12 drivers arrested, trucks seized

Coal theft case

From our Correspondent

DIGBOI, July 14:  Following the sudden and unexpected involvement of Digboi MLA in chasing and filly handing over the alleged illegally procured coal  in 12 trucks on Wednesday morning on NH 38 in Digboi, the departments concerned, including the police, are leaving no stone unturned to ascertain the exact ture of offence involved in the act.

However, based on police investigation and reports of DTO officials on quantity of materials loaded, Digboi Police arrested 12 drivers and seized the coal-laden trucks on Thursday morning on the ground of illegal procurement of the resources.

Based on FIR lodged to this effect, a case at 146/2017 was registered and prosecuted u/s 379 IPC R/W sec 3 (2) (a ) (d) of PDPP Act  and the drivers of the erring vehicles who were arrested thereby were identified as Vijendra Singh (42) of Rohta, Hari Om (25) of Kanpur, Nirgun Sahani (27) of Mujafarpur,  Dhanmoni Kalita (25) of Dhubri, Gautam Singh (55) of Motihari, Santosh Kumar Chaurosia (44) of Chatarpur, Md Jakir Hussain (35) of Kamrup, rendra Singh (45), Khuka Deori (50) of Morigaon , Md Akbar (46) of Sambhal and rendra Kumar (45) of Meerut.

According to formal sources, the documents including the challan and the corresponding weight revealed  that the materials loaded in the trucks were exorbitant and all the vehicles, excluding the two, were loaded with  3 to 4 tonnes of  uccounted resources  considered as ‘illegally procured  without paying revenue to the government’. While one vehicle has been found without possessing any relevant documents, another vehicle was mysteriously carrying the load below the weight as mentioned in the challan.

Meanwhile,  suspicion still holds good in so far as the owners or the claimants of  the property  is concerned as no party nor any vendor has turned round to claim the loaded material or the trucks.

Digboi MLA Suren Phukon, accompanied by Terash Gwala and Rameswar Teli, during a visit to the grief-stricken members of Dhanowar family on Thursday evening, said that he would not rest and his crusade against the illegal coal trade, cattle and timber smuggling would continue in his constituency. While police sources said that investigation was being carried out and those involved in the act would be dealt with as per law.