High Court Orders Arrests After Illegal Coal Mine Blast Kills 18

In a strong intervention, the High Court in Meghalaya on Friday directed the immediate arrest of those linked to a deadly explosion at a suspected illegal coal mine in the Thangsku area of East Jaintia Hills district, an incident that has claimed at least 18 lives.

A division bench of Justice HS Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh took suo motu cognisance of media reports on the blast, signalling serious concern over the unchecked continuation of unlawful mining activities in the region.

The bench expressed deep concern that illegal coal mining was still underway despite an earlier fatal accident reported on January 14. It observed that the recurrence of such tragedies pointed to severe administrative shortcomings and a failure to enforce existing bans and judicial directives.

The court stated that it would no longer tolerate delays and directed the district administration and police to act swiftly against those responsible.

The High Court directed the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills to identify and arrest mine owners, operators, and all individuals connected with the alleged illegal mining operations. It also ordered the seizure of all machinery, records, and other materials linked to the activity.

Underscoring the humanitarian aspect, the court asked the district administration to ensure that the injured and other affected persons receive immediate medical care and essential assistance wherever feasible.

In a clear push for accountability, the bench summoned the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to appear personally before the court on February 9.

Detailed Compliance Report Sought

The court directed the officials to submit a detailed report outlining the arrests made, materials seized, and concrete steps taken to stop illegal mining.

The court also sought an explanation on how banned activities continued despite earlier incidents and legal restrictions, warning of tougher action if the response proved inadequate.

The Chief Minister said the Meghalaya government had ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the tragedy. He emphasised that the government would not compromise on public safety and said it would fix responsibility and take strict legal action against those found guilty.