Shillong, July 26: Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) has expressed shock over the audacity of the coal mine owners who attacked a farmer identified as Ridiya Dkhar from Moolang, East Jaintia Hills.
They threatened her family for lodging a complaint about the destruction of their land and fields by illegal coal mining.
Following this, Dkhar filed an FIR with the police against three persons, including the son of the coal mine owner.
Dkhar had earlier sought the intervention of the government as her paddy field is facing threat from seepage of dumped coal and rat-hole mining.
She also met CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing recently to take up the matter with the authorities.
“We stand in solidarity with her and urge the high court to take suo motu cognisance of the rampant lawlessness in these areas that is eroding the constitutional guarantees to life and liberty of the people living in these areas”, TUR leader Angela Rangad said.
It is a fact that land, forests and rivers have been destroyed by mining and that there is no drinking water available in some areas as a result of mining related pollution and destruction, she said.
Angela pointed out that profits at any cost of mining before human rights has been the modus operandi here for too long and this needs to stop.
People’s voices need to be heard and the police and administration have to ensure this while safeguarding them from violence and attacks, she said.
Earlier Dkhar had allegedt hat the seepage of dumped coal from the adjacent area has damaged her land, especially the paddy field.
Moreover, mining activities beneath her land by the coal mine owner identified as Riyo Siangshai is also a threat to farming activities.
