Headmen confirm three deaths in EJH villages

SHILLONG, Jan 11: Suspicion continues to run rife about the deaths of three persons in East Jaintia Hills, reportedly coal miners who met their fate inside a coal mine in Rymbai area of the district.
Two villages — Musniang Rim and Musniang — have confirmed the demise of three persons, and police are ascertaining the cause.
Police said that they are building the evidence. Also, the statements of the families and relatives are being recorded by the police.
Earlier, notices were sent to the headmen of the areas who responded to confirm the three deaths in their villages on January 9.
“We are ascertaining whether these three dead bodies are connected with the mining incident,” East Jaintia Hills SP Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said.
As per media report, one of the three persons who died in a coal mine in Rymbai hailed from Musniang village.
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said that the government has not received any confirmation on the matter. “…there is no confirmed report,” he said.
It may be recalled that a suo-motu case has been registered and notices under Sections 160 and 91 of the CrPC have been issued to all the headmen for ascertaining the veracity of the reports about the death of the three men.
Coal mining is banned in Meghalaya since April 2014 by a National Green Tribunal order in a bid to avert such mishaps in the unregulated and dangerous mines.