Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the ongoing illegal coal mining crisis in Assam. His call comes after a sit-in protest in Digboi, where Congress supporters demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the issue.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Gogoi called for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the illegal mining activities and enforce the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) ban on rat-hole mining. He emphasized that the illegal mining in Umrangso should not be seen as an isolated incident and urged the SIT to investigate the role of local authorities, including district administration and police, in enabling these activities.

Gogoi also requested that the investigation be expanded to cover other regions, including Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and Upper Assam, where illegal mining is still rampant. He cited a 2021 judicial report led by Justice Bojendra Prasad Katakey, which highlighted weak law enforcement, corruption, and lack of accountability as contributing factors to the continued illegal mining.

The Congress party, alongside local protesters, has voiced concerns over the state government’s failure to address the issue. Demonstrators in Digboi, holding placards and chanting slogans, have demanded immediate action to halt illegal mining and bring the perpetrators to justice.