A special NIA (National Investigation Agency) court in Chhattisgarh delivered its verdict on Monday, sentencing four individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the Tehakwada ambush case. The case revolves around a deadly attack on security forces by CPI (Maoist) insurgents.

The convicted individuals, identified as Mahadev Naag, Kawasi Joga, Dayaram Baghel, and Maniram Madiya, are natives of Bastar and Sukma districts in Chhattisgarh.

According to NIA investigations, the accused were part of an ‘unlawful association’ operating under the command and directives of senior leaders of the banned terrorist organization, CPI (Maoist).

The ambush, which occurred in March 2014 in the area of Tongpal Police Station, Sukma district, resulted in the tragic deaths of eleven CRPF personnel, four state police personnel, and one civilian. Approximately 100 armed Naxals orchestrated the attack, ambushing a Road Opening Party (ROP) comprised of state police and CRPF personnel.

NIA investigations further revealed that the convicted individuals had mobilized local Jan militias, villagers, and Sangam members for the assault. They led the ambush, detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and engaged in gunfire with security personnel alongside other members of the outlawed outfit. The assailants not only took the lives of security personnel but also looted their weaponry.

The convicted individuals have been found guilty under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Act, and Arms Act, stated NIA’s Special Public Prosecutor, Dinesh Panigrahi.

Originally registered at the Tongpal police station under pertinent sections of the IPC, Arms Act, Explosives Substances Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the case was later taken over by the NIA and re-registered in March 2014. Eleven accused were charge-sheeted by the NIA in August 2015.