Acting on specific inputs gathered through drone surveillance, the Meghalaya Police raided an illegal coal mine in the Umthe area under Umpleng Police Outpost in East Jaintia Hills district on Friday.
During the operation, officials spotted an actively operating coal mine functioning in violation of environmental and mining regulations. Nine labourers were found engaged in illegal extraction at the site.
The raid was conducted in compliance with the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal on illegal coal mining and transportation, as well as directions issued by the High Court of Meghalaya for strict enforcement against unlawful mining.
Approximately 55 metric tonnes of illegally extracted coal were seized in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, following due legal procedures. All nine labourers were apprehended and taken into custody. An FIR has been registered, and further investigation is underway to identify those financing and operating the illegal mine.
Police in East Jaintia Hills reiterated their commitment to zero tolerance towards illegal mining activities, particularly in a district that has witnessed repeated violations despite the continuing ban.
The latest crackdown comes weeks after a deadly explosion at an illegal coal mine in the Mynsngat–Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills on February 5 claimed 33 lives. A suo motu FIR was registered at Khliehriat Police Station and a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the DIG (Eastern Range), was constituted to probe the incident. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the blast so far.
The state government has also set up a judicial commission of inquiry to examine the incident and its broader implications. The panel is headed by Justice (retd.) R. S. Chauhan, former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts, with former IPS officer H. Nongpluh and former IAS officer Peter Dkhar as members. The commission has been given six months to submit its report.
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