Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh Emerges as the new Illegal Coal Trade Hub; Police and Administration Accused of Inaction

BY: AJAY NIRALA, HAZARIBAGH

They say that organized crime is organized by the system itself and cannot prosper without the support of local police and administration. And this seems to be the exact case of organized crime.

Illegal coal mining and trade are allegedly flourishing across several coal-producing areas of Hazaribagh district, with Barkagaon, Charhi, Churchu and Giddi emerging as major centres of the illicit business. Despite claims that the activities are being carried out openly, allegations of administrative inaction and ineffective policing continue to raise serious concerns.

According to local sources, dozens of trucks and heavy vehicles allegedly transport illegally mined or stolen coal daily to sponge iron plants, hard coke units and other industrial consumers. The alleged network is said to extend beyond Hazaribagh into neighbouring Ramgarh district and markets in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The scale of the allegations has raised a fundamental question: how can an illegal coal supply chain of this magnitude continue to operate without effective intervention by the authorities?

Khapia: Allegations of Open Coal Loading and Transportation

Khapia, under Giddi police station, has emerged as a major focus of allegations concerning illegal coal mining, stockpiling and transportation. Local sources claim that coal allegedly extracted illegally, along with coal reportedly stolen from CCL stocks, is accumulated at the site before being transported to industrial units.

What was allegedly transported under the cover of darkness is now claimed to be moving during daylight hours, with JCB machines loading coal onto trucks.

Sources further allege that a sponge iron factory in Hosir, under the Giddi police station area, receives more than 50 truckloads of coal daily. The claim, which requires independent verification, raises questions about the origin of the coal, the documentation accompanying consignments and the enforcement of mining and transport regulations.

Barkagaon: Illegal Coal Routes Across Mining Areas

Barkagaon and its surrounding areas have also been identified as alleged sources of illegally mined coal. Locations named in these allegations include Indira-Pasariya, Sehda, Chapri, Badam, Gondalpur, Rautpara and Ambajharna.

According to local accounts, coal is transported through the Kobad-Banda route to local industrial units and, allegedly, to buyers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Three illegal coal depots are reportedly operating in the Sehda-Chapri area. Allegations of coal stockpiling and transportation have also been linked to seizures of coal and coal-laden vehicles during CISF raids. The specific cases, seizure records and ownership of the recovered material require verification from official records.

The allegations point to the need for a coordinated investigation into the source of the coal, the routes used for transportation and the industrial units receiving the consignments.

Charhi and Churchu Under the Scanner

Charhi and Churchu have also been named in allegations concerning the operation of unauthorised coal depots and the movement of coal from closed mines and coal stocks.

Local sources have alleged that coal depots operate in Chanaro, under Charhi police station, and Kargi, under Churchu police station. Chandan Singh has been named in connection with these alleged operations. These claims have not been independently established and require an official response and verification.

Further allegations concern the movement of coal through Kargi-Bodra and areas around Buzurg Nano, Oriya and Banda, including coal reportedly transported by tractors from areas bordering Ramgarh district.

The alleged supply chain is said to feed sponge iron factories in Ramgarh and other industrial destinations, making the verification of coal origin and transport documents a key part of any investigation.

Industrial Units Under Scrutiny

Sponge iron factories and hard coke units in Hazaribagh and Ramgarh have allegedly become major destinations for coal whose origins are being questioned.

If the allegations are substantiated, investigators would need to examine whether the receiving units maintained valid purchase invoices, mining-source documentation, e-transit permits and other statutory records for incoming coal.

The investigation would also need to establish whether any industrial buyers knowingly purchased illegally mined or stolen coal. The allegations alone do not establish wrongdoing by any particular factory or its management.

Police Inaction Allegations Raise Questions

The most serious concern is the allegation that the illegal coal trade continues despite complaints and information reportedly reaching local police and senior district officials.

According to local accounts, police officials have been approached over the alleged activities. Claims that a station house officer described the police as helpless have also circulated.

The allegations have raised questions about why repeated reports of illegal mining, coal stockpiling and transportation have not resulted in a publicly documented, sustained crackdown.

The district administration and police leadership need to clarify what complaints have been received, what action has been taken and whether any investigations have been initiated against those allegedly involved.

Claims of Political and Administrative Protection

The allegations have become more serious with claims that certain individuals involved in the coal trade boast of having their operations managed through an extensive network of contacts.

Local sources have attributed statements suggesting protection from people at different levels of the system to individuals named as Rishi Singh, Chandan Singh and Sandeep Kumar Singh.

The authorities should investigate whether any individuals are providing protection to illegal mining operations, facilitating transportation or helping coal consignments bypass regulatory checks.

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Questions the Administration Must Answer

The allegations surrounding Hazaribagh’s coal belt call for a coordinated response from the district administration, police, and mining authorities.

Key questions include:

• Have the alleged coal depots in Khapia, Chanaro, Kargi and Sehda-Chapri been inspected?
• Have the origins and ownership of coal stocks at these locations been verified?
• Have the industrial units receiving the coal been checked for invoices, transport permits and source documentation?
• What action has been taken following CISF raids and reported seizures?
• Have complaints concerning the alleged illegal trade been formally registered and investigated?
• Has any inquiry been conducted into allegations of protection for those involved in the trade?

The authorities should also publish details of verified seizures, registered cases and enforcement action to establish whether the allegations have been addressed.

Hazaribagh’s alleged illegal coal trade is no longer merely a question of unauthorised extraction. The allegations point to a possible chain involving mining, collection, transportation, storage and industrial consumption, obviously with the patronage of the local police and administration.

The author of this article, Ajay Nirala is a senior journalist based in Hazaribagh, who is also the Bureau Chief of UJJWAL DUNIYA Newspaper