HC grants interim bail to two including brother of cabinet minister over coal mining mishap in EJH

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 4, 2021

The Meghalaya High Court has granted interim bail to two coal miners including the brother of a cabinet minister, who were alleged to have been involved in the coal mining accident which killed six labourers in East Jaintia Hills District last month.

The bail applications filed by Bison Shylla, the brother of cabinet minister Kyrmen Shylla, and Tiufill Shadap came up for hearing before the Single bench headed by Justice W Diengdoh on Wednesday.

In its order, the bench has allowed the petitioners to be enlarged on interim bail on condition that they shall not abscond and tamper with evidence and witnesses. It also directed the accused persons to cooperate with the investigation officer (IO) as and when required.

The plea for grant of pre-arrest bail was made in connection with the FIR filed on January 22 and registered with the Khliehriat police station. It was also submitted that the two persons were not involved in the incident.

However, the police came looking for them in connection with the said case for which a reasonable apprehension of being arrested by the police has occurred.

It may be mentioned here that at least six labourers were killed in an illegal coal mining accident at Sorkari near Rymbai village on January 22. Some of the relatives of the deceased victims had alleged that Bison and Tiufill were carrying out mining of coal although the owner has been identified as Lar Bareh.

The bench also heard N.D. Chullai AAG who has submitted that he requires sometime to seek proper instruction and also to cause the C/D of Khliehriat PS Case No. 07(01)2021 to be produced before this Court.

In view of this, the bench has directed the IO to produce the case dairy (CD) on the next date of hearing fixed on February 17, to come to a conclusion as far as the complicity of the petitioners are concerned.