SHILLONG: The Youth Forum on Human Rights on Sunday condemned the attack on Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma by coal mafia in East Jaintia Hills.
In a statement issued here, the organisation said continuous brutal attack on human rights and environment defenders in order to suppress their voices, is not acceptable.
On January 2, Manipur based NGO’s FCRA registration was suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs under a suspicion of opposing the uranium mining at the South West Khasi Hills, coal mining and limestone mining in East Jaintia Hills, the statement said.
The organisation has demanded the government to form a special investigation team to probe the matter and arrest the culprits.
“Uphold the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 1999 and respect the rights of the Human Rights Defender and Environment Defenders”, it said.
The forum further added that the government should deploy strict monitoring team to stop coal mining as per the direction of the NGT.
The organisation also wanted to know who is protecting the coal mafia to operate and mine coal in the East Jaintia Hills despite NGT (National Grren Tribune) order.
MDC wishes speedy recovery
Meanwhile, Nongshken MDC Grace Kharpuri condemned the assault of CSWO president Kharshiing and urged the authorities to arrest the culprits.
Kharpuri also wished Kharshiing a speedy recovery, who was inflicted with serious injuries and is still in the ICU at NEIGRIHMS.
