The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) needs to be called in to probe illegal coal mining activities in Meghalaya because the State government is bent on hiding the evidence, Civil Society Women's Organisation (CSWO) leader Agnes Kharshiing has said.
She said this as continued evidence of illegal rat hole coal mining has been unearthed, the latest revolving around an incident in West Khasi Hills at Nengchigen. A nokma in the area filed an FIR with police and also submitted photos and videos as evidence.
Kharshiing has been heavily involved in trying to expose such activities herself and got uncomfortably close for coal barons in Jaiñtia Hills, who are suspected of ordering a hit on her and a CSWO colleague in 2018. That case has still not been resolved and justice is waiting to be meted out.
The state government has taken the official line that whatever trucks carrying coal on state roads are doing so after receiving the required permissions. It also claims that it acts against illegalities when discovered or when pointed out to it.
The people behind illegal mining “should be arrested immediately and the police know who they should arrest, Kharshiing said.
Remove the police who are not acting on [the complaints]. There are police who are dirty and they are just taking a salary and they are not acting according to the law.”
Kharshiing also alleged illegal activities are flourishing because of the hand that high level politicians have in mining.
