Bhadrak: The coal mafia in Dhamra area of Bhadrak has reportedly changed its modus operandi and carries the black diamond in containers to evade police and public detection.
The matter came to the fore Sunday when police seized a container carrying stolen coal in Nayakanidihi under Basudevpur block and arrested two persons.
Coal is transported from Dhamra by water and land routes every day amid allegations that huge amounts of it are stolen by locals and the mafia. Given the rising cases of coal theft in the area, the superintendent of police had directed all police stations to carry out raids.
Nayakanidihi police have already seized 10 pick-up vans and two motorized boats laden with coal. With the intense police patrolling, the mafia has changed its tactics and started carrying coal in containers.
Acting on a tip-off, IIC Gansswar Pradhan further intensified the night patrolling. ASI Dillip Kumar Dehuri and constables Kaurunakar Murmu, Niranjan Nayak, Prashant Sahu were doing night patrolling on Dhamra-Jamujhadi road Saturday when they saw a truck moving at break-neck speed.
The vehicle was intercepted. On checking, 55 sacks of coal were found in it. Police seized the coal and arrested its driver Purusottam Barik and coal trader Subash Khillar, both from Kismat Krushnapur.
PNN