GUWAHATI, Jan. 8: A delegation of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Wednesday visited the site of the mining tragedy at Umrangso in Dima Hasao district and demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident.
At least eight miners remain trapped deep inside the flooded mine, reportedly between 300 and 340 feet deep, till the multi-agency search operations were called off for the day on Wednesday evening.
The body of one of them was retrieved by divers of the Indian Army and NDRF on Wednesday morning, about 48 hours after the disaster struck.
“Such illegal coal mining is not possible without the patronage of the powers that be,” alleged APCC working president Zakir Hussain Sikdar, who led the Congress delegation to the site.
Expressing concern at the lack of safety measures in such coal mines, the Congress leader said the labourers engaged in these mines are compelled to brave the hazardous conditions just to make a living.
Sikdar alleged that BJP leader and chief executive member of Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, Debolal Garlosa, and his wife Kanika Hojai, were involved in illegal mining and that the Congress would not remain silent until those responsible for the incident were punished.
The Congress delegation also met the district commissioner and superintendent of police of Dima Hasao and demanded a speedy rescue process and adequate compensation to the families of the victims and those injured in the mishap.
Notably, the Assam Police had registered an FIR in connection with the mishap and arrested one person on Tuesday.
“Prima facie, it appears to be an illegal mine. One Punish Nunisa has been arrested in connection with the case,” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had taken to social media to confirm on Tuesday.
AJP accuses govt
Reacting to the arrest, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has accused the government of “engaging in a cover-up by arresting a proxy culprit instead of the real culprits behind the illegal coal mining operations in Umrangso.
“According to AJP, this diversionary tactic aims to shield the massive coal smuggling racket that has been flourishing in Assam under political and administrative patronage,” the regional party alleged in a statement.
“The party insists on a high-level judicial investigation to unearth the full extent of this systemic scandal,” the party stated.
Further, AJP alleged that leading cement companies in the state “are complicit in these illegal operations” in the hill district and demanded that the companies be brought under scrutiny.
“Rat-hole mining has been banned by the Supreme Court of India and National Green Tribunal. Despite this, illegal coal mining has continued unabated in Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts, with coal transported through Assam’s highways in violation of the law,” the party stated.
“Such daring violations of Supreme Court orders and large-scale coal mining cannot occur without government knowledge and complicity,” AJP alleged, demanding immediate arrest of the DC, SP and DFO of Dima Hasao district, alongside other officials implicated in the “scandal”.
“The rampant trade of coal and related black money dealings have been repeatedly flagged by AJP and other organisations for the past three years. Yet, authorities have consistently turned a blind eye and denied the existence of rat-hole mining in Assam,” it added.