Guwahati, Jan 19: The Assam government has launched a large-scale crackdown on illegal rat-hole mining operations across the state.
According to reports, 15 individuals have been arrested so far for extracting coal from these mines. Notably, 11 arrests are linked to the tragic Umrangso coal mine incident. The arrested individuals have been identified as Phunesh Nunisa (39), Rono Bhadra Hasnu (39), Dildar Hussain (41), Bipul Purusa (66), Abdul Hannan Laskar (46), Sumanjit Langthasa (33), Santosh Gurung (26), Afjal Hussain (24), Enam Uddin (35), Mon Bahadur Rai, and Bikram Girisa (31).
“We have started sealing all rat-hole mines, irrespective of their customers. This is a logistically intensive process, requiring the dismantling of equipment and restricting access to these sites,” said Dima Hasao Superintendent of Police (SP), Mayank Kumar Jha.
Following the January 6 Umrangso coal mine tragedy, where several miners lost their lives, the police registered a case at Umrangso Police Station (Case No: 02/2025) under Section 3(5)/105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the case.
On Saturday, a joint operation in Tinsukia district’s Namdang colliery led to the arrest of three miners caught red-handed and the sealing of 13 illegal rat-hole mines. Excavators and other equipment were seized during the operation conducted at Bittu Pahar from 8:30 am. onwards. Key officials, including Executive Magistrate of Margherita co-district Pritom Gogoi, Tinsukia SP Abhijit Gurav, representatives from North Eastern Coalfields, and Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, oversaw the operation.
The crackdown follows a decision taken during the Assam Cabinet meeting on January 16 in Morigaon. The Cabinet resolved to permanently close all rat-hole mines within the North Eastern Coalfields and issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) to enforce the decision.
The initiative aims to prevent further loss of lives and address the dangers posed by illegal mining in the state.
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