Key Maoists excluded from list of accused in Jhiram Valley massacre case, questions raised over investigation
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Thirteen years after the horrific Jhiram Valley Maoist massacre in Chhattisgarh—one of the darkest chapters in the nation's political history—the judicial and investigative process has once again ignited a fierce political storm. Fresh questions are being raised over the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) handling of the case after it was revealed that top-tier Maoist commanders, including the alleged mastermind Timiri Tirupati alias Devji and battalion commander Barse Sukka alias Deva, were curiously excluded from the active chargesheet and trial proceedings, despite previously appearing on official wanted lists with cash rewards.
Key Accused Surrender Yet Escape Interrogation While Congress Alleges Flaws
According to investigative records, the NIA had published an official notice on December 23, 2023, featuring photographs, names, and reward details for 19 wanted Maoists, with Devji positioned at the top and Barse Sukka alias Deva prominently listed. Although a trial was initiated against 11 other accused Maoists—one of whom has since passed away—both Devji and Deva reportedly surrendered to authorities subsequently but were never interrogated or put on trial in connection with the Jhiram Valley carnage. Pointing to this glaring omission as a severe lapse, the Congress party has slammed the NIA's probe as incomplete justice and hinted at moving the High Court to seek accountability.
Unraveling the Conspiracy: The Pidia Meeting and the 2013 Bloodshed
Judicial and police files trace the chilling conspiracy back to a secretive Maoist meeting held in Bijapur's Pidia area in February 2013, where the initial blueprint for a major strike was drawn up. While the original plan targeted the Minpa region, the operational site was subsequently shifted to Darbha. Under the direct leadership of Darbha Division Committee Secretary and Battalion-1 Commander Barse Sukka, heavily armed Maoist contingents ambushed a political convoy on May 25, 2013. The brutal attack claimed 32 lives, including prominent political figures and security personnel such as senior Congress leader Nandkumar Patel, his son Dinesh Patel, former Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla, and tribal leader Mahendra Karma.
Political Crossfire: Congress Demands Narco Tests Versus Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai's Retort
The controversy has deepened the political rift between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress in Chhattisgarh. The Jhiram Valley Inquiry Commission had previously submitted its massive 4,184-page report spanning 10 volumes to then-Governor Anusuiya Uikey on October 6, 2021. Pressing for deeper accountability, Congress leaders have launched a scathing attack, demanding narco-analysis tests for former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, former Home Minister Nanki Ram Kanwar, former Chief Secretary, former DGP, and suspected surrendered Maoists.
In sharp rebuttal, Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai dismissed the allegations as diversionary politics. Lashing out at former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's repeated claims of possessing critical information, CM Sai challenged the opposition, stating that if Baghel truly held solid evidence regarding the Jhiram Valley conspiracy, he should have handed it over to the NIA long ago instead of merely claiming to keep proof in his pocket.
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