41 coal-laden trucks seized in Jaintia Hills, 26 in Assam
JOWAI: Police in both East and West Jaintia Hills districts, in the presence of respective magistrates continue to seize coal-laden trucks which are illegally transporting coal to Assam and some cement plants operating in East Jaintia Hills.
After the imposition of the ban on extraction and transportation of coal in the State by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), coal miners and coal traders have continued to violate the ban.
Police in East Jaintia Hills have so far seized 29 trucks while their West Jaintia Hills counterparts have seized 12 trucks.
In the latest seizure on Tuesday night, three trucks were detected transporting coal in West Jaintia Hills – one at Lad-Nartiang and two others at Ummulong Beat House.
A truck (AS01U-4579) loaded with coal belonging to one Thehlang Dkhar of Wapungskur was seized at Ummulong along with anther truck (AS01DD- 7751) owned by one Marbiang Passah of Mootyrshiah.
Both the district poli have registered cases against the same truck owner (Passah) for violation of the NGT ban.
On Wednesday morning, Police in Khliehriat seized a coal truck (ML04A-6647) owned by a coal trader from Wapungskur.
Sources informed that Police in Assam have seized at least 26 coal-laden trucks and charged the drivers and owners with theft-related cases.
“All the seized trucks have now been detained for a month,” said a coal trader, adding that a group of Punjabi traders from Assam complaint about the illegal transportation of coal from West Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and informed the Magistrates, Police and also media persons.
All trucks were seized as they could not produce any valid documents including transit challan during routine checking.
“If a trucks transport any good without transits challan, the good is illegal and a case can be registered under suitable sections of the law,” the coal trader added.
