Guwahati: East Jaintia Hills police have arrested 14 people in a widening probe into illegal coal mining, including seven suspects held for their alleged role in the Thangsko disaster of February 5, 2026, which killed 31 people, authorities said.
The seven detained in connection with the February 5 incident are named as Forme Chyrmang, Shameki War, Process Phawa, Tensing Suchiang, Yoomiki Syih, Ernest Swer and Rangsing Syienlieh (also known as Mithun), police said. They were specifically arrested for their alleged involvement in the deadly collapse/explosion at the Thangsko mining site.
Following the tragedy, police registered a suo-motu case at Khliehriat police station (Case No. 14 (2) 2026), invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, and the Explosive Substances Act. Key charges include Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and Section 118(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous means), the statement said.
Overall, the district has recorded 62 FIRs related to illegal coal mining across various police stations, resulting in the 14 arrests so far. Investigators have seized 15,224.72 metric tonnes of coal, 25.5 kg of gelatin, 74 detonators and five vehicles during operations, figures the police provided show.
Police said the arrests and seizures underscore the scale of unauthorised mining and the use of explosives in the area, and that inquiries are continuing as officers probe links between illegal extraction networks and the Thangsko tragedy.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/meghalaya/meghalaya-14-held-for-illegal-coal-mining-7-linked-to-thangsko-mine-blast.html
Category: Meghalaya,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-02-16 13:05:00
