Kulti, November 29: Acting on the instructions of the Senior Commandant of CISF Shitlapur Unit of ECL and based on a tip-off, a joint operation was conducted late Friday night around 12:30 AM near Puja Hotel on the Asansol–Chittaranjan Road.
Participating in the raid were CISF teams from Mohanpur, Bhanora, Shitlapur QRT, Sripur Team, ECL’s security personnel, and police from Chourangi Outpost of Kulti Police Station. During the operation, approximately 511.950 metric tonnes of illegal coal were seized. The confiscated coal was transported to the Bonjemari rail siding. CISF has informed Kulti Police Station in writing for further legal action.
CISF is investigating why such a large quantity of coal was stored behind a hotel and where it came from. Questions are being raised about whether the coal was kept there for smuggling purposes. Despite the massive seizure, no one has been detained or arrested from the spot.
The CBI’s investigation into illegal coal operations across the Asansol industrial belt is still underway, with hearings continuing in the CBI court in Asansol. The names of major coal-smuggling kingpins appear in the CBI chargesheet filed in the case.
Even after the ongoing central investigation, reports of illegal coal activities continue to surface from various parts of the Asansol industrial region.