19 months after Maoists’ killing of jawan in Chhattisgarh fair, NIA raids locations of 11 suspects

The NIA which took over the murder case of jawan, Motiram Achala, from the local police in March.

Achala, posted in Assam, was shot dead near Murga Bazar village by a group of unknown cadre of CPI (Maoist) when he had come on leave to meet his family in the Naxal-affected Bastar region.

A few days later, the Maoists had thrown pamphlets, claiming responsibility for the murder and warned other youths against joining the Army.

Achala, who joined as Haviladar in 2013-24, was the first one from the village to join the Army. He used to encourage local residents to join the defence force.

A Gond tribal community member, Achala was shot dead in Amabeda police station limits while he was with his brother Birajhu Ram Achala and friends at Useli, around 15-20 km from his village, Bade Tevda. He was shot twice in the head from a country weapon, said an officer.

Army Jawan Motiram Anchla. (File Photo)

“My brother had fallen on the ground — he was hit in the eye. I saw two men, including one carrying a long gun, shouting ‘Lal Salaam (Red Salute)’ and ‘Maowaad Zindabad’ (Long Live Maoism),” Birajhu had said.

After the murder, the assailants fled towards the nearby jungle, shouting slogans of ‘Lal Salam Jindabad’.

“During the NIA investigation, names of CPI (Maoist) supporters suspected to have been involved in the heinous crime came to light, leading to today’s searches,” the statement read.

In February 2023, The Indian Express visited Achala’s family who termed the attack “an act of terrorism” and questioned the government why fairs were being permitted if the police cannot provide adequate safety and security.

“This is an act of terrorism. My brother was guarding our country… our lives are so ordinary,” Birajhu had told The Indian Express. “They (Maoists) did not warn us, or alert us that they had some problem with my brother. They could have spoken with the sarpanch or told us,” he added.

Birajhu said it was Achala’s second visit to his village since his marriage in April 2022 and had come home a fortnight ago to see his wife, who was four months pregnant.

Due to lack of resources, expertise and for ensuring detailed investigation, the state government handed over two dozen naxal violence related cases to National Investigation Agency (NIA) in March.