ED calls officials of Jharkhand forest department in illegal mining probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked at least half a dozen senior officials of the forest department to assist the agency in the ongoing illegal stone mining probe. However, it is not clear in what capacity the ED has called for their assistance. Some of them are likely to be questioned by the ED on Monday, July 25.

Well-placed sources have said that the alleged illegal mining on forest land is the key reason behind the ED calling these officials. The ED wants to know from them the role of the forest department in the sanction of the stone mining lease. Sources have said that the ED is examining past records of how and when actions were taken against illegal mining on the forest land in the respective districts. Besides, the ED wants to verify certain documents.

Three districts of Santhal Pargana namely Sahibganj, Dumka, and Pakur are under the scanner of the ED for alleged illegal mining. Among these districts, Sahibganj has emerged as the centre stage for all the wrong reasons where the ED recently carried out raids against CM Hemant Soren’s MLA representative Pankaj Mishra and others for carrying out illegal mining.

There is an allegation that intentionally or unintentionally illegal mining on the forest land was allowed in Sahibganj which is governed by 1946 notification of the government 1370-VII-54/46R dated 25^th February 1946. Under the notification, all wasteland of Damin-E-Koh has been declared as forest land. Damin-E-Koh refers to the outskirts of hills. The Rajmahal Hills range is governed by Damin-E-Koh rule. Even the forest department in its 2018 communication to the Sahibganj district administration had pointed out that illegal mining took place at some places under the mauja Malitok, Gadaitungi, Patnibona, Ambade, Telo, Chapande, Gangupara Bero, Borna, Basko and Motijharna.

It has been alleged that mining mafias have carried out illegal stone mining in the forest area at Taljhari block in the Sahibganj district and the consignment was dispatched to Bangladesh via rail route.