NIA Files Charge Sheet Against Five Maoist Operatives in Army Personnel’s Murder

Speedy Summary

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals associated with the CPI (Maoist) in the 2023 murder of Indian Army soldier Motiram Achala.
• The accused are bhawan Lal Jain, Suresh Kumar Salam, Shailendra Kumar Baghel, Anduram Salam, and Sonu Hemla.
• Achala was fatally shot at a village fair in Useli while visiting his family in Febuary 2023.
• The NIA investigation revealed four of the accused were overground workers (OGWs), while Hemla was an armed cadre of the Kuyemari Area Committee under North Bastar Division.
• The crime involved identifying and targeting Achala as part of a conspiracy aimed at instilling fear among locals.
• All five accused were arrested by the NIA in March 2025; another suspect, Ashu Korsa, was chargesheeted earlier in June after being handed over by local police to NIA for further investigation.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The case highlights ongoing security challenges posed by Maoist insurgencies within India’s conflict zones like Chhattisgarh’s North Bastar Division. Targeting an army personnel suggests heightened operational risks facing both civilians and armed forces amid attempts to deter development efforts or governance outreach in these regions. This incident exemplifies how Maoist cadres not only seek visibility but also aim to suppress opposing symbols such as those representing India’s law enforcement frameworks.The effectiveness of agencies like NIA is crucial for addressing such threats systematically-by dismantling support networks such as OGWs that facilitate violent actions-and ensuring justice for victims like Motiram Achala whose service symbolizes sacrifice amidst these regional uncertainties.

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