Jorhat, May 25 -- Congress MP from Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi, on Saturday called for a detailed investigation into alleged illegal coal mining and syndicates operating in Assam and Meghalaya.

Addressing a press conference at the District Congress Bhawan in Jorhat, Gogoi claimed that a "coal mafia" is thriving under political protection and linked it to changes in Assam's leadership.

Gogoi told ANI, "Yesterday in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a Rising North East summit where he spoke of private investment. I wrote to him the same day highlighting the ground reality in Assam and Meghalaya -- the illegal coal syndicate."

He referred to an Enforcement Directorate action from April, claiming it revealed how coal illegally mined i...