Meghalaya: FIR against 18 trucks hauling coal illegally to Assam, denied by the police, claims HITO

In a statement released on Thursday, the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) claimed that it had filed a police report (FIR) against 18 vehicles carrying illicit coal and discovered more than 50 trucks carrying illegal coal from Jaintia Hills to Assam. In a press conference, HITO General Secretary Wanbun N. Dkhar revealed that a FIR was last night filed at the Mawryngkneng Police Station in relation to these 18 trucks. He claimed that the police initially rejected the FIR, claiming that the most recent notification from the Mining and Geology Department stated that “neither a civilian nor an NGO may file a FIR against coal transportation in the state.”

Dkhar added, “Last night, we discovered over 50 illegal vehicles transporting coal from the Jaintia Hills to Guwahati. In relation to the 18 trucks, we filed a FIR. Unluckily, 12 managed to flee “. He further mentioned that the trucks carrying coal must pay between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh in tolls in order to travel from Mawryngkneng to Byrnihat. The HITO leader responded that the payment is allegedly made to the “high-level” group when asked who receives it.

Dkhar continued, “The Deputy Chief Minister of the State, Prestone Tynsong, mentioned that there is no illegal transportation of coal in the state of Meghalaya and also added that if any citizen knows about any illegal transportation of coal, then the existing High Level can come forwards.” “This will draw the attention of the government to the existence of a “high level” hand in the coal business,” he said.
The HITO representative said the group will also send a memo to the state BJP president, Ernest Mawrie, on September 8, asking for an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the state.