On Monday night, Champua forest officials seized a truck having registration No- BR - 2BW- 3821. It was loaded with high grade of manganese from the Jharan mines under Joda mining circle of Keonjhar district. The driver was absconding.
It is alleged that due to the nexus of mining mafia with corrupt Government officials, a large number of trucks loaded with illegal iron ore and manganese are despatched to the neighbouring States of Odisha illegally. Former Keonjhar DFO Swayam Malik after joining in the month of September had busted illegal transaction of minerals by making rampant surprise raids and was able to put a break on the theft by arresting the culprits.
It is said that he was also visiting the border area to study the situation there, but after his transfer, situation is back to square one. So much so that the Barbil forest range has turned a safe haven for the mafia.
Sources revealed that the Champua Deputy Ranger is in the additional charge of Barbil and similarly ,Rugudi Forester and Joda Forster have been given the additional charge of Barbil and Bamebari section respectively. But raids are not frequently conducted leading to rampant smuggling of ore.
