NIA chargesheet against 10 CPI Maoists, names of Mamata's aide included

NIA took over the investigation of the 12 years-old-case last year following directives from the Union Home Ministry. It was in March this year Mahato was arrested by NIA in connection with CPM leader Prabir Mahato's murder and the Rajdhani Train hijacking case just before the West Bengal Assembly election. Writes ETV Bharat Senior Correspondent Gautam Debroy.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed chargesheet against 10 CPI (Maoists) leaders including Chhatradhar Mahato, a former aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a case related to hijacking of Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajadhani Express.

NIA officials said that there were 13 accused persons in the hijacking conspiracy that took place in 2009. The chargesheet was filed before NIA special court in Kolkata on Thursday. "The case pertains to hijacking of Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajadhani express, taking crew members and passengers hostage, looting railway property etc on October 27, 2009 at Banstala passenger halt station under Jhargram police station in West Midnapur district," the NIA official said.

The NIA investigation revealed that all the accused persons had played a key role in hatching and executing a criminal conspiracy for hijacking the Randhani Express for the release of Chhatradhar Mahato, a former leader of Maoist backed Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA). The NIA earlier named 13 persons in the chargesheet. However, following the death of Kishanji alias Koteswar Rao, Sashadhar Mahata and Sushen Mahata, there names have been abated from the chargesheet. The NIA also named two women members of Maoists in the chargesheet.

The 10 accused persons against whom chargesheet was filed were Chhatradhar Mahato, Manasa Ram Hembram, Sahebram Murmu alias Bullet, Sanatan Soren, Thakurmani Hembram, Sikha, Asari Mahata, Dasharath Baske, Dhanapati Mahata and Dileswar Mahata. NIA took over investigation of the 12-year-old case last year following directives from the Union Home Ministry.

And it was in March this year, Mahato was arrested by NIA in connection with CPM leader Prabir Mahato murder case just before West Bengal Assembly election. In 2020, Mahato was released from prison after serving 10-years jail term for his involvement in a landmine blasts triggered by Maoists in Salboni in 2008, targeting the convoy of the then West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.