NIA court sentences all 10 accused to death in Jheeram Valley Maoist attack case

The special NIA court in Jagdalpur on Wednesday sentenced all 10 convicted accused to death in the 2013 Jheeram Ghati Naxal attack case, more than 13 years after the attack that killed 27 people, including several senior Congress leaders and security personnel.

The court had convicted the 10 accused on September 5, 2026, and reserved September 16 for the sentencing. The death penalty was pronounced under seven serious sections in the case.

The May 25, 2013 attack in Jheeram Ghati, in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, targeted the Congress party's Parivartan Yatra returning from Sukma to Jagdalpur. Among those killed were then state Congress president Nandkumar Patel, his son Dinesh Patel, 'Bastar Tiger' Mahendra Karma, former Union minister Vidyacharan Shukla and Uday Mudaliar.DEATH PENALTY UNDER SEVEN SECTIONS

A significant aspect of Wednesday's verdict is that the 10 convicts were sentenced to death under seven different sections in the case.

In Naxal violence cases, the imposition of the death penalty under multiple serious sections in a single case is being viewed as a significant judicial development. If confirmed in the court's detailed order, it could be recorded as the first such precedent in Naxal-related cases.101 WITNESSES EXAMINED DURING TRIAL

The trial continued for nearly 13 years, with the prosecution presenting a large volume of documents and evidence.

The court recorded the statements of 101 witnesses during the proceedings. A total of 11 accused had initially faced proceedings in the case. However, one accused died during the trial, after which the proceedings continued against the remaining 10.

The court ultimately found all 10 accused facing trial guilty on September 5, 2026.WHAT HAPPENED IN THE JHEERAM GHATI ATTACK

On May 25, 2013, the Congress party's Parivartan Yatra was returning from Sukma to Jagdalpur when Maoists surrounded the convoy in Jheeram Valley in the Darbha region.

The attackers first triggered an explosion and then opened heavy fire on the convoy. The attack killed several prominent Congress leaders, workers and security personnel, and had a major impact on the political landscape of Chhattisgarh.

The victims included Nandkumar Patel, his son Dinesh Patel, Mahendra Karma, Vidyacharan Shukla and Uday Mudaliar.WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEATH SENTENCE

The death sentence pronounced by the special NIA court does not bring the legal proceedings to an immediate end.

The convicts have the right to appeal before the High Court and have been granted 30 days to file their appeal. In death penalty cases, the subsequent judicial process includes proceedings concerning confirmation of the sentence as well as the hearing of any appeal before the High Court.

The Jheeram Valley attack has remained one of the major political tragedies in Chhattisgarh. With the trial court now delivering its conviction and sentencing order after more than 13 years, the focus will shift to the further legal proceedings before the High Court and other available judicial avenues.- EndsWith inputs from Dharmendra MahapatraPublished By: Tanu jainPublished On: Sep 16, 2026 19:12 IST