SHILLONG: The city police seized five coal trucks abandoned on the Guwahati-Shillong road on Wednesday evening.
Police said some trucks were seized near Mawiong and one was found near the Nongkwar petrol pump. But they could not say from where the trucks were coming.
Illegal coal mining and transportation are rampant as it is evident from a series of seizures of coal and arrests made in connection with mining.
On Monday, the police along with the magistrate detected six coal-laden trucks — AS-01JC-2901, AS-01HC-0729, AS-01HC-1629, ML-04C-6525, AS-01DD-0098 and AS-01AC-1178 — from Nongtraw, Umroi Umdohbyrthit and Pyllun in Ri Bhoi.
Seizure of trucks was also reported from parts of Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills.
Recently, police seized a truck in West Khasi Hills and few labourers were picked up in East Jaintia Hills for carrying out coal mining.
Last month, former chief minister Mukul Sangma had blamed the government for facilitating illegal coal mining. In defence, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said his government was taking measures to not only stop illegal mining but also to solve the impasse over the NGT ban.
