Meghalaya orders judicial inquiry into blast at illegal mine that killed 27

The Meghalaya government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the February 5 blast at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district that killed 27 workers, said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday.

The explosion occurred at a mine in the Thangsko area of Mynsngat village on Thursday morning. The site of the explosion is located about 40 km from the district headquarters.

A large-scale search and rescue operation continued for several days to recover all the bodies.

On Monday, Sangma said the government would constitute a Judicial Inquiry Commission to investigate the incident.

An unidentified official of the Home Department told PTI that the commission would look into the sequence of events leading to the explosion, fix responsibility and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies.

Two persons have been arrested in the matter so far. They were identified as 36-year-old Forme Chyrmang and 42-year-old Shamehi War.

A suo motu first information report has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, read with the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

The deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of East Jaintia Hills appeared before the Meghalaya High Court in connection with the explosion on Monday. Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, a division bench comprising Justices Hamarsan Sing Thangkhiew and Wanlura Diengdoh had sought...

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