(Representational Image) (Representational Image)

A Prominent social activist of Meghalaya, Agnes Kharshiing, was seriously injured after being attacked by a mob in East Jaintia Hills district when she was reportedly tracking the route of coal-filled trucks Thursday afternoon.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma condemned the attack and tweeted, “We have issued necessary directions to the police and district administration to investigate the matter and arrest those behind the attack…” In 2014, the National Green Tribunal had banned rat-hole mining of coal in the state and Kharshiing has been vocal against illegal mining in Meghalaya since the NGT order.

SP Sylvester Nongtnger said, “It was a mob attack in which 25-30 people were involved. The incident happened at Tuber Sohshrieh area. Why exactly the mob attacked Agnes and her colleague is not known as of now. Investigations are on.”

The 58-year-old activist, president of the Civil Society Women’s Organisation, has been admitted to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences in Shillong with head injuries. According to a source close to Kharshiing, on Wednesday she lodged a complaint regarding movement of coal-laden trucks, leading to the seizure of at least five vehicles in Mawlai Mawiong. On Thursday, she and her colleague A Sangma decided to track the origin of the trucks and reached Tuber Sohshrieh on a hired vehicle. The mob let the driver go and assaulted the two.

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