Meghalaya

Authorities on March 13 partially relaxed curfew in two violence-affected districts of Meghalaya to allow residents to purchase essential commodities, officials said. In West Garo Hills district, the curfew was relaxed for four hours from 9 am to 1 pm, while in neighbouring East Garo Hills the relaxation was extended from 8 am to 5 pm following an order issued by Deputy Commissioner RP Marak. The restrictions were imposed earlier this week after clashes broke out between tribal and non-tribal groups during the nomination process for elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). Two persons were killed in police firing during the unrest, while several properties were damaged in incidents of arson, vandalism and looting reported in parts of Tura. Following the viole...

The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on March 12 asserted that no infiltrator should be allowed to contest elections anywhere in the country, including the polls to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), stating that the institution was created to safeguard the rights of indigenous communities. State BJP president Rikman G Momin said the GHADC, constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, was meant to protect the land, rights and self-governance of indigenous tribes, and such safeguards must not be diluted. “Whether it is the tribal autonomous district council polls, the Assembly elections or the Parliamentary elections, no infiltrator should be permitted to enter any of these democratic processes anywhere in India,” Momin said in a statem...

The Meghalaya government on Thursday informed the high court that land required for expansion of the airport here was handed over to the Airports Authority of India last week. According to an Action Taken Report submitted before the Meghalaya High Court during a hearing on a PIL, the government handed over about 22 acres of land to the Transport Department on January 28, which subsequently transferred the land to the AAI on March 6. The report also stated that 10.30 acres of defence land required for the Shillong airport expansion were also handed over by the authorities concerned to the Transport Department on February 27, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding.

The Meghalaya government has assured citizens that there is no shortage of LPG in the state and that adequate supplies are available to meet the needs of the public. Addressing the media during a briefing, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Methodius Dkhar clarified that the current supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) remains stable across Meghalaya.The minister stated that the government is closely monitoring the distribution network and coordinating with LPG suppliers to ensure uninterrupted availability. He emphasized that rumours about a possible shortage have created unnecessary concern among residents. “People should not panic or rush to purchase additional cylinders,” Dkhar said, adding that the state has sufficient LPG stock to cater to the regular demand of...

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday visited several localities in Tura town where signs of recent unrest were still visible, even as residents in large numbers came out early in the morning to take part in cleaning drives and help restore normalcy. Visuals from different parts of Tura early in the morning showed people clearing debris and damaged materials from the streets, with community members joining hands to clean affected areas and reopen public spaces. In several locations across the town, debris left behind from the disturbances was seen being removed, while damaged buildings and structures bore visible scars of the trouble that had unfolded earlier. Despite the lingering signs of destruction, signs of normal life slowly returning were also evident as shops in parts of ...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday visited several localities in Tura town to assess the situation on the ground following recent incidents of unrest and damage to properties. During the visit, the Chief Minister interacted with residents, community leaders, and officials while reviewing the ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in different parts of the town. He also inspected areas where shops and structures were damaged and assured that the government would take necessary steps to support affected individuals and businesses. Meanwhile, large numbers of local residents voluntarily came out to participate in cleaning drives across various parts of Tura. Community members, youth groups, and local organizations were seen working together to clear debris, damaged mat...

Booking accommodation at Meghalaya Houses located in different parts of the country has now gone digital with the launch of a new online booking system aimed at simplifying reservations for citizens and government officials. The digital platform was launched on Thursday by General Administration Department Minister Sosthenes Sohtun in the presence of Rangsakona MLA Subir Marak, along with senior government officials and representatives of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Officials present during the launch included Sampath Kumar, Resident Commissioner of Meghalaya House New Delhi, Ramkumar S., Officer on Special Duty at Meghalaya House Vellore, as well as Additional Resident Commissioners of Meghalaya Houses in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, besides NIC Meghalaya officials and se...

A team of Meghalaya Police was attacked by a mob in Nuh district of Haryana while escorting an accused linked to multiple ATM robberies in East Khasi Hills, officials said. According to reports, the incident took place on the evening of March 10 when the police team was transporting Razul Khan, alleged to be the mastermind behind several ATM robbery cases in Meghalaya. While the accused was being escorted in a police vehicle, a group of people intercepted the convoy and attempted to free him. The situation escalated as the crowd surrounded the vehicle and allegedly tried to vandalise it in an effort to rescue the accused. A video of the incident that later circulated on social media shows a police personnel in civil dress firing blank shots in the air to disperse the crowd. Police said...

Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, has made a heartfelt appeal to citizens to maintain peace and refrain from violence amid recent tensions in the region. In a video message, the Chief Minister revealed that he had earlier received information that different groups and several individuals were heading towards his residence with the intention of burning his house and attacking his family. According to him, based on this information and in accordance with security protocol, he was advised to relocate to another place for safety. However, he stated that he chose not to leave his residence and declined the suggestion to move, saying he was not afraid. The Chief Minister said that his life ultimately rests in the hands of the Lord. He also reaffirmed his identity as an A·chik (G...

Tension gripped parts of West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya on Wednesday,  March 11, after a large crowd gathered amid rumours linked to the filing of nomination papers for the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections, leaving at least two persons reportedly injured, after allegedly clashing with security forces. According to reports, the unrest began when a massive crowd assembled outside members’ hostel in Tura and later marched towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office, raising slogans and delivering speeches. The gathering was reportedly triggered by rumours that Muslim candidates were arriving to file nomination papers for the GHADC polls, leading to heightened tensions in the locality. The situation escalated as the crowd moved through several loca...