Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government has started a large tree plantation programme in New Shillong Township with the aim of making the city greener, cooler and less polluted as it develops into a major urban centre. Under this project, the state plans to plant around 6,000 trees along more than 25 kilometres of roads and about 2 kilometres of road medians. The government has set aside ₹2.5 crore for the project, which will be carried out over the next five years. Officials said the work began in 2025 and will continue in phases. One of the main stretches covered under the drive is the Ummir Junction to Mawkhanur road. Along this route, the target is to plant nearly 10,000 plants, of which 6,340 saplings have already been planted along a proposed road length of 16.56 kilometres. The remaining plant...

A special court in East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, has sentenced Sanjay Das to life imprisonment in a kidnapping-for-ransom case that has been under investigation for over a decade. The sentencing, presided over by Special Judge B. Khriam, also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Das. The original case was reported in 2012 at Khliehriat Police Station, with charges filed under Section 364(A) of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses kidnapping for ransom. Following a comprehensive investigation led by Inspector L. Lyngkhoi, the charge sheet was submitted on July 28, 2014, culminating in a verdict delivered recently, officially announced on January 15, 2026, by the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills. In addition to Das's conviction, the court adjudicated two other ser...

In a decisive push to make New Shillong a climate-resilient city, the Meghalaya government has launched an ambitious avenue plantation project aimed at transforming the upcoming township into one of the region’s greenest urban centres. Under the project, rolled out in 2025, the state plans to plant 6,000 trees across more than 25 km of roads and 2 km of medians, investing ₹2.5 crore over the next five years. Officials say the initiative is designed to ensure that rapid urban development does not come at the cost of ecology. The plantation drive will stretch along key arterial routes in New Shillong Township, including the Ummir Junction–Mawkhanur corridor, where 10,000 plants have been targeted, with 6,340 already planted across a proposed road length of 16.56 km. Unlike routine bea...

A special court in East Jaintia Hills has handed down a life sentence to a man convicted of kidnapping for ransom, concluding a case that has been under investigation and trial for over a decade. Sanjay Das was found guilty by Special Judge B Khriam and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000. The conviction stems from a kidnapping caseh registered at Khliehriat Police Station in 2012 under Section 364(A) of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with kidnapping for ransom. Sanjay Das was found guilty by Special Judge B Khriam and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000. The conviction stems from a kidnapping case registered at Khliehriat Police Station in 2012 under Section 364(A) of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with kidnapping for ransom....

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday inaugurated a Khasi traditional mural commemorating 20 years of Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun at Mawlai Mawiong Rim in Shillong.Speaking during the occasion, Sangma said, “The youth of the society is the most critical section and the different traditional youth organisations like the Seng Samlas are important not only for the future but for the present time of our state.”The Chief Minister also urged the youth to take advantage of the programmes and schemes of the state government, which are meant specifically for the youth of the state for their development, uplift and engagement while providing the necessary skills, platform and opportunities.“The message that I would like to give today not only to the youth of Mawlai but the entire state is...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on January 19, unveiled a traditional Khasi mural at Mawlai Mawiong Rim, marking two decades since the establishment of Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun, a youth organisation working to preserve indigenous culture and engage young people in constructive activities. The mural showcases elements of Khasi heritage, traditions and cultural identity, serving as a permanent tribute to the community's rich history. Taking to Twitter, Sangma congratulated the organisation on completing 20 years of service, expressing hope that it would continue working collectively to channel youth energy towards meaningful contributions to the state's development. Separately, the Chief Minister paid his respects to Rev Dr Robert R Cunville at his residence in Upper Lachumiere...

The Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Meghalaya, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Amazon on January 16, 2026, at the Directorate of Commerce and Industries, marking Amazon's first collaboration with a State Government department in Meghalaya. The MoU signing was followed by a workshop conducted by the Amazon team for over 100 MSMEs, introducing participants to Amazon's Karigar and Saheli initiatives. The Department encouraged local MSMEs to register on the Amazon platform to improve product visibility and access wider markets, and assured handholding support at the artisan level to enable smooth onboarding and business collaboration with Amazon. The event was attended by Amazon representative Sarita Tiwari; Director of Commerce and Industries F. Sutnga...

Meghalaya’s immediate task is clear: secure a place in the Santosh Trophy quarterfinals from a demanding Group B that features former champions and recent finalists. The state team left for Silapathar in Assam on January 19 ahead of their opening fixture in the 79th Senior Men’s National Football Championship. Meghalaya will begin its Group B campaign on January 22 against Odisha in the Upper Assam town. Qualification from the group is the first benchmark, with four teams set to advance to the quarterfinals. The squad was given a formal send-off on Friday at the MFA Ground in Polo, where Meghalaya Football Association president Hamletson Dohling and senior officials addressed the players and wished them well for the tournament. Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh continues as head coach, leading ...

An alleged case of illegal coal mining has claimed another life in Meghalaya, with a labourer from Assam dying after collapsing at a mine site in East Jaintia Hills district, police said on November 18. The deceased, identified as 48-year-old Mosaid Ali of Jamuna Moudanga in Assam’s Hojai district, was working at an illegal coal mine at Umthe village when he collapsed on January 14, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said. Ali was rushed to the Sutnga community health centre, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Following the incident, police sealed the mine and ordered an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death. The matter has drawn the attention of Justice (Retd) BP Katakey, appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to monitor illegal coal mining and transport...

Small traders from Assam faced fresh trouble today after they were stopped from selling vegetables in neighbouring Meghalaya and forced to return home. More than a hundred traders from the Mankachar area came back with unsold produce after being blocked at a weekly market in Meghalaya. The incident took place at the weekly Najeng market in Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills. According to local sources, Garo organisations and traders did not allow the Assamese traders to do business at the market and asked them to leave. The situation in parts of Meghalaya has remained tense following an incident about nine days ago in Rajabala, where a member of an organisation named Achik was allegedly assaulted by miscreants from a non-Garo community. The injured person later died,...