VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, May 4: The Nitish Kumar government has informed former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi that the Bihar home department has been instructed to investigate allegations he had raised against certain criminal syndicates using ferry service in the river Ganga for transportation of illegal mines and minerals.
Rakesh Kumar, the Joint Secretary at Bihar CM Secretariat has informed the office of Babulal Marandi that his complaint letters have been sent to the Home Department for investigation.
Babulal Marandi had shot two letters to Bihar Chief Minister to inform him about the alleged illegal activities right after a cargo ship accident in the river Ganga in Sahebganj in the month of March. Marandi claimed that mafias have the backing of top officials in Katihar (Bihar) and Sahebganj, Jharkhand. He had demanded a CBI inquiry of the whole matter.
On March 24, an overloaded cargo ship Ro-Ro vessel carrying stones-chips laden trucks from Sahebganj to Katihar met with an accident. The BJP alleged powerful mining mafias are involved in illegal mining and transportation. The first letter he sent on March 25 and the second letter on March 30.
In the second letter, Marandi made serious allegations against the district administration of Sahebganj (Jharkhand) and Katihar (Bihar). Officially, the ferry service is allowed between Samda ghat (Sahebganj) and Manihari ghat (Katihar), and the contract was bagged by Sahebganj district-based cooperative society.
Babulal Marandi alleged that instead of designated ghats vessels operate between Garam ghat (Sahebganj) and Khutti ghat (Katihar) by the mafias to illegally transport stone chips and other minerals from Jharkhand to Bihar.
Babulal Marandi said that illegal ferry service has been taking place under the patronage of top officials of Sahebganj and Katihar. He said that ferry service is allowed even after sunset. He further pointed out that the entire investigation of the cargo ship accident by Katihar police was aimed to protect mafias.
