NIA court finds four guilty in Vellamunda Maoist case

KOCHI: The NIA court found the four Maoists guilty of threatening a police officer by entering his house in Wayanad's Vellamunda in 2014.

The first accused Maoist leader Roopesh, the fourth accused Kanyakumari, the seventh accused Anoop and the eighth accused Babu Ibrahim were convicted under the UAPA Act. The sentence will be handed down on Friday. Conspiracy charges against Roopesh and Kanyakumari and charges under the Arms Act were confirmed.

The incident pertaining to the case was in 2014, when Maoists entered the house of civil police officer AB Pramod and threatened him. The accused threatened to kill Pramod and set his motorcycle on fire. This was done by alleging that the information against the Maoists were leaked to the police. The gang came to the CPO's house armed with guns and demanded his resignation. Pamphlets were scattered around the house. A pro-Maoist poster was also pasted on the wall.

Didn't harm anyone, says Roopesh

Roopesh told the court that it was unfortunate that he is being punished. "I have not been charged with harming anyone. The pamphlets contained lines on the protection of the Western Ghats and the rights of the marginalized. I am accused of things that usually won't stand in court," Roopesh said.