India News | NIA Files Fresh Charge Sheet in Kerala Maoist Recruitment Case

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) The NIA on Friday said it has filed a fresh charge sheet against a "prominent" Maoist leader in connection with a probe linked to alleged recruitment of vulnerable youths to the banned organisation in Kerala.

Sanjay Deepak Rao alias Vikas, a central committee member from Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist), has been charged under various sections of IPC and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the supplementary charge sheet filed before the NIA special court in Ernakulam, the federal agency said in a statement.

Also Read | Tamil Nadu: Upset Over Husband's Death Due to Illness, Woman Dies by Suicide in Thiruninravur.

It said this case was registered by the agency suo moto on February 3, 2022 after it came to light that members of CPI (Maoist) and its frontal organisations were conducting camps for the recruitment and training of youth to the proscribed group in Kerala.

"Their activities posed a serious threat to the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India," it said.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Minor Girl Stabbed to Death With Knife in Jabalpur; Police Searching for Accused.

Rao had "conspired" with others to radicalise two youth -- Kambhapati Chaitanya and Valagutha Anjayanelu and motivated them to join CPI (Maoist), the NIA alleged.

The duo was recruited into the rebel organisation and provided extensive militant training, the agency said.

The first charge sheet in this case was filed by the NIA in August 2022 against Chaitanya and Anjayanelu.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)