SALTORA, 2 NOV: Braving Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee’s strictures, Bankura again has flagged off illegal coal mining and trafficking from different places in the northern part of the district. Trafficking of illegally extracted coal from the Bakulia pits in Saltora Block has restarted and the organised mafiosi have started dispatching truckloads from depots in Saltora and Mejia blocks. In a day, at least 25 such truckloads are sent off, destined for secondary steel units in Barjora, Gangajalghanti, Onda and Bishnupur across Bankura District ~ some are forwarded to the Durgapur industrial zone. Two former such alleged mafiosi ~ Mr Kanu Tiwari and Mr Nirod Mondal ~ are said to be the kingpins behind the rampant trafficking. They have put up depots in Lalbazar and Durlavpur villages in Mejia. Some police are said to be working hand-in-glove with the mafiosi, allowing such trafficking in exchange for hefty bribes. The coal is being trafficked through the areas falling under the Saltora, Gangajalghanti, Mejia and Barjora police station areas. Bankura Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar, however, said: "We don’t have any idea about fresh illegal mining and trafficking of coal as yet." He added: "The police stations have already been told to initiate harsh action against such offenders." It might be that Mr Kumar is lacking a proper tip-off, but it has become a common issue in the villages falling in Saltora, Mejia and Gangajalghanti areas. Mr Sanjoy Ghosh, a resident of Mejia, said: "The mafiosi organised further here after the go-ahead from Purulia was sounded by their colleagues."