With outrage mounting over the deadly coal mine blast in East Jaintia Hills, the Meghalaya government is set to issue the notification by Friday or latest by Saturday for constituting a judicial inquiry commission to probe the tragedy that claimed 31 lives and left several others injured.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said the formal notification for the judicial probe into the Mynsyngat-Thangsko mine explosion is expected shortly, even as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already commenced its investigation and the administration intensifies its crackdown on illegal mining.
“SIT is different from the ambit of this judicial commission, but of course this commission, I think the order (notification ) is about to come out very very soon by tonight or lately by tomorrow, because we have already decided that judicial enquiry Commission has to be set up to get all the details of this Illegal activities that has happened and also the unfortunate incident that has happened and not less than 32-33 people lost their lives. See, by and large the commission has to be headed by a Retd Judge and then another two members so let us wait when the notification comes out, then you will be able to see exactly, who are the members of this commission.”
Clarifying that the judicial commission and the SIT operate independently, he added, “So, now the SIT has started its duty, so let us wait till the report is submitted.”
The SIT, constituted by the Police Headquarters under the direction of the Director General of Police, is being led by DIG Eastern Range VS Rathore and comprises eight other members, including East Jaintia Hills District Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar. The team has begun a detailed probe into the circumstances leading to the explosion.
In the aftermath of the blast, the district administration registered 34 FIRs and launched an aggressive drive against illegal coal mining operations. Four persons have been arrested so far in connection with the case.
“From the District Administration East Jaintia Hills, be it the Deputy Commissioner or the Superintendent of Police, they are all out to close down such illegal coal mining that happened and which is also happening till today. We have strongly directed both the DC, and the SP to make sure that this Illegal activities again should not reoccur.”
The Deputy Chief Minister said the probe is examining all possible angles, including the alleged supply and use of explosives. “We have made a quiet number of arrest, So now the investigation is on. We have taken to all issues into consideration, who supplied the illegal explosive again.”
“Because there are rules, there are regulations where you need to procure and you can procure, these explosives so all these, all these factors are taken into consideration.”
Reiterating that the process is underway, he said, “The investigation is on, very soon we will come out specially as the SIT has just started their job let us wait till then.”
The twin-track investigation — judicial and police-led — is expected to fix accountability and lay bare the network behind the illegal mining operations that continue to haunt East Jaintia Hills despite repeated crackdowns.
