SHILLONG: Three days since 13 miners were trapped in a rat-hole coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills, feared dead by now, efforts to trace them have been fruitless so far. The owner of the mine, who had been on the run since the incident, was arrested on Friday night.There has been a ban on unscientific rat-hole coal mining, which involves miners climbing into narrow "rat-holes" dug in the mines, imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014. Rat-hole mining, however, continues illegally and has led to the creation of several channels within the coal pit, from where it is difficult to retrieve anyone, a police official said.On Thursday, the 13 miners were trapped after the 370-feet-deep mine was flooded while they were inside. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force continued their search but are facing a stiff challenge with flooding of the coal pit."The mine owner, who is the prime accused, is in custody. We are confident that whoever else is culpable in the case will be apprehended soon," AR Mawthoh, deputy inspector general (Eastern Range), said. "Jrin Chullet alias Krip Chullet, who owns the mine, was arrested near Lytein river under Saipung police station after a raid was conducted in his village of Norwan. One of his accomplices, James Sukhlain, is absconding. A search is on to catch him and the others involved in illegal mining," police added.A case has been filed against the coal mine owner at Saipung police station under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 304A (causing death by negligence) and 34 (criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code , read with Section 3(2)(d) of The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (mischief by doing any act in a mine) and Section 21(1) of The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations without permit).Chief minister Conrad Sangma on Friday had admitted that illegal mining continues in the state despite the ban.Last month, two RTI activists, Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma, who were out to uncover illegal mining activities were brutally assaulted by a mob, suspected to have been unleashed by the coal mafia in the East Jaintia Hills. Amita had named a leader of the ruling National People's Party, Nidamon Chulet, as the main accused, who is yet to be traced.

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