Coal Thieves Attack CISF Team in Dhanbad; Two Personnel Injured

Dhanbad, Jharkhand: Coal thieves in Dhanbad have grown increasingly bold, attacking a CISF team conducting a raid, leaving two personnel seriously injured. Sub-Inspector Vivek Kumar and Constable Govind Kumar sustained head injuries and were initially treated on-site before being admitted to Dhanbad Central Hospital, where their treatment is ongoing.

Incident Details
The attack occurred at the Tetulmari coal dump on Wednesday night when the CISF team intervened to stop illegal coal extraction. A CISF officer on duty stated that a gang of thieves was actively loading coal for transport. When confronted, they refused to cooperate and began stoning the team as reinforcements arrived. The local Tetulmari police reached the site, but the culprits had already fled. Following the incident, additional CISF personnel were deployed, and police patrols have been intensified.

Rising Challenges for Law Enforcement
This brazen attack comes just five days after a similar incident in the Nirsa region, where coal thieves assaulted a CISF raid team. Experts say such incidents highlight the growing challenges faced by authorities in curbing illegal coal mining in Dhanbad.

Scale of the Problem
Illegal coal mining is rampant across Dhanbad, including in Nirsa, Maithon, Galfar Wadi, Baghmara, Katras, Tetulmari, Jagta, Jharia, Basta, Lodna, Kujama, and other areas. Criminal gangs are estimated to extract 5,000 tons of coal daily, which is transported at night via trucks and small vehicles to states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This illicit trade results in massive revenue losses for both state and central governments, while regulatory enforcement remains weak.

Police Response Under Scrutiny
Despite claims that police have established checkpoints every two kilometers, these posts primarily check motorists for helmets or seat belts, with little attention to coal-laden trucks or vehicles.

Political Oversight
Opposition leader Babulal Marandi has recently raised questions about the role of Dhanbad police in enabling illegal coal extraction. In a press conference in Ranchi, Marandi alleged that coal theft is conducted under the protection of the Dhanbad SSP and Baghmara DSP, with complicity from local police officers. He also named several influential individuals allegedly involved in the coal mafia. Despite these revelations, enforcement has failed to curb the illegal operations.