Shillong, Feb 15: Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with illegal coal mining activities in East Jaintia Hills in the past week, police have informed. In the same period 62 FIRs have been registered by police.
This buzz of activity follows the Thangsko illegal coal mine disaster earlier this month, which led to the death of over 30 people. The state government, district administration and police have come in for plenty of criticism following the explosion and have reacted by cracking down on illegal coal mining, which has been conducted freely despite a ban in place since 2014.
According to a report submitted in connection with National Green Tribunal (NGT) proceedings, figures compiled as of February 14, show that police have registered 62 FIRs for illegal extraction of coal, including five filed before the Thangsko blast.
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 connected to four separate cases. Seven of the arrested are suspects in the Thangsko blast.
They have been identified as Forme Chyrmang, Shameki War, Process Phawa, Tensing Suchiang, Yoomiki Syih, Ernest Swer and Rangsing Syiemlieh alias Mithun.
“Ernest and Mithun are now in police custody,” district police chief Vikash Kumar said.
The other arrested persons 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).
Authorities have also seized 15,224.72 tonnes of assessed coal, with more material awaiting evaluation by the Department of Mineral Resources. Five vehicles, 25.5kg of gelatin explosive and 74 detonators have also been seized.
