Overview
- Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma told the Assembly that 33 people died in the February 5 Thangsko rat‑hole mine explosion, with search operations closed on February 9 after multi‑agency efforts.
- A three‑member Judicial Inquiry Commission led by Justice (Retd.) R. S. Chauhan has six months to probe the blast, identify lapses, examine root causes of illegal mining and suggest regulatory or constitutional routes for safer, lawful operations.
- Police report 62 FIRs on illegal extraction plus cases on transport and explosives, with 14 arrests overall, including seven tied to the blast; seizures include 15,224.72 MT of coal, 25.5 kg of gelatin sticks, 74 detonators, vehicles and dismantled cranes.
- An SIT headed by the DIG (Eastern Range) is investigating, while daily raids use drones, added gazetted officers, additional SIs and armed platoons to monitor and disrupt operations across East Jaintia Hills.
- Legislative debate was blocked as sub judice under an ongoing PIL, drawing objections from the Opposition, which also questions the casualty count and the likely impact of the new inquiry and prohibitory orders.