Protesters torched vehicles at drilling site before assault

MAWKYRWAT/ SHILLONG: The group of anti-uranium mining protesters who assaulted three scientists of the Atomic Mineral Division (AMD) for Exploration and Research at Wahkaji on Wednesday first went to the drilling site at Mawthabah and torched vehicles and machines, sources said on Thursday.
Around 40 men went to Mawthabah village, which is the uranium-rich area in South West Khasi Hills, in the afternoon and burnt down a truck cum drilling machine and a Bolero pick-up van, both of which belonged to AMD, the sources said.
However, there was no attack on the drivers and workers at Mawthabah site, they added.
“The same group later attacked the AMD office at Wahkaji around 4 pm and assaulted two officers and an assistant, besides torching vehicles,” the sources informed.
District police chief HG Lyngdoh visited the site at Mawthabah.
The SP said police are looking for the accused men and have received “some lead in the case”. There was no arrest till the time the report went for printing.
On Wednesday, the protesters assaulted Satyander Saurav (29) and Srinjoy Mukherjee (31), who sustained minor injuries, and Sauman Das (31) who was seriously injured. But they did not harm the 12 local employees at the Wahkaji division.
The miscreants also torched two vehicles and destroyed a laptop and mobile phones belonging to the scientists.
Meanwhile, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) demanded that the state government and the district council clarify on the mining of uranium as it alleged that vehicles used for drilling uranium were found at Mawthabah, Nongbah and Jynrin.
In a statement issued here, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said the union found it impossible to understand the presence of such vehicles as well as workers of AMD at Wahkaji.
“Who gave permission to AMD and UCIL to mine uranium when the state government and the district council have made it clear that there will not be mining of uranium in the state,” he said, adding, “If no one gave permission, how can AMD and UCIL drill uranium at Mawthabah-Nongbah-Jynrin?”
Asserting that AMD and UCIL have disregarded the state government and the district council if none had given permission, Marngar pointed out that the government vehicles in Mawkyrwat pretend to drill water but they intend to drill uranium.
The union has asked the state government to order AMD to leave Mawthabah-Nongbah-Jynrin and threatened to take action if the authorities fail to ensure that there is no drilling of uranium.