Marandi: Jharkhand Govt Creating New Crimes to Hide Coal Mafia Links

Jharkhand’s opposition leader, Babulal Marandi, has accused the state government of resorting to the fabrication of new crimes as a strategy to hide ongoing illegal activities. He pointed to the recent ED raids in Dhanbad’s coal industry, which reportedly unearthed significant evidence. Marandi highlighted a disturbing development: senior police officials, allegedly profiting from the black economy of coal, have issued ‘targets’ to eliminate certain foot soldiers of coal mafias. This, he claims, is a tactic to prevent incriminating information from surfacing, as individuals questioned by the ED are reportedly being targeted for assassination. The politician drew parallels to previous incidents in the state where alleged ‘evidence encounters’ were staged to silence witnesses. He recalled a controversial DGP who faced accusations of accepting bribes for staged encounters, with even ruling party members calling him the most corrupt official Jharkhand has ever seen. Marandi cautioned the ED, emphasizing that in Jharkhand, those who suppress truth often thrive, while truth-tellers face peril. He warned that when political power, administrative systems, and organized crime intertwine, the subversion of justice is almost inevitable.