Shillong, February 6: The aftermath of Thursday’s devastating dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in Thangsko, East Jaintia Hills, has escalated into a significant political and administrative standoff. As the death toll officially rose to 25 today, prominent local pressure groups have moved to block the disbursement of government compensation pending citizenship verification of the victims.
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| Rescue and recovery teams stand at the site of the illegal coal mine in Thangsko, East Jaintia Hills, as operations continue following the deadly explosion that claimed 25 lives. |
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police, Vikash Kumar, confirmed today that rescue teams recovered four additional bodies from the mine site. Three others succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment, including one victim at NEIGRIHMS in Shillong.
To date, 17 of the 25 deceased have been identified and their remains handed over to relatives. The police have also made two key arrests: Forme Chyrmang (36) and Shamehi War (42). Both suspects have been remanded to three days of police custody as authorities pursue further leads.
The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) and the Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) have issued separate statements insisting that the citizenship of all victims be verified before any ex-gratia payments are released.
While the central government, the Meghalaya state government, and the Assam government have all pledged financial aid to the families of the victims, the pressure groups argue that such funds must not be misallocated.
In a formal letter to the Governor of Meghalaya, HITO expressed suspicions that several victims may be undocumented Bangladeshi nationals. They demanded a central agency investigation, specifically calling for the CBI to take over the probe.
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In a press release, the HYC cautioned that compensation should not "reward or indirectly legitimise" illegal migration or illegal labor practices.
The tragedy has reignited a fierce debate over the persistence of illegal mining in the region despite long-standing judicial bans.
HITO launched a scathing critique of the state’s political leadership, attributing the disaster to "sustained political protection." The organization alleged that successive governments have converted "governance failure into a business model," allowing illegal operations to thrive in plain sight.
In contrast, while the HYC focused primarily on the citizenship issue, they did not join HITO in direct criticism of the authorities' failure to curb illegal mining prior to the blast.
The blast occurred at approximately 7:00 AM on Thursday in the Mynsyngat/Thangsko area. The explosion, triggered by dynamite within the illegal shaft, caused immediate structural collapse and fire. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as police continue to search for additional suspects involved in the operation of the mine.
