Shillong, Nov 27: The opposition Congress on Tuesday accused the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government of trying to suppress people’s voices on the issue of illegal activities while cornering the government in Assembly over the prevailing law and order situation in view of the brutal attack on social activist, Agnes Kharshiing and her aide, Amita Sangma in East Jaiñtia Hills district on November 8.

Agnes, the president of Civil Society Women’s Organisation, and Amita were brutally assaulted by a group of people at Tuber Sohshrieh area in East Jaiñtia Hills district for taking the photographs of coal laden trucks transporting coal illegally.

The National Green Tribunal had banned coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya since April 17, 2014.

Joining the short duration discussion on the prevailing law and order situation and misuse of the government machinery thereby vitiating the atmosphere of governance, Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma who demanded a CBI inquiry into the murderous attack on the two women said, the women’s rights activist, Agnes Kharshiing, and Amita Sangma were fighting against illegal mining and transportation of coal.

Congress legislator Himalaya M. Shangpliang who initiated the discussion, brought to the notice of the House the assault of the two women, the assault of a coal-laden truck drivers from Bhutan by the bodyguard of Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla besides the arrest of the bodyguard of NPP legislator, Ponseng Marak, who fired gunshot at the legislator’s helper.

Mukul said that there was a narrative that the lawlessness was created by “people who are perceived to be connected with those political parties, and authorities are being pressurized to facilitate these (illegal) things.”

“There is prima facie case that the government of the day does not want people to raise this issue. The prevailing situation will oppress and suppress whistle blowers from raising issues which will bring to the notice of the government. Meghalaya cannot be known by this lawlessness which has the patronage of the government. Let this thing not happen in our state,” Mukul said.

The Leader of Opposition demanded that the attack on the two women activists should be handed over to the CBI, since the integrity of people posted in those areas (East Jaintia Hills district) is doubted.

He also asked the MDA government to insulate state police organisation from anybody who wants to misuse it.

In his reply, Home Minister James P.K. Sangma rejected the demand for CBI probe since the State government has already instituted an independent fact-finding inquiry which will go into the genesis of the ban on coal mining since 2014 and the roots that led to the attack.

James assured that there will be no interference into the independent inquiry.

Earlier, Congress legislator Zenith Sangma said that the government has failed to take action in arrested the culprit who killed former JYF president, Poipynhun Majaw on March 19 this year.