Jharkhand opens investigation into transportation of illegally-mined minerals by rail
The Hindu
Mr. Soren was questioned by the ED for over nine-and-half-hours on November 17 in connection with its investigation into an alleged illegal mining case.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that a special investigation team (SIT) will probe the alleged transportation of illegally-mined minerals by railways from the state.
Speaking in the assembly on Friday, Mr. Soren said the SIT was set up to investigate how much mineral was transported from the state by the railways and the extent of the illegal transportation.
"Trucks and tractors are blamed for illegal transportation of stones, sand and coal. But, it is rampant through trains also. And, the state government has no interference in this," he said.
On December 14, Mr. Soren wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw seeking his attention towards the alleged involvement of railway officials in the transportation of illegally-mined minerals.
The Chief Minister also told him about the state government's decision of ordering a high-level inquiry into it.
Alleging that the BJP was using central agencies to destabilise the government, Mr. Soren said, "Every morning and evening, they (BJP) kneel down before the central agencies for papers against the government so that they could carry on their politics."
Mr. Soren was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over nine-and-half-hours on November 17 in connection with its investigation into an alleged illegal mining case.