Tura, Feb 4: Several Garo pressure groups have lodged a formal complaint with police demanding a stop to alleged coal smuggling through state highways in East Garo Hills into neighbouring Assam.
Alleging that the operation is being carried out by a coal syndicate with long hands and deep pockets, members of the A’chik State Peoples’ Front, AHAM and others registered a formal complaint at the Rongmil police outpost in East Garo Hills. Rongmil lies on the highway to Damra, connecting East Garo Hills with neighbouring Assam.
The accusation points to the night movement of dozens of trucks laden with illegal coal from East Garo Hills that snake their way through the two highways, NH-62 and NH-217, taking cover of darkness.
As per their complaint, the coal that is being shipped out does not have any valid permit and is alleged to be from illegal mining, suspected to be from nearby Shallang in West Khasi Hills and Nangalbibra in East Garo Hills. The movement of these overloaded coal trucks is resulting in loss of revenue to the state and damage to the roads.
The protest groups are calling upon authorities to look beyond the person behind the wheel and identify the syndicate members who are actually calling the shots. From seizure of the coal trucks to identifying the main financiers, the Garo groups are calling for a thorough investigation to reveal the actual players of this illegal trade.
It is worth mentioning that a similar allegation of illegal coal transit through Rongjeng and Songsak during the nights of the Christmas holidays in December was raised by a Congress leader who also accused police of providing escort for the illegal consignment.
Currently, coal movement is allegedly moving from Nangalbibra’s Jadi region of South Garo Hills through Siju, Baghmara and to the border town of Gasuapara for export to Bangladesh. Allegations of illegal coal passing off as auctioned stock for transit has previously plagued the Garo Hills coal business.
