VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, July 4: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation of the attack on former BJP MLA Gurucharan Nayak (53) by the CPI (Maoists) in West Singhbhum on January 4 this year where two of his bodyguards succumbed during the attack.
The NIA has taken over the case from the Jharkhand Police and lodged a fresh case 03/2022/NIA/RNC. The FIR has been lodged under section 147, 148, 149, 120B, 121, 302, 307, 353, 333, 395, 396 and 397 of the IPC besides section 27 of the Arms Act, section 16, 18 20, 38 and 39 of UA (P) Act and section 17 of the CLA Act.
The NIA lodged an FIR following the order of the Ministry of Home & Affairs. NIA inspector Sachita Nand has been instructed to investigate the case.
The FIR has been lodged against top Maoist leader Mishir Besra and other CPI (Maoist) leaders and cadres Raghu, Ashwin, Chandan, Mochhu, Sushant, Sagen, Kande Honhaga and Sonaram Honhaga.
Owing to the gravity of the offence and its ramifications on national security the central government directed the NIA to probe this case in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (5) of section 6, 8 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
Gurucharan Nayak was attacked during a sports event organized by the Gram Vikas Samiti at village Jhilarua under Goilkera police station where the sports event was organized on occasion foundation day of the Project Plus two School at village. During the incident, one bodyguard was seriously injured and other two bodyguards, Shankar Nayak and Thakur Hembram, succumbed to their injuries, while fighting with the Maoists. Rebels also took away their fire weapons.
An FIR 01/2022 was lodged on January 5 under sections of IPC, Arms Act and CLA Act.
This was the second time in 10 years that Gurucharan Nayak narrowly escaped the attack. In 2012, he was attacked by the Maoists during a public function in Manoharpur.
