The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its crackdown on Naxal recruitment by conducting extensive raids across four states. On Friday, the NIA carried out searches in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh as part of an investigation into the recruitment activities of leaders associated with the banned Naxal outfit.
The ongoing raids are linked to a case registered earlier this year, specifically RC-01/2023/NIA-LKW, and are targeting the premises of Naxal cadres and Over Ground Workers (OGWs).
The investigation by the NIA has uncovered a network of frontal organisations and student wings that have been actively involved in motivating and recruiting individuals to join the Naxal movement.
These organisations are also engaged in spreading Naxal ideology with the ultimate aim of waging war against the Government of India. According to the agency, those involved have been conspiring to carry out acts of terror and violence to further their agenda.
This recent operation is part of a broader effort by the NIA to curtail the activities of Naxal groups and prevent the revival of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Last year, on September 6, the NIA had also launched a series of raids in Uttar Pradesh, targeting the efforts of Naxal leaders and cadres to rejuvenate the banned organisation.
These raids were conducted at multiple locations, including Prayagraj, Chandauli, Varanasi, Deoria, and Azamgarh districts. During these operations, the NIA seized a variety of digital devices such as mobile phones, laptops, pen drives, compact discs, and memory cards. Additionally, they recovered SIM cards, Naxal literature, books, pamphlets, diaries, money receipt books, and other incriminating materials.
The NIA's investigations revealed that the Naxal recruitment efforts were being spearheaded by Pramod Mishra, a key figure in the CPI (Maoist). Mishra was identified as leading the cadres, sympathisers, and OGWs in their attempts to revive the terrorist organisation. The efforts to recruit new members and spread Naxal ideology were being carried out with the intent of instigating violence and terror against the state.
In a related development, in August 2023, the Bihar Police arrested Rohit Vidyarthi, the brother of Ritesh Vidyarthi, whose wife is named in the FIR connected to the Naxal case. Rohit’s arrest and subsequent interrogation led the police to apprehend Pramod Mishra, a prominent member of the CPI (Maoist) and In-Charge of the Northern Regional Bureau (NRB) of the organisation.
Following these arrests, the police also seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition, including a gun factory where weapons were being manufactured and assembled in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The FIR filed by the NIA in connection with the case names several key individuals, including Manish Azad, Ritesh Vidyarthi, and their associates, as being actively involved in the efforts to revive the CPI (Maoist).
Among those named are Vishwavijay; Seema Azad, wife of Vishwavijay; Amita Shireen, wife of Manish Azad; Kripa Shankar; Soni Azad, wife of Ritesh Vidyarthi; Akanksha Azad, and Rajesh Azad. These individuals are alleged to have played significant roles in furthering the Naxal agenda and working towards the re-establishment of the banned organisation.
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