NIA raids five locations in Bihar, including house of former JD(U) MLC

The central agency seized 10 weapons of different bores, ₹4.03 crore in cash, incriminating documents along with various digital devices during the raids.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided five locations in Bihar, including the house of former Janata Dal (United) MLC Manorama Devi in Gaya, in connection with a probe against the banned CPI (Maoist).

Late on Thursday, the agency said extensive searches in the CPI (Maoist) Magadh Zone revival case led to a massive haul of arms, cash and incriminating digital devices and documents from Bihar. Five locations were searched in Gaya and Kaimur districts of the State as part of the operation, aimed at foiling the CPI (Maoist) conspiracy to revive and strengthen the outfit in Magadh Zone, the NIA said in a statement.

The searches covered the houses and office premises of three suspects in the conspiracy case, with NIA investigations finding the trio involved in providing funds and logistics support to leaders of CPI (Maoist) to revive their activities in the Magadh region. The seizures included 10 weapons of different bores, ₹4.03 crore in cash, incriminating documents along with various digital devices.

The case originated from the arrest of two cadres of the CPI (Maoist) from Goh police station area of Aurangabad district on August 7 last year. The accused, Rohit Rai and Pramod Yadav, were found in possession of arms and ammunition, as well as booklets of the CPI (Maoist) Magadh Zonal Sangathnic Committee.

The NIA, which took over the probe on September 26 last year, registered a case against 20 accused. The agency, which chargesheeted Rohit and Pramod in February this year, found that the duo, along with their associates, were making attempts to revive the CPI (Maoists) in the region and promote anti-national activities.

So far, six accused have been arrested in the case. This March, the NIA had filed a supplementary chargesheet against accused Anil Yadav and CPI (Maoist) Polit Bureau Member Parmod Mishra. In its second supplementary chargesheet in July, NIA had named another accused, Anil Yadav.

Ms. Devi’s late husband, Bindeshwari Prasad Yadav, was once arrested in connection with supplying arms to Naxalites. Her son Rocky Yadav was arrested in 2016 after he shot dead a teenager in a road rage case for allegedly refusing to give side to his car.

Before the raids, the Gaya Superintendent of Police Ashish Bharti was informed. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Bharti said, “NIA had asked for the additional force for the raids which we provided. Apart from that, I do not have any details of the raids.”

In Gaya district, a team of NIA raided the Naxal-affected Banke Bazar on the Jharkhand-Bihar border and searched the house and office of Dwarika Yadav, a bus owner. Police forces were deployed at both the places.

In Bhabhua, the NIA team raided New Ruchika Printers Press. Further investigation is going on, the agency said.

Published - September 19, 2024 10:43 am IST