Barak Valley Coal Scam: CBI Officials to visit Karimganj

A team from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will visit Karimganj soon to initiate an inquiry into a coal scam in Barak Valley.

Coal scam in Barak Valley has surfaced from time and time after complaints were being raised from various quarters, especially in the last six months to one year. There have been complaints that the National Highway-6 has been used as the transport route, and a section of political leaders and administration officials are also involved.

The government had ordered a CID probe in April this year. But the investigation process remained a question in different quarters.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, on Sunday, directed senior officials of the state home department to hand over the coal scam case in the valley to the CBI.

Sources said a four-member special police team has been constituted by DIG Debraj Upadhyay to investigate the diary recovered from Abdul Ahad Choudhury, who was arrested recently from Sutarkandi in Karimganj district. The diary contains the names of some people including some police officials and political leaders, who received shares of money related to the coal scam.

The team comprises ASP Leena Doley, DSP (Probationary) James Sangate, Karimganj Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge Lumbit Gogoi and officer Alim Uddin Mazumder. Mazumder, on Wednesday, appealed at the court to bring Abdul in Karimganj for interrogation.

Abdul, who is currently in Silchar jail, will be brought to Karimganj on Friday. The team, which will be led by Doley will probe the case till the CBI reaches Karimganj.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Sipra Goon has suspected that attempts might be made to destroy evidence before the CBI team reaches the valley and stressed that the police authority should be completely vigilant regarding the matter.

Besides, Congress leaders in the valley have suspected that many big names would be exposed after the CBI inquiry. Former minister Ajit Singh said many big fishes were linked with the clandestine business and they would be caught if the inquiry is carried out in a proper manner.