Two workers, including Sunil Roy of Borgolai “Mati Line,” died in an illegal coal mine accident at Borgolai, Margherita, on September 1. Another worker, Pankaj Pal of Ledo Bazar Line, was injured and later succumbed at Margherita Civil Hospital.
The deaths have triggered outrage after reports emerged that police, administration and sections of the media allegedly tried to suppress the incident. Families of the victims claimed the men died of “high blood pressure,” fuelling suspicion of a cover-up.
Prateek Bordoloi, son of Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, in a Facebook post accused the government of shielding the coal syndicate: “With Dispur’s patronage, Margherita has become a death valley. Why is Assam Police silent?”
Illegal coal mining in Margherita, which had briefly stalled, has reportedly resumed in recent weeks. Local sources allege coal mafias bankroll political programmes, including the August 24 event where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed cheques to over 18,000 SHG women.
The attempt to hush up the Borgolai mine deaths has sparked fresh anger, with allegations of money being paid to silence families. The administration’s continued silence has only intensified public mistrust.
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