A woman died and some others were missing after a portion of a coal mine caved in at Asansol in West Burdwan early on Friday.
Police sources said that it was an unauthorised coal mine at Bhanora Kholamikh, where the incident took place. The local residents, however, alleged that at least three people including two women were killed in the incident.
"We have recovered the body of a woman from the spot. We think nearly 5-6 people were trapped inside the mine, a portion of which suddenly caved in," the source added.
Investigators learnt that mafias were involved in this case as they gave money to the villagers to illegally excavate coal from there. "We have started raids to arrest people in connection with the case. A case was initiated at Asansol North Police Station," the source added. Villagers alleged that there are many illegal coal mines in the area. These mines are run by the mafias. A similar incident took place a few years back in this area where three to four people died.
Some of the villagers were hesitant to talk to the police about the incident and some of the villagers refused to take the names of people connected to the case.
"Clashes among the coal mafias are frequent in this area. These mafias take coal from unauthorised mines and sell it in the markets. Many of these mafias were arrested earlier," the source added.
Similar incidents of caving in of areas inside coal mines took place in the adjoining districts as well. It will be recalled that at least four persons died and several others are missing after a similar unauthorised coal mine collapsed in the Mejia block of Bankura district last year. Nearly three acres of the coal mines in Mejia's Kalikapur village, adjacent to Jharkhand, had collapsed.