A serious accusation has been leveled against the Jharkhand government: that it is actively manufacturing new crimes to obscure and cover up existing illegal activities. Babulal Marandi, the state’s BJP president and Leader of the Opposition, claims this has become a standard operating procedure for the government and the administrative apparatus. The recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the coal mafia in Dhanbad has apparently exposed critical truths. The most disturbing aspect, according to reports, is the alleged instruction from influential police officers, enriched by the coal trade, to ‘permanently neutralize’ their own associates. This move is purportedly intended to prevent these individuals from divulging sensitive information to the ED during their investigations. There are strong indications that individuals cooperating with the ED are now facing assassination plots aimed at silencing them and preventing the truth from coming out. This tactic, the opposition points out, is reminiscent of past incidents where staged ‘encounters’ were used to destroy evidence. Marandi recalled a past DGP in Jharkhand who was accused of involvement in contract killings and widespread corruption, even by ruling party figures. He cautioned the ED to be extremely vigilant, stating that in Jharkhand, power lies with those who bury the truth. When the government, the system, and criminal elements converge, the manipulation of justice becomes a foregone conclusion.
