CHITTOOR | October 23, 2016:

Bokaro: Illegal mines, which were exposed in raids conducted by forest and police departments in Red zone in the last ten days, are likely to be a revenue generation point for Maoists.

While senior police officials refuse to disclose any detail, intellectuals in the area say it is not possible to carry illegal trade inside forests without the consent of Maoists.

"Illegal coal business is a major source of revenue for Red outfit. It should be curbed at any cost," ML Meena, former inspector general of North Chottanagpur Zone, had said on January, 2013, during the launch of an anti-coal smuggling drive in the coal belts of the region.

For the first time, forest department conducted massive raids and busted illegal ongoing mining activities in the area.

Last week, a forest team headed by DFO Rajender Naidu, discovered illegal feldspar mine in the forest of Triyonala under Kasmar Block. Fewweeks ago, officials busted an illegal stone mine in Nawadih block.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)