SHILLONG: A group of coal truck owners has asked an organisation based in Ri Bhoi to withdraw an FIR filed against illegal transportation of coal and threatened its members with dire consequences.
Speaking to a section of reporters on Wednesday, general secretary of Ri Bhoi Youth Organisation (RBYO) Kronding Nongbsap said the organisation filed the FIR with Umroi police on Monday.
RBYO had complained about coal-laden trucks parked along the Shillong bypass road between Lad Iew Bhoirymbong and Nongtraw bypass.
The organisation had inspected the site on March 30 after it received complaints that trucks were plying recklessly on the highway after 9pm leading to accidents.
When asked, Nongbsap said there have been no fatal accidents but minor ones where people were injured.
He said though there are hundreds of trucks, only around 93 trucks have registration numbers and most of them are from Assam and Nagaland. Some have Meghalaya registration with ML 10 and ML 04 for Ri Bhoi and Jaintia Hills, respectively.
When the RBYO leaders approached Umroi police, in-charge Amit Sinha refused to speak to them. He received the FIR after one hour.
“He told us that he cannot receive the FIR unless authorised by the SP of Ri Bhoi,” Nongbsap said, adding that the in-charge did not visit the spot.
The police did not act on the complaint. The owners of the trucks were informed and the vehicles were not seized, the RBYO leader said.
Another turn of event for the leaders was when they were threatened to immediately withdraw the FIR or the leaders of the organisation would meet the same fate as activist Agnes Kharshiing.
“They called us that they want to meet us personally. They claimed to be owners of the trucks. They put pressure on us to withdraw the FIR. When did they come to know about the FIR filed? We did not inform anybody yet except the Umroi PIC. They threatened us and said this case will be similar to that of Agnes case,” he said.
Kharshiing and Amita Sangma were assaulted by a group of people in East Jaintia Hills when they were independently investigating illegal coal mining and transportation.
The NGO leader said around 20 people came in high-end cars and met the two leaders of the organisation and wanted to know why they were disturbing the livelihood of people. They also offered money.
After the threats, Nongbsap again petitioned the Umroi PIC for police protection. However, they were in for a surprise when the Umroi PIC informed them that a counter FIR would be filed against them.
When asked whether they suspect the police officer has links with the truck owners, Nongbsap said, “Signs reveal that there are some surreptitious activities going on.”
According to him, he found it strange that proper checking is done only during daytime while trucks pass without checking at night. The checking is done at Umroi PIC and Lad Umsaw checking point.
Since they were threatened, the next step would be to approach the National Green Tribunal. The leaders will meet the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi, magistrate, DGP and Home Minister James Sangma. “We are determined, we will fight,” Nongbsap said.
