Police have arrested two persons in connection with the attack on two Meghalaya activists in East Jaiñtia Hills district on Thursday. The condition of social activist Agnes Kharshiing is still critical after an alleged attack by a group of nearly 30 persons at Sohshrieh village.

Kharshiing and her friend, Anita Sangma, had stopped there to take pictures of coal-laden trucks after reports of illegal mining in the coal-rich area.

Sangma is also in hospital but her condition has improved.

A protest rally will be organised here on Saturday at 11am to condemn the attack.

“Kharshiing’s condition is still critical and she is on ventilator. Sangma is stable,” NEIGRIHMS spokesperson

Dr K.K. Pandita said.

East Jaiñtia Hills district superintendent of police S. Nongtnger said two persons, Elphon Dkhar and Meklison Siangshai from Kongong village, suspected to have been involved in the attack, were picked up on Friday.

“Two suspects have been picked up and they are under police custody for five days,” he said.

A case on attempt to murder and robbery was registered at Khliehriat police station.

Nongtnger said deputy superintendent of police G. Marshillong will investigate the incident.

He said the statement of a local driver in whose taxi Kharshiing and Sangma had travelled was also recorded. The driver was spared by the attackers.

Urban affairs minister Hamletson Dohling visited the hospital and met their family members at the hospital.

Kharsiing’s well-wishers, relatives and supporters thronged the hospital.

Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma condemned the incident and asked the authorities to waste no time in ensuring the arrest of the attackers.

Former Meghalaya home minister Robert G. Lyngdoh condemned the attack and said the incident has showed the “seriousness of illegal coal mining”.

“The problem is multi-dimensional and it involves multiple stakeholders. A proper time-bound inquiry has to be constituted and the culprits should be brought to book,” Lyngdoh said, condemning the attack.

The Meghalaya State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners and Dealers Forum also condemned the attack.

“Right from the commencement of the ban imposed since 2014, the forum had been impressing upon all members to refrain from violating the direction of the NGT,” Balios Swer, the secretary in-charge, media cell of the forum, said.

The Thma u Rangli Juki (TUR) said, “The cowardly attack on one of the leading anti-corruption human rights activist of the state clearly points to the impunity with which mafias are operating in the state under political patronage.”

TUR said the incident has happened in a calculated manner in the same district where RTI activist, Poipynhun Majaw was also brutally murdered in March this year, but yet to see justice.

The Centre for Research and Advocacy from Manipur also condemned the attack.

The National Green Tribunal on April 17, 2014, imposed the ban on coal mining in Meghalaya. At different intervals, transportation of already assessed extracted coal was allowed by the NGT as well as by the Supreme Court.

But illegal mining and transportation was reported even during the ban period.