Meghalaya

A major fire broke out at the SOS Children’s Village near Lad Umsaw in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district late Tuesday night, destroying nearly 80 per cent of a wooden residential building within the complex. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries, as the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) responded swiftly, successfully containing the flames before they could spread to adjacent structures. According to Ri Bhoi Police, the blaze is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in the 25-year-old wooden building. “There is no evidence of foul play at this stage,” police officials stated, following a preliminary investigation. The building served as one of several homes for children housed at the SOS Village, an organisation dedicated to providing family-based car...

A tribal rights organization in Meghalaya has demanded the appointment of a member from the Garo community as the next Chairman of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC), warning of statewide protests if their demand is not met. The A’chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) petitioned Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, insisting that the appointment follow the established rotational principle between the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities. "We strongly demand that the next Chairman be appointed from the Garo category," the petition stated, stressing that ignoring this request would lead to protests and possible legal action. The Garo community cites the Meghalaya State Reservation Policy of 1972, which ensures 40% reservation for both the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communit...

Khambor Batei Kharjana from Meghalaya has secured a spot among the top 42 finalists at the Animation Film Makers Competition (AFC) of WAVES 2025 for his project "Lapalang: A Khasi Folklore Reimagined." The finalists were selected through a rigorous nine-month evaluation process led by Dancing Atoms in collaboration with the WAVES team. The participants' work was assessed by an esteemed panel of national and international jury members.

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), War Jaintia Circle, has issued a stern warning to local residents allegedly acting as middlemen — commonly referred to as dalals — to facilitate the illegal entry of Bangladeshi immigrants into Meghalaya. KSU War Jaintia Circle president, Platini Mukhim, voiced serious concern over reports that some locals are assisting Bangladeshis in crossing into the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. In response, the union convened an emergency meeting to address the issue and resolved to take strict action against anyone found involved. “These individuals are helping illegal immigrants purely for monetary gain, without considering the long-term consequences on the indigenous population,” Mukhim said. He emphasised that such actions could drastically alter the demographic comp...

Meghalaya BJP has expressed its profound grief at the passing of Pope Francis and stands in solidarity with the Global Church, as well as with people of the state, a vast majority of whom are Christian, in this moment of grief. Remembering Pope Francis as the first man from South America, and only the second man born outside Europe, to take papal office, the party noted his compassionate views on many subjects that are focal points of the world today. The late Pope's efforts to ensure women empowerment, wherein he made women full members of dicasteries, strikes a chord amongst every individual. His total commitment towards the cause of climate change, his unwavering dedication towards the welfare of the world and all living beings, act as an inspiration for all of us. His universal ...

Meghalaya kicked off their campaign in style at the 1st North East Little Master’s Trophy 2025, defeating Mizoram by 47 runs in the tournament opener held in Guwahati. The U-14 boys’ cricket tournament, organized by the Assam Cricket Association, aims to promote the sport across the northeastern states. Meghalaya, placed in Group A alongside Assam, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, posted a total of 145 runs in 34.3 overs after being put in to bat first. Mizoram contributed heavily to their opponents’ score, bowling 44 wides. Key performances with the bat came from Sahil R Marak (29 off 37) and Jagrit Thakur (20 off 28). Mizoram bowlers Isac Zomuanpuia (5/23) and K Lalramthara (4/35) impressed despite the extras. Mizoram’s chase faltered early, with five of their top seven dismissed f...

The Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress (MPMC) has urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to impose a statewide ban on pornographic websites, citing a disturbing rise in sexual crimes against children. In a letter to the Chief Minister, MPMC president Joplyn Scott Shylla expressed concern over what she called a growing trend of sexual violence involving minors. She pointed to the widespread availability of online pornographic content as a potential contributing factor. The women’s wing of the Congress party has proposed a series of steps alongside the ban. These include stronger cyber surveillance, tighter internet content regulation, coordination with internet service providers, and enhanced law enforcement efforts. They also advocated for digital safety awareness campaigns in schools ...