Meghalaya police arrested four owners of coke oven plants in West Khasi Hills district.
The action is following the order of the High Court of Meghalaya to take action against the coke oven plant owners who are operating from Assam.
The arrested persons are Hopeful Nongtdu of Rymbai Synrang Shahkhain in East Jaintia Hills, who owns M/s H.V. Coke Khrawbok Rongrin of Sohbar A, Shallang, Ashish Arya of Basisthapur Bye-Lane, Guwahati, Kamrup and Yaman Bansal of Beltala Tiniali, Guwahati, Kamrup of M/S Yash Coke.
Police said all the coke owners were arrested yesterday and are placed under 14 days judicial custody by the court.
A case under section 188/34/379/120B IPC R/w Sec 3(1)/21(1) MMDR Act, Sec 15 EP Act & Sec 3 Explosives Substances Act was lodged at Shallang Police station.
Last week police arrested Youdishtra Bhama of Bongaon, Beltola, Guwahati. He is originally from Haryana and was running illegal coke plant M/s Kalyani Fuels Ltd in Shallang by way of benami deal.
The High Court of Meghalaya had on June 12 asked the DGP to file further report on illegal coke plants and ferro alloys.
During the hearing, the court had observed that the Director General of Police filed an affidavit in which it has been mentioned that the actual owners/operators of the illegal coke plants are mostly based in Assam and have been running illegal business in Meghalaya and several benami transactions have also come to light.
According to the petitioner of the case, the kingpins are well known and are roaming freely in Guwahati with all and sundry knowing of their whereabouts and their operations.
According to the report, there are 13 coke oven plants in operation in the East Jaiñtia Hills and 38 further coke oven plants which are not in operation. In West Jaiñtia Hills and South West Khasi Hills there are two and six coke oven plants, respectively, which are not in operation. In West Khasi Hills District there are four coke oven plants in operation and 61 others not in operation. In addition, there is one ferro alloy plant operation in the West Khasi Hills District.
