Lawlessness taking lives in mines, says Trinamool

SHILLONG, Jan 12: The opposition Trinamool Congress attacked the state government for allowing lawlessness to take roots, resulting in incidents like coal mine tragedies where innocent lives are lost.
“It is shocking to hear the news of the loss of three precious lives in East Jaintia Hills. Our heart goes out to the families of the bereaved and we stand by them in this hour of grief, especially as they are trying to fight for their bread and butter even through mining that has been banned,” TMC vice-president George B Lyngdoh on Thursday.
Slamming the state government for allowing illegal mining to take place, he said the incident showed the authorities can go to any length, even risking the lives of coal miners to protect the interests of a few and violating the orders of the National Green Tribunal, the Supreme Court and the High Court of Meghalaya, he added.
“Such blatant violation of the law has been seen time and again,” he said.
“The lawlessness has been encouraged by this particular government, which does not seem to care if lives are lost,” the TMC leader said.
On January 9, three coal miners reportedly met their fate inside a coal mine in the Rymbai area of East Jaintia Hills district. Two villages — Musniang Rim and Musniang — confirmed the death of the three persons and police are ascertaining the cause.
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 has been banned in Meghalaya since April 2014 through a National Green Tribunal order in a bid to avert such mishaps in the unregulated and dangerous mines.