From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: Following a recent order passed by the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court, a police team consisting of around 70 personnel led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) WS Muksor and Circle Inspector HC Dkhar on Friday restrained all private parties from extraction of coal from ten disputed coal mines in Briwar, which has the richest coal deposit in East Jaintia Hills District.
These coal mines were allegedly illegally possessed by the ‘Ka Jingiaseng Samla District Pala’ who leased the same to a group of individual from Samasi and also to former JHADC Chief Hambertus Nongtdu, Nominated MDC Phillip Tangliang and a group of surrendered HNLC cadres.
The armed police personnel, accompanied by landowners from Elaka Nongkhlieh and others, stopped all private parties from extraction of coal from at least ten coal mines in the area.
“We are implementing the High Court orders dated March 18, 2013 and March 20, 2013,” DSP Muksor informed.
The chairman of Elaka Dorbar of Nongkhlieh Elaka, Embok Pajuh and others members of the Elaka alleged that a group of surrendered HNLC members had been put on guard in these coal mines which were forcibly grabbed by the ‘Ka Jingiaseng Samla District Pala’.
Earlier, the Assistant Court to the Deputy Commisioner, Jowai, had granted an ad-interim injunction dated on December 19 last year restraining the parties and members of Elaka Nongkhlieh from entering and interfering in any manner in these coal mines.
However, the High Court, in its recent order, stayed the injunction.
The landowners and coal mine owners have, in their possession, valid documents to prove their ownership, in the form of ‘pattas’ obtained from the JHADC in the late 70s.
However, as per documents available with The Shillong Times, the ‘Ka Jingiaseng Samla District Pala’ has, in its possession, land holding certificates obtained from the Revenue Department of the JHADC in the year 2000.