Shillong, Sept 3: Six months after the Mynsngat-Thangsko illegal coal mining tragedy claimed 34 lives in East Jaintia Hills, the police are yet to be complete the probe as post-mortem reports of all the deceased are still pending.
This was observed by the Justice BP Katakey Committee in his 40th interim report submitted to the High Court of Meghalaya.
The committee, citing information from the Home (Police) Department on the SIT probe into Khliehriat PS Case No. 14/2026, said the main charge-sheet was filed on February 18, 2026, followed by supplementary charge-sheets on February 24 and May 6.
While 15 post-mortem reports were collected from West Jaintia Hills on May 21, one report from Ri-Bhoi is still awaited.
The officials informed the committee during its August 25 meeting that reports of all 34 deceased have not been received.
“The police department needs to expedite the collection of all the remaining post-mortem reports and complete the investigation,” the committee said
The report pointed out enforcement action taken after the incident — 90 FIRs for illegal extraction, 22 for illegal transportation, 4 for theft of seized coal and 2 for explosives. Enforcement teams include 4 mobile patrolling teams, 4 foot patrolling teams, 5 flying squads and 4 NGT checkpoints, with 92 drone surveys conducted so far.
The report said 18,962.966 MT of coal, 57 vehicles, 5.5 kg gelatin and 74 detonators were seized and 10 machineries dismantled.
Two police officials — S.I. O. Nongtdu, In-charge of Umpleng Outpost, and A.B. S.I. S. Sympli of the same outpost — were suspended on February 9, and a fact-finding inquiry ordered on March 23 to probe misconduct.
