Joda: Mineral smuggling has reportedly been going on in hilly and forested areas under Joda police limits in Keonjhar district. Tonnes of iron pellets have been stocked in those areas, which are out of the prying eyes of the police and mining officials.
Nearly 100 tonnes of iron pellets have been transported from somewhere and stocked in a forested area of Khuntapani and Suruguturia.
Joda police, led by IIC Manoj Kumar Rout, got a tip-off about the illegal stocking of the pellets and rushed to the site for an investigation.
However, the police are yet to ascertain who have stocked this illegal iron pellets worth lakhs of rupees.
Two companies are making iron pellets in the area. Police said the authorities of the two plants will be called for an inquiry. Action will be taken upon any complaint, if made, said the IIC.
The IIC had intimated the officials of the Joda mining circle about the stocking of the pellets, but the latter refused to seize it, citing the reason that pellets were a finished product.
On one hand, police say they will not be taken any action unless any complaint is lodged with them. On the other hand, the forest department has information as to who stocked the illegal pellets.
Now, various quarters seek to know who will be responsible for safe upkeep of the illegal socked pellets.
A year ago, a pellet depot had been detected in Bansapani. Following a directive of the then SP Rajesh Pandit, the police had seized the pellets.
Such an incident has come to the fore amid allegations that mineral smuggling has been going in Bamebari and Joda areas, but the mineral mafia has been elusive and not been taken to task.
Keonjhar DFO Ajit Kumar Satpathy said he got to know of the incident and would intimate the department.
PNN