From Our Corresspondent
Guwahati: Assam government is taking a serious note of insurgent outfits – NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and the ULFA (anti-talks) – as well as Maoists element entering into illegal coal trade in Margherita in Tinsukia district of Assam and in Changlang district of adjoining Arunachal Pradesh.
According to official reports these insurgent groups in collusion with certain unscrupulous elements steal coal from the depots, mines and lease-hold areas of Coal India Limited in Margherita and carry it to Arunachal Pradesh where they surreptitiously get it seized and thereafter auctioned to further transport it through Assam and sell it to different parts of the country. The process cause huge loss of revenue to Assam.
The irregularities in coal trade and involvement of ultras in it were recently brought to the notice of the state government through a report submitted by the District Magistrate (Deputy Commissioner) of Tinsukia district Meenakshi Sundaram .
“Insurgent groups like NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K) have recently entered into the business (of coal) along with ULFA and they are now penetrating deeply into Tinsukia. Various intelligence inputs say that many anti-social elements and vested interests from Tinsukia are hand-in-glove with these groups,” the report said.
Quoting intelligence inputs, the official in his report said “Leftist insurgent groups – Maoist elements” had entered the illegalities of coal trade in a big way.
There are also reports of drug syndicates being formed with such funds generated on a daily basis that together become a deadly cocktail. In fact, spurts of opium production, storage, trafficking, sales and consumption have been also noticed in Tinsukia district.”
The Government of Assam has already issued instruction to its Mining and Home departments on this matter to take stern action to stop the illegal coal trade. Subsequently, concerned police and civil officials of Tinsukia district and Margherita subdivision have been directed to take preventive steps.
Tinsukia DM has already issued order to restrict entry of coal-laden trucks from Arunachal Pradesh to Assam only during 7 A.M to 4 P.M.. The Coal India Limited has been asked to deploy better forces like the CISF for protection of its coal fields and depots to stop illegal coal trading.