Crack on Coal Smuggling Gangs in Barak Valley; Syndicate in Panic mode

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's determination to crack the whip on syndicate in the Barak Valley was seen when more than a hundred coal-laden trucks from Meghalaya on way to Bangladesh through the Sutarkandi border were intercepted by the Karimganj police. At least a dozen of them were taken to the police station. Drivers and their assistants were subjected to interrogation.

SP Mayank Kumar along with a police team was seen in action.

Coal Smuggler Gang Busted in Barak Vally

A tense situation has been prevailing in and around the police station of the border town and the highway to Surtarkandi international land port for the last three days. And the coal mafias virtually are upset, running helter-skelter for political protection. The action followed against Amaresh Roy, president of, Importers and Exporters Association, and BJP leader, along with the secretary were in detention for twenty-four hours in the police station.

Four others included truck driver Nilu Roy, coal traders Fakrul Islam, Abdul Hafiz Choudhury, and Muktar Hussain Choudhury after prolonged interrogations were produced in a local court that remanded them to judicial custody. All four were charge-sheeted under various provisions of the IPC. Amaresh Roy was released last evening on specific conditions. He will have to report to the police on Thursday.

Runu Mia, Taj Uddin and Billujit Roy who were taken into custody by the police have been released today and directed to report again after two days. Some coal traders, Birendra, Wahid, Mumin and Gautom, are absconding. The police are hunting them out. According to informed sources, police was to launch operation against drug traders and peddlers.

But, its diversion against coal syndicate has raised a quizzical question. But, that SP Mayank Kumar is all serious is evident from his no-holds-barred attitude and action. Many more big guns in the black diamond are likely to be behind the bar. After all, the Chief Minister is determined to end it which has badly tarnished the image of the BJP in the valley, and adversely told upon its winning prospects in 2021 polls. The police continue to raid several places in search of persons behind the illegal trade. One after another intriguing aspects of it is also being exposed.

Another name that has come to the fore is Abhinash Akashi, manager, Sutarkandi Land Port, who is alleged to have a big hand in manipulating the weights of the coal and limestone trucks before they are allowed to move to Bangladesh. Quite surprising, Congress MLA Kamalakha Dey Purkayastha, North Karimganj, who has been most vocal in raising his voice in and outside the Assembly against Syndicate, was seen in the police station, pleading for the release of those detained. Krishnendu Paul, BJP MLA, Patharkandi, quipped, "The cat is out of the bag now." Once the whip has been cracked, people want the end of syndicate raj.

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