SHILLONG: Thirteen miners were trapped inside a coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, bringing into focus again the continuance of illegal and unscientific mining in Meghalaya despite a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014.The miners had reportedly gone down a coal pit at Lumthari in the coal belt of East Jaintia Hills. The pit was full of water and upon entering it, they got trapped. Police said their survival seems difficult at this point.“We are trying to rescue them. It appears they had entered the pit to mine coal ,” a police official said, adding, “Water is being pumped out of the pit.”It is suspected that illegal mining had resumed at the site a few days ago. Police have registered a case against the mine owner, who has not been traced.Last month, two RTI activists who have been working to uncover illegal mining in the area — Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma — were brutally assaulted by a suspected coal mafia mob. Amita had named working president of the ruling National People’s Party’s East Jaintia Hills district, Nidamon Chullet, as one of the assailants.

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