New Delhi (IANS) | The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recently conducted raids at seven places in Jharkhand and Bihar in connection with the murder of Naresh Singh Bhokta by banned terrorist organization CPI (Maoist). An official gave this information on Thursday. Bhokta was abducted and murdered on November 2, 2018, at a so-called ‘Jan Adalat’ (public hearing) convened by the banned terrorist organization by the top leadership of CPI (Maoist) and Naxal cadres. His body was found near Badhai Bigha village under Madanpur police station area of Aurangabad district of Bihar.
The probe agency carried out searches at the premises of the accused and suspects in Gaya and Aurangabad districts of Bihar and Palamu in Jharkhand.
Searches were conducted at the residential premises of five arrested CPI (Maoist) commanders and two suspected OGWs/supporters. Various digital devices, mobile phones, SIM cards as well as incriminating documents were seized during the search.
Initially the case was being handled by the Bihar Police, but later on 4 June 2022 it was handed over to the NIA.
A total of nine people have been arrested in the case so far. In February 2023, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet against one of the accused, Ajay Singh Bhokta.
During the investigation, the NIA detected the involvement of top CPI (Maoist) commanders in the assassination conspiracy and recovered the weapons and vehicles used in the assassination, the official said.
–IANS
