The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key accused in connection with the CPI (Maoist) conspiracy case in Jharkhand. The individual, identified as Bachha Singh, also known as Bachha Babu Singh, was apprehended on Friday in his native village of Govindpur (B) in Bokaro district.
Singh's arrest follows an official statement from the NIA released on Saturday.
Singh, who was named in the FIR RC-03/2023/NIA/RNC, is a prominent figure in the investigation, which was initially taken over by the NIA from the Anandpur police in August 2023.
The NIA had invoked the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Criminal Law Amendment (CLA) Act in this case. The investigation revealed Singh's involvement with a banned organisation, Majdoor Sanghatan Samiti (MSS), which the Jharkhand government had outlawed under the CLA Act.
Singh was identified as the Secretary of MSS, and his active association with the CPI (Maoist), a terrorist group, became a focal point in the probe.
According to the NIA's statement, Singh played a crucial role in collecting funds to support and propagate the Maoist ideology. His activities not only aimed to strengthen the operations of the CPI (Maoist) in Jharkhand but also helped extend its reach into other regions.
The NIA claims that Singh was directly involved in advancing the objectives of the terrorist organisation by engaging with senior Maoist leaders and facilitating various activities linked to the group.
The case dates back to July 2022 when three CPI (Maoist) cadres were arrested in Chaibasa, a city in Jharkhand. These individuals were on their way to meet Misir Besra, a member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI (Maoist), carrying letters from other prominent Maoist leaders, Lajim Ansari and Saurabh.
Following the arrest, the local police registered the case, which was subsequently taken over by the NIA in June 2024 for further investigation.
In addition to Singh's arrest, the NIA conducted a series of raids in Bokaro district on Saturday in relation to a Maoist attack on security forces in February 2024. The raids targeted eight locations linked to suspects and overground workers (OGWs) associated with the Maoists.
During the operation, the NIA seized various items, including digital devices such as laptops, mobile phones, and memory cards, as well as diaries and other incriminating documents.
These raids are part of the ongoing investigation into the February 2024 attack in the Chatro-Chatti area of Bokaro. Maoist commanders, along with 15-20 cadres, had reportedly gathered at Sundari Pahari to plan criminal activities, including the recruitment of new members, extortion, and an attack on security forces.
The NIA's statement outlined that the Maoists had intended to carry out these crimes under the guise of their operations, using the funds raised through extortion to sustain their activities.
When Jharkhand Police and CRPF launched a joint search and combing operation based on intelligence gathered, the Maoists fired upon the security forces but managed to escape into the dense forest.
Despite the escape, the operation led to the recovery of crucial evidence, including digital devices and Maoist literature, which will aid the NIA in its investigation.
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