KOCHI: In a key development, one of the accused in the case relating to the attack on a policeman by Maoists at Vellamunda, Wayanad, has been made an approver by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).Rajesh A V, the sixth accused in the case, has been granted pardon by the NIA Court after he turned approver.According to an NIA officer, 33- year-old Rajesh is a native of Thikkodi and an autorickshaw driver by profession. He used to ferry food ration and other essential supplies to the Maoist group led by Rupesh during their stay in the forest in Wayanad.
“Rajesh agreed to become an approver in the case and his statement was recorded by a Judicial First Class Magistrate. Following this, a petition was filed before the NIA Court and he was granted pardon,” the officer said.Rajesh’s statement is expected to help the NIA in successfully completing the case. There are around eight accused in the case, including Roopesh and Anoop, who are currently lodged at the Viyoor and Coimbatore Central jails. The duo was part of several Maoist activities in the state. The NIA had recently recorded the arrest of Karnataka native Kanyakumari in connection with the case. She had surrendered before the agency in Karnataka.
Recently, Anoop was produced before the NIA Court in Kochi under tight security. Considering the security arrangements required in producing the accused, the court decided to conduct the further examining of the accused through video-conferencing connecting the NIA court in Kochi and the Coimbatore Central Jail.As per the case, armed Maoist suspects allegedly barged into the house of senior civil police officer A B Pramod attached with the Vellamunda station in April 2014. They assaulted him and threatened to kill him. They also set his motorcycle on fire, causing a loss of `30,000.