From Bhupen Goswami
UWAHATI : Enforcement Inspector Bhabha Kalita has been arrested by The Cachar police for his alleged involvement in the illegal coal smuggling racket. A drive has been launched by The Cachar police against the enmity of smuggling of coal into barak valley. According to sources, There was an entrance to illegal smuggling for Gumra smugglers in Cachar district. Due to the high involvement of corrupt police officers, it was later found that coal was transported in loaded trucks, which were easily passed by them. The arrested police officer was in charge of Digarkhal. Kachhar Superintendent of Police Ramandeep Kaur has launched a drive to deal with and deal with smugglers and coal mafias. There was a total reshuffle of officers in Gumra and Katigora. The existing officers have been transferred to different places. The arrested police officer was later questioned for more than 24 hours based on available documents and information against his alleged involvement. Illegal coal mining and transportation in the North East has been the highlight of the sector.
Illegal coal mining was severely banned by the Congress government in 2014. The All Dimasa Students Union and Dima Hasao District Committee prepared a petition which was the basis of the ban on mining. It is alleged that coal was being sent from Meghalaya to Tripura and Mizoram from NH-6 through Barak Valley in Assam for several years. Barak Valley is spread over southern Assam, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts. The FIR alleged that Chaudhary had taken money from the complainant to arrange seven challans for transportation of coal in trucks from Meghalaya. Unfortunately, the ban has not been fully respected and parts of the North East region are still facing illegal mining and destruction of livelihoods. Over the years, the ban has resulted in a loss of over Rs 600 crore to the state government and locals near Jayantia Hills are dependent on mining, which has also affected their lives in many ways.
