Ranchi Court's Verdict Shakes Naxal Nexus: Absconder Sentenced in Arms Seizure Case

An NIA Special Court in Ranchi has sentenced the absconding Mantu Sharma to rigorous imprisonment in a major arms seizure case linked to CPI (Maoist). Despite continuing to evade capture, Sharma was found guilty as part of a broader crackdown involving previous convictions of associates Malakar and Yadav.

In a major development concerning naxal-related activities, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Ranchi has handed down a sentence of rigorous imprisonment to Mantu Sharma, an accused on the run, in connection with a significant arms and ammunition seizure case, the agency revealed on Tuesday.

The saga began in August 2012 when Jharkhand police, acting on a tip-off, raided the Silodar forest. They apprehended Prafulla Kumar Malakar, linked to the CPI (Maoist) Arms & Ammunition Supply Unit, recovering a USA-made M-16 Rifle, 14 live rounds, two mobile phones, and a bulletproof jacket. His capture led to Anil Kumar Yadav's arrest, a Zonal Commander found with a 9mm pistol, live rounds, Rs 9 lakh cash, and two mobile phones, en route to an arms deal.

Following its takeover of the case in December 2012, the NIA filed charges against the trio. By December 2014-2017, Malakar and Yadav were convicted, receiving 15 years of rigorous imprisonment. As of Monday, the court delivered multiple sentences to the elusive Sharma under the IPC, Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, ranging from three to 15 years, set to run concurrently. NIA remains vigilant in its efforts to apprehend Sharma, linked in arms trade within the CPI (Maoist) network.

(With inputs from agencies.)