Meghalaya

Meghalaya will begin their final round campaign in the 79th Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 against Odisha on January 22, looking to set the tone early in what is being seen as one of the toughest groups of the tournament. The Group B match will kick off at 2 pm at the Silapathar Football Stadium in Assam and will be livestreamed on FIFA+. The Group B match will kick off at 2 pm at the Silapathar Football Stadium in Assam and will be livestreamed on FIFA+. Group B has been widely labelled a group of death, featuring four former champions and one past runner-up. Punjab, Kerala, Services and Railways together account for 25 Santosh Trophy titles and 28 runner-up finishes. Meghalaya have reached the final once, while Odisha remain the only team i...

A total of 30 police officers and personnel were conferred with the Meghalaya Governor's Police Medal and the Meghalaya Chief Minister's Police Medal in recognition of their exemplary service, dedication, and professionalism during the 54th Meghalaya Day celebrations. Out of the 30 police officers and personnel, 15 each received the Governor's Police Medal and the Chief Minister's Police Medal respectively. Among the recipients of the Chief Minister's Police Medal was Herbert P. Kharkongor, the lead investigator in the high-profile Raja Raghuvanshi murder case. Kharkongor, who served as SP City, East Khasi Hills during the investigation, has now been appointed as the full-fledged SP of West Khasi Hills District. Governor's Police Medal Recipients 2026. Among the recipients of the Chief...

The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) on Wednesday relocated hawkers operating in the Civil Hospital area to the Public Works Department (PWD) premises at Barik, triggering mixed reactions among them. While a section of them was worried that the relocation could affect their business initially, many others said they were relieved that they had been provided with a designated space to continue business and not denied the opportunity to vend altogether. A woman hawker said the new location offers protection from rain and strong winds. She was hopeful that customers would continue to visit their stalls. According to her, although the SMB has not officially communicated vending hours, the vendors’ association has informed them that they may operate until 11 pm. Another hawker welcomed the dec...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has vocally condemned the attack on Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik in Odisha, where he was allegedly assaulted by members of the Bajrang Dal on January 4. The incident occurred during a prayer meeting in Parjang village, where the pastor was subjected to public humiliation and forced to consume cow dung. Sangma highlighted that this act represents a serious breach of the constitutional rights afforded to all citizens of India. He emphasized that such violence against Christians undermines the rich diversity and religious harmony of the country. The Chief Minister called for a thorough investigation by the relevant authorities and demanded that swift and decisive action be taken against those involved in this reprehensible act.

UDP leader and Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem has raised alarms regarding recurrent tensions in Maikhuli village along the Meghalaya-Assam border, despite its inclusion in the initial phase of the boundary resolution process. Recent incidents have been triggered by the construction of electric poles by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), which sparked a confrontation when residents of the adjacent Bakrapara village in Assam opposed the installation. This clash escalated to the point where the headman of Maikhuli was reportedly assaulted by unidentified individuals claiming ownership of the land. Syiem, a member of the regional committee tasked with addressing interstate boundary issues, noted that these ongoing conflicts hinder developmental initiatives and emphasize the criti...

A one-day training programme on “Monitoring of Threatened Mammalian Fauna of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)” was successfully conducted on January 20 at the DC Office, Baghmara, Meghalaya. The programme was organized by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata in collaboration with Meghalaya Forest Department, with active participation law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, and local community representatives. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of frontline staff, field officers, students, and community stakeholders in scientific monitoring and conservation of threatened mammalian fauna, with a focus on addressing emerging conservation challenges including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change impacts.The training programme emphasized...

The 54th Meghalaya Statehood Day celebration in Baghmara honored (L) Captain Williamson A Sangma, the founding father of the State. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring all parts of the state are included in progress. He highlighted the divine blessings that led to the establishment of Meghalaya, urging unity amongst its people despite current social media divisions that foster negativity and hatred. The Chief Minister received a letter from the Prime Minister, who praised the contributions of the late P.A. Sangma and acknowledged the progress made in the last five decades. He conveyed a vision for continued cooperation and responsibility among the citizens. Speaking on development, the Chief Minister noted impressive growth rates over ...

West Jaintia Hills police have apprehended 18 Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian touts during a coordinated operation in the early hours of January 20, officials confirmed. The operation, which began around 3:00 am, saw the West Jaintia Hills Police Special Team working alongside the Headman and Village Defence Party (VDP) of Demthring village to intercept multiple vehicles transporting undocumented foreign nationals near the India-Bangladesh border. Acting on intelligence that Bangladeshi nationals were being ferried from Jowai towards Dawki, authorities first detained four individuals travelling in a vehicle bearing registration number ML-04D/7339, driven by Vishal Dkhar of Dawki. The vehicle was intercepted near Sanmala Guest House in Amlarem following a pursuit from Lad Demthring...

Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma has reconstituted of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC). The newly reconstituted committee headed by the Speaker will comprise of four members – Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister i/c Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Mukul Sangma, Leader of Opposition, Charles Pyngrope, Opposition Chief Whip and UDP MLA Paul Lyngdoh. The notification issued by Malthus S Sangma, Secretary of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, states that the Speaker is pleased to reconstitute the BAC to advise on the legislative business and proceedings of the Assembly.