Court awards 10 years RI to Maoist leader

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar: A Sessions court in Koraput district of Odisha on Tuesday awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment to dreaded Maoist leader Cheda Bhusanam alias Ghasi. Convicting Ghasi in a case that was registered by Semiliguda police in 2011, the court awarded the punishment to the accused under various Sections of the Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.Ghasi, who was a State Committee Member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), was arrested in April 2011 when he was carrying cash reward of Rs 10 lakhs.Meanwhile, Koraput police said that they will pursue cases against all important Maoist leaders to obtain conviction.“We hope this will act as a deterrent to those indulging in naxal violence,” said Y.K.Jethwa, Inspector General of Police (South-Western Range).Simultaneously, we have also taken up review of petty cases against tribals who are continuing under custody as under-trial prisoners for long and lining up legal assistance and will assist in speeding up the trial process in their cases,” Jethwa added.