The Daily Pioneer reported that Bermo police on Thursday conducted massive raids at Budhgada forest area of Nawadih police station and seized 70 tonnes of illegally mined coal along with a coal laden truck.

Sources said that the police force intercepted a truck without number plate loaded with illegal coal. However, the driver managed to flee. The truck was coming from an unknown dump yard of Budhgadda when it was intercepted near the chowk.

SP Bokaro Mr Kuldeep Dwiwedi said these raids were conducted following roof collapse during illegal mining of coal at Chanderpura region of the same police station, in which five women were buried alive on February 7.

After the incident, the SP said that he had ordered an inquiry and five bodies were recovered by the police.

He said that after this incident, the police took strong action and has leveled all areas where illegal mining of coal was continuing with the help of bulldozers so that villagers do not start illegal mining.

He said he has made his intention very clear to all the officers, in-charge of all the police stations of the district, that he will not allow illegal mining and his drive against illegal coal mining in Bermo will continue unabated.

Sources said maximum illegal coal depots run under the shadow of Maoists as coal smugglers have the rebels’ protection. This illegal coal trade is a major source of revenue for Maoists as they collect huge amount of levy from the smugglers. The coal is smuggled to neighboring districts and States from here.

(Sourced from www.dailypioneer.com)