KHLIEHRIAT: A day after a deadly explosion at an illegal coal mine in Thangsko village in East Jaintia Hills occurred on Thursday morning claiming the lives of 18 people, with many more feared dead, the district police have arrested two people, said to be the owners of the illegal mine.
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed the arrests but said their identity cannot be revealed at the moment and that the same would be divulged once they are produced in court.
Meanwhile, the search and rescue operation by the police and the SDRF is underway in the place of occurence at Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills since morning.
It was also informed that a team from the National Green Tribunal, including Retd. Justice BP Katakey – head of the High Court-appointed Coal Mining Monitoring Committee, are on their way from Guwahati to Thangsko (place of occurrence) to assess the situation. They will first meet district officials at Khliehriat (district headquarters) and from there proceed to the site.
Further details awaited.
