Date | Jan 25, 2017:

The West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) has ordered a probe into the collapse of an illegal coal mine in Bankura district in which four persons died and many others went missing earlier this month.

In a recent order, the WBHRC cited a report by The Hindu titled ‘4 killed as illegal mine collapses’ published on January 16, 2017 and ordered its investigating wing to begin a probe immediately. It has asked for a report by February 2, 2017.

Referring to the report, it further states that “60 persons are apprehended dead” and 50 illegal coal mines are “allegedly in operation” in the Kalikapur village in the district’s Mejhia block. It also says that the police “appears to be unaware” of the incident.

Local residents have said, “When the coal at one section of an illegal mine is exhausted, the mafias force the workers to remove large chunks from the pillars of coal which support the roof of the mine. After a while, the pillars get weakened and the mine collapses killing several workers.”

Activists and Opposition parties alleged that the Trinamool Congress along with police and coal mafia was running such illegal coal mines. However, TMC general secretary Subrata Bakshi said that he was “not aware” of any coal mine collapsing in Bankura. “It is not mandatory for us to respond to every allegation made by the Opposition parties,” he had said.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)