Congress to wait & watch govt move on assault probe

SHILLONG: With the NPP’s name getting linked with the near-fatal attack on two activists, the opposition has got its weapon to attack the government but the party has decided to adopt a ‘wait and watch’ policy.
Congress spokesperson HM Shangpliang said the government has been openly denying illegal mining in the state but now “it is clear that illegal mining is taking place with an NPP leader being identified as the one who led the attackers to target the civil society activists”.
“The government has to come clear on this. What is stopping the cops from arresting these people,” the Mawsynram MLA said.
Though there are apprehensions that the investigation might be affected, Shangpliang said the Congress would observe how transparently the probe is conducted.
When asked whether the Congress would press for independent inquiry, he said, “The party will not press for it immediately as it wants the government to take action against the culprits since there are so many evidences while it will wait and watch how the government responds.”
The name of Nidamon Chullet, an NPP leader from East Jaintia Hills, has come up in the attack on social activists Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma on November 8.
Chullet is the working president of NPP, East-West Jaintia Hills, and he had joined the party in December last year in the presence of NPP president Conrad Sangma, party leaders James Sangma, Comingone Ymbon and others.
He is the headman of Mynkrem, Shangpung, and is also the president of Jaintia Hills Truck Owners Association.
Besides Chullet, police are also hunting for his accomplices, Tuberkmai Shnong headman Graham Lyngdoh and Pamrakmai headman Lukas Shylla.