SHILLONG, Feb 16: Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday said he will not be able to comment on the alleged “verbal orders” issued to the Mining and Geology department not to frisk coal-laden trucks or question where they originated from.
He said it is an allegation as long as it is not substantiated.
The matter came to light days after the arrest of coal trader Balwan Bhama and four others by the Assam police in a tax evasion case.
Those, who had received the verbal orders, played safe as they ran the risk of being transferred for non-compliance, sources had said earlier, indicating the entire operation had the blessings of the people in power.
On whether the state government will seek a report on the matter, Rymbui said it will be difficult for him to comment anything since the arrests were made in Assam. “We are ready to provide all support to the Assam police during the course of investigation of the case. I will not be able to say much on this issue,” the Home Minister added.
Sources from the Directorate of Mineral Resources had earlier stated that no coal-laden truck from Assam entered Meghalaya for transit to Bangladesh through the Gasuapara land custom port in South Garo Hills.
They said had there been any such movement, it would have been captured by the CCTV cameras installed at the Dainadubi check gate in North Garo Hills.
Rymbui said the government will look into the allegation of Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma that money from the illegal coal trade is being used to fund people trying to float militant outfits in the state.
“The allegation made by the Leader of Opposition is news for me. We cannot take it as a mere allegation since it has come from a former Chief Minister,” Rymbui said.
He said the government will make sure no militant organisation can rear its ugly head again.
“The state government has never tried to brush the issue under the carpet. We will analyse every statement and if it is found to be true, we will take action,” he added.
Sangma had stated that people are going to buy sophisticated arms with this easy money and create the kind of problems which the state went through in the past.