SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 23: The deputy commissioner (DC) of Dhanbad has asked for all FIRs filed against coal thieves in the last three years to be reviewed to combat organized coal theft.
Taking a serious note of reported illegal mining and transporting, DC Sandip Singh while chairing the coordination committee has asked Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) authorities to ensure continuous weighing of coal loaded trucks at the mining spot and at the destination.
The district administration, police, BCCL, and CISF have formed a combined coordination committee to combat coal theft in order to ensure free, fair, and peaceful mining and maintain law and order in the colliery, according to the DC.
Casualty in illegal mining of coal, transporting and regular bloody clashes among groups for supremacy in mines operated by outsourcing companies have created a major law and order challenge for the administration.
As per unofficial sources, coal of worth Rs.11 to 12 crores are being siphoned off from Dhanbad based colliery of Bharat Coking Coal Limited and Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) every day.
“The administration has decided to take tough action against the people involved in coal theft and transporting. So, I have asked to review the FIR lodged against coal thieves in the last three years so that action could be initiated against history sheeters,” said DC Sandip Singh.
The DC also directed the BCCL authorities to intensify patrolling in the colliery and provide logistic support such as vehicles, fuel to the CISF, and lodge named FIR against the groups involved in creating a disturbance in the colliery.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjiv Kumar at the review meeting directed to identify the persons helping coal thieves and follow BCCL SOP while filing FIR. He also sought help from BCCL authorities in a police probe of coal theft.
Besides the district administration officials, BCCL senior officers, CISF DIG, commandant, police officials also put up their suggestions for curbing coal crime.
