Satellite images in hand, ED quizzes Sahibganj DMO and DFO over illegal mining

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has procured satellite images of the last few years of Sahibganj to ascertain how and when forests and hills in the district have gone missing.

Well-placed sources said that the agency secured the satellite images for the purpose to ascertain locations where mining — illegal or otherwise — was done.  Having satellite imageries at hand the ED can examine and corroborate its findings scientifically. However, insiders did not reveal the exact period of these satellite images and whether these will be used as prosecution evidence.

Meanwhile, a team of some ED officials along with CRPF personnel reached Sahibganj. Officials questioned district mining officer Bibhuti Kumar besides district forest officer Manish Tiwari about the stone mining lease granted to Pankaj Mishra and his associates in the district. Pankaj Mishra is the MLA representative of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and the ED arrested him on the charge of illegal mining.

To Manish Tiwari, the ED asked whether Marikuti Hills at Mahadeoganj in Sahibganj district was a notified forest area and demanded relevant documents. To this, the forest department officer replied that Marikuti Hills was never notified as a forest. The official denied any illegal mining in the forest area in the district. The ED has specific information about Patru Singh, Sonu Singh and others having conducted illegal mining in the forest area.

The ED asked forest department officials about the role and jurisdiction of the forest department in granting mining leases. The ED team took away several documents from the office.   

Pankaj Mishra and his associate Vishnu Yadav jointly runs three stone crusher units at Marikuti Hills under mauja Marikuti plot number 74, 75 and 76. They are said to be the partner in the company Maa Durga Stone Works. The ED sealed these units under section 17 (1A) of PMLA. Later on, the ED team inspected Marikuti Hills.