No coal syndicate in city: th

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 24: Guwahati Police Commissioner Hiren th has said that there is no coal syndicate in the city as alleged by some sections. He, however, has said that there may be illegal coal trade by a few people, but that is not syndicate.

th was talking to newsmen in the city on Wednesday. When asked on the recent allegations that there are coal syndicates at Beltola in the city, th said: “There may be illegal coal trading at Beltola. They’re not syndicates. The Assam Police is very prompt in dismantling syndicates of any sort in the State.”

When asked on reports doing rounds in the State that an accused person revealed the mes of some influential politicians and bureaucrats when being grilled by the police, th said: “Investigation is going on the right direction. After taking charge as the Guwahati Police Commissioner in 2016 my view on coal depots at Beltola was – ‘since Guwahati is becoming a smart city, the coal depots located at Beltola should be shifted to elsewhere on the outskirts of the city. When trade licenses were issued for the coal depots Beltola was not a residential area. However, the situation has changed now. My view found no takers at that time. There was even no move to mobilize public opinion for the shifting of the coal depots from Beltola to elsewhere. However, my stance still stands since Guwahati is going to be a smart city which is set for a beautification overdrive.” On Republic Day preparations, th said: “Police and paramilitary forces are on alert. Installation of CCTV cameras at the Veteriry College ground at Khapara where the State Republic Day programme is going to be held centrally is over. Drone cameras have also been in place at the field and other important places like Jata Bhawan.”