8 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged three additional individuals in connection with the supply of weapons and ammunition to the banned CPI (Maoist) group in Chhattisgarh, as announced on Tuesday.
In a supplementary charge-sheet filed with the NIA Special Court in Jagdalpur, the agency identified Sudhir Tripathi, Suraj Nishad (aka Karan), and Hungo Madkami (aka Hunga), an armed member of the CPI (Maoist).
These individuals face charges under various provisions of the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
With this latest development, the total number of people charged in this case has risen to eight. Five others had already been charged earlier after their arrest in Bhairamgarh Tehsil, Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. Their trial is currently ongoing.
According to the NIA’s investigation, Sudhir and Suraj played a key role in assisting the previously arrested accused in acquiring a revolver and ammunition from Uttar Pradesh, which were meant for delivery to Maoist members in Bhairamgarh. The two were taken into custody in October last year.
In an earlier breakthrough, the NIA apprehended Sudhir Tripathi and Suraj Nishad, both residents of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, for their involvement in supplying arms to the Maoists.
Four others - Santosh Kumar Gupta, Prince Sharma, Vijay Sahu, and Hunga Madakami - were detained in January 2023 when local police in Chhattisgarh confiscated the weapons and registered the case under sections of the Arms Act, UAPA, and IPC.
During a search, police recovered a revolver marked ‘USA’ and two foreign-origin mobile phones - one found with Sharma and the other with Sahu.
The NIA took over the case in January last year and uncovered that Sudhir and Suraj were actively transporting arms from Uttar Pradesh to Maoist cadres in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
The investigation further revealed a conspiracy among them to provide logistical support to the outlawed group.
The chain of events began on January 11, 2023, when Bhairamgarh police received a tip-off about Santosh Gupta from Sanjaydhara, suspected of supplying arms to Maoist leader Hunga Madakami.
Investigations are ongoing, according to the NIA.
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