SHILLONG: Different NGOs and citizens of Shillong came together on Saturday and demanded the State Government to conduct an independent inquiry into the recent attack on CSWO president, Agnes Kharshiing and her colleague, Amita Sangma.
The protest meeting which was attended by people from different background, also maintained that the incident happened because of the failure of the State Government and it should take responsibility of the attack.
The meeting which decided to write to the Government over its demands also asserted that the State Government should bear the medical expenses of both Kharshiing and Sangma.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering, former Home Minister, RG Lyngdoh who also heads an organization called , “Dorbar of Concern Citizens said that as a citizen, they don’t support violence and they don’t want people getting targeted for their commitment to work for the society
Making a clarion call for a thorough investigation into the matter, he said that there was a need to find out who are the people involved in coal trade besides giving them an opportunity to learn to adopt other means of livelihood.
“If there is nexus between coal mafia-politician and police, all these should be investigated and people should be arrested,” he said while adding that nobody is above law and government instead of building walls around it should build bridges.
Echoing similar views, The Shillong Times Editor, Patricia Mukhim said that giving statements is not enough but the people need action on the ground from the Government, adding that it is not easy to be Agnes Kharshiing
Carmo Noronha, Executive Director of Bethany Society said that there was a need for everyone to ensure that they were not polarized on social media since there were attempts to divide the people while maintaining that the perpetrators have no ideology
The General Secretary of the Central Puja Committee, JL Das while condemning the attack on Kharshiing questioned the government as to when the others who attacked Kharshiing would be arrested
“The Mission of Agnes Kharshiing must be supported,” he said
Rev. P.B.M. Basaiawmoit who was also present in the meeting said that incident reminds of the episode of Fullmoon Dhar as its been more than years 10 years since that episode has passed but the public is yet to get a report on the matter even as he lamented that rights activists are always targeted
TUR member, Angela Rangad while speaking in the meeting said that outside people were being attacked when they eat or belief something and couples too are not being spared now there are attempts to copy the same thing in Meghalaya as well
“ You don’t own the Hill which you have hollowed for coal and the rivers which you have damaged,” she said while slamming the Home Minister, James Sangma for not even condemning the attack on Kharshiing
She also said that it was Nthe people in the Government who are doing all sorts of mining in the state and under such circumstances, how can the Government be trusted.