Five from Meghalaya held in Assam for illegal mining

Tinsukia (Assam), Nov 28: At least five workers from Meghalaya were arrested for alleged rat-hole coal mining in Tinsukia district of Assam, officials said on Thursday.

Lekhapani Forest Range Officer Parishmita Neog told PTI that a patrol team detected some people illegally loading coal in Tipong area on Wednesday.

“We brought them to the office and they accepted their involvement in illegal rat-hole mining during interrogation. Accordingly, we arrested them under relevant sections of the law,” she said.

Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed “rat-holes”, as each just about fits one person.

All the accused hail from Meghalaya and were caught red-handed during smuggling of coal in the Tipong Reserve Forest, Neog said.

She said that further investigation is on to nab the coal traders, who brought these workers for the illegal act.

“Earlier this year also, we arrested four individuals for their involvement in illegal coal mining in Paharpur area. In addition to the arrests, five excavators used in illegal mining were also seized,” Neog said.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned rat-hole mining in 2014. However, coal is still extracted by this dangerous method in the Northeast.

“The coal mafias engage poor workers who go inside the rat-hole mine to procure coal. To earn some money, they risk their lives. Many times, these workers get trapped inside the mine for various reasons and die. Most of such instances go unreported,” a social worker had said on condition of anonymity.

“For many years, this process has been going on in the Margherita-Ledo area, which has now become a crime belt,” he claimed. (PTI)

Hot this week

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Speeding truck rams Tura night bus, 4 passengers injured

Tura, Sept 5: Four passengers onboard a night bus...

The Baghmara connection to Meghalaya’s political history

Tura, Aug 17: For many in the state, Baghmara...

Attacks on minorities in Bangladesh: Indian Chakmas call for export ban

CDFI blames ISI, Islamic terrorists for Bangladesh unrest Guwahati Sept...

Govt okays 100-cr package to shut down defunct MCCL  

Shillong, Dec 10: After successive governments’ indecisions and failed...

India expresses concern over safety of minorities in B’desh

Dhaka, Dec 9: India raised its concerns over the...

Hasina slams Yunus regime as fascist, vows justice for atrocities

Dhaka/Kolkata, Dec 9: Bangladesh's deposed premier Sheikh Hasina has...

RS adjourned amid uproar over Cong-Soros links

New Delhi, Dec 9: Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted...

No ‘jatha’ will march to Delhi today: Punjab farmer leader Pandher

Chandigarh, Dec 9: Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher...

Mamata responds to reported threats by some Bangladeshi leaders

Kolkata, Dec 9: Taking a dig at a section...

Gauhati High Court orders termination of 14-year-old rape victim’s pregnancy

Guwahati, Dec 9: In a landmark ruling, the Gauhati...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img