IN A major development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a series of covert searches in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Saturday, as part of its investigation into the 2023 state assembly poll IED blast case. The operations, which remained undisclosed until now, were aimed at gathering critical evidence and targeting key suspects associated with the deadly attack. The case, officially registered as RC05/2024/NIA/RPR, has been under NIA’s scrutiny since March this year. The blast, carried out on 17th November last year by cadres of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), targeted a convoy of polling and security personnel returning from the village of Badegobra after voting.

 

The attack claimed the life of a Head Constable from the ITBP ADHOC 615 Battalion, highlighting the persistent threat posed by Maoist insurgents in the region. Official sources within the NIA revealed that Saturday’s searches were conducted in the remote, Maoist-dominated areas of Chhotegobra village under the jurisdiction of Mainpur Police Station. The NIA teams discreetly executed the operation, which focused on premises linked to nine suspects believed to be Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the CPI (Maoist). The suspects are thought to have played a crucial role in supporting the banned outfit in orchestrating the blast. These raids, kept under wraps, resulted in the seizure of several mobile phones and digital devices, which are expected to provide significant leads in the ongoing investigation. The operation forms part of the NIA’s broader strategy to dismantle the support network of the Maoists in the region, which has long been a stronghold of insurgent activity.

 

Notably, the NIA took over the case in March this year, and since then, has been systematically pursuing evidence that points to a larger conspiracy behind the attack. The agency’s investigators, who have been working intensively on the case, have now zeroed in on these suspects after months of surveillance and intelligence gathering. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, NIA officials emphasised the importance of these latest actions, describing them as a critical step towards ensuring that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice. The agency is expected to widen its investigation in the coming days, with more suspects likely to be questioned as part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh. “This latest operation by the NIA underscores the agency’s commitment to securing the region and safeguarding the democratic process from extremist threats. The covert nature of the searches highlights the seriousness with which the agency is handling this case,” officials maintained.