The NIA raided 31 locations in Bihar as part of its efforts to expose and
foil a conspiracy by members of the proscribed CPI-Maoist to revive its
organisation in the Magadh zone, said an official.
The raids were conducted at the premises of accused and suspected persons
in Aurangabad, Rohtash, Kaimur, Gaya and Saran (Chhapra) on Thursday, said a
spokesperson of the federal agency.
During the raids, the involvement of top CPI (Maoist) commanders in the
conspiracy to revive the outfit and its cadres in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh was
found, informed the official.
Two country-made pistols, over ₹ 3.53 lakh cash, a host of digital
devices, including mobile phones, SIM cards, SD cards and hard discs, and
incriminating documents were seized during the searches, the spokesperson of
the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said.
The raids were conducted as part of an ongoing investigation in two
separate cases registered this year, the official said.
The spokesperson said the places where the searches were conducted were
identified as residential premises of four arrested people who are commanders
of the CPI (Maoist). Places of 27 suspected over ground workers, supporters and
sympathisers of the outfit were also searched, the official said.
The investigations have revealed that the four people had co-conspired
with other accused persons to revive and strengthen the cadres of the
CPI(Maoist) in the Magadh Zone, the official said.
A case was initially registered at the Tikari police station in Gaya on
August 10 following the arrest of the chief of the Eastern Regional Bureau of
the CPI(Maoist), Pramod Mishra, and the Sub-Zonal Commander, Anil Yadav, the
agency said.
They were conspiring with other associates to commit unlawful activities
and strengthen the cadres of the CPI (Maoist) in Magadh (Gaya and Aurangabad)
area. The NIA took over and re-registered the case on August 31, the
spokesperson said.
The official said the other case was initially registered on August 7 at
the Goh police station in Aurangabad and re-registered by NIA on September 26.
The case relates to recovery and seizure of two booklets pertaining to
the CPI (Maoist) Magadh Zonal Sangathnic Committee, along with arms and
ammunitions, from the possession of accused persons Rohit Rai and Pramod Yadav,
the spokesperson said.
The official said the duo, along with their associates, were conspiring
to commit unlawful activities and were also extorting levy from contactors and
brick kiln owners to promote the violent activities of CPI (Maoist).
PTI
