RAPUR: A day after Chhattisgarh police ordered an investigation into a viral video showing a large number of people digging for coal at an open pit mine believed to be owned by South Eastern Coalfield Limited (SECL) in Korba district, senior district officials visited the Gevra and Dipke coal mines on Friday and claimed that no attempt had been made by SCEL to stop such theft.

Korba collector Ranu Sahu and Superintendent of Police Bhojram Patel visited the SCEL mines and reviewed the mine entry and exit arrangements on Friday. Senior officials from the SECL and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were also present during the visit.

However, the local administration claimed that the police were still unclear about the authenticity of the video and whether the video was shot in Korba district or not.

“In February I called a meeting of SCEL and CISF officials and asked them to secure all the coal mines by digging trenches around them but nothing was done. No such trenches were found. I also asked them to close the mining area with chain-link fences where the possible intrusion takes place, but nothing was done. It is negligence on the part of SECL and CISF that no checkpoint has been established near the mining area to stop the theft of coal,” said collector Ranu Sahu.

The tax collector ordered the establishment of a CISF outpost near the mines which are connected to the main road and to deploy an officer as soon as possible.

“The authenticity of the video has not yet been established and the investigation is ongoing. SECL has engaged CISF and Tripura State Rifles for the security of its mining projects. Management is open to any suggestions regarding positioning and strength building,” said SECL public relations officer Sanish Chandra, commenting on the collector’s statement.

On Thursday night, Inspector General of Police (Bilaspur Range) Ratanlal Dangi, ordered an investigation into the viral video and ordered the matter to be investigated as soon as possible.

The video shows a large number of women and men digging in the open with pickaxes and other tools. People are also seen carrying sacks full of coal over their shoulders and heads and queuing out of the mine.

The IG ordered an investigation by the Anti-Crime and Cyber ​​Unit.

The terms of reference for the investigation include finding out which mine is seen in the video and why the central security force was unable to prevent so many people from entering there.

“Police cases have been filed by SECL officials regarding the theft of coal in the past and the action taken by the police regarding them. If actions were not taken, what are the reasons? Who are those who are involved in the purchase of the stolen coal and where these consignments are resold and whether an official or employee is involved in these cases are among other points of reference for the investigation,” the order said. .

Meanwhile, Korba (SP) Police Superintendent Bhojram Patel on Thursday withdrew officers from Dipka Police Station and Hardibazar Chowki Police (outpost) and moved them to the police line of Korba.

“After the IG ordered an investigation, I immediately removed the two post house officers from the relevant area so that they could not influence the investigation,” the SP said on Friday.

Commenting on the video, Patel said police still do not know where the video was taken.

“The video shows a vertical mine that is not in Korba and if it is from Korba, one wonders how so many people entered a mine that is largely protected,” the SP said. .

Meanwhile, former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and leader of Chhattisgarh’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), OP Chaudhary, who posted the video on Twitter on Wednesday, has alleged there may be an organized gang involved in the coal theft and should be investigated. properly.

“There cannot be such a scam like this without the role of large-scale organized gangs. The important people in the system should investigate this whole thing very seriously. They should get to the bottom of it and take strong action against everyone involved so they can clean up the whole system,” Chaudhary said.