MLA Lois Marandi accuses Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Basant Soren of siding with mining mafias

DUMKA: Former Dumka MLA Lois Marandi on Wednesday accused chief minister Hemant Soren and his lawmaker brother Basant Soren of patronizing mining mafias operating in the Santhal Paraná.
Speaking to journalists at Phulo Jhano Chowk, Marandi said: “The way minerals are being indiscriminately mined by the mafias across Santhal Paraná, nothing will be left for the coming generations.”
“The administrative machinery is not acting against illegal mining, indicating that there is patronage from the ruling dispensation. The mafias are running amok by paying a monthly ‘goonda tax’,” Marandi added.
The former minister alleged that the mafias instigate the locals to mount violent attacks on officers even if they try to curb these practices.
Marandi alleged that the illegal mining was costing the state exchequer heavily, while ruling politicians were being paid levy by the mafias ranging between Rs 4,000-Rs 11,000 for each truck illegally transported out of Jharkhand. “These trucks are being provided a safe passage at the behest of Basant,” she alleged.
Earlier, JMM’s Borio MLA Lobin Hembrom and Jama MLA Sita Soren had expressed their concerns about the rampant illegal mining of coal, sand and stone chips across Dumka, Deoghar, Sahibganj and other districts in the Santhal Pargana.
When contacted, Basant said: “Rather than trying to defame me, she should focus on her public activities. The previous BJP-led government attempted to impose a huge penalty on valid mining units owned by me and those charges were ultimately quashed by the high court.”