SHILLONG: Different NGOs and citizens of Shillong came together on Saturday and demanded that the state government should 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 backgrounds also maintained that the incident happened because of the failure of the state government and it should take responsibility for the attack.
The meeting decided to write to the government over its demands and 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 organisation called “Dorbar of Concerned Citizens”, said as a citizen, they do not support violence and they do not want people getting targeted for their commitment to work.
Making a clarion call for deep investigation into the matter, he said that there is a need to find out who are the people involved in coal trade besides giving them an opportunity to learn 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, should build bridges.Echoing similar views, Editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, said 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 is a need for everyone to ensure that they are not polarised on social media since there are attempts to divide the people while maintaining that the perpetrators have no ideology.
General secretary of the Central Puja Committee, JL Das, while condemning the attack on Kharshiing, questioned the government as to when will those who attacked Kharshiing 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 the incident reminds of the episode of Fullmoon Dhar as more than 10 years have passed but the people are yet to get a report on the matter even as he lamented that activists are always targeted.
TUR member, Angela Rangad said people outside the state are being attacked over their eating habits and beliefs and now there are attempts to copy the same thing in Meghalaya as well.
“You don’t own the hills 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 is the people in the government who are doing all sorts of mining in the state and under such circumstances, how can the government be trusted.
