Meghalaya’s High Court unleashed a strong crackdown on rogue coal operators, ordering their instant arrests after a catastrophic mine explosion killed 18 workers in East Jaintia Hills. The Thangskhu blast exposes deep-rooted issues in the state’s battle against banned mining practices.
A division bench of Justices H.S. Thangkhul and W. Diengdoh flagged alarming media coverage of the January 14 precursor incident, slamming ongoing violations of court orders and national mining bans. ‘How can this continue?’ the court questioned, demanding accountability.
Directives flew thick and fast: East Jaintia Hills DC and SP to pinpoint culprits—owners, operators, laborers—and haul them in. Raids must confiscate machinery, papers, and evidence. Urgent aid for survivors and kin was stressed, with both officials hauled to court on February 9 for a progress report.
The report must detail arrests, seizures, preventive steps, and justifications for allowing prohibited digs post-prior disasters. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma backed the judiciary, announcing a high-level inquiry to fix responsibility and unleash the law’s full force.
‘Public safety is non-negotiable; lives can’t be gambled,’ Sangma declared. This order arrives amid Meghalaya’s grim mining history, where illicit operations in treacherous terrains have devoured countless lives. Will this judicial hammer finally seal the illegal pits, or is more bloodshed inevitable?