IIT (ISM) Dhanbad welcomes new students; Director calls for innovationJharkhand: Palamu launches infrastructure audit of govt schools amid safety concernsJharkhand: Palamu police recover 104 missing mobile phones, return them to ownersJPSC scam: Babulal Marandi alleges ₹40 lakh bribe for officer posts, seeks CBI probeCBI arrests South Eastern Railway engineer while accepting ₹4 lakh bribe at Howrah stationCJP calls off NEET protest after Dharmendra Pradhan resigns; government accepts key demandsNo ‘out-of-turn’ VIP or VVIP darshan during Shravani Mela, says minister Sudivya KumarNilamber Pitamber University gives two colleges until July 30 to restore science faculty affiliation

Police–coal Mafia now turning to FaceTime for theft syndicate, claims Babulal Marandi

  Ranchi, Nov.  28: BJP State President and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi has accused the Jharkhand government of failing to…

Police–coal Mafia now turning to FaceTime for theft syndicate, claims Babulal Marandi

 

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement

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.

Stay informed. Get Jharkhand's top stories in your inbox.

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

He claimed that one such development has raised serious concerns.

ALSO READ: Jharkhand Govt Marks 1 Year: CM Hemant Soren distributes 8,792 job letters

Advertisement
Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement

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.

 

More from Breaking
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad welcomes new students; Director calls for innovation

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad welcomes new students; Director calls for innovation

July 26, 2026
Jharkhand: Palamu launches infrastructure audit of govt schools amid safety concerns

Jharkhand: Palamu launches infrastructure audit of govt schools amid safety concerns

July 26, 2026
Jharkhand: Palamu police recover 104 missing mobile phones, return them to owners

Jharkhand: Palamu police recover 104 missing mobile phones, return them to owners

July 26, 2026

Stay informed. Get Jharkhand's top stories in your inbox.

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

About the Author

thejharkhandstory.co.in