Guwahati, Jul 15 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today decided to hand over the probe of coal scam in the Barak Valley to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"The Government of Assam has decided to hand over the Barak Valley coal scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation for inquiry," an official release from the Chief Minister's Office said.

Sonowal today directed the chief secretary and senior officials of the Home Department to take steps for handing over the inquiry of the coal scam to the CBI.

This is being done to ensure a thorough and impartial inquiry and appropriate action against the culprits, the release said.

In February this year, the Assam government had announced a CID enquiry into an alleged syndicate of illegal coal trade and smuggling operating in the state.

The opposition Congress has, however, been demanding a CBI enquiry into the scam saying the matter allegedly involved Coal India Ltd and it was beyond the CID's mandate.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)