New Delhi: Three men have been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jagdalpur for supplying explosives to cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) in Chhattisgarh.
The convicted individuals—Semal Deepak, Nara Bhaskar, and Telam Mutta, all residents of Sukma district—were found guilty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosive Substances Act. The court also imposed a fine of ₹500 each, with an additional one-month jail term if they fail to pay.
The case, registered as RC-03/2024/NIA/RPR, stemmed from their arrest in 2023 by Chhattisgarh Police, who seized electronic detonators, Codtex wires, and gelatin from them. Investigations revealed their role as overground workers procuring explosives and essential supplies for Maoist insurgents.
While the trio was convicted, a fourth accused, Putti Pappy Reddy, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The NIA, which took over the probe in February 2024, built its case on oral and documentary evidence leading to the sentencing.
This conviction marks another step in the crackdown on Maoist support networks in the region.
