Over 15,000 MT coal, 25 kg explosives seized during police crackdown
Shillong, Feb 15: Coming down heavily on illegal coal mining, the police have so far arrested 14 persons and registered 62 FIRs against illegal extraction of coal in East Jaintia Hills district.
The district police have launched an intensive drive against illegal mining in the coal-rich region since the mine blast at Mynsngat-Thangsko claiming over 30 lives.
The police have submitted the records related to FIRS and arrests as of February 14 to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Five of the FIRs were filed before the mine tragedy.
An additional five FIRs relate to illegal transportation of coal, and two to seizures of explosives suspected to be used for mining.
The 14 people arrested are involved in four cases.
Seven of the arrested persons are related to Mynsngat-Thangsko blast.
The have been identified as Forme Chyrmang, Shameki War, Process Phawa, Tensing Suchiang, Yoomiki Syih, Ernest Swer, Rangsing Syiemlieh alias Mithun.
“Ernest and Mithun are now in police custody,” district police chief Vikash Kumar said.
The arrested accused in the other three cases have been identified as Sahanaj Uddin and Abansan Syrti (Umthe case), Narayan Majumdar, Salim Uddin Choudhury and Safrul Islam Choudhury (Umpleng case) and Rishna Sutnga and Skhemborlang Kshiar (Umkiang case).
Meanwhile, the authorities have seized 15,224.72 metric tonnes of assessed coal, with more material awaiting evaluation by the Department of Mineral Resources.
Seizures further include five vehicles, 25.5 kg of gelatin explosives and 74 detonators.
The crackdown follows heightened scrutiny of rat-hole mining in Meghalaya, where the NGT’s 2014 ban remains in force.
