NEW DELHI, May 28: Gaurav Gogoi, the newly-appointed president of Assam Congress, criticized the BJP-led NDA governments in Meghalaya and Assam for the ongoing issues of illegal coal mining and drug trafficking, calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into these matters. At a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Gogoi cited an Enforcement Directorate investigation that uncovered a syndicate involving individuals from both Meghalaya and Assam. This group facilitates the movement of trucks carrying illegal coal across the border into Assam, using forged documents.
Gogoi revealed that the syndicate charges mine owners between Rs 1.27 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh per truck as a sort of commission for their services. The illegally extracted coal is reportedly stored at depots in Jogighopha, Assam. He noted a significant rise in drug smuggling in Meghalaya and Mizoram, a situation exacerbated by the ethnic conflict that began in Manipur in May 2023. According to Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, approximately 300,000 individuals in Meghalaya are addicted to drugs, representing about 10% of the state’s population, a dire indication of the escalating drug abuse problem.
“Without political protection from both the state and the Centre, this would not have been feasible. Therefore, we demand a CBI inquiry,” Gogoi insisted. He expressed concern about the unstable situations in neighboring Myanmar and Bangladesh, which share extensive borders with the Northeast. He highlighted that most drug users are between the ages of 15 and 29, with an alarming 30% prevalence rate among youth.
Furthermore, Gogoi revealed that in recent years, law enforcement has seized 42.75 kg of heroin, 30,000 kg of ganja and opium, as well as cash and arms in Meghalaya, underscoring the severity of the crisis. Referencing Mizoram’s Excise and Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar, he emphasized the rise in drug smuggling into that state, arguing that the drug issue is undermining the socio-economic fabric of the entire Northeast, especially given the deteriorating conditions in Manipur and Myanmar.
The ED report on illegal coal mining indicates that the mine owners collaborate with the syndicate to misrepresent illegally obtained coal as legally sourced. During an ED raid, authorities confiscated Rs 1.58 crore in cash, laptops, mobile phones, and two luxury vehicles believed to be purchased with proceeds from these crimes. Although rat-hole mining was banned in Meghalaya in April 2014, Gogoi contended that mining activities persist, alleging the state government has been inactive due to the involvement of politically significant individuals.
He argued that the same protective mechanisms apply to the drug trade, suggesting tacit support from NDA governments. Regarding the recent Rising North-East Summit held in Delhi, Gogoi expressed skepticism, declaring that the realities on the ground were much bleaker than portrayed. He asserted that the Northeast has become a hub for illegal coal mining and drug trafficking under BJP leadership, which he described as evidence contradicting claims made by the Assam Chief Minister regarding the absence of illegal coal mining. Although Congress once supported investigations, Gogoi noted growing doubts about the ED’s effectiveness due to the lack of arrests or establishment of a Special Investigation Team.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/05/29/nda-govts-in-assam-meghalaya-behind-drug-abuse-illegal-coal-mining-gogoi/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2025-05-29 04:17:00
