Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women to take up matter on attacks on activist

Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment (MACWE) will take up the matter of the murder attempt on frontline women's activist Agnes Kharshiing and her aide in a coal-belt area of the state.

"The Committee will inquire into the public attack on activist, Kharshiing and her aide, Amita Sangma. It will also seek clarity from police department on steps taken to uncover the perpetrators of such a heinous act that has left an unimaginable fear in minds of not just women," MACWE Chairperson, Ampareen Lyngdoh said.

Lyngdoh, who met the Kharshiing's siblings John Fillmore and Francis at the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), said the Committee will seek a status report of the investigation from the department.

Kharshiing, who is leading the powerful Civil Society Women's Organisation, along with her aide Amita Sangma and their driver E. Kurbah were brutally assaulted by a group of some 40 people on November 8 at Tuber Sohshrieh area after the activist lodged a complaint against illegal mining and transportation of coal in East Jaintia Hills district.

Of the 40 odd attackers, police have arrested only two from the Kongong area the next day of the dastardly attacks.

"Kharshiing has regained consciousness, kidney function has improved, lung function is showing signs of recovery, her vitals are stable, but her condition remains serious, and she continues to be on ventilator, in the Intensive Care Unit," K.K.Pandita of NEIGRIHMS said.

"Sangma is being managed in surgical ICU and is doing well. She is conscious, talking, eating and stable," he added.

--IANS

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