Bus ferrying Odisha fire-fighters attacked in Meghalaya

Shillong: A bus ferrying Odisha Fire Services personnel came under attack from miscreants in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district during the stay-off-the-road protest on Thursday night by Confederation of Hynniewtrep Social Organisation to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill, police said on Friday.

The 22-member firefighters are deployed in a rescue operation to evacuate miners trapped inside a flooded coal mine since December 13 at Ksan village in East Jaintia Hills.

"The bus ferrying the Odisha firefighter was pelted with stone at Lumshnong area on Thursday night by miscreants during the road blockade," Sylvester Nongtnger, the district police chief, said.

No one was injured in the attack but the window of the bus was partially damaged.

Nongtnger said prompt action was taken by the district police and the fire-fighters were escorted to their guest house.

Chief Fire Officer of Odisha Fire Services, Sukanta Sethi, rubbished media reports that his men were assaulted.

He said the fire-fighters on Friday resumed their rescue operations by pumping waters from the coal mines.

The stay-off-the-road protest was called by Confederation of Hynniewtrep Social Organisation, an umbrella of 14 organisations to protest the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, the rescuers continued dewatering the abandoned flooded coal mines in their mission to evacuate the trapped miners.

Coal India Ltd, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Odisha Fire Service have been draining out water for over two weeks.