Lagatar24 Desk
Dumka, Oct. 30: An administrative team led by DSP (Headquarter), Noor Mustafa, carried out a massive drive against illegal coal mining activities and demolished several rat-hole mines in a spot deep into the forests in the Gopikandar police station area of the district on Saturday.
The move followed yesterday’s visit of the District Mining Task Force comprising Deputy Commissioner Ravishankar Shukla and SP Ambar Lakda to Gopikandar when they found instances of illegal extraction and dumping of coal and sand in Odmo Mouja.
“Nearly one dozen rat-hole mines were demolished by engaging heavy earthmovers in the day-long operation,” said the DSP, adding that those involved in the illegal mining and transportation were being identified.
This is however not the only instance of such administrative operations in Gopikandar or other parts of the district where coal is available in abundance, as the contraband practice run by a well-organised network of mining mafias, manage to start it again.
Mafias involved in the coal mining often engage villagers of surrounding localities to excavate and transport the coal in nearby dumping spots from where it is further transported to faraway places on trucks.
