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Synopsis

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Guwahati on April 26, 2023, convicted five persons in the 2011 PLA-CPI (M) nexus case related to a criminal conspiracy to threaten the unity, integrity, security, and sovereignty of India.

Three of the convicts belonged to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and two to the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

The five convicted persons are:

1. N. Dilip Singh @ Wangba @ N. Ranjit @ Jana [PLA]
2. Senjam Dhiren Singh @ S. Babu Singh @ Dhiren Singha @ Raghu [PLA]
3. Arnold Singh @ Kh. Arnold Singh @ Arnold Singha @ Becon [PLA]
4. Indranil Chanda @ Raj [CPI (M)]
5. Amit Bagchi@ Amitabh @ Alok @ Sumit @ Arun @ Anil @ RK da [CPI (M)]

The NIA had registered a suo moto case on July 1, 2011, on inputs that the PLA, a proscribed terrorist organization, had hatched a conspiracy to destabilize the country with the support of CPI (Maoist).

“CPI (Maoist) leaders had agreed to recognize and support the separatist activities of PLA for the creation of the northeastern state of Manipur, as a separate nation. The PLA leadership, on its part, decided to support the continuing war of CPI (Maoist) for overthrowing the constitutionally elected Government of India”, the NIA press release stated.

Investigations revealed that PLA had established a liaison office in Kolkata, where a meeting was held between PLA/RPF and CPI (Maoist) leaders. Modalities were worked out at the meeting for taking unified action for waging a war against the Union of India. A bipartite meeting was also held between PLA/RPF and CPI (Maoist) leadership in Jharkhand for imparting military training to cadres of CPI (Maoist) by PLA/RPF instructors.

“It further came to light during the investigations that the SS President of PLA/RPF had also complimented the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) on carrying out an attack on the security forces on April 6, 2010, resulting in the killing of 76 CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh”, the agency's press release stated.

The investigations also revealed that the PLA had provided logistic support to Maoist cadres and both groups were regularly communicating and exchanging e-mails. The accused persons had traveled to different places within and outside India and created fake IDs and bank accounts under pseudonymous identities.

Based on the investigation, in 2012, the NIA filed chargesheets before the NIA Special Court, Guwahati. All five accused persons have been chargesheeted under Sections 121A of IPC and Sections 18, 18A, and 39 of UAPA.