A sustained, intelligence-driven enforcement surge led by East Jaintia Hills police since early February has sharply escalated the crackdown on illegal coal mining and transportation, with 107 FIRs registered and 34 arrests effected between February 5 and March 25, signalling a decisive operational pivot to dismantle entrenched illicit mining networks and choke supply chains across the district.
The intensified action, gaining momentum following the mid-February joining of Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania, reflects a calibrated, multi-point strategy combining interception, surveillance and targeted patrolling, resulting in a series of high-frequency seizures and legal interventions within a compressed 45-days window.
Police units, acting on actionable inputs, have intercepted multiple vehicles allegedly engaged in illegal coal transportation at strategic corridors and vulnerable transit points. In the early hours of March 25, a truck carrying illegal coal was intercepted at the Kongong NGT Check Post. In a separate operation on the same day, a patrolling team detected another truck transporting coal illegally at Nongrim Hills. Earlier, on the evening of March 23, an Alto car carrying coal illegally was intercepted at Damcherra in Kuliang. FIRs have been registered in all three instances, with investigations underway to establish backward and forward linkages of the network.
The crackdown coincides with an administrative reshuffle within the district police aimed at strengthening field-level command and operational efficiency. The Home (Police) Department, under orders issued by Commissioner and Secretary R. Rapthap, IAS, effected the transfer of Baniateilang Diengngan, MPS, Additional Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills, to the post of Deputy Commandant, 5th Meghalaya Police Battalion, Samanda, East Garo Hills, while Donkupar Moksha, MPS, was posted as the new Additional Superintendent of Police in East Jaintia Hills.
The official notification stated, “In the interest of Public Service and on the recommendation of the Police Establishment Board (PEB), Baniateilang Diengngan, MPS, Additional Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat is transferred and posted as the Deputy Commandant, 5th MLP Bn, Samanda, East Garo Hills District vice Donkupar Moksha, MPS transferred.” It further added, “In the interest of Public Service and on the recommendation of the Police Establishment Board (PEB), Donkupar Moksha, MPS, Deputy Commandant, 5th MLP Bn, Samanda, East Garo Hills District is transferred and posted as the Additional Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat vice Baniateilang Diengngan, MPS transferred.”
