AJP Expresses Concern Over Worker Deaths in Meghalaya Coal Mine

‘Delhi-Dispur Blessings” behind illegal coal syndicate,’ alleges AJP
Dalim Phukan
Guwahati, February 5: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has expressed deep concern over the incident in which several workers from Assam reportedly got trapped and died in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district. Calling the incident not only tragic but also “alarmingly serious,” the party alleged that despite widespread public protests and movements against such illegal activities, the governments of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, along with the police departments of these states and even the Central Government, have failed to take effective action.

In a press statement issued today, AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi and General Secretary Jagadish Bhuyan extended condolences to the families of the deceased workers and said that this incident strongly raises questions about the sincerity and accountability of the governments concerned.

Referring to a similar tragedy, Gogoi and Bhuyan recalled that on January 6 last year, at least nine workers died after getting trapped inside an illegal rat-hole mine in the “Tin Kilo Assam Kuvari” area near Umrangso in Dima Hasao district. The party noted that the earlier incident took place in an area located within Assam, close to the Assam–Meghalaya border. However, the latest incident has occurred in Umteh, just across the Meghalaya border and very near the same Assam Kuvari area.

The AJP leaders said that this clearly indicates that rat-hole mining is “banned only on paper,” while in reality, such illegal activities are continuing relentlessly by misleading the public.

Gogoi and Bhuyan further stated that the AJP has repeatedly raised the issue of illegal coal mining through rat-hole methods, illegal transportation and supply of coal, syndicate operations, and illegal money transactions in places like Ledo, Margherita, Karbi Anglong, and parts of Dima Hasao. They said the party has submitted memorandums along with evidence from the local level up to the highest authorities, including the Directors General of Police of all three states, Chief Ministers, Governors, and even the Prime Minister of India.
They also said that in January last year, the AJP, along with media personnel, exposed live visuals of illegal rat-hole mining in several places in Karbi Anglong, bringing the issue before the public and the government. The Assam Government formed a judicial inquiry commission headed by retired Justice Anima Hazarika, but the commission has still not submitted its report.

The party further alleged that despite the need for legal action against multiple officials in connection with the Umrangso incident – including the Dima Hasao District Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, the Officer-in-Charge of the local police station, and even the then Managing Director of the Assam Mineral Development Corporation (AMDC), Anand Natarajan—no accountability has been ensured so far.

According to the AJP President and General Secretary, the illegal coal mining, transportation, syndicate operations and illegal money transactions have the blessings not only of Dispur, Shillong and Itanagar, but also of “the Delhi durbar” itself. They argued that otherwise it would be impossible for illegal mining and transportation to continue openly in front of the public, including transportation through Assam’s national highways and the functioning of coal syndicates on Assam soil, without being noticed by the police, transport department, or tax authorities.

The AJP leaders warned that if such mysterious silence and indifference of the government, administration and police continues, it will be impossible to curb corruption and illegal operations. At the same time, they cautioned that the tragic chain of worker deathsn – driven by poverty and desperation – will continue in the same manner.