Police in Gaya district's Barachatti police station area have taken significant action against illegal coal storage and transportation. A large quantity of illicit coal was recovered from storage sites in Bhalua and Chaithiya. During the operation, four motorcycles and a JCB machine were also seized. Police arrested a truck driver named Shankar Kumar at the scene.

Barachatti Station House Officer Amarendra Kishore stated that information was received about illegal coal being transported from neighboring Jharkhand via overloaded trucks. Based on this intelligence, a police team conducted an inspection campaign in Bhalua and Chaithiya. During the check, four trucks carrying coal from the Jharkhand side were intercepted. While police managed to stop all vehicles, three drivers fled the scene. One driver, Shankar Kumar, was apprehended. The arrested driver possessed no valid documents related to the coal.

According to the police, coal was being illegally brought from various areas of Jharkhand and sold in the Barachatti region. Mining department officials have been informed for further action on this illegal trade. Currently, mining department officials are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. It is noteworthy that large-scale illegal coal and stone trade takes place from Jharkhand, with sporadic police actions yielding limited success in reaching the main masterminds behind these operations.