Govt protecting mining mafias in CG: Cong

Raipur, March 10, 2012

Congress has alleged that mining mafias were active in state under government’s protection. “These mafias are engaged in illegal mining of mineral resources worth hundreds of crores but either the police are part of this ‘dark business’ or they fear the government as no action has been taken against any suspect in past eight years,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla on Saturday.

He apprehends that a preventive action by any honest official against mining mafias might cost him his life as has happened in Madhya Pradesh where a young IPS officer Narendra Kumar was allegedly killed by mining mafia.

“The ruling BJP do not spare the complainants. In the past, a person, who had complained of illegal mining being done by Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Vijay Baghel from BJP, was roughed up by the latter’s supporters,” Shukla charged.

“The dominance of sand mafias in Arang, Rajim and Bilaspur, illegal mining of bauxite and diamond in Bodla and Devbhog respectively are only few examples as the mining mafias have spreadeagled in the length and breadth of the state. The government is well conversant with this illegal business. If any police official tries to launch offensive against these mafias, he is either asked to stop his chase or he gets transferred,” Shukla said.

He further alleged that the government had allocated coal and iron ore mines to ineligible and fake companies of mining mafias to exploit. “The rich mineral resources of the state are being exploited under a planned conspiracy by the government and the mining mafias,” he said.

Many illegal coal depots between Raipur & Bilaspur!

Raipur, March 10, 2012

The PCC spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla said that there were several illegal coal depots being operated between Raipur and Bilaspur but surprisingly the government had not raided any of the depots.

“It is because the coal mafias are operating these depots under asylum of some of the BJP leaders,” Shukla said.

“Coals worth lakhs are being transported from these depots under the nose of the police. The coal mafias have established complete transportation network in these depots. The mafias have invested crores of rupees in each of these illegal depots,” he said.