Bhadrak: Although the police have cracked down on the coal mafia, the pilferage of coal, particularly on the route from Dhamra port to Charampa in Bhadrak, has not stopped.
SP Rajesh Pandit took the issue seriously and directed all police stations to take the mafia to task. Many persons involved in stealing coal from moving goods trains had been arrested a few days ago. Raids are being carried out in different places, but the theft still goes on.
The Bansada police had registered a case against 12 people September 14, and the Tihidi police had registered a case against 25 persons involved in coal theft.
Despite the raids, a massive coal smuggling racket thrives in various parts of the district.
The SP had travelled on a goods train from Bhattatira railway station to Dhamra coal load point about two weeks ago to see how coal is stolen from moving trains.
Those involved in the racket risk their lives by clinging to electricity poles along the track and pull out coal from trains with hooks.
Locals say such scenes are a common sight in several areas under the Dhamra outpost, Dhamra marine police station, Bansada police station, Karanjamal outpost, Ghanteswar outpost, Pirahata outpost, Tihidi police station, Sabarang outpost and Bhadrak Rural police station.
A man was electrocuted while climbing on a utility pole and trying to steal coal from a moving train near Ichhapur level crossing in January. After back-to-back raids the theft of coal had come down briefly.
Now, the mafia is using the water route to smuggle coal by boats at the ghats in Bansada, Panchutikiria, Baliapal and Charbatia. From there coal is transported by pick-up vans, containers and motorcycles to different places, mostly in West Bengal.
Thousands of sacks of coal have piled up along the railway track and huge stocks of seized coal can be seen at various police stations, but the port authorities have not taken back the seized coal.
Coal theft has been taking place in villages like Sherpur, Palia, Chatrapada, Manipur, Biriharpur, Balasahi, Subudhia, Nuagan and Bansada.
Locals alleged the illegal coal business is being pushed by the mafia by giving regular commissions to the police, Railway Protection Force and railway authorities.
A few days ago the SP had suspended the OIC of Sabarang outpost for the latter’s alleged links with the coal mafia.
Stock points of stolen coal were detected at Shyamsundarpur and Balikhand in Simulia block of Balasore and at Barapur in Bhadrak.
The public has demanded strong action against the coal mafia.
PNN
