House Committee to take up attack on Woman RTI activist

A Meghalaya Assembly committee headed by Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh will take up the case of the attack on RTI activists Agnes Kharshiing and her aide Amita Sangma allegedly by mining mafias in East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, officials said Wednesday.

The attack on Kharshiing would be taken up during the meeting of the Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment which will be chaired by Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh and having members from other political parties as well, they said.

"The Committee will inquire into the attack of RTI activist Agnes Kharshiing and her aide Amita Sangma on November 8 and will seek clarification from the police on steps taken to uncover the perpetrators of such a heinous crime that has left an unimaginable fear in the minds of concerned citizens," Ampareen told PTI.

She said the committee will also seek a status report from the department concerned to ensure that justice is delivered to the victims who are languishing in hospital and fighting for their lives.

Agnes and her aide Amita were found unconscious by police in Sohshrieh are of East Jaintia Hills district on November 8 after a group of alleged mining mafias attacked them.

Two persons have been picked up and arrested till date and the police are yet to make any further arrest in this case.

Meanwhile, the committee will also be discussing other key issues concerning women welfare and womens rights in the state and concerned department heads were asked to appear before the committee, the officials added.