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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Electronic devices of slain top Maoist leader being examined
A host of personal electronic devices of slain top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, are currently being examined by cyber forensics experts in Delhi, people familiar with the matter said, adding the investigating agencies hope to extract information pertaining to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), its arms suppliers, financiers, as well as future planning. Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju Basavaraju, 70, the former general secretary of CPI (Maoist), was among the 27 ultras killed in an encounter with security forces in the Abhujhmad jungles of Chhattisgarh on May 21. Officials said that encrypted devices belonging to the top Maoist — a phone, a hard disk and a laptop — recovered near the encounter site are being decoded at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in the national Capital. 'These devices are being examined by cyber forensics experts for extracting the content and we believe they will have valuable information about the operations, network, arms suppliers, etc,' P Sundarraj, inspector general of Bastar Range, said. Another officer requesting anonymity said the electronic devices of Basavaraju, who was the topmost Maoist leader for decades and brain behind planning all major attacks since 2003, 'are sure to give us leads about the CPI (Maoist) organisation and its operations which we may have not obtained earlier'. Basavaraju believed that Maoists can achieve their goals only through armed resistance and hence maintained links with the arms dealers, both within India and abroad, as well as planned the funding, recruitment and established contact with other similar organisations or 'anti-India elements' supporting their cause, the officer said. 'To dismantle the entire Maoist network, we need information available with the top Maoist leadership and that is what we believe will find in Basavaraju's devices. The information such as names and contact details of arms suppliers, network of cadres in various districts, hideouts of senior leadership, details of those in cities who mobilise support for their cause, and future planning in the wake of Indian government's aim to end left wing extremism by March 2026 will help us prepare better,' the officer added. The top Maoist, who was guarded by at least 25 cadre on the day of encounter, had a cumulative reward of ₹ 1.5 crore on his head and was charged in several cases, including the 2003 claymore mine attack on then Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri in Tirupati. He was also the mastermind of the April 2010 Chintalnar massacre in which Maoists ambushed CRPF personnel returning from patrol and killed 74 soldiers. Meanwhile, Union home minister Amit Shah during a two-day trip to Chhattisgarh is learnt to have told the security forces to focus on identifying the ideologues of Maoists in cities, other than just ending the armed rebellion, the second officer cited above said. Shah also inquired about the status of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into funding of Maoists. According to the ministry of home affairs data, while the country witnessed a total of 16,463 Maoist attacks between 2004 and 2014, it came down 53% to 7,744 over the next decade. In these incidents, the number of deaths of security forces came down from 1,851 (2004-14) to 509 (2014-24) while civilian deaths also came down 70% from 4,766 to 1,495 during the period. During 2019 to 2025, the central forces, in collaboration with state police, have established a total of 320 camps in LWE-affected states, including 68 night-landing helipads. Besides, the number of fortified police stations, which was 66 in 2014, has now increased to around 620.
India Gazette
14-06-2025
- India Gazette
Delhi Court discharges man wrongfully accused in 2003 Australia murder case after forensic report confirms mistaken identity
New Delhi [India], June 14 (ANI): A Delhi court has discharged an Indian man wrongfully accused in connection with a murder in Australia's Redfern in 2003 after forensic tests confirmed it was a case of mistaken identity. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pranav Joshi on June 13 exonerated Mohammed Basheeruddin, who had been arrested last month, after a report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) revealed that his fingerprints did not match those found at the crime scene in Australia. 'The fingerprints of the arrested individual do not match those of the original fugitive criminal,' the judge noted in court. 'In view of this, Mohammed Basheeruddin is discharged from the present proceedings.' The murder occurred on the night of June 29, 2003. The body of Shoukat Mohammed was found stuffed inside a sleeping bag placed in a wheelie bin on James Street, Redfern. The victim had been drugged, assaulted, and ultimately strangled to death, triggering a long-running homicide investigation in Australia. According to New South Wales authorities, the case remains open. The NSW Government has announced a reward of AUD 100,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the fugitive criminal responsible for the killing. During the court proceedings in Delhi, Basheeruddin's lawyer, Farhat Jahan Rehmani, argued that her client had been falsely implicated due to a name mismatch. The actual name mentioned in foreign records was 'Bashiruddin Mohd,' she said -- not her client's full name, Mohammed Basheeruddin. She also pointed out that he obtained his Indian passport only in 2016, and since then, he had never traveled abroad except to Saudi Arabia. (ANI)
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Criminal justice system enters new era: Shah
Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that India's criminal justice system is undergoing a transformative shift towards a more secure, transparent, and evidence-based model. His remarks came during a two-day visit to West Bengal, where he inaugurated the new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Rajarhat, Kolkata. While addressing the gathering, Shah stated, 'The Indian government is creating a secure, transparent and evidence-based criminal justice system. It is necessary that those who stop crime should be two steps ahead of the criminals. Our criminal justice system is entering a new era.' He highlighted the essential role of forensic science in modern law enforcement and the need to continuously advance in this area to combat evolving criminal activities. Shah underscored the foresight of the central government in establishing the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in 2020, even before the introduction of three significant criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
India Gazette
01-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Our Criminal Justice system entering new era": Amit Shah emphasises evidence-based law and order
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 1 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Sunday, said that the country's criminal justice system is entering a new era, underlining the importance of strong forensic institutions to ensure a secure, transparent, and evidence-based framework. Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, inaugurated the new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) at Rajarhat in Kolkata. In his address after the inauguration, Shah said, 'The Indian government is creating a secure, transparent and evidence-based criminal justice is necessary that those who stop crime should be two steps ahead of the criminals. Our criminal justice system is entering a new era.' He further pointed out that the central government in 2020 established the first National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), way before the three new criminal laws - BNS, BNSS and BSA - came into force. He highlighted that eight such institutions have already been established nationwide, with eight more planned, emphasizing that graduates from these colleges will play a vital role in strengthening the state's law and order. 'We have extended help to every state to establish a forensic van in every district. Many states have expanded their forensic labs. We had already established the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in 2020. Sixteen institutions have been approved, eight have already been established, and the remaining eight are in process. We have already completed the creation of trained human resources. I believe the new students will contribute to our law and order,' he added. 'Our duty is to ensure that every poor person can get justice as soon as possible. I believe that we will create an environment where our people will trust the law and order of the country,' the Union Minister said, stressing the priority of delivering justice to the poor at earliest. His visit comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to North Bengal, underscoring the central leadership's sustained focus on the state. Earlier, Shah had posted on X in both English and Bengali: 'Leaving for Kolkata. Tomorrow, will inaugurate the new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, which will contribute immensely to strengthening the criminal justice system in West Bengal and Northeast India.' 'In the afternoon, will interact with the Karyakartas at Vijay Sankalp Karyakarta Sammelan in Kolkata. Looking forward to attending the programmes,' he added. The visit is also expected to focus on the BJP's roadmap for West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. (ANI)
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Hundreds of BJP workers killed after Mamata became CM': Amit Shah takes on TMC chief
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday charged upon Mamata Banerjee alleging that "hundreds of BJP workers were killed in West Bengal" after the TMC chief became chief minister. Addressing the BJP workers in Kolkata, Shah said, "For years, Bengal was ruled by communists. After that, Mamata Banerjee came by with the slogan 'Maa, Maati, Maanush'. She converted the great land of Bengal into a land of infiltration, atrocities on women, crime, bomb blasts and immorality with Hindus. .. Hundreds of BJP workers were killed in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee became the CM." Expressing confidence in his party, he added, "Didi, listen to me, your time is over now. The BJP will form the government in 2026." He further challenged the CM to "contest elections without violence". "If Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has courage, she should try to contest elections without violence, her deposit would be seized," he said. "Mamata Banerjee has crossed all limits of appeasement for the votebank... Our people were killed in Pahalgam... Under Operation Sindoor, we went 100km (inside Pakistan) and destroyed their headquarters. 100s of terrorists were killed, and this hurts Didi's stomach... She gave a political speech and opposed Operation Sindoor. She has also played with the emotions of crores of women in the country... The sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections," he added. "I assure that as soon as the TMC is removed from power, those responsible for the murders of our party workers will be punished, even if they are hiding under the ground," he said. Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the newly constructed Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Rajarhat, on the outskirts of Kolkata, stating that the facility will enhance a comprehensive approach to investigating complex cases in the eastern and northeastern regions. Shah is on a two-day visit to Bengal.
