Lucknow: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday claimed that it has seized incriminating documents from the premises of CPI (Maoist) leaders and cadres during searches conducted across five districts in Uttar Pradesh (UP) from Tuesday morning onwards.
The agency also lodged FIRs against Manish Azad and Ritesh Vidyarthi, along with their associates Vishwavijay, Seema Azad, and others, accusing them of attempting to revive the Maoist movement in the state.
The NIA said that the action was taken after it surfaced that leaders and cadres of the CPI (Maoist) are trying to revive the banned terrorist organization in Uttar Pradesh.
NIA sources added that during the searches, they have recovered mobile phones, laptops, pen drives, compact discs, memory cards, SIM cards, Naxal literature, books, pamphlets, pocket diaries, money receipt books, and other incriminating documents from the residences of CPI (Maoist) sympathizers, affiliates, and leaders on Wednesday.
The raids were conducted at eight locations in Prayagraj, Chandauli, Varanasi, Deoria, and Azamgarh.
“Several frontal organizations and students’ wings have been tasked with motivating and recruiting cadres to propagate the ideology of the CPI (Maoist) with the intent of waging a war against the government of India. They were conspiring to commit acts of terror and violence in furtherance of this agenda,” the NIA said.
The NIA also said that investigations have also revealed that Pramod Mishra of Ballia, who was also named by the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) earlier, was leading the cadres and sympathizers/overground workers (OGWs) of the CPI (Maoist) in the efforts to revive the terror organization.
Sources said that Pramod Mishra has formed a separate ad hoc group along with Ballia resident Santosh Verma as its secretary. This outfit regularly moves in the eastern UP districts and was recruiting young men and women by brainwashing them for an armed rebellion against the government.
Sources added that Tara Devi, who was the head of the women’s wing and was associated with the group since 2005, had given shelter to Naxal leader Pramod Mishra.
The NIA said that the investigation is still underway in the case. Last month, the Bihar Police arrested Rohit Vidyarthi, the brother of Ritesh Vidyarthi, whose wife is named in the FIR relating to the case. Rohit’s interrogation had further led the state police to the arrest of Pramod Mishra, a member of the central committee and in-charge of the NRB (Northern Regional Bureau) of the CPI (Maoist).
