Two suspected coal thieves were killed when a portion of a coal chunk fell on them at an abandoned coal mine of Eastern Coalfields Limited in West Burdwan’s Raniganj early on Monday.

Sources in the ECL alleged that the two deceased, along with two others who suffered injuries in the accident, had been stealing coal from the mine that was abandoned six months ago.

With this, five persons lost their lives in four months while allegedly pilfering coal in Raniganj. Four months ago, in October, three persons died in a similar accident in an open-cast mine of Narayankuri in Raniganj.

Police said the duo who died on Monday were Vinod Bhuia and Rajesh Turi. Both were in their mid-30s.

Residents of the area said that Vinod and Rajesh, both residents of Amrasota village in Raniganj, along with many other unemployed youths, had gone to the abandoned mine at Bansra early on Monday.

“They were lifting coal when suddenly the accident occurred,” said a villager. Rushed to a local hospital, doctors declared two dead on arrival and arranged admission for the injured.

Sources said a new syndicate of organised transportation of smuggled coal and illegal mining has emerged in the coal belt of Raniganj, Jamuria and Barabani police station limits after a lull brought about by the CBI's probe of a multi-crore coal scam in Bengal.

Opposition parties in Bengal blame Trinamul for allowing coal smuggling ahead of the general elections.

The BJP and the CPM have alleged that the ruling party uses the money and muscle power of the "coal mafia" to rig the polls, which Trinamul has denied.

“The state government has failed to create job opportunities here. Local people are forced to opt for such risky jobs (illegal coal-lifting) only for their livelihood,” claimed Agnimitra Paul, the local BJP MLA.

Trinamul MLA Hareram Singh denied any resumption of organised coal smuggling and said the kin of those who died on Monday would get monetary compensation of Rs 1 lakh from the party's trade union.