Patna, Nov. 16: An alleged nexus between law enforcers and the stone quarrying mafia in Rohtas has come to the fore following the release of over 60 trucks laden with unauthorised stone chips from the possession of the Dehri town police station last month.
As many as 132 trucks carrying unauthorised stone chips were detained during a drive launched by the district magistrate on October 21 this year. The seizure list was handed over to the Dehri town police station by motor vehicle inspector (MVI) Mritunjay Kumar.
The inspector had asked the police officer concerned to release the trucks only after due fine was realised from the drivers. However, the fine was collected from 70 vehicles only. A sum of Rs 30 lakh was realised as fine.
The remaining 62 vehicles reportedly "fled" from police custody.
The revelation comes days after a journalist who had taken on the mafia was shot dead outside the town of Sasaram allegedly at the behest of the smuggling cartel.
Smelling a racket, Rohtas district magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar today ordered an inquiry into the release of the trucks. He also asked the probe officials to ascertain the role of the local police.
"I have ordered a detailed inquiry into the circumstances which led to the release of the seized trucks from the possession of the local police. I am not going to spare any public servant whose involvement comes to the fore during investigation. This is a serious matter," Parashar told The Telegraph by phone today.
The DM said he learnt about the "lapses" on part of the police a few days ago. "I was seriously thinking about taking action against the erring officials. Finally an inquiry is being conducted to expose the ongoing racket," he added.
Acting station house officer (SHO) of Dehri town police station Mahendra Ram said: "I am not aware of the matter. The inspector-cum-SHO Sunil Kumar, who was present during handing over of the vehicles by the transport department officials, is on leave."
Rohtas superintendent of police Manavjeet Singh Dhillon couldn't be reached for comment. Sources said the SP was busy in carrying out raids in connection with the murder of Dainik Bhaskar journalist Dharmendra Kumar Singh. The journalist was reportedly killed at the behest of illegal stone crusher mafia Pappu Singh, who is at present lodged in the Sasaram district jail, on November 12.
Mritunjay Kumar, the motor vehicle inspector, said a sum of Rs 30 lakh was realised as fine from the 70 trucks which were released after completing the requisite formalities.
Other transport department officials said more than Rs 35 lakh would have been realised as fines from the remaining 62 vehicles.
The sources added that the drivers of these impounded trucks somehow manipulated the local police and escaped with their vehicles. No FIR was lodged against the truckers who escaped from police custody.
District magistrate Parashar had earlier claimed that over 1,000 trucks had been booked for violating the law in the past one year. "Now the district administration is in 'mission mode'. We will launch a massive crackdown on illegal crushing units operating in the district," he said.
Even today, the DM said, a massive search was being conducted on the main roads to check illegal transportation of stone chips.
This is not the first time that seized vehicles have gone missing from police custody. In January this year, Ashutosh Singh, an alleged mafia don, had tried to forcibly release his stone-laden vehicles from the Dehri town police station. An FIR was lodged against Ashutosh by then station house officer Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar.
Last month, Saran district magistrate Deepak Anand had unearthed a racket involved in illegal sand smuggling. Anand had pointed a needle of suspicion at senior police officers. He had also submitted a detailed report to the state government, recommending stern action against those public servants involved in the illegal trade. However, no action has been initiated.
