SHILLONG: It’s close to two months since CSWO president, Agnes Kharshiing and her colleague Amita Sangma was brutally assaulted in East Jaintia Hills, but till now the State Government which has vowed to go all out against illegal mining in the state, has not instituted an independent inquiry into the entire matter as promised.
Twenty day after the incident, the State Cabinet on November 26 took a resolution favouring an independent inquiry into the events leading to the assault of women rights and RTI activists. However, a month has gone by and the State Government so far has not even appointed the retired judge to head the inquiry.
A top official of the Meghalaya Government on Wednesday said that the Law Department so far has not forwarded the name of the retired judge who will head the inquiry.
When asked about the terms of reference for the inquiry, the official added that the terms of the inquiry will be made in consultation with the Law Department.
It may be mentioned that the two victims themselves and the Opposition have been continuously asking the State Government to recommend a CBI inquiry into the entire matter.
However, the State Government has been maintaining that an independent inquiry to be headed by a retired judge would be the best option but the delay of over a month in instituting the inquiry has many questions about the government’s intention.
Agnes Kharshiing and her colleague Amita Sangma was brutally assaulted while they were taking photographs of the illegal coal mining going on in the district and both the social activists had to undergo treatment for a long time.
Police have arrested few people in connection with the assault of the duo and a leader of the ruling NPP, Nidamon Chullet is accused of being the prime culprit behind the incident.
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