Police in Meghalaya seized 17,322 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal and 25.5 kg of explosives from abandoned pits in East Jaintia Hills during an overnight operation on February 20–21, the state police said. The raid, described by officials as part of an intensified crackdown on unlawful mining, uncovered the large coal stockpile and the explosive material but did not result in any arrests.
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania confirmed the haul and said the operation targeted multiple high-risk sites in the district. Police gave no further details on suspects or the provenance of the explosives during the operation.
The action follows a deadly blast at an illegal coal mine in Thangsku on February 5, which killed 34 people and injured several others. In the weeks since that incident, authorities have registered 94 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 22 individuals linked to illegal mining and coal transport, according to official tallies.
In response to the Thangsku explosion, the state government has formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the blast and set up a judicial inquiry commission to examine enforcement lapses. The Meghalaya High Court is supervising related proceedings and has required senior police officers to appear for hearings.
Officials said operations will continue in East Jaintia Hills’ high-risk areas and promised strict legal action against those involved in coal extraction, storage or transport. Authorities framed the raids as necessary to prevent further loss of life and to dismantle organised illegal mining networks.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-police-seize-17000-tonnes-of-illegal-coal-after-deadly-mine-blast-1349828-2026-02-22?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-22 10:54:00
