Shillong, Nov 26: The Meghalaya government has decided to institute an independent inquiry into the brutal attack with attempts to kill social activist, Agnes Kharshiing and her friend, Amita Sangma.
This was approved by the State Cabinet 19 days after the incident which took place at Sohshrieh in East Jaiñtia Hills district on November 8.

Meghalaya Home Minister, James P.K. Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting that the terms of reference of the inquiry including the person who will head the inquiry and duration to complete the probe was being worked out by the political department and law department.

“The government is concerned and serious about the incident and wanted to have an independent fact finding inquiry which will look into all aspects – mining and circumstances that led to the attack of the two women. We want to have a comprehensive inquiry which will look in totality,” Sangma said.

On the alleged involvement of Nidamon Chullet, one of the NPP leaders in east Jaiñtia Hills district, the Home Minister said that before taking action, the party has to prove beyond reasonable doubt the involvement of anybody.

Sangma said that police will take action against people involved in such attack, and an independent inquiry will go way back to the genesis of the ban on coal mining since 2014 and the roots that led to the incident (on November 8) and it does not matter to which party he/she belongs to.

Meanwhile an Assembly Committee on Empowerment of Women will present a preliminary report on the brutal attack on Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma in the House on Tuesday, and also demanded an independent inquiry besides compensation to be disbursed to the victims immediately.

The Assembly Committee held a meeting on Tuesday and summoned officials of the district administration of East Jaiñtia Hills district.

Chairperson of the Assembly committee and Congress MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh said that a preliminary report will be tabled in the House on Tuesday to apprise lapses on the part of the district administration before the Speaker, Donkupar Roy and other members of House in connection with the incident and seek their support.

During the meeting, the Committee pulled up officials of East Jaiñtia Hills district and questioned them the slow approach being adopted and failure to arrest the main accused though the attack had happened at Sohshrieh in East Jaiñtia Hills district on November 8.

“The committee is very disturbed with the way the case is being investigated and slow in nabbing the culprits. So far, only six persons were arrested, but the main accused is still at large. An inquiry by an additional deputy commissioner, S.S. Syiemlieh is also taking time till November 30,” Lyngdoh said.

Deputy Commissioner, F.M. Dopth and Superintendent of Police, S. Nongtnger appeared before the committee, but Syiemlieh abstained, compelling the committee to seek explanation from him.

“The district administration is not serious at all going by the way it handles things. The district administration cited shortage of manpower to make a man-hunt. We strongly objected this casual approach adopted by the district administration on such a serious crime. This is a matter of concern as it is a case of life threatening,” Lyngdoh said.

The committee also expressed shock and slammed the district administration for extending financial assistance to the victims Rs 12,700 each, that too, from the disaster management corpus fund.

The committee demanded that a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each should be given to the victims within seven days as directed by the Meghalaya high court in its earlier order.

Member of the committee, H.M. Shangpliang said there were many missing links with the way the investigation is going on, and a police constable who was on duty at Lad Rymbai police outpost has also gone on leave.

He said that the SP was saying that the main accused is not traceable, but no look out notice was issued if the main accused has absconded.

Shangpliang said, the committee also slammed the additional deputy commissioner who has served notice to Agnes asking her to appear before him, despite she being unable to speak due to serious injuries.

“Agnes and Amita were given tea when they went to Lad Rymbai police station on that day (November 8),” Shangpliang said.

Agnes and Amita were attacked allegedly by coal mafias at Sohshrieh after they returned from Lad Rymbai police outpost requesting police to accompany to places where illegal mining and transportation of coal was going on.

Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem who is also the member of the committee said that the district administration also admitted that there illegal transportation of coal.

“It was a pre planned attack and the district administration is not taking it seriously. If there is no seriousness, such incident may occur in future in other places of the state too,” Syiem said.

Another member, Lazarus Sangma said police should use latest technology in tracing the culprits.

Later, the Assembly committee held a meeting with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women and sought to know action that the commission has taken in connection with the brutal attack on the two women.