UP quarry collapse result of govt, police colluding with mining mafia: Opposition

One labourer has been killed, and at least 10 others are feared trapped in the debris of the open-pit mine in the Obra area. “Such a massive mining accident occurred in Obra, but the BJP government is so busy that not a single word has come out of the mouth of its leaders for the hardworking labourers,” the Congress leader said, and demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of each of the victims.

Alleging that the rescue operation was “slow”, he said that it was a shameful proof of the government’s “insensitivity”. “Yesterday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was in Sonbhadra. A stage was set up, and speeches were made. Inauguration and foundation stone laying of 432 projects worth Rs 548 crore also took place. But what about those families who have lost their breadwinners due to this mafia mining system,” he asked.

Samajwadi Party’s Robertsganj MP, Chotelal Kharwar, alleged that the mine was illegally run by the mafia in collusion with the local police.”There is a possibility that 12 to 15 people are trapped under the stones. Tribals are being killed in many ways, and large-scale illegal mining is being carried out in this area. One or two such incidents occur every month in this region, but how the mining mafia manages everything remains unknown,” he said.

“There is collusion between the sub-inspector, the SP, the DM, and the mining officer. Illegal mining is being carried out with the connivance of all of them,” the MP alleged.
Kharwar alleged that he was stopped by the police from meeting the families of the trapped mine workers. He also demanded Rs 50 lakh as compensation and a government job for each of the victims’ families.

With PTI Inputs