By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 4: One person was killed on Wednesday night after an overloaded coal truck overturned and crushed two vehicles at Byndihati in East Jaintia Hills.
The accident occurred around 8:30 PM when the truck toppled onto the vehicles. The victim was reportedly an occupant of one of the crushed cars.
The incident comes just hours before the Meghalaya High Court is scheduled to hear a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on illegal mining this Thursday. During the previous hearing on February 25, a division bench comprising Justices HS Thangkhiew and Wanlura Diengdoh directed the current and former Superintendents of Police of East Jaintia Hills to appear in person for the next session.
The Court has maintained that illegal mining continues to thrive due to strong market demand and profitability, warning that such activities cannot persist without buyers and financial backing.
The bench also previously raised concerns over the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing illegal mining, noting it was being led by a junior officer. In response, the Advocate General assured the Court that a more senior official would be appointed to lead the team to ensure the investigation is “incisive and effective.”
To date, authorities have registered 77 FIRs, arrested 14 persons, and seized over 16,000 metric tonnes of illegal coal and explosives. However, the Court has stressed that more stringent efforts are needed to curb the menace.
