SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Feb 3: Former chief minister and BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi held the state government responsible for the death of five villagers during the illegal mining of Nirsa-Gopinathpur mines of Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL).
Marandi along with Dhanbad sadar MLA Raj Sinha and Nirsa MLA Aparna Sengupta visited the incident spot of Gopinathpur in the afternoon today. He alleged that the district administration, management of ECL and coal thieves are jointly supporting the coal theft in the region in an organized way.
Babulal Marandi announced that since the matter is serious and perennial in the region, he would raise the issue in the ensuing assembly session.
Five villagers including four women died in Gopinathpur mines of ECL on February 1 when the roof of mines caved in all of sudden. The administration and colliery management took out five bodies from debris on February 2.
“Without the support of the police administration and coal companies, illegal mining can’t be done. State government should stop coal theft immediately and pay compensation to the victim families,” said Marandi.
The BJP leader also met the family members of the five victims and assured them about compensation.
“For their own benefit, police and coal company officers push poor people of the area for coal theft and in a death trap. Since poor people are facing starvation, they take the risk of life,” Marandi added.
BJP district president Chandrashekhar Singh, senior leader Ramesh Rahi, Vinay Singh, Jay Prakash Singh, Madhurendra Goswami, Bampi Chakraborty were also with Marandi during the visit.
