Tearful moment as Amita meets Agnes

SHILLONG: The two women who risked their lives to investigate illegal mining in East Jaintia Hills met on Wednesday for the first time after the brutal attack on November 8.
It was a tearful moment when Amita Sangma, in a wheelchair, met CSWO chief Agnes Kharshiing in the ICCU after the latter gained consciousness on Tuesday.
An emotional Sangma had requested the nurses attending to her to take her to Kharshiing’s room. Dr P Bhattacharya, the head of the ICCU at NEIGRIHMS, gave permission and Sangma was escorted to the room with security, Kharshiing’s brother John said.
It was a silent meeting and Sangma held Kharshiing’s hand and both nodded to each other. The former broke down.
Both the activists were attacked by a group of over 30 people at Tuber Sohshrieh in East Jaintia Hills. While Sangma was conscious and helped police find Kharshiing in a jungle, the latter was critical and remained unconscious for four days.
Around 11.30am on Wednesday, Bhattacharya informed the family that Kharshiing was taken off ventilator and she was being hourly monitored. The doctors attending to her have advised restrain in the number of visitors for better and quick recuperation.
Many people from Pynursla, Mawkynrew, Umsning, Mairang, Khliehriat and Jowai had come to NEIGRIHMS to meet Kharshiing. Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, MLA Process T Sawkmie and other MDCs, president of Seng Kynthei Mawkhar Welfare Organisation SN War and sisters and staff of Fernando Transit Shelter Home, among others, also visited the hospital.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme on Wednesday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said stern action will be taken against the attackers.
“It is totally condemnable. What has been done is a sheer act of violence and something that is not at all acceptable. We will take stern and strict measures to ensure that those who are guilty are brought to justice,” he added.
A citizens’ forum has urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to conduct an independent inquiry, CBI or judicial, into the attack. The forum members said an independent probe will ensure that the culprits are brought to book and unveil the “criminal conspiracy surrounding the assault”.
When asked about an independent or judicial probe, Conrad said the government  will ask for a report on the matter and consult other Cabinet colleagues.
“We will take a joint decision on how we should move forward. It is a serious matter and we will take it up seriously,” he added and asserted that the government will look into all complaints.
Conrad, who went to meet Kharshiing on Tuesday, expressed happiness as her condition was improving. “Yesterday, she gained consciousness, she recognised me, she saw me,” the chief minister said.
Probe illegal mining
The citizens’ forum also requested Conrad to investigate independently the illegal mining and transportation of coal and all entrenched interests and nexus. It stressed that all violations of the NGT order be brought to light and perpetrators be booked.
On the other hand, the forum said all medical expenses and losses to Kharshiing and Sangma resulting from this assault have to be borne by the government.
“The government has to compensate both of them for failing to protect them as citizens and has to bear responsibility for the law and order failure,” the forum said.