NIA Files Chargesheet Against Two Notorious Naxals for 2018 Bihar Abduction and Murder Case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against two prominent Naxals, Anil Yadav and Pramod Mishra, for their involvement in the brutal abduction and murder of a civilian in Bihar in 2018. The official statement, released on Saturday, sheds light on their criminal activities as part of the banned terrorist group, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) [CPI (Maoist)].
The Case and the Arrests
The victim, Naresh Singh Bhokta, was abducted and killed on November 2, 2018, by cadres of the CPI (Maoist) in Bihar. The NIA investigation revealed that Bhokta was targeted because he was suspected of being a police informant. The two key accused, Anil Yadav, also known as Ankush or Lavkush, and Pramod Mishra, also known as Sohan Da or BB Ji, played significant roles in orchestrating and executing this gruesome act. Both hail from Bihar’s Gaya and Aurangabad districts, respectively, and have been involved in numerous criminal activities across Bihar and Jharkhand.
A History of Terror
Anil Yadav was a Sub-Zonal Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and a close confidant of Pramod Mishra. Mishra, a former Central Committee member who rose to become a Polit Bureau member of the CPI (Maoist), was a key strategist within the Naxal network. It was Mishra who convened a crucial meeting in the Anjanwa forest, where the decision to eliminate Bhokta and other police officers was made. Yadav, acting under Mishra’s directives, played a hands-on role in Bhokta’s abduction and murder.
NIA’s Investigation and Charges
The NIA took over the investigation in June 2022, and their probe led to the arrest of Yadav and Mishra in February 2023. The agency has since been diligently piecing together evidence, leading to the charge sheet filed on Friday. This latest charge sheet is the fourth supplementary charge sheet in the case and brings the total number of accused individuals to 11.
The NIA’s investigation also uncovered a larger conspiracy involving these Naxal leaders to eliminate multiple Special Police Officers (SPOs) in the region. The meeting in the Anjanwa forest, where this sinister plan was hatched, highlights the organized and strategic nature of their operations.
Broader Implications
The charge sheet against these two Naxal leaders represents a significant breakthrough in the fight against left-wing extremism in India. The CPI (Maoist) has long been a menace in several states, and the capture and prosecution of its key members like Yadav and Mishra mark an important step toward dismantling their network.
With this development, the NIA continues to reinforce its commitment to curbing Naxal activities and bringing perpetrators of violence to justice. The crackdown on high-ranking Naxal leaders sends a strong message that such activities will not go unpunished.
The Bihar abduction and murder case remains a stark reminder of the challenges India faces in combating insurgency and left-wing extremism. The successful charge-sheeting of these Naxals is a significant win in the broader security landscape.
