SHILLONG:
When nearly 4,000 metric tonnes of coal vanish from government-monitored depots without a trace, the question isn’t just how — but who allowed it to happen.
In a startling revelation, nearly 4,000 metric tonnes of inventoried coal have mysteriously disappeared from two government-identified depots in Meghalaya — a case that the Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma has described as “a well-scripted modus operandi.”
Speaking exclusively to 4Front Media, Sangma alleged deep-rooted criminal collusion and systemic cover-ups by officials. “How is it possible unless there is complicity of people in authority?” he questioned. “This is part of a pattern — a modus operandi enacted to facilitate illegalities with complete impunity.”
The Missing Coal: What We Know
According to the 31st interim report of the Justice (Retd.) B.P. Katakey Committee:
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Declared Inventory:
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Diengngan depot: 1,839.03 MT
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Rajaju depot: 2,121.62 MT
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Total expected: ~3,960.65 MT
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Actual Coal Found During Physical Verification:
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Diengngan: 2.5 MT
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Rajaju: 8 MT
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Total recovered: 10.5 MT
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This means nearly 4,000 MT of coal has vanished, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight and enforcement.
The Meghalaya High Court has since taken cognizance of the matter, directing the state government to identify and prosecute all individuals and officials involved. It has ordered that FIRs be filed under applicable laws against those responsible for unauthorized removal or disappearance of coal.
Not an Isolated Case, Says Sangma
Dr. Sangma expressed no surprise at the incident, stating it reflects a recurring pattern of mismanagement and complicity. “This is not the first time large quantities of coal have disappeared under mysterious circumstances,” he said. “The National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the courts must physically verify whether similar incidents have occurred elsewhere — particularly with coal inventoried for the Supreme Court.”
He also questioned whether coal that was previously declared and auctioned under legal provisions even exists today. “Where is that coal now? Has it too disappeared?”
Minister’s Remark Sparks Outrage
Adding fuel to public anger, Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Kyrmen Shylla suggested that exceptionally heavy monsoon rains may have washed away the coal — possibly downstream to Assam or even Bangladesh, given Meghalaya’s terrain and rainfall levels.
His statement drew widespread ridicule on social media and sharp criticism from the Opposition. “It’s difficult to imagine a minister making such an outrageous claim on such a serious issue,” Sangma said.
“This is not just contradictory to the government’s stand — it is paradoxical. It exposes the insensitivity and collective will of those in power to evade accountability. They want these crimes to fade away, just like others in the past.”
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What’s the Way Forward?
Sangma believes the judiciary must take stronger action when the executive fails. “The High Court has acted, but this case has national implications and should be brought under the purview of the Supreme Court (sic),” he urged.
He also criticized the repeated filing of FIRs without follow-through, labeling it a deliberate tactic to destroy evidence and drag investigations until the matter fades from public memory.
“The scale of this illegality goes beyond Meghalaya,” he concluded. “Only the highest court of the land can ensure justice.”
In his concluding remark, Sangma said the mystery of Meghalaya’s missing coal isn’t a mystery at all — it’s a script we’ve seen before, only this time, it’s 4,000 tonnes heavier.
