KHLIEHRIAT: In a major administrative reshuffle aimed at strengthening law enforcement, the Meghalaya Government has appointed Pankaj Kumar Rasgania as the new Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Jaintia Hills with immediate effect.
The appointment comes in the wake of the deadly explosion at the Mynsyngat–Thangsko illegal coal mining site, which claimed over 30 lives and triggered widespread public outrage and demands for accountability.
The East Jaintia Hills district has remained under intense scrutiny following the tragedy. In response, the government has brought in Rasgania—known for his expertise in cyber security and technology-driven policing—to dismantle entrenched illegal networks and restore public confidence.
Rasgania was earlier serving as SP of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force Meghalaya in Shillong, where he played a key role in strengthening digital surveillance and intelligence-led operations.
Officials believe his experience in tracking complex criminal syndicates will be crucial in tackling illegal mining and related activities in the district.
According to the notification issued by the Meghalaya Civil Services Board, Rasgania (RR-2020) has been transferred from SP, ANTF Shillong, to SP, East Jaintia Hills.
Meanwhile, Vikash Kumar (RR-2018), the outgoing SP of East Jaintia Hills, has been posted as the new SP of the ANTF in Shillong.
The back-to-back transfers place Rasgania at the forefront of the state’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining.
With his new posting, Rasgania faces several critical responsibilities — Curbing Illegal Coal Mining: Dismantling networks linked to the Thangsko tragedy, ensuring transparent and firm law enforcement, using technology and intelligence to track criminal syndicates and strengthening accountability by coordinating with local administration and agencies.
Authorities reiterated that sustained enforcement, technological monitoring, and institutional reforms will remain central to preventing future tragedies and ensuring long-term stability in the district.
