Guwahati: A seemingly routine probe into alleged illegal mining in Assam has erupted into a full-scale controversy, with a leaked note, a disputed quarry inspection and a sudden bureaucratic reshuffle fuelling a barrage of uncomfortable questions.
Information available to Northeast Now suggests that a note attributed to the Assam Chief Minister’s Office and reportedly sent to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav cast a shadow over the team assigned to inspect stone quarries, alleging that its integrity had been compromised by illegal mining interests.
The note reportedly stated: “Shri Pee Lee Ete from MOEF Shillong and Shri N Anand, CCF Upper Assam Zone are today inspecting stone quarries in Nagaon Forest Division, Assam. Integrity of the team has been compromised with influence of illegal miners.”
What began as an inquiry following complaints of illegal mining in Hojai district has now escalated into a high-voltage controversy. The reported reassignment of a senior official overseeing the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEFCC) Shillong regional office has further fuelled suspicions and raised questions about whether the probe can proceed without pressure.
Forest Land, Quarry Scars and a Report That Could Bite
According to information received by Northeast Now, the MoEFCC’s Shillong regional office had ordered a joint inspection and constituted a committee comprising P.L. Ete from the regional office and N. Anand of the Assam Forest Department.
On October 13, 2026, the team inspected the sites and reportedly found large-scale irregularities on forest land. If substantiated in the final report, the findings could have significant implications.
The inspection report could prove crucial in determining the extent of the alleged illegal quarrying. However, its detailed findings were not available for independent verification at the time of writing, leaving several key questions unanswered.
Then came the development that turned the probe into a political and bureaucratic flashpoint.
Two Days Later, a Shock Transfer
George Jenner, who held additional charge as Deputy Director General of the MoEFCC’s Shillong regional office, was reportedly relieved of that responsibility on the evening of October 15, barely 48 hours after the inspection.
Suman Mahapatra of the ministry’s Bhubaneswar regional office was reportedly given additional charge of the Shillong office, according to information available to Northeast Now.
The timing raised questions. Was the move a routine administrative decision, or did it come uncomfortably close to a sensitive inspection? For now, the available official record does not provide a definitive answer.
The appointment has also prompted questions about potential conflict-of-interest safeguards, given that Suman Mahapatra belongs to the Assam cadre. The formal posting order, the applicable rules and the ministry’s stated reasons for the move will be crucial in distinguishing legitimate concerns from unsubstantiated speculation.
However, no independently verified evidence is currently available to establish that the reassignment was intended to interfere with the inquiry or that Mahapatra would act under anyone’s influence.
The Mining Names Now in the Frame
The controversy has brought allegations of illegal quarrying at multiple locations in Assam back into focus, including Parkup Pahar in the Karbi Anglong hills, areas within the Kaziranga catchment and Sonaipahar Reserve Forest near Hojai.
Material received by Northeast Now alleges that Charanjit Singh Gandhi, described in the material as having close links to the Assam Chief Minister, was involved in illegal mining activities at these and other locations. These allegations remain unproven, and the specific evidence linking Gandhi to the alleged operations requires further verification.
The same material also alleges that the Assam government’s earlier denotification of Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary helped pave the way for quarrying activities allegedly associated with Gandhi. The legal basis for the denotification, the circumstances surrounding the decision and any direct links to specific mining operations warrant closer scrutiny.
The result is a combustible mix of allegations involving forest land, quarrying, political proximity and bureaucratic manoeuvring. However, responsibility cannot be established without documentary evidence, official records and responses from the individuals and authorities concerned.
The Big Questions That Won’t Go Away
The MoEFCC and the Assam government face questions that demand clear answers: Who initiated the note questioning the inspection team’s integrity? What evidence supported the allegation that illegal miners had influenced the team? What exactly did the October 13 inspection uncover? And, most importantly, will the ministry make the full inspection report public?