The state police have submitted a report to the Justice (retd) BP Katakey committee regarding the deaths of two people in an alleged dynamite explosion in East Jaintia Hills district.
The investigation is relying heavily on the “dying declaration” of Ashok Tamang, one of the victims, who stated in a viral video that an explosion caused his injuries. Tamang died on New Year’s Day at Shillong Civil Hospital.
“The investigation is ongoing to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the explosion. The only clue we have is the dying declaration and we need to build on that to establish what happened,” a police source said.
The police have registered a case but the place of occurrence and the manner in which the incident took place are still unclear. The identity of the second victim is also unknown.
The incident reportedly occurred on December 23 at Thangsko village, East Jaintia Hills, allegedly during illegal coal mining.
A graphic video emerged showing several men with serious injuries. Preliminary inquiries cast doubt on the location of the blast being Thangsko village after the headman and residents claimed not to recognise the individuals in the video or the location. However, it is known that Tamang was first admitted
for treatment at Sutnga Community Health Centre, which is also in EJH, on December 23.
The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has also taken suo motu cognisance of reports alleging a dynamite blast and directed Chief Secretary Shakil P Ahammed to conduct an effective inquiry and submit a detailed report within one month.
