THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Nov. 28: BJP State President and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi has accused the Jharkhand government of failing to curb widespread coal theft in the state. He said that after the Enforcement Directorate intensified its operations and he publicly exposed the issue, the illegal coal trade in Dhanbad witnessed a temporary slowdown, creating fear within the mafia network.
According to him, this pause has now begun to fade.
“Coal Thieves Active Again” — New Communication Tactics Alleged
Marandi said that reliable sources are indicating that coal thieves are becoming active once more and are now shifting their mode of communication to avoid being tracked.
He claimed that one such development has raised serious concerns.
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55 iPhones Ordered from a Single Shop: Marandi Flags Suspicion
Marandi said a shopkeeper at Bank More, Dhanbad, recently ordered around 55 iPhones, which he described as highly unusual.
According to him, this points to a new strategy:
fearing that regular phone calls may be traced, elements within the police and the coal mafia may be planning to run a theft syndicate through Apple’s FaceTime service, which is considered harder to intercept.
Call for Central Agencies to Monitor New Devices
He urged central investigative agencies to keep a close watch on:
the sudden spike in active iPhones in Dhanbad,
the individuals who purchased them, and
both known and unknown users linked to these devices.
“Technology Will Not Protect Thieves” — Marandi
Marandi said that regardless of how much the coal mafia changes its technology or communication methods, he will continue to expose such operations and work to stop the plunder of Jharkhand’s natural resources.