Burkapal Naxal Attack 2017: 121 Tribals Booked Under UAPA Acquitted By Chhattisgarh NIA Court

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district last week acquitted 121 tribal people arrested in connection with the 2017 Burkapal Naxalite attack in which 25 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed.

The Special Judge for National Investigation Agency cases Deepak Kumar Deshlhre ordered the release of tribals 5 years after they were arrested. The court found that there was no conclusive evidence against them to prove that they had helped the Maoists in the Burkapal attack.

Essentially, on April 24, 2017, 25 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, including an Inspector-rank officer, were killed in heavy firing by Maoists on the 74th Battalion of the Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF), 100 meters from Burkapal village.

Soon after the attack, the Chhattisgarh Police registered a case at the Chintagufa police station against a total of 121 tribals from six villages—Burkapal, Gondapalli, Chintagufa, Talmetla, Koraigundum, and Tonguda. The arrests were made in 2017, 1018, and 2019 and the trial began in the year 2021.

They all were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act, Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA Court, in its order, noted that in view of the evidence adduced by the prosecution, no such credible fact came into light in the statements of the witnesses produced on behalf of the prosecution in relation to the charge against the accused that can prove that they are active members of the banned Naxalite organization and have been involved in the incident. 

"Seizure of any lethal weapon and firearm has also not been proved from the possession of these accused. In such a situation, no charge is found to be substantiated in the offense charged against these accused," the Court observed in its order.