By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 4: The 34th interim report of the Justice (retired) BP Katakey-headed committee has highlighted a major failure in ground-level policing in East Jaintia Hills.
The report said the officers of Umpleng Outpost under Khliehriat Police Station failed to detect a fully operational illegal coal mine in Lumbangla village although the site had reinforced cement concrete boundaries along with cranes, tools and 2,112 MT of illegally mined coal dumped nearby.
The committee has recommended intensified patrols, secured access points and monthly supervision reports from the district’s top civil and police officials.
The findings stem from a complaint lodged by Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang on November 19, 2025. The complaint was supported by video clips showing active mining.
Marbaniang informed the committee that despite complaints lodged by the Dorbar Shnong Lumbangla with the Superintendent of Police (SP) on August 11, 2025 and the Chief Secretary on May 9, 2025, no action was taken. He stated that during his visit to the site on September 27, 2025, illegal coal extraction was under way. He said he had alerted the SP immediately but no steps were taken.
The committee, in its November 20, 2025 meeting, directed the Director of Mineral Resources to ensure an immediate visit by the senior-most Additional Deputy Commissioner, and instructed the SP of East Jaintia Hills to personally visit Lumbangla, halt mining operations and seize coal under the MMDR Act, 1957. Both officers were asked to submit reports by November 24, 2025.
The Deputy Commissioner’s report dated November 24, 2025 enclosed the joint inspection report prepared by Additional Deputy Commissioner JU Kharpuri, Additional Superintendent of Police S Paslein and Assistant Mines Royalty Inspector Chirup Pamthied. The SP’s communication forwarding the updated status report of Khliehriat PS case No. 64/2025, the FIR dated September 28, 2025, seizure lists dated the same day and four site photographs were also enclosed.
The updated police status report dated November 19, 2025 revealed discrepancies in the registration of Khliehriat PS case No. 64/2025. While the FIR copy noted registration on September 28, 2025, the investigating officer reported that the case was registered on October 6, 2025. The committee further observed that only two coal dumps were seized despite photographic evidence showing cranes and mining tools near the illegal mine. The photographs confirmed reinforced cement concrete boundaries at the mine opening and fresh plastic-covered huts, indicating that the mine was long-running and active.
Justice Katakey concluded that illegal mining in Lumbangla continues despite the National Green Tribunal’s 2014 ban, the Supreme Court’s judgment of September 3, 2019 and repeated directives, reflecting poorly on the civil and police administration of East Jaintia Hills.
To address the lapses, the panel recommended that the DC and the SP identify vulnerable mining zones, intensify patrols, secure all ingress and egress points and prevent movement of illegally mined coal. They have been instructed to personally supervise these measures and submit monthly reports to the Chief Secretary or an officer not below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary to ensure strict enforcement.
