The Justice Prashant Mishra Judicial Probe Commission instituted by the state government for hold inquiry in to May 25 Maoist attack on Congress convoy at Jeeram Valley near Darbha in Bastar, in which 30 persons including top leadership of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee Nandkumar Patel, Mahendra Karma, VC Shukla, Udai Mudliyar were killed, started its hearing on Friday.
On the last day of filing affidavit 27 people filed their affidavits whereas two more persons filed their papers on Friday taking the total number of affidavits filed in the case to 43. However, Konta MlA Kawasi lakhma, who was in the convoy attacked by Maoists and was let go by the rebels unharmed, remained conspicuous by his failure to file his affidavit yet.
Most of those who filed affidavit to depose before the panel are Congress leaders and members including Shahar and rural district Congress presidents lakheshwar Baghel and Manohar lunia respectively. Notably, earlier July 5 had been fixed for commencing the hearing but after receiving the application requesting extension of the last date, the panel had extended the last date for filing affidavit by witnesses willing to depose before the panel to July 18.
Meanwhile, the panel is scrutinising all the affidavits received so far and thereafter witnesses will be called as per need. According to sources associated with the probe panel first of all general public, then officials and thereafter politicians will be called by the Commission for recording their statement. The two persons filed affidavit on Friday were senior advocate Pratap Narayan Agrawal and Shriniwas Joshi whereas important among the 26 people who filed their affidavit on Thursday were lakheshwar Baghel, Rekhchand Jain, Malkit Singh Gaindu, Prabhat Kumar Jha, Omkar Jayaswal and others.