Jaintia Hills coal mining areas turning into den of criminal activities
JOWAI: With the reports of unrest in coal mining areas in Jaintia Hills, the DIG (Eastern Range) AK Sun will visit the mining areas to assess the situation and take steps to maintain law and order.
Prevalence of unidentified and unorganized mafia groups in Briwar, Samasi, Nongkhlieh and other places under Sumer Patorship, a coal deposit area in East Jaintia Hills, have created tensions and led to fear psychosis among the people in the area.
Coal traders are facing lots of hardships to operate their businesses as they are living under constant fears of their coal mines being forcibly grabbed by individuals who take the help of hardcore criminals, surrendered HNLC cadres and local youth who resort to crime and intimidation.
People from Mynthning village have expressed fear that they are being targeted by people of Samasi village who use the services of hired goons. The villagers of Mynthing and Samasi are embroiled in a bitter land dispute over the right to a forest land – Khlaw Shnong Mynthning – which was leased to a local coal baron Donush Siangshai.
Coal labourers from other parts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills and even non-tribals from outside Meghalaya are being assaulted and killed in the area due to the land disputes, sources have informed.
Since January 2014 several cases of murder, assault, threat, arson, destruction to life and property and case of encroachment have been registered in both Khliehriat and Saipung police stations.
On December 28 last year identified miscreants, numbering around 22, set on fire a JCB belonging to one Pura Bareh of Sutnga village which was hired by Donush Siangshai, the land owner.
On January 6, the headman of Samasi village Jialwis Paslein was badly assaulted, allegedly by a group led by Begin Paslein, comprising of SHNLC men and other criminals of Khasi and Jaintia Hills including Nidamon Chullet, Stephan Mukhim, Darasing Sakra, Toni Rani and others.
On January 19, Haimon Manner, Peter Tangliang, Hosta Salahe, Skem Paslein, Loi Chyrmang and their accomplices entered the Dorbar Hall of Mynthning village in East Jaintia Hills and assaulted four VDP members – Raju Chyrmang, Hamran Chyrmang, Iat Syrti and Son Chyrmang – when a VDP meeting was in progress. The group was allegedly hired by Begin Paslein.
On January 21, unknown miscreants set on fire two ten-wheelers vehicles (LPK TATA 2523) loaded with coal near Samasi village. Both the vehicles and the load (coal) were gutted.
The vehicles, belonging to Donush Siangshai of Ladrymbai, were coming from his coal quarry located at Mynthning village. Sources said that unknown miscreants, around six in numbers, suspected to be from Samasi village, stopped both the trucks at gun point and later set them on fire by pouring petrol. The drivers fled from the scene, after being threatened.
Again on January 23, Donush Siangshai lodged another complaint at Saipung PS that at about 11 am, four persons – Kyrshang Tangliang, Headman, Jibson Lamare, Secretary, Phamlis Manar, ex-Headman and Bimel Sumer, ex-Secretary of Umkyrpong village in East Jaintia Hills, along with a mob numbering 80-90 men, armed with guns, rifles, pistols and machetes, damaged his standing crops, trees and demolished his property at Umkyrpong village. On the same day, Jamrish Rymbai lodged a complaint that a group of people led by a lady lawyer, Ms Pakem of Samasi, daughter of Jialwis Palsein, set on fire the labour camp of Jamrish Dkhar at Briwar.
On January 29, a group of around 25 people from West and East Khasi Hills visited Briwar and began created trouble at Briwar and resorted to firing in the area. The in charge of Saipung Police Station was accused of being involved in the firing incident, even though he claimed that he was in Jowai at the time of the incident, a claim negated by eyewitnesses.
The trouble makers, after creating trouble at Briwar, fled in two vehicle – one of which was a Tata Sumo (registration No. ML05J-2074), owned by one Santosh Rai of Upper Shillong. Sources claimed that the vehicle was hired by Begin Paslein.
Three vehicles chased the occupants of the Tata Sumo from Briwar and intercepted the vehicle near Kongong under Wapungshong. A deadly fight took place which lasted for about 10 seconds resulting in injury to nine occupants of Sumo out of which one later succumbed to his injuries.
The deceased was identified as a resident of Marshillong, Mawkyrwat in West Khasi Hills District.
The driver of the Sumo, Sangar Sing, who was admitted at Ialong District Hospital, fled from the hospital without the knowledge of the hospital authority.