Guwahati: A search operation team to find the body of Pranjal Moran was conducted under the supervision of Assam Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jitmal Doley but they could not found the body of Moran, who was missing from Tirap Colliery since January 12,2023.
On Monday, Jitmal Doley was accompanied by Margherita police station officer in charge Pratap Gogoi, Ledo outpost in-charge Jyotish Pukan and large number of SDRF and NDRF force but could not retrieved the body of Moran.
According to reports, Pranjal Moran, resident of Hukoni village of Makum in Tinsukia district was working at Tirap Colliery as a daily wage worker went missing since January 12 from the colliery.
After some days it came to light that Pranjal Moran died due to a landslide and his body could not be retrieved.
Sources said Pranjal Moran was procuring coal from a rat-hole mine in Tirap died in landslide. But the coal mafia who engaged the worker for procuring illegal coal don’t want to spread the news outside and instructed his workers to hide his body.
Meanwhile, police arrested two persons who disposed the body of Pranjal Moran, identified as Rupsai Kujur and Sujan Pahariya alias Babu Pahariya.
Tinsukia police have so far arrested 13 persons in connection with the incident. All of them were involved in illegal procuring of coals from rat hole mine in Tirap.
Speaking to reports, IGP Jitmal Doley said, “We have started the search operation retrieved the body of Pranjal Moran by using JCB and taking advice from the experts but till now we have not found anything from that place. The place is narrow and using machine in that particular place is very difficult. We are also having problem due to bad weather. Using JCB digging was done but it is difficult to dig at the particular place,”.
“We will continue our search operation but due to bad weather we are facing problem. We have arrested the persons who reveled us and showed us the place where Pranjal Moran was died after the landslide,” the IGP said.
Sources said that coal mafia B. Ganesh has been involved in illegal rat hole mining in the area and under his instruction the coal thieves allegedly are procuring coal from the places.
“Under political patronage B. Ganesh has been functioning and every month giving percentage to the leaders who support him in his illegal business. B. Ganesh is the main mastermind behind the illegal rat hole mining in the region. He operates many illegal rat hole mining in area from his grocery shop. He operates his illegal coal business from the grocery shop situated at Ledo Itakhola,” said a source.
It might be mentioned that the Ledo, Margherita area which was blessed with abundant of natural resources but still the place has been under developed and the road infrastructure has been pathetic.
“Every hundreds of coal trucks ply from Ledo, Margherita road, and the road condition become worst. Their is a strong network of coal mafias who don’t want to develop the road because their illegal business of coal will come into focus,” alleged a local resident.
The Pranjal Moran case is not the first instance, earlier many coal miners reportedly missing from the coal mines areas.
Recently, Assam DGP GP Singh ordered the DIG (NER) for a proper investigation into the alleged ‘missing’ case of Pranjal Moran, and asked the perpetrator within 7 days. The DGP issued the dictate after Pranjal Moran’s wife visited him at his office to complain against her husband’s mysterious disappearance and request the Assam Police to recover his husband dead body.