Khliehriat, Jun 15: The East Jaintia Hills district administration has urged the Jaintia Coal Owners, Miners, Suppliers and Workers Association (JCOMSWA) to call off its planned public rally from Ladrymbai Dongwah to Khliehriat tomorrow as public gatherings are banned under Section 163 of the BNSS.
In a press statement, the administration said the state government has taken up the issue of coal mining with the central government and talks are ongoing with coal mine owners, traders and other stakeholders. The coal lobby is applying pressure on the state government to pave the way for small-scale mining to be restarted in the state.
The DC also clarified reports that a veterinarian had been sent to examine Marshall Biam, who is on hunger strike at Lad Rymbai over the coal issue. Biam’s supporters had taken offence that a vet had been sent to check up on a human being.
The administration, however, stated that Dr FE Langstang, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department officer had been instructed to proceed to the venue of the hunger strike but to do so in the role of Executive Magistrate and not as a medical professional. Dr Langstang had been appointed an Executive Magistrate by the Law Department. Therefore, the accusation that a vet had been sent to check on the health of Biam was “baseless and false”, the DC said.
