Forum seeks PM intervention into brutal attack & killing of social activists

SHILLONG, NOV 12: North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for instituting an independent inquiry into the recent brutal attack on social activist Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma in coal-rich East Jaintia Hills District.

It has also demanded investigation into the brutal murder of Jaintia Hills-based social activist Poipynhun Majaw on March earlier this year and other cases.

In a petition submitted to Modi on Monday, NEDF convenor U Nobokishore said, “We urge you to initiate an independent investigation against each of the killings especially the killing of Majaw and the attack on Agnes and Amita to arrest the perpetrators involved.”

Nobokishore also urged the prime minister to direct the state government to provide the details of the trucks operating in the area where the attack had occurred and the list of the truck owners who are taking part in the transportation of coal from East Jaintia Hills District.

He said Anges and Amita were brutally attacked by those behind the illegal coal mining and transportation for tracking the route of illegal coal trucks and taking photographs at Tuber Sohshrieh village.

“…we received some credible information from the ground that the truck drivers and their associates were informed about the presence of Agnes and Amita and there is a high suspicion that some key leaders are behind the scene to let the attack take place by systematically mobilizing the drivers and their associates. It needs to be recalled that Agnes and Amita met few officials in the EJH before the attack took place,” the convener stated.

Meanwhile, the Forum has also suggested that the investigation into the killings should be taken up by the team of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU). “We urge you to communicate with the team of NHRC’s SIU to visit East Jaintia Hills and Shillong to investigate the aforementioned killings,” he said.

According to Nobokishore, till date no justice is delivered to Majaw, who was murdered for his continuous engagement with RTI works in the same district, and his family despite promises were made by the police of arresting the criminals within six months.

Referring to the petrol bomb attack on the residence of an editor of a local English daily, he said not a single person involved in the attack could be seen arrested till date besides pointing out to the killing of Balsan Marak, Witson M Sangma and Fullmoon Dhar.

“Learning from all the incidents we observe that series of attacked and killing were well organized with proper planning as the nature of crime reveals that not a small group of people or gangs alone can commit such crime,” he added.

The Forum further urged the PM to also communicate with UN Special Rapporteur on the violence against women and its consequences and UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights defenders at the earliest.

By Our Reporter