SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister incharge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong, on April 10, defended the state police and said that the state law enforcing agency can curtail and monitor the illegal mining and transportation of coal.
His statement came weeks after the Meghalaya High Court issued an order, directing the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to tackle the problem, which many viewed it as an “embarrassment” to the state machineries.
“I replied in the assembly that our police forces are equipped enough to check the illegal mining of coal. However, even if the police work 24×7, criminal activities still keep happening and you need to understand this. We are trying our best, and we will make sure that illegal mining activities has to stop at any cost,” Tynsong said.
Asked if the government would appeal against the court order, the deputy chief minister however said, “I can’t say anything right now because in fact a letter has been sent even to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the concerned organisation where ultimately they are not able to provide additional forces.”
Notably, on March 20, the Meghalaya High Court had asked the CISF to indicate its readiness to check illegal transportation of coal in Meghalaya.