A REPORTER
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court has granted interim bail to two coal miners including the brother of a 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 Minister Kyrmen Shylla, and Tiufill Shadap came up for hearing before the single Bench of Justice W Diengdoh on Wednesday.
In its order, the Bench has allowed the petitioners to be released on interim bail on the condition that they shall not abscond and tamper with evidences and interfere with witnesses. It also directed the accused persons to cooperate with the Investigation Officer (IO) as and when required.
The plea to grant the pre-arrest bail was made in connection with the FIR filed on January 22 and registered at 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 case for which a reasonable apprehension of being arrested by the police has occurred, the plea stated.
Mentionably, at least six labourers were killed in the 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 and the owner of the coal mine has been identified as LarBareh.