Wayanad KFDC office attack: NIA submits chargesheet against Maoists

Kochi: National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet on Saturday in a case registered in connection with the 2023 attack on Kerala forest development corporation (KFDC) office in Wayanad. The attack was allegedly perpetrated by suspected members of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit.

Four Maoist operatives — C P Moidheen, Manoj, Santhosh and Soman— arrested by NIA in coordination with Kerala anti-terrorist squad (ATS) were named as accused in the chargesheet. The final report was submitted before the NIA special court in Kochi. Two other suspects remain at large and the central agency is continuing efforts to nab them.

The case pertains to the attack on Sept 28, 2023, when six armed assailants stormed into the KFDC office. The ultras brandished firearms and threatened the office manager under the pretext of discussing grievances faced by employees. The office was then vandalised with an iron rod, damaging equipment and infrastructure.

The gang also put up posters on walls and directed the manager to click images of the posters and send them to six mobile numbers, which were reportedly connected to their network. NIA took over the probe in 2024 to investigate a larger conspiracy behind the act and connections to other Maoist activities in the region.