NIA charge-sheets 7 CPI (Maoist) operatives in for conspiring, aiding activities of banned outfit

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 21

The anti-terror federal probe agency National Investigation Agency said on Friday that it had filed a charge sheet against seven senior CPI (Maoist) operatives for their role in conspiring, supporting and furthering the activities of the banned organisation in Andhra Pradesh and nearby states.

Officials in the probe agency said the accused persons against whom the charge sheet has been filed include Pangi Naganna, Akkiraju Harigopal alias Rama Krishna, Boppudi Anjamma, Rela Rajeshwari, Anduluri Annapurna, Manukonda Srinivasa Rao and Jangala Koteshwar Rao.

They said they all have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Substances Act and the Indian Arms Act.

In the charge sheet officials said the NIA has said its investigation revealed that the accused persons belonged to Amarula Bandhu Mitrula Sangham (ABMS), Chaitanya Mahila Sangham (CMS), Pragatisheela Karmika Samakhya (PKS) and VIRASAM. These outfits are the frontal organisations and were floated in pursuance of the Tactical United Front strategy of CPI (Maoist), the charge sheet claims.

“The five accused leaders of these frontal organisations used to meet Akkiraju Harigopal, Advisor and In-charge, Andhra-Orissa Border, Special Zonal Committee, CPI (Maoist) and other leaders in the forest along with Pangi Naganna, who in the guise of a working journalist, was organising meetings and appointments with senior leaders of CPI (Maoist),” the NIA said in the charge sheet.

During the meetings, the leaders of frontal organisations used to discuss their strategy for organising agitations, dharnas, rasta roko, and other activities against the government in order to spread Maoist ideology and to garner support from various sections of society for the cause of CPI (Maoist), the NIA said in the charge sheet.

The case was originally registered on November 23, 2020, at Munchigput police station in Visakhapatnam, in which an accused Pangi Naganna was intercepted by Munchingput police while carrying Maoist literature and other incriminating materials.

On his disclosure, a large cache of explosives and arms were recovered which were to be further handed to the members of CPI (Maoist) by Pangi Naganna.

The NIA took over the case for further investigation on March 7, 2021, by re-registering its own FIR, the officials said, adding that further investigation into it has been continuing.