Meghalaya

Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong has informed that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a “very positive” response to the state’s proposal to extend Inner‑Line Permit (ILP)‑type safeguards to Meghalaya through the recently enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. During a recent meeting with the Union Home Minister in New Delhi, Tynsong said the state delegation led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma had raised several issues, including the ILP framework and the new 2025 Act. He explained: “We discussed how the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 can be combined with an ILP‑style provision, effectively making it an ILP for Meghalaya. The discussion with the Union Home Minister on this was very positive. Likely by next week, the Union Home Secretary ...

Meghalaya Cricket Association’s junior women’s selection committee, on December 29, announced a 15-member squad along with five standbys for the BCCI Under-19 Girls’ One Day Trophy 2025–26 (plate group), setting the stage for the state’s national campaign. The team will open its tournament on January 2 against Arunachal Pradesh, with all plate group matches scheduled to be played in Guwahati. Meghalaya have been drawn alongside Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim. Laviola Mary L Mawlong has been appointed captain, while Onasa M Sangma will serve as vice-captain. The side will be coached by Laxman Chettri as Meghalaya look to make a strong impression in the national competition organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The squad selection, announced by the Meghalaya Cric...

To manage the expected New Year’s Eve rush, the East Khasi Hills Police have announced major traffic restrictions in Shillong. Police Bazaar will be declared a “No Entry” zone for all vehicles from 5:00 pm on December 31 according to SP Vivek Syiem, IPS. Traffic from Kachari Point will be diverted toward Raj Bhawan, while vehicles from Umsohsun Junction (GS Road) will be rerouted via Boucher Road and Motphran. Parking will be allowed on one side only from Centenary Junction to Rap’s Mansion and Pinewood Junction to Botanical Garden. Emergency vehicles will be exempted. The police have urged the public to plan travel in advance and cooperate with traffic personnel to ensure a safe New Year celebration.

The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his capacity as Chairman of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), to take the lead in demanding the extension of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime to the entire Northeast, including Assam and Meghalaya, citing rising security, demographic, and sovereignty concerns. In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, HITO expressed strong concern over recent remarks made by Bangladesh’s interim head Muhammad Yunus during a visit to China, where he reportedly referred to Bangladesh as the “only guardian of the ocean” for India’s landlocked Northeastern states and repeatedly mentioned the strategic Siliguri Corridor, often called the “Chicken Neck.” The organisation described ...

Pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) supporters in Meghalaya on Monday demanded the enactment of a national anti-racism law and fast-track justice following the brutal murder of a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, calling the incident part of a recurring pattern of racial violence against people from the North East. In a statement, the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) expressed deep condolences and anger over the death of Anjel Chakma, who succumbed to his injuries on December 26 following an assault in Dehradun. CoMSO leader Roykupar Synrem said such crimes were not isolated and reflected systemic prejudice faced by people from the region in cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi and Dehradun. Synrem said such crimes were not isolated incidents but reflected deep-rooted pre...

Meghalaya BJP has warned about serious security challenges to Northeast states in the wake of the increasing influence of radicalised Islamist groups in Bangladesh could pose serious security challenges for the northeastern region.State BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said statements made by some sections from Bangladesh about separating the Northeast is “dangerous” and calls for close attention. “Previous governments in Bangladesh had maintained friendly relations with India, to the extent of dismantling the camps of militant groups from the northeastern region. But Bangladesh today is different,” Kharkrang said.“Tackling a radicalised environment in the neighbouring country is fraught with danger even as there are no immediate indications of violence in the Northeast. Therefore, bol...

The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has advocated for the establishment of a national anti-racism law and expedited justice following the murder of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura. CoMSO emphasizes that this incident exemplifies a troubling trend of racial violence targeting individuals from Northeast India in various cities across the country. In their statement, they conveyed profound condolences and outrage, asserting that such crimes reflect a broader systemic prejudice encountered by Northeastern citizens, particularly in urban areas like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Dehradun. CoMSO is urging the central government to mandate state administrations to implement a dedicated 24/7 'North East Helpline' and to set up specialized police units in major ...

The district administration in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills has banned people from cutting wood at a disputed site after tensions increased between two neighbouring villages in the area. The move has been taken as a preventive step to stop the situation from turning worse and to make sure that there is no disturbance of peace. According to officials, residents of Nonjrong village and Kut village have been involved in cutting firewood from a patch of land that is claimed by both sides. This activity is said to have created friction, as both communities believe they have rights over the area. With tempers rising and the risk of arguments or confrontation increasing, the district administration decided to step in. District Magistrate Rosetta Mary Kurbah issued an order prohibiting the cuttin...

Megalaya MLA Ollan Sing Suin has said that the proposed Rs 25-crore Rain Museum will significantly boost tourism in Mawsynram, the world’s wettest village, by offering visitors a unique immersive experience centred on rain and climate science. According to him, the museum will feature advanced rain simulations, interactive climate exhibits and educational displays highlighting the ecological importance of rainfall and Meghalaya’s distinctive weather patterns. The project is envisioned as a landmark attraction that blends science, tourism and environmental awareness. Suin said the Rain Museum is also expected to give a major push to eco-tourism in the region by encouraging sustainable travel practices and strengthening the local economy.  “The initiative will support homestays and ...

Security agencies in Meghalaya on Sunday dismissed claims by the Bangladesh Police that the killers of Inquilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi had entered the state. The claims are unfounded and misleading, BSF chief in Meghalaya, Inspector General O P Opadhyay said. A top Dhaka Metropolitan Police officer earlier in the day said that two primary suspects in the Hadi murder case have crossed into Meghalaya via the Haluaghat border “with the help of local associates”. Earlier in the day, a senior officer of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police had alleged that two prime suspects in the murder had entered Meghalaya through the Haluaghat border with the help of local associates. The statement triggered heightened scrutiny along the international boundary. A senior Meghalaya police official also...