A sharp accusation has been leveled against the Jharkhand government by opposition leader Babulal Marandi, who claims the administration is actively fabricating new criminal incidents to obscure ongoing illegal activities. Marandi pointed to the coal sector in Dhanbad, where recent ED raids have exposed a deep-rooted network. The most concerning aspect, according to Marandi, is the alleged directive from influential police officers, reportedly benefiting from the illicit coal trade, to their mafia operatives. These directives purportedly involve the permanent elimination of key individuals being questioned by the ED. The objective is clear: to prevent any testimony that could expose the truth about the illegal coal operations. This strategy mirrors past instances in Jharkhand where ‘evidence encounters’ were orchestrated to silence witnesses or suspects. Marandi referenced a past Director-General of Police accused of orchestrating contract killings and rampant corruption, an individual even criticized by members of the ruling party. The Enforcement Directorate is advised to be exceptionally wary, as the system in Jharkhand often protects those who bury the truth rather than those who reveal it. When authority, enforcement, and criminal elements become intertwined, the demise of justice is distressingly swift and complete.
