Guwahati: The Meghalaya High Court has summoned both the current and former East Jaintia Hills Superintendents of Police to appear on February 24 in connection with a public interest petition related to the recent unregulated coal mining tragedy that resulted in 34 deaths.
The division bench, comprising Justices W. Diengdoh and H.S. Thangkhiew, instructed SP Pankaj Rasgania, who assumed office last week and participated in the February 19 hearing, along with his predecessor P. Vikash Kumar, to be present for the proceedings.
Authorities had submitted a detailed status report in response to the court’s February 9 order. The bench noted that the report contained substantial information, warranting careful examination before issuing further instructions.
The public interest petition targets unauthorized coal mining in East Jaintia Hills, revealing safety lapses behind the February 5 Thangskai explosion.
The death toll rose to 34 on February 18 after local miner Shanki Shullai succumbed to his injuries. Officials confirmed that four of the victims were residents of Meghalaya.
The case is scheduled to resume on February 24 as calls grow for accountability, with authorities and local communities seeking answers after one of the state’s largest mining tragedies.