SHILLONG: The two women activists, Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma, who were assaulted by the coal mafia at Sohshrieh on November 8, are yet to get justice.
Amita and Agnes said on Sunday the case should be immediately handed over to the CBI due to undue delay on the part of the police in arresting more people involved in the attack.
Over 30 people were involved in the attack on the activists, whereas police arrested only a few persons while others secured bail.
The concern of the activists is that even after three and a half months, their plea to have an independent probe is yet to be materialised and the case filed by Amita for a CBI probe into the incident is pending with the High Court.
The court will hear the matter again on Tuesday.
Agnes said curiously, the police have not added Section 120 of the IPC related to criminal conspiracy in the FIR.
“There is definitely a conspiracy angle as the attackers had nexus with the police and other powerful people,” Amita said.
She wondered as to how police can probe the incident since they are allegedly involved.
Earlier, the police had arrested four non-tribals who, according to the assaulted activists, were not among the crowd at Sohshrieh.
The stand of the police in making the main accused, Nidamon Chullet, as witness had also come under flak and the court had sought an explanation from the investigating officer in this regard.
Adding agony to the assaulted victims is that the government is yet to institute the judicial probe into the case as promised by the NPP-led MDA soon after the incident. Sources said the government may be waiting for the investigating officer to file charge sheet.
Graham, Lukas no longer absconders
The warrant of arrest and the proclamation as absconders by the East Jaintia Hills against the accused in the assault case, Graham Lyngdoh and Lucas Shylla, have been withdrawn as police told the High Court recently that they are cooperating in the investigation.
The review petition of Lyngdoh and Shylla was taken up recently by the court.
Earlier, two orders were passed by the district magistrate regarding warrant of arrest and declaring them as absconders.
However, the counsel for the parties had informed the court that since the petitioners had appeared before the investigating officer, the standing warrant of arrest as well as proclamation as absconders will automatically cease to operate.
However, Amita is not happy with these developments.
