States » NorthPosted at: Sep 16 2026 6:10PM


Chhattisgarh: NIA court sentences all 10 convicts to death in Jheeram Valley Maoist attack case

Shishir Roy Chowdhury
Raipur/Jagdalpur, Sep 16 (UNI) More than 13 years after the deadly Jheeram Valley Maoist attack, a special NIA court in Jagdalpur on Wednesday sentenced all 10 convicts to death. Special Judge Ajay Singh Rajput pronounced the sentence against Pramila Modiyam and nine others, five days after the court held them guilty.
The death sentences cannot be carried out unless they are confirmed by the Chhattisgarh High Court. The convicts can also challenge the verdict before the High Court.
The 10 sentenced to death are Pramila Modiyam, Chaitu Lekam alias Munna, Sumitra alias Sumitra Punem Modiyam, Mukka Mandavi, Kosa Kawasi alias Kosaram, Ayata Markam, Madkami Deva, Joga Madkami, Banjami Sanna alias Chamru alias Denga and Mahadev Nag.
The case dates back to May 25, 2013, when a Congress Parivartan Yatra convoy returning from Sukma to Jagdalpur came under attack in the Jheeram Valley in Bastar. The convoy, comprising around 25 vehicles and nearly 200 leaders and workers, was travelling after a Congress rally in Sukma. Among those travelling in the convoy were then Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh Patel, senior Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, former Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma, Malkit Singh Gaidu and then Bastar Congress in-charge Uday Mudaliar.
The attack began at around 3.40 pm. Maoists had felled trees across the road, bringing the convoy to a halt, before opening fire from the surrounding area. The then Chhattisgarh Congress president Nand Kumar Patel and his son Dinesh Patel were killed in the firing. The gun battle continued for about an hour and a half.
Later, at around 5.30 pm, the attackers came down from the hills and searched the vehicles, according to eyewitness accounts. Mahendra Karma, a former Leader of Opposition and a prominent figure associated with the Salwa Judum movement, was identified and killed. Senior Congress leader Vidya Charan Shukla was also critically injured in the attack. He later died while undergoing treatment. Twenty-nine people were killed in the Jheeram Valley attack, including several senior Congress leaders.
The National Investigation Agency subsequently investigated the case and filed a charge sheet. The trial initially involved 11 accused, but one died during the proceedings, leaving 10 to face the case. The trial stretched across nearly 13 years, with the prosecution examining 101 witnesses. The special court convicted all 10 accused on September 5 and pronounced the sentence on Wednesday.
UNI SRC RSA
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Shishir Roy Chowdhury
Raipur/Jagdalpur, Sep 16 (UNI) More than 13 years after the deadly Jheeram Valley Maoist attack, a special NIA court in Jagdalpur on Wednesday sentenced all 10 convicts to death. Special Judge Ajay Singh Rajput pronounced the sentence against Pramila Modiyam and nine others, five days after the court held them guilty.

see more..