SHILLONG: Two persons were picked up by police on Friday in connection to the brutal assault on well-known social activist Agnes Kharshiing. Kharshiing and her assistant Amita Sangma were grievously injured in an attack by a mob suspectedly connected to the coal mafia at Sohshrieh in East Jaintia Hills on Thursday."During early morning raids carried out at Kongong village and surrounding areas, two suspects - Elphon Dkhar (22) and Mekilson Siangshai (26) were picked up," a senior police officer said. He added that more arrests are likely to be made."A suo motu case was taken up by the police since the victims are not in a position to file FIRs as they are in a serious condition. A case was registered with Khliehriat police station under section 307/392 IPC, which is attempt to murder and robbery," the police official revealed.Kharshiing is currently on ventilator, according to a Northeastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) spokesperson, while the condition of her assistant is stable."Considering the seriousness of the case, it has been endorsed to a deputy superintendent of police rank officer for investigation," police said.Meanwhile, the murderous assault on the two activists has been roundly condemned by NGOs, human rights activists and political parties, besides the state government.A protest rally was held near the additional secretariat here on Friday, which was attended by several NGO members, activists, representatives of political parties and the people in general. Speakers at the rally called for exemplary punishment for the culprits involved in the assault on the two women activists.Kharshiing, a frontline activist who is fighting to safeguard the environment and was probing illegal coal mining in the state, and her companion were brutally assaulted by a mob of 30-40 people, including women, at Tuber Shohshrieh, East Jaintia Hills on Thursday afternoon.Kharshiiing has been consistently raising her voice against illegal mining and transportation of coal despite the NGT ban on unscientific mining in the state."We will follow up this case and leave no stone unturned to ensure these criminals and all the perpetrators of this crime don't go scot-free," leader of opposition and former chief minister Mukul Sangma of Congress said in a statement.Chief minister Conrad Sangma has also issued a statement condemning the incident and has directed police to take action against the culprits involved.

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