Chandikhole: Some places along the Chandikhole-Paradeep Highway (NH-53) in Jajpur district have turned out to be hubs of iron ore smuggling. The raw material is siphoned off from transporting vehicles.
Such illegal activities have been flourishing due to several rackets active in the area, a report said. According to the report, thousands of trucks have been engaged in mineral transportation from various mines of Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts to the Paradeep Port.
Several iron ore-smuggling rackets are active at Kaudikhol and other places along the NH53. Members of rackets unload a part of ore from trucks with the help of truck drivers. Ore mafia has enrolled scores of truck drivers in their pay roll.
It was learnt that as soon as trucks start mineral transportation from mines, drivers intimate the mafia over phone in advance and strike deals to deliver the qualities of iron ore they want to sell.
Moreover, mafia manages to obtain forged documents for the smuggled iron ore and transport them to various agencies at Paradeep. Reliable sources said, some truck drivers are handed out temporary permits when they carry minerals from mines.
Mafia sent these permits online to transporting agencies. Once approved, the smuggled iron ore is sold with temporary permits. Even some sponge iron plants buy such illegal iron ore for their use, it was alleged.
Apart from Kaudikhol, several other road-side areas between Chandikhole and Paradeep have emerged as convenient places for iron ore siphoning trade that allegedly goes on with the help of local police.
The Kaudikhol area falls under Mahanga police limits in Cuttack district. Locals alleged that the district level task force, formed to check all kinds of illegal activities in mining and transportation, has failed to act against the mafia.
They have demanded routine raids at these places along the Chandikhole-Paradeep Highway. Deputy director of mines (Jajpur Road) JS Banra said that raids will be carried out with departmental squads. And accordingly action will be taken against those promoting such illegality, he added.
PNN