A day after filing a complaint with Mawlai police over suspicious goings-on with regards to the transportation of coal through that police station’s jurisdiction, civil society activist Agnes Kharshiing and her confidant, Amita Sangma, registered another complaint on the same issue with the Madanrting traffic branch.
In their complaint the duo said that several coal trucks are parked along the roadsides in Lad Smit, Umphyrnai and Lam Lyer, causing disturbance to other vehicles plying on the same road.
Kharshiing and Sangma also said that they had noticed that several trucks did not have licence plates.
The other points were in keeping with those of yesterday’s complaint – namely the production of a coupon when confronted by police doing their duty instead of a challan as well as overloading.
Meanwhile, police team from Jengal in West Garo Hills district today detected a 12 wheeler truck transporting coal illegally through the highway near the police station, allegedly to the state of Assam.
According to WGH police, the incident took place this morning with a case being registered against the vehicle at the same police station.
Further another Assam registered car that was apparently escorting the truck to ensure it reached its intended destination in the state was also seized along with the truck. The truck also bore an Assam state registration with the occupants of both vehicles being apprehended by the police.
According to police sources, information was received from very credible sources about the movement of a coal truck through Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills from Williamnagar. The truck was destined for Assam.
On receiving the information, the CI of Tura Sadar PS along with the OC of Jengjal set up naka check points along the highway and during their check at Bolbokgre on the highway near Jengjal, the said truck was found with illegal coal and there upon seized.
Coal from Williamnagar in East Garo Hills mainly comes from the various illegal coal mines that have been set up within the Rongrengre Reserve Forest, near the town of Williamnagar. While forest and police officials have been trying to ensure the coal pits remain shut, unscrupulous smugglers have continually reopened these mines to make an extra buck.
“An investigation into the matter has been set up and we are gathering more intelligence. All necessary legal formalities have been followed with a case being registered under relevant sections,” said the superintendent of police, WGH, Dr MGR Kumar on the matter.
Police however refrained from disclosing the names of the person(s) in the car escorting the truck as the matter is still under investigation.
