Shillong, Feb 20: A division bench of the Meghalaya High Court has directed the current and former Superintendents of Police of East Jaintia Hills to appear before it on February 24 in connection with a public interest litigation concerning the illegal coal mining disaster that has claimed 34 lives.
The bench comprising Justices W Diengdoh and H S Thangkhiew ordered incumbent SP Pankaj Rasgania, who assumed charge last week and was present during the February 19 hearing, and his predecessor P Vikash Kumar to remain present in court during the next proceedings.
The court examined a detailed status report filed by the state authorities in compliance with its February 9 order. Observing that the report was comprehensive, the bench indicated that it required close scrutiny before issuing further directions in the matter.
The PIL pertains to alleged illegal coal mining activities in East Jaintia Hills district and highlights systemic lapses brought to light by the February 5 blast at an unregulated mine in Thangskai.
The death toll rose to 34 on February 18 after local miner Shanki Shullai succumbed to injuries. Officials confirmed that four of the deceased were residents of Meghalaya.
The matter is scheduled to be taken up again on February 24, amid mounting calls for accountability in one of the deadliest mining tragedies in the region.
