THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, March 8: BJP state president and leader of the opposition, Babulal Marandi, criticised the Jharkhand government over the murder of NTPC Hazaribagh’s DGM, Gaurav Kumar, blaming it on the unchecked illegal coal trade.
Expressing shock over the incident, Marandi said, “I am deeply shocked by the brutal killing of NTPC Coal Project’s DGM, Gaurav Kumar, in Hazaribagh.”
He accused Chief Minister Hemant Soren of emboldening criminals. “After the Chief Minister’s provocative remarks about the coal business, criminals have become more fearless,” he said.
Marandi also pointed out the recent attack on a coal trader in Ranchi on March 7, criticizing the police for inaction. “Despite the murderous attack on a coal trader yesterday, the police did nothing. As a result, criminals took the life of a promising young officer,” he added.
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He claimed that Soren has turned the coal business into a battleground. “The Chief Minister has triggered a bloody conflict by inciting criminals. Who knows how many more innocent lives will be lost in this government’s black-market coal trade?”
Marandi alleged large-scale coal theft in Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, and Chatra, happening under government protection. “Thousands of trucks of coal are stolen daily, with money flowing from top to bottom in the system. If this continues, murders like this will become routine, and innocent people will keep dying,” he warned.
He urged the Chief Minister to focus on stopping coal theft. “Forming an SIT to catch criminals is fine, but the bigger issue is coal theft. An SIT led by honest officers must be set up to curb it. As long as those meant to protect the system are exploiting it, how will crime and coal theft ever be controlled?”
Marandi also demanded that the state DGP ensure the safety of project officers, employees, and businessmen involved in the coal trade.
