Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi is demanding an immediate government crackdown on an alleged illegal coal transportation network in Upper Assam. In a November 8 letter to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Sivasagar MLA detailed the presence of 42 suspicious, coal-laden trucks currently parked along National Highway stretches in Jorhat. Gogoi claims these vehicles originated in Meghalaya and were destined for the Tuli railway station in Nagaland via Amguri.
Gogoi observed the trucks stranded between Jhanji and Hanhchara for three days. Some vehicles moved after drawing public notice, but 12 remain stationed near the Meleng toll gate and a petrol pump at Teok. He demands officials verify mining licenses, transit passes, and royalty payments immediately. The trucks remain stationary, raising questions about why they have not reached their declared destinations. Police and transport authorities have yet to take enforcement action.
The scale of the operation appears massive. Gogoi claims over 200 additional trucks are stranded near the Assam-West Bengal border following a dispute over financial terms. He alleges these consignments are now seeking alternative routes through Jorabat, Jagiroad, Nagaon, Kaziranga, Dergaon, Jorhat, and Sivasagar. The coal is reportedly headed for Bihar through either Tuli or the Lakwa railway station.
Gogoi named several individuals allegedly tied to the network, including Pranjal of Amguri, Gaurav Rana, Jackie Agarwala, Gaurav Chaurasia, and Naveen Singhal. He also pointed to alleged political involvement, citing Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah and MLA Bolin Chetia. Gogoi stated, "these allegations needed to be independently verified and called for an impartial investigation without political interference."
Beyond the transport syndicate, Gogoi linked illegal mining in Nagaland to the region's recent environmental destruction. He insists that excavation and mining pits significantly worsened local flooding. He is pushing for a CBI inquiry into the flood triggers, the coal network, and the specific role of transport and railway officials in facilitating these shipments. Party workers continue to monitor the vehicles while awaiting a response from the Director General of Police.
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