Jharkhand coal crime: 2350 tonnes of illegal coal on way to Bihar seized in Dhanbad

SUBHASH MISHRA

Dhanbad, Dec. 26: In a late-night crackdown on an illegal coal trading syndicate, the district mining task force seized 54 coal-loaded trucks on the way to Bihar on inter-state GT Road (NH-2) under Topchachi and Hariharpur police stations, around 45 km from here.

A district administration official said 44 trucks were seized on GT road under Topchachi police station and 10 trucks under Hariharpur police station. Each truck was loaded with 25 tonnes of coal.

On the directive of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Barun Ranjan, the district mining task force has carried out a special checking of coal trucks on inter-state GT Road between 11 pm and 4.30 am.

All 54 trucks had no valid paper for coal transport. The mining task force team arrested five drivers and one supporting staff. 48 other drivers escaped from the spot when the task force team seized.

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The official said this was the record seizure of illegal coal-loaded 54 trucks going to different states from Dhanbad.

“Crackdown against illegal mining, storing and transporting coal, sand and mineral in the district would continue,” said the deputy commissioner.

During interrogation, the arrested truck drivers revealed that coal loaded at Mahuda, Bhatdih, and Tetulia was going to different places in Bihar.

SDM Uday Rajak, District Transport Officer (DTO) Rajesh Kumar Singh, District Rural Development Authority ( DRDA) Director Mumtaj Ali, Mines Inspector Vinod Pramanik and Circle Officer (CO) of Nirsa, Baghmara. Govindpur blocks were in the crackdown.