Maoists had killed 32 people, including most of the Congress top leadership like then PCC chief Nandkumar Patel, former leader of opposition Mahendra Karma, former Union minister V C Shukla, and former MLA Uday Mudaliyar, when they were returning from a “Parivartan Yatra”. The attack took place six months ahead of the assembly elections.
NIA’s latest list of suspects includes hardcore Maoists like Ramesh alias Kumma Dada and Ganesh alias Rajesh Tiwari, on whom the agency has declared rewards of Rs 7 lakh. The others are Bhagat Hemla alias Badru, Barse Sukka alias Deva, Jayalal Mandavi alias Ganga, and Soma Sodhi alias Mandavi Seema, carrying rewards ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.
Additionally, rewards of Rs 2.5 lakh each have been announced for Kurusan Sunny alias Kosi, Badru Modiyam, and Telam Ayatu.
This is the second such list. In June last year, the NIA had declared rewards for information leading to the capture of 21 other Maoist leaders, including those involved in major violence in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Among them was senior Maoist commander Hidma for his involvement in the
Jhiram Ghati massacre.
The NIA had circulated posters with photographs of the wanted Maoist rebels and the bounties but there has been no major breakthrough so far. The Maoists named on the two lists are known to be active in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Hidma, also known as Hidmann, Madavi Hidma, or Hidmalu, has been on the most wanted list in Bastar for several years.
He played a leading role in several major Naxal attacks.