4 Jharkhand illegal miners die in cave-in

RAMGARH: At least four villagers were killed and four others injured when a portion of an abandoned open-cast coal mine collapsed early Saturday during alleged illegal mining in Jharkhand's Ramgarh, officials said. The mine is owned by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), a Union govt undertaking. A large quantity of debris from the wall fell on villagers allegedly digging out coal in the mine in Sugiya village of Ramgarh's Kuju, the officials said.

Activists of a new Jharkhand party, JLKM, along with hundreds of villagers laid three of the four bodies in front of a CCL project office, demanding compensation and jobs for dependents of the victims. The deceased were identified as Md Imtiyaz, Rameshwar Besra, Wakil Karmali and Nirmal Munda, all hailing from nearby villages, Ramgarh SDPO Parmeshwar Prasad said. He added that there was no possibility of others being trapped as all debris had been removed. SP Ajay Kumar said an investigation had been started.

Junior Union defence minister and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth expressed grief over the deaths. Local MP Manish Jaiswal urged the authorities to stop illegal mining.