NIA Files Chargesheet Against Two Maoists in BJP Leader Murder Case

In a significant development in the 2023 murder case of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ratan Dubey, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its crackdown by filing a supplementary chargesheet against two Maoist operatives, invoking stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The chargesheet, presented before the special NIA court in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, on Thursday, names Shivanand Nag and his father, Narayan Prasad Nag, as key conspirators in the chilling assassination.

The NIA's investigation revealed that the father-son duo, active members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), played a pivotal role in orchestrating the brutal killing of Dubey, driven by a mix of political, business, and personal rivalries. Sources confirmed that both individuals have been arrested, though specifics about their apprehension remain undisclosed.

The horrific incident took place in November 2023, when Ratan Dubey, then vice president of the BJP’s Narayanpur district unit in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, was hacked to death with hand axes in a crowded weekly market in Koushalnar village, Jharaghati area. The attack, executed during an election campaign, was a calculated move by the Maoists to disrupt the electoral process and instill fear among the local populace, according to the NIA.

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The agency’s probe uncovered the involvement of members from the Bayanar Area Committee and Barsoor Area Committee of the East Bastar Division of the CPI (Maoist), along with their over-ground workers (OGWs). The NIA, which assumed control of the investigation in February 2024, has so far filed one main chargesheet and two supplementary chargesheets in the case. Earlier, the agency had chargesheeted Dhan Singh Korram in June 2024, followed by the arrests and chargesheeting of Sainuram Korram and Laluram Korram in December 2024.

The charges against the Nags include multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA, reflecting the gravity of their alleged role in the conspiracy. The NIA’s statement highlighted that the targeted killing was not only a personal vendetta but also part of a broader Maoist strategy to destabilize the region through violence and intimidation.

As the investigation continues, the NIA is working to unravel the full extent of the Maoist network’s operations in Chhattisgarh, with a focus on dismantling their support structures and bringing all perpetrators to justice. The case underscores the ongoing challenge of tackling Maoist insurgency in India’s heartland, where political violence and ideological conflicts continue to pose significant threats to stability and governance.

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