CISF suspends four officials for 'failure' to stop coal theft from mines

New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Four Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials were suspended in a fortnight for allegedly failing to stop coal theft from mines in Jharkhand and West Bengal, officials said on Tuesday. The action followed a special operation launched by the paramilitary in the sector after recent directions from the Union home ministry, they said. Officials said a Court of Inquiry has been initiated against the Inspector-rank officers. A preliminary inquiry by the CISF charged the officials with dereliction of duty in stopping coal pilferage by thieves and mafia operating in these regions, the officials told PTI. They further said the temporary local rank of Assistant Commandant granted to these officials has been withdrawn. The CISF has deployed about 12,500 personnel to guard some of the major coal mines and related infrastructure operated by Bharat Coking Coal Limited, Eastern Coalfields Limited, and Central Coalfields Limited. These mines are located in states such as Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Rajasthan. The Union government recently authorised the force to undertake search and seizure operations under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, to check theft of the precious fossil fuel from the coal fields under its jurisdiction. Following this, the CISF launched a major operation in these coal fields beginning July 4. The action came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the illegal coal mining and theft scenario in the country at a meeting held in Delhi on July 5, and directed the CISF to ensure "zero coal leakage". Officials said the paramilitary has seized over 836 metric tonnes of "illegal" coal in just over a week as part of this operation. The special CISF operation includes Dedicated Quick Reaction Teams, backed by specific intelligence gathered on the ground, surveillance tools, drones, transit-route monitoring, surprise inspections, verification of transportation documents, inspection of coal depots and weighbridges, and the use of GPS-enabled documentation. PTI NES RUK RUK