Shillong: In the aftermath of the deadly illegal coal mine explosion in Mynsngat–Thangsko that claimed over 30 lives on February 5, the Meghalaya government has transferred East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar.
According to an official notification issued on Saturday by Commissioner and Secretary in-charge Home (Police) CVD Diengdoh, Anti-Narcotic Task Force Superintendent of Police Pankaj Rasgania has been appointed as the new district police chief.
The administrative decision comes days after Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang ordered the formation of a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on February 12 to conduct a detailed probe into the blast at the illegal coal mine.
The order stated that the SIT was constituted to ensure a fair, impartial and time-bound investigation into the incident.
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The SIT is being led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range) Vivekanand S. Rathore and has been tasked with examining the causes and circumstances of the explosion, identifying violations of court orders and National Green Tribunal directives, and submitting its findings within a fixed timeframe.
Search and rescue operations at the site were officially discontinued on February 9 after assessment teams concluded that there were no survivors.
Since then, enforcement agencies have intensified operations across coal-bearing areas, leading to the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of thousands of metric tonnes of illegally mined coal.
Raids have also been conducted at labour camps suspected to be linked to illegal mining activities.
