Alleged involvement in illegal coal mining Minister’s brother, associate get pre-arrest bail from Meghalaya HC

Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, Feb 4: The Meghalaya Police has filed an FIR against Bison Shylla, brother of State Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla, for his alleged involvement in illegal coal mining. Meanwhile, the accused has been able to get a pre-arrest bail from the Meghalaya High Court.

Bison Shylla and his associate Tiufill Shadap, against whom an FIR was also filed, managed to get the pre-arrest bail from the high court on Wednesday.

A single-bench judge of Justice W Diengdoh, in his order, said there was a plea for grant of pre-arrest bail on behalf of the petitioner (B Shylla) in connection with an FIR dated January 22, registered at the Khliehriat Police Station.

Granting the interim bail, the court asked the Additional Advocate General to produce the case diary of the case, which would provide evidence as to whether the petitioner is involved in the case.

The court further ordered the bail granted on the condition that the petitioner “shall not abscond and tamper with evidence and witnesses and also that he shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer as and when required”.

A similar order was passed in the case of the other accused and the court fixed the next hearing on February 17. It has been accused that Shylla and Shadap were involved in illegal coal mining at a remote place in East Jaintia Hills district where six coal miners died recently.

Under pressure to act against such illegal activities, the Meghalaya Government has conducted raids in the remote coal mining areas under Umpleng and Sakhain in East Jaintia Hills district. Three coal-laden trucks were seized on Wednesday.