A court in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district has delivered a major legal blow to Naxalism, sentencing senior Naxal leader Prabhakar and his wife Raje Kange to seven years each of rigorous imprisonment. The Additional District and Sessions Court also sentenced three other Naxals linked to the same case to five years each. The verdict is being described as the first major judgment against a top-ranking Naxal leader since the decline of Naxalism in the Bastar region.
The entire case is rooted in a decade-old encounter that eventually laid the ground for a long legal battle.
The case traces back to a 2015 encounter
The case dates back to 2015, when police and Naxals clashed in the hilly terrain around Besagaon village. Following the encounter, Kanker's Korar police station registered crime number 108/2015. Police booked the accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, Section 307, and the Arms Act. The trial ran for nearly a decade before the court finally delivered its verdict.
Prabhakar, a Naxal face in Bastar for over four decades
According to SP Nikhil Rakhecha, convicted Naxal Prabhakar had been a prominent face of Naxalism across the Bastar region for more than four decades. He held the rank of SGCM and DKSZC within the Naxal organisation, and more than 60 criminal cases were registered against him across various police stations. Police had announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, reflecting his standing and the scale of activity attributed to him.
Wife Raje Kange held a senior rank too
Prabhakar's wife, Raje Kange, was also a senior figure in the Naxal organisation, holding the DVCM rank. She was active in the Rawghat area and was part of the Naxals' supply team, a role considered crucial for moving weapons and material for the outfit. More than 30 cases were registered against her, and police had placed a reward of Rs 8 lakh on her.
Investigation and electronic evidence sealed the conviction
Police are calling the verdict a major success, achieved through a meticulous investigation. The investigating officer built a strong chargesheet that also drew on electronic evidence against the Naxals. Effective prosecution and advocacy by the police ultimately persuaded the court to convict and sentence all five accused, a result being viewed as a significant legal win in the anti-Naxal campaign in Bastar.
