Jhiram Ghati Verdict Sparks Fury: Congress Alleges Deep-Seated Conspiracy, Questions NIA Probe

The recent verdict in the infamous Jhiram Ghati massacre case, delivered by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jagdalpur on September 5, 2026, has certainly stirred the hornet's nest. While ten individuals were indeed convicted under various stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code, UAPA, and the Arms Act, the pronouncement has, paradoxically, left the Congress party in Chhattisgarh feeling utterly frustrated and alleging a far deeper, unsettling conspiracy at play.

You see, the court has reserved the announcement of punishment until September 16, but for senior Congress leaders, this judgment feels like a mere scratching of the surface. They’re convinced that the true masterminds, the actual conspirators behind the horrific 2013 ambush in Jhiram Ghati, remain untouched, hidden away from the glare of justice. It’s a sentiment of profound disappointment, almost betrayal, that permeates their statements.

Take Bhupesh Baghel, the former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and a prominent Congress voice. He minced no words, openly questioning the very integrity and direction of the NIA probe. "The convicted individuals," he pointed out rather emphatically, "are not what one would call 'first-class Naxalite leaders'." This isn't just a casual observation; it's a direct challenge to the narrative. Baghel further alleged that the NIA deliberately removed the names of actual leaders from the initial FIR. What’s more, he highlighted the glaring absence of any mention of a broader conspiracy or, crucially, any action taken against security officers for what many perceive as monumental lapses.

Adding to this chorus of discontent is TS Singh Deo, who served as Deputy CM and, rather significantly, was in charge of the "Parivartan Yatra" in 2013 when the massacre occurred. He brought up a truly disturbing detail: the inexplicable withdrawal of security on the very day of the attack during the Yatra in the Bastar division. And here's the kicker – this happened despite repeated warnings and prior communication with police officials. It leaves you wondering, doesn't it? How could such a critical security detail be so carelessly overlooked, or worse, intentionally pulled?

Then there’s Vikas Upadhyay, a former Congress MLA, who didn't hold back either. He squarely blamed the then-BJP government under Raman Singh for allegedly failing to provide the requested security for that fateful "Parivartan Yatra." Upadhyay’s frustration is palpable as he asserted that the convicted individuals are simply "ordinary ones who committed the murders," while the real "political conspirators" — the puppet masters, if you will — continue to evade accountability. It’s a grave accusation, suggesting that only the foot soldiers have faced consequences, not those who might have pulled the strings from higher up.

In essence, what we're hearing from the Congress leadership is a unified and fervent plea for a deeper investigation. They’re not just criticizing; they’re alleging a deliberate cover-up, a whitewash that allowed "massive security lapses" and a "larger political conspiracy" to go unexamined. For them, this verdict, while bringing some closure to some extent, falls dramatically short of serving what they consider true justice. The wounds of Jhiram Ghati, it seems, are far from healed, and for the Congress, the real story behind that horrific day is still waiting to be fully uncovered.