The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested three persons accused in the killing of MLA Bhima Mandavi of Chhattisgarh.
The NIA arrested Laxman Jaiswalalias Laxman Sao (46), Ramesh Kumar Kashyap alias Ramesh Hemla (35) and Kumari Linge Tati (25), all residents of District Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, on Tuesday in connection with the probe into the murder Mandavi on April 9, 2019.
The case arose out of Chhattisgarh FIR No.11/2019 registered on April 10 last year registered under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) relating to criminal conspiracy, murder and dacoity among others besides provisions of the Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The incident refers to an IED blast and indiscriminate firing by banned CPI (Maoist) cadres on April 9, 2019 near Shyamgiri Village under Police Station Kuakond in Dantewada district resulting in death of Bhima Mandavi, the then sitting BJP MLA from Dantewada, along with four police personnel of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF).
The arms and ammunition of the martyred police personnel were also looted by the CPI (Maoist) cadres.
The NIA had re-registered the case as RC-11/2019/NIA/DLI on May 17, 2019. Two accused persons---Bhima Tati and Madka Ram Tati, both residents of Patel Para, Tikanpal Village, Dantewada were earlier arrested by NIA.
“Investigation has revealed that arrested accused Laxman Jaiswal alias Laxman Sao, who runs a grocery shop in Nakulnar, provided electric wires, explosive substances and other items for the IED blast carried out by CPI (Maoist) cadres.
Accused Ramesh Kumar Kashyap alias Ramesh Hemla (ex-Sarpanch of Kakadi Village) and Kumari Linge Tati were instrumental in providing logistic support to the Naxalites and were part of the conspiracy which led to the killing of Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel,” the NIA said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the accused were produced before the NIA Special Court, Jagdalpur and have been taken on police remand for seven days.