Wednesday, July 9, 2025
spot_img

Don’t blame govt for ‘stray’ mishap: Dy CM

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

SHILLONG, Jan 27: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said illegal mining activities cannot be stopped in totality and stray incidents such as the accidental death of six labourers in an East Jaintia Hills coal pit “does not mean the MDA government has failed” to curb illegal coal mining and transportation.
“This incident occurred far from the roadside and it is not even near the village. It takes one and a half hours to reach the place by vehicle, so it is not right to say the incident happened because of the failure of the government,” he said.
Tynsong felt the issue of illegal coal mining and transport has been blown out of proportion.
“Smuggling takes place despite the Border Security Force working hard on the Bangladesh border. That does not mean the BSF has failed,” he said.
“We are committed to checking illegal activities but we cannot stop them in totality as the police too are humans. I appeal to everyone to inform us whenever they come across illegal activities and we won’t disclose their names,” he said.
Tynsong claimed the state government has already issued a notification to protect the identities of such whistle-blowers.
The death of the six labourers in Rymbai Elaka of East Jaintia Hills happened more than two years after at least 16 miners died in a submerged rat-hole coal mine in the district’s Ksan area.
Shylla denies brother’s involvement
Cabinet Minister Kyrmen Shylla has denied reports that the coal mine where the six men from Assam died on January 21 belonged to his brother, Bison Shylla.
The Minister told The Shillong Times that he has asked the police to take action against anyone involved in illegal coal mining.
“My brother is not involved in this incident. I have asked his friends, local people and even my brother and I don’t think there is anything which indicates his involvement in this incident,” he said, pointing out that his brother belongs to Sutnga Elaka and not Rymbai Elaka where the mishap occurred.
“According to the local practice, a person from one elaka cannot mine in another,” he added.
Insisting that the owner of the mine should be caught, Shylla said the police would be given a free hand to probe the case.
“The law is equal for everyone, whether or not from my family,” he added.
Shylla said he was given to understand that the mine where the accident happened had no coal and it has not yet been ascertained that the incident was a case of illegal mining.

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Many of you can become astronauts, walk on Moon: Shubhanshu tells students at NESAC

NEW DELHI, July 8: “Many of you can become future astronauts, even walk on the Moon,” Shubhanshu Shukla...

Keep all 18 Khasi villages in Meghalaya: Heads of Raid Nongtung urge Conrad

SHILLONG, July 8: The traditional village heads along the Assam-Meghalaya border in Ri-Bhoi, under the banner of the...

Drug addiction fuels rise in petty crimes in city, says police

SHILLONG, July 8: There is a rise in petty crimes such as thefts and burglaries in the city,...

MHRC seeks report on alleged torture of youth at Sohra PS

SHILLONG, July 8: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has directed the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi...