Jhiram case: Family challenges Joga’s conviction

Jagdalpur | Correspondent: A controversy has erupted following the NIA court's conviction of 10 accused individuals in the high-profile 2013 Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack case. Family members of Joga Markam, one of those convicted, have strongly objected to the verdict, asserting his innocence. They allege that Joga was falsely implicated in the case and maintain that he was present elsewhere at the time of the incident.

The family has raised serious questions regarding the veracity of the prosecution's claims. Joga’s brother-in-law, Santosh Kumar Podiyami, stated that at the time of the attack, Joga was attending the wedding ceremony of former Sarpanch Jiten Markam in a remote, hilly area approximately 20 kilometers away from the attack site.

Given that the incident occurred around 3:00 PM, it was practically impossible for him to leave the wedding rituals and travel such a distance, traversing difficult terrain to reach the scene of the attack. Furthermore, the family argued that Joga did not know how to operate weapons such as bows and arrows or firearms.

The court has found the accused guilty of offenses under various serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Arms Act; the date for the pronouncement of the sentence has been set for September 16.

Frustrated by the protracted legal process, Joga’s brother, Durjan Markam, expressed deep anguish over the repeated adjournments. He stated that the frequent travel between their remote area and the court has imposed a heavy financial and physical burden on the family, even though his brother was completely unaware of the entire conspiracy.