Shillong: A delayed report from Shillong has alleged that two people were killed in a dynamite blast at a stone quarry in Thangsko village of Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on December 23.
The matter resurfaced after videos showing people with serious burn injuries circulated widely on social media across the state, prompting questions over official claims that no explosion had occurred in the area.
Sources familiar with the incident alleged that one person, believed to be a Bangladeshi national, was killed instantly in the blast, while another victim later died after sustaining severe burns.
The second victim has been identified as Ashok Tamang, aged 34, who was admitted to Shillong Civil Hospital following the incident.
Records maintained at the police booth inside the hospital indicate that Tamang was brought to the surgical ward on the morning of December 23, shortly after the reported blast, which is said to have taken place around 7 am.
The same records show that he succumbed to his injuries on January 1.
The reported deaths have raised doubts about statements made by East Jaintia Hills Police, who had earlier denied any blasting or explosion in the district during that period.
Civil Society Women’s Organisation president Agnes Kharshiing alleged that there were attempts to suppress information related to the incident and urged the authorities to come clean.
She also said that retired Justice B P Katakey has sought a report from the Meghalaya Police on the matter.
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On claims of a second fatality, Kharshiing said she had received information suggesting that another person, possibly a Bangladeshi national, also died as a result of the blast, though she acknowledged that further details were not available.
Earlier in the day, the East Jaintia Hills Police rejected as unfounded social media claims of a fatal explosion linked to illegal mining activities in Thangsko village.
Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said the videos circulating online were not related to the district and that verification carried out across all eight police stations, along with consultations with village headmen and local residents, had revealed no such incident.
