Thursday, October 30

Meghalaya

Two drug peddlers sentenced to six years in Meghalaya; man gets seven years for rape
Meghalaya

Two drug peddlers sentenced to six years in Meghalaya; man gets seven years for rape

A special court in Meghalaya has sentenced two drug peddlers to six years of rigorous imprisonment and fined them ₹60,000 each for distributing narcotics to minors, officials said on Wednesday. The East Khasi Hills Special Judge (NDPS) court convicted Marvinson Jyrwa and Skhem Kupar Massar on October 27 under Sections 21(b) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act. The prosecution established that both were involved in supplying narcotic substances to minors. Public Prosecutor S.S. Das represented the state in the case. Calling the offence “deeply aggravating,” the court said the act of targeting children for drug distribution showed extreme moral depravity and warranted strict punishment. In a separate ve...
Meghalaya MP demands Centre’s intervention as Umngot river turns brown amid road project
Meghalaya

Meghalaya MP demands Centre’s intervention as Umngot river turns brown amid road project

Meghalaya MP Ricky J Syngkon has written to the Centre seeking immediate intervention over what he described as "severe environmental degradation" of the Umngot River in West Jaintia Hills, allegedly caused by construction activities under the Shillong-Tamabil road expansion project. The river popular for its pristine clear water at Dawki along the Indo-Bangladesh border has now turned brown, the MP highlighted. In his letter to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the MP said the Umngot, once celebrated as 'Asia's cleanest river', has turned muddy and lifeless due to large-scale dumping of soil and debris from ongoing hill-cutting work along the 71-km NH-40 expansion project. “The Umngot River, a symbol of Meghalaya’s pristine natural herita...
Meghalaya court frames charges against five in Raja Raghuvanshi honeymoon m*rder case
Meghalaya

Meghalaya court frames charges against five in Raja Raghuvanshi honeymoon m*rder case

A court in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district has framed charges against five accused in the murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was hacked to death in May allegedly by three hitmen in the state, where the Madhya Pradesh businessman came with his wife for their honeymoon. The five accused are Raghuvanshi’s wife Sonam, her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and the three hitmen - Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi - who had come from Madhya Pradesh to kill the businessman. All of them denied the allegations against them. On Tuesday, the court formally framed charges under Sections 103(1) (murder), 238 (a) (disappearance of evidence) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. All five accused were arrested within a week of the incident. On September 5, the police submit...
Former minister Zenith Sangma rejoins Congress in Meghalaya
Meghalaya

Former minister Zenith Sangma rejoins Congress in Meghalaya

The Congress in Meghalaya on Wednesday welcomed former minister Zenith Sangma back into its fold, a day after he resigned from the Trinamool Congress. In a letter to A Chellakumar, AICC secretary in-charge of Meghalaya, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said party president Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the proposal for Sangma’s rejoining of the Indian National Congress (INC). Sangma was formally welcomed into the party in Shillong by Meghalaya PCC president Vincent H Pala and other senior leaders. The announcement was made in Shillong by MPCC president Vincent H. Pala, following approval from the All India Congress Committee (AICC). Sangma’s return, the Congress said, is a direct rebuttal to the ruling NPP’s claim that the party is “finished” in Meghalaya. Inst...
Meghalaya TMC vice-president Zenith Sangma quits party
Meghalaya

Meghalaya TMC vice-president Zenith Sangma quits party

Meghalaya Trinamool Congress (TMC) vice-president and former minister Zenith Sangma on Tuesday resigned from the party and its primary membership with immediate effect. In a letter addressed to the party leadership, Zenith said the decision came "after much thought and reflection," describing it as a difficult but necessary step to pursue a new path that aligns with his personal vision and the aspirations of the people he serves. "This has not been an easy decision. My journey with the AITC has been filled with invaluable experiences, lessons, and memories. I will always remain grateful for the trust, support, and friendship I received from colleagues, workers, and well-wishers throughout my tenure with the party," the younger brother of senior TMC leader and Opposition Leader Mukul Sangm...
Zenith Sangma quits Meghalaya TMC, signals return to Congress fold
Meghalaya

Zenith Sangma quits Meghalaya TMC, signals return to Congress fold

In a major political shake-up ahead of the autonomous district council elections next year, Meghalaya Trinamool Congress (TMC) vice-president and former minister Zenith Sangma resigned from the party on Tuesday, ending his three-year association with the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). In a letter addressed to the party leadership, Sangma described his resignation as a “difficult but necessary” step, taken after deep reflection on his political journey and the aspirations of the people he represents. “This has not been an easy decision. My journey with the AITC has been filled with invaluable experiences and lessons. I will always remain grateful for the trust and support I received from colleagues and well-wishers throughout my tenure,” he wrote. The younger brother of Opposit...
Five suspected Bangladeshi nationals detained in Shillong
Meghalaya

Five suspected Bangladeshi nationals detained in Shillong

Meghalaya Police on Sunday detained five persons suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals during a routine check at the ISBT junction in Mawlai Mawiong, Shillong. The operation was carried out by Mawlai Police in coordination with the Special Operations Team (SOT). The detainees have been identified as Md. Fajid Bilul (47), Lelepa Begum (40), Musamat Jahana Khatoon (35), Md. Alamgir Mia (25), and Md. Imammul Hassan (18). The group, which included two women, was reportedly travelling from Srinagar and is believed to have been attempting to cross into Bangladesh through Meghalaya. Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted a tourist taxi bearing registration number ML05 S 1358 at the junction. Upon questioning, the passengers failed to produce valid passports or travel documents. Eas...
Five Bangladeshi nationals arrested in Shillong following intelligence-based operation
Meghalaya

Five Bangladeshi nationals arrested in Shillong following intelligence-based operation

Following an intelligence  input that suspected Bangladeshi nationals were coming to Shillong from Srinagar and  heading towards Bangladesh in a tourist vehicle,   Special Cell and SOT conducted  a naka at ISBT junction, Mawlai Mawiong.  At about 8:42 pm, one tourist vehicle bearing R/No. ML. 055 1358 with 5 (five) occupants inside were intercepted and   detained. Upon preliminary inquiry, the said occupants failed to produce valid documents and admitted to being Bangladeshis. The 5 (five) persons  namely- Shri Md. Alamgir Mia (25 yrs), R/o Habiganj (Bangladesh),  Smt. Lelepa Begum (40 yrs), R/o Silit Muli Bazar (Bangladesh),  Smt. Musanat jahana Khatoon (35yrs),  R/o Sonam Ganj (Bangladesh),  Shri Md. Imammul Hassan (18 ...
Meghalaya takes charge of the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 with a commanding first-inning lead over Sikkim
Meghalaya, Sports

Meghalaya takes charge of the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 with a commanding first-inning lead over Sikkim

Meghalaya secured a vital first-innings lead on the third day at the MCA Ground, giving them the advantage in their Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Plate Group match against Sikkim. Meghalaya outscored Sikkim by 59 runs to 405 all out thanks to a patient batting display. Despite wickets falling often at the other end, their middle-order batter's double century served as the innings' fulcrum. Sikkim led by 37 runs after starting their second innings carefully and reaching 96 for 2 by stumps. Unless Meghalaya's bowlers can score early and often on the last morning, the match looks to be destined for a draw with one day left. Earlier, Meghalaya's overnight centurion was out for 102 off the second ball of the day, giving them a setback at the beginning of play. His partner came right after, and Krant...
Oil India to fund construction of 47 girls’ toilets in Ri Bhoi schools to boost sanitation and attendance
Meghalaya

Oil India to fund construction of 47 girls’ toilets in Ri Bhoi schools to boost sanitation and attendance

In a move aimed at improving sanitation facilities and promoting education for girls, Oil India Limited (OIL) has announced that it will fund the construction of 47 toilets for girl students in schools across Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. The initiative is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and is expected to address the shortage of dedicated toilets for female students in several government schools. According to officials, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on October 24 between representatives of Oil India Limited and Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal. As per the agreement, the state-run energy major will provide around ₹72 lakh to finance the construction of the toilets in selected schools that currently lack proper sanitation...