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Ranchi: City court acquits former Maoist

RANCHI: A Ranchi court on Saturday acquitted former top Maoist leader Kundan Pahan giving him the benefit of doubt in a case related to the police-Maoist encounter of May 31, 2009 under the Bundu police station area of Ranchi district .


Additional judicial commissioner S K Singh acquitted Pahan from all charges in the case.

Pahan was charged under Sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 307 and 34 of IPC, Section 27 of Arms Act and Section 17 of Criminal Law Amendment Act.

In his order, the judge stated, "The prosecution has not been able to bring home charges against the accused person beyond shadow of all reasonable doubts ." He added that the accused is given the benefit of doubt and acquitted him from all charges.

The FIR against Pahan, a surrendered militant, said a joint police team including district police and the CRPF, which was led by the then SDPO, A J Tigga, had launched Operation Nag in Baruhatu hills and busted a Maoist bunker. Soon after the operation, the team received a call from Namkum police that an encounter has started with the extremists. As the police team under Tigga moved forward, the extremists fired at it an area near Burupiri. An exchange of fire ensued in which the name of Pahan were reportedly being shouted by the ultras. The police recovered arms and ammunition from the site after the extremists fled.

The FIR named Pahan along with six accused and 15-20 unknown persons in connection with the incident. Additional public prosecutor S K Mandal said, "During the trial, we produced three witnesses. However, the witnesses did not identify Pahan at the place of occurrence when the encounter took place." It may be added here that Pahan was also not nabbed from the spot.

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