Coal theft from a moving vehicle The death of two people while allegedly stealing coal from moving train waggons is a classic example of the coal belt town’s resumption of the illegal coal trade. Ramagundam’s g trains have resumed service.
Peddapalli: It appears that the coal mafia has resumed operations in the Ramagundam coal belt area. The mafia, which had stayed away from the business for some time following a crackdown by the police, who also used the Preventive Detention Act against a few illegal traders, appears to have resumed its activity, as evidenced by a few recent incidents.
The death of two people while allegedly stealing coal from moving train waggons is a classic example of the coal belt town’s resumption of the illegal coal trade. A case against three people was already filed by the NTPC police a fortnight ago.
On January 5, Namani Srinivas, a daily wage labourer from Elkalapalli, was crushed by a moving coal-laden goods train and died on the spot near the Poratpalli Pochamma temple on the outskirts of Elkalapalli. He is said to have slipped and fallen while attempting to retrieve coal from a moving waggon. After falling under the train, his body was severed in two.
Another incident occurred on October 8, last year, when Karru Rajaiah was electrocuted at CSP. Rajaiah, a resident of Bapujinagar, had climbed on top of a train waggon to obtain coal. He was killed on the spot when he came into contact with the high tension electric wire above the train.
Previously, there were several reports of people losing limbs after falling under moving trains while attempting to steal coal from train waggons. Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) transports coal to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and other industries via train waggons from its coal blocks.
According to SCCL sources, illegal traders steal coal from train waggons at specific points by enlisting the help of locals, particularly youth. They then sell the coal to brick factories and small industries. Coal is being stolen at several locations, including CSP colony, Bapujinagar, Ramnanagar, Sanjay Gandhi nagar, Elkalapalli, and Elkalapalli gate. Illegal traders have also formed groups with local youth for this purpose.
When the coal-laden trains come to a stop or slow down at signalling points, the youth climb onto the waggons and throw the coal out. They jump off the train as soon as it starts moving, which takes less than five minutes.
They then transport the coal to dumping points, where it is loaded into tractors, auto-trolleys, and mini trucks and transported to brick kilns and other industries during the night. According to sources, the youth were paid between Rs.30 and Rs.50 for each 25-kg bag of coal.
When contacted, NTPC Sub-Inspector B Jeevan stated that three people, including Vakulabaranam Srinivas, had been charged in connection with the illegal coal business. According to the SI, they have received no complaints about the coal thefts from either NTPC or Singareni management.
