The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against four additional CPI (Maoist) members in connection with the killing of a police ‘Gopniya Sainik’ in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. The accused individuals, Raju Kursam, Sukku Kursam, Shankar Kursam, and Mannu Kursam, face charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. This brings the total number of accused in the case to eight, all of whom have been arrested under case RC-14/2024/NIA/RPR.
The victim, Chotu alias Kishan Kursam, was murdered by CPI (Maoist) members in December 2023 to create fear among surrendered cadres and the local population. Chotu, a former CPI (Maoist) member who had surrendered to the police in Bijapur and become a ‘Gopniya Sainik,’ was targeted by the group for not rejoining their ranks. The NIA, which assumed control of the case in March 2024, is actively investigating the matter.
In a separate development, the NIA has also charged three more individuals in connection with the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalization case involving the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit. Anees Fathima, Chan Pasha A, and Dr. Nagaraj S have been named in the supplementary chargesheet under various legal provisions. The case, which originated from the recovery of weapons and digital devices in Bengaluru, was part of a larger conspiracy to aid the escape of T Naseer, a convict in multiple terror cases, during his transfer from prison to court.
