SHILLONG, DEC 4: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today assured to examine the demand for a CBI probe into the brutal attack and murder attempt on women rights’ activist Agnes Kharshiing and her aide Amita Sangma in coal-belt area of East Jaintia Hills District.
Sangma’s assurance came after meeting the immediate family members of the two victims who have strongly demanded for a time bound investigation by the central bureau of investigation (CBI) into the incident here on Tuesday.
A joint memorandum signed by 19 family members was also handed over to the chief minsiter by Agnes’s brother John F Kharshiing in the presence of Amita Sangma and relatives.
The state government had earlier announced its decision to set up a fact finding independent inquiry into the murderous attack on the two women activists and to go back to the ‘genesis’ which might have been the cause that led to such incident.
“Since the family has insisted, asked and requested for a CBI probe, we will examine the matter. Wether it will be a judicial inquiry or an independent agency inquiry, we will discuss again and take a call,” Sangma told reporters after the meeting.
However stating that the government is for a judicial inquiry, the chief minister said, “I think a judicial inquiry will do more justice to the whole inquiry process as there are many legal aspect attached to it.”
“…we also wanted something that will not be connected with us at all since the scope of inquiry is quite big and it goes into the genesis of how this whole thing started,” he added.
The political department in consultation with the law department was also asked to work out the modalities including the term and references of the independent inquiry.
Asked, Sangma said that two-three meetings have already been held to discuss on this issue and the meeting held today was a follow up adding “we are looking at it in a very detail manner and I hope in the next couple of meetings we will be able to finalise.”
In the memorandum, the immediate family members appealed to the government to consider instituting a time-bound investigation by the CBI to ensure arrest of all miscreants including the mastermind of the dastardly attack on the two women.
Agnes and Amita were critically injured when they were attacked by a group of suspected coal mafias at Tuber Sohshrieh village in East Jaintia Hills District, just after taking pictures of coal laden trucks on November 8.
Also demanding quick arrest of those indulging in unlawful activities in open connivance with administration authorities, the family members said, “Society has lost faith in fair investigation or prosecution of the accused persons if conducted by the state agencies.”
They alleged that the failure of administration to address the issues of mining has resulted in the creation of criminal acts that are barbaric to society such as attacks on women.
Elaborating more on the stand of the family members, John F Kharshiing pointed out that investigation into the murder of RTI activist from Jaintia Hills Poipynhun Majaw in the same district is yet to make any headway.
Similarly, John said (L) Pearlystone Joshua Marbaniang, Sub-Inspector, and Incharge of Partharkhma Police Outpost in Ri-Bhoi District, was found murdered after he detained 32 coal laden trucks illegally transporting coal, on January 24, 2015.
“Shockingly this case was registered as a suicide case instead of murder by the state agencies,” he said while adding that in July 2015, the son of Dolloi Elaka Nongkhlieh, East Jaintia Hills District, was murdered and till date justice is yet to be delivered.
Meanwhile, the family members also expressed their thankfulness to the state government for extending all the assistance and intervention in the treatment of Agnes and Amita.
By Our Reporter
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