The Meghalaya Police has seized over 17,000 metric tonnes of coal and 25.5 kg of explosive material in East Jaintia Hills district, as part of a crackdown on illegal mining and transportation, officials said.
The action comes after the February 5 blast at an illegal coal mine in the Thangsku area that killed 34 people and injured several others, prompting stricter enforcement and sustained police operations against unlawful mining activities.
East Jaintia Hills SP Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania said the district police conducted the raid during the night of February 20-21, recovering 17,322 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal, and 25.5 kg of explosive material from abandoned mines.