The report of the Special Investigating Team (SIT) on the alleged unnatural death of sub-inspector Pearlystone Joshua Marbaniang at Patharkhmah, Ri-Bhoi district in January 2015 has revealed the involvement of several government officials in the illegal transportation of illegally-mined coal, illegally-felled timber and illegally-extracted boulders.
This was revealed during the hearing of the writ petition filed by Marbaniang’s mother Dorothy Marbaniang in the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court today.
During the hearing, the report filed by the SIT that had been appointed by the High Court was produced.
“Incidentally, the report of the SIT reveals what had been suspected by this court in the matters pertaining to illegal coal-mining. The SIT report indicates the existence of registers with fixed rates per truck for allowing illegal transportation of illegally-mined coal, illegally-felled timber and illegally-extracted boulders. There are names and officials have been identified in some cases,” the High Court said.
“The report of the SIT is disturbing on both counts: first in how it reveals the rampant and structured illegal coal-mining operations and the transportation of the mineral; and, how the SIT arrived at a conclusion despite the evidence that was available,” the court added.
The High Court also requested Additional Advocate-General K Khan who was present at the hearing to assist the court in this matter.
“It is hoped that Mr Khan’s allegiance to his office will not stand in a way of fair and independent assistance being rendered to the court,” the High Court said.
Meanwhile, the High Court also directed that the SIT report and the trial court papers that have been produced will be kept in the custody of the officer attached to the division bench of the High Court.
“Such papers may only be released to the members of the bench and to Mr Khan for perusal,” the court said.
As far as the trial on the death of sub-inspector Marbaniang is concerned, the High Court said that it does not appear that the investigation was satisfactory. The court directed that the trial should not be continued “till further orders”.
The next hearing on the matter will be held on July 27.
It may be recalled that sub-inspector Marbaniang was the officer in charge of Patharkhmah police outpost. According to media reports, on January 23, 2015 night he reportedly detained 32 illegal coal trucks plying on the Mairang-Azara-Patharkhmah road which was under his watch.
Media reports at that time said that he was under tremendous pressure to release those trucks by the people with interests in the illegal coal trade. The next day, on January 24, 2015, he was found dead in his residential quarter. Police claimed that he committed suicide by shooting himself on the head with his service revolver.
