SHILLONG, Aug 19: West Khasi Hills Police have arrested the owner of the coal mine at Goreng under Urak area in Riangdim, which collapsed on Friday, resulting in the death of one person while another was injured.
West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Herbert G Lyngdoh informed that during the course of the investigation the owner of coal quarry was identified as one Hubath R Sangma of Songsak Gurakalam village, Shallang and has been arrested. He said the owner will be forwarded to judicial custody after intense interrogation.
He also shared that from the place of occurrence, approximately 7-8 tons of coal, 2 thelas used for ferrying coal from inside the coal quarry to the depot, 2 showels, and 2 pick axe were seized.
It is to be noted this coal quarry is located right inside the deep jungle of Urak (Riangdim) and is only accessible by a 2 hour journey on foot. The distance from Shallang PS to Urak is around 25 kms, which takes anout 2 hours by foot with an additional one hour road journey.
The tragic incident
On Friday morning, a miner died while another was injured after the illegal coal mine they were working in collapsed in West Khasi Hills district. The incident took place at Goreng (Urak) under Shallang police station.
Giving more information on the incident, the district police chief said two labourers were pulled out of the coal mine and unfortunately one of them died while another was injured. The deceased has been identified as Lependro Sangma (32) while the injured miner as Hendid Momin (33). Both are from Uguri (Goraimari) under Kharkutta police station in North Garo Hills District.
He informed that a team led by DSP (Hqr) West Khasi Hills B. Kharjana together with officers and personnel from Shallang Police Station proceeded to the spot and conducted a thorough enquiry.
It was found that on Friday morning the two persons had gone to the coal mine at Urak, Riangdim, on being instructed by the mine owner. Unfortunately, when both of them entered, the said mine collapsed where (L) Lependro Sangma lost his life while Hendit Momin sustained serious injuries.
The dead body was taken to Shallang PHC for Post Mortem examination and the injured person was sent to Shallang PHC for medical treatment.
A regular case has been registered on the basis of the FIR lodged by OC of Shallang PS BP Talang.
The SP further assured that the West khasi hills police is constantly doing periodic raids on any form of illegal transportation and extraction of coal and will go all out to check this illegality.
