Shillong: 2 coal miners died while 3 others are still stuck in a coal mine in Langmar village which is on the way to Kyllon Mathei village in Shalang area, West Khasi Hills District.
As per news reports, the mine belongs to Pek Rongrin who is from Umdang village but whose in-laws are from Kyllon Mathei.
It is said that this incident took place on Wednesday and this incident has given rise to renewed speculations even though time and again the MDA Government has repeatedly refuted that illegal mining and trade of coal is taking place in the state.
The two deceased coal miners are identified as Ainuddin Ali and Sukur Ali from Boko village.
Esahak Ali, the father of Ainuddin Ali said that he had received the news of his son’s demise on Wednesday evening.
The local village residents stated that these coal miners along with their friends had descended further into the mine which has not been mined for the past 4-5 years and with regards to this incident, they have made all due efforts to free the miners from inside the mine.
The police have so far refused to give any statement on whether there have been any coal miners who have died in this mine.
The Chief Minister, Conrad Kongkal Sangma on being asked about this incident expressed that he has not received any information on the incident.
The incident however, has not gone unnoticed by social activist Agnes Kharshiing who has always stood up strong in the fight to eradicate these kinds of illegal activities in the state and she directly accused the state government of blatantly lying and acting clueless or having no knowledge about such activities while also posing a question to the government seeking to know if the Government wants poor people and daily wage earners to continue with such kind of labour that leads them to their deaths, while also demanding for the need of the state government to come forward and address or clarify at once all that has happened.
