SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, August 8: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi, has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) regarding an alleged incident of illegal coal mining in the Block-2 colliery of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), located in the Baghmara block of Dhanbad district.
In response to a complaint filed by Supreme Court advocate Pankaj Kumar, the NHRC has issued notices to the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police of Dhanbad, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of BCCL, and the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi.
The commission has invoked Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and directed all respondents to investigate the allegations and submit an ATR within four weeks.
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Nine Alleged Deaths in Illegal Mine Collapse
The complainant alleged that on July 22, nine labourers died when an illegal coal mine collapsed in the Jamunia area of Baghmara, which falls under Block-2 of BCCL. The incident was reported to have taken place within the jurisdiction of Baghmara police station.
The complaint described the incident as a result of gross negligence and claimed that the illegal mining operations were allegedly run by coal mafias, posing serious risks to human life and reflecting a blatant violation of human rights.
Furthermore, the complainant raised concerns over the delay in rescue efforts, arguing that despite the seriousness of the situation, authorities failed to initiate prompt action. He called on the NHRC to intervene urgently, ensure compensation for affected families, and hold accountable both illegal operators and any complicit officials.
Delayed Rescue and Denial by Authorities
Following public pressure and intervention by Giridih MP C.P. Choudhary, a joint search operation was launched by the BCCL Mines Rescue Team and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) two days after the reported incident. However, after a week-long operation, no bodies or trapped persons were found.
Despite these developments, Dhanbad SSP Prabhat Kumar and BCCL officials have publicly denied the occurrence of any such incident. The conflicting narratives have raised further questions and led to renewed calls for a thorough and impartial investigation.
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Commission Demands Accountability
The NHRC bench, led by Member Priyank Kanoongo, has taken serious note of the allegations and emphasized the need for accountability and transparency.
The Commission has instructed the named authorities to provide detailed findings on the alleged incident and clarify the actions taken so far, including any efforts made to identify the victims, trace the mine’s operators, and support affected families.
