Meghalaya

The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a banned outfit in Meghalaya, has strongly criticised the state government following the arrest of six youths linked to the seizure of an improvised explosive device (IED) at Umsning market in Ri-Bhoi district on October 12. In a statement, the HNLC described the arrests as acts of “state-sponsored harassment” and claimed that the youths had no connection with the organisation. The group accused authorities of using the arrests to create fear, justify government inaction on pressing issues, and suppress the Hynniewtrep community. The outfit also expressed concern over the re-arrest of recently released individuals, calling it a sign of political opportunism and a lack of transparency. “Those who speak of peace are creating war,” the H...

The stand-off over paddy harvesting at Lapangap village along the Assam-Meghalaya border in West Jaintia Hills district has been resolved, with farmers resuming work on Tuesday under tight security, officials said. The breakthrough was achieved under the joint initiative of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), and traditional leaders, who intervened to defuse tensions between the two communities, they said. In a display of solidarity, villagers from Lakaroi, predominantly Karbis, came forward on Tuesday to assist the Pnar villagers of Lapangap in harvesting paddy, which had been stalled since violence erupted on October 9. Tensions had escalated on October 9 when residents of Tapat in Assam’s Karbi An...

The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, through the Governor of Meghalaya, for urgent intervention over alleged human rights violations linked to the ongoing Assam-Meghalaya border dispute. In its memorandum, HITO accused the Assam government of repeated encroachments into areas under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, resulting in “daily hardships, destruction of property, and threats to livelihood” for residents of border villages. The organisation cited past incidents, including the 2009 Langpih massacre and the 2022 Mukroh firing, as evidence of what it termed “state-sponsored aggression,” claiming Assam has ignored historical boundaries and regional agreements. Most recently, HITO alleged that Assam aut...

The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) Laban Circle has strongly opposed the order issued by East Khasi Hills District Magistrate RM Kurbah on October 15 permitting shops at Mahadev Khola to reopen. In a letter addressed to Kurbah, KSU Laban Circle president Reuben Najiar demanded that the order be revoked immediately. He cautioned that failure to do so would compel the Union to disregard the decisions made during the August 20 meeting convened by Kurbah. Najiar reminded that during the August 20 meeting, the Union had raised several concerns regarding the long-pending issues at Mahadev Khola Dham. By taking law in its own hand, the KSU is trying to undermine the office of the Deputy Commissioner, whose order is legally binding among all pressure groups of Meghalaya. The KSU said that the ...

Mawlai maintained their push for the Shillong Premier League 2025 title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Nongrim Hills at the SSA Stadium, Polo, Shillong, on October 17. All goals came in the second half, with Robertson Khongriah scoring twice (54’, 84’) and Banraplang Pyngrope adding one (76’) to secure a comprehensive win. The result lifted Mawlai to 18 points with one game remaining. Shillong Lajong, also on 18 points, can still clinch their sixth SPL crown tomorrow if they defeat Nangkiew Irat. A draw or loss for Lajong would make Mawlai’s final match against Rangdajied United on Monday a potential decider, although Lajong currently hold the head-to-head advantage after a 4-3 victory over Mawlai on October 1. Langsning, having completed all their matches, tops the table on 20 points...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said he has been pursuing the creation of a separate Meghalaya cadre of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) since 2019 and expressed hope that the proposal will soon be achieved. Speaking at the annual conference of the Meghalaya Civil Service Officers' Association (MCSOA) here, Sangma said reforms for the Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) remain a key priority for his government. "I have been pursuing the creation of a separate Meghalaya cadre since 2019, and I am hopeful this will soon be achieved. Reforms for the MCS are a priority, just as they are for other services," he said. The chief minister praised MCS officers for their dedication and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the state’s administrative framework. “At the...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday inaugurated a newly built artificial football turf at the Madan Centre Playground in Nongkrem, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure and promoting youth engagement under the Khelo India scheme. Highlighting the state’s rapid progress in sports development, Sangma said that over 70 per cent of Meghalaya’s sports facilities have been built in the last seven years, reflecting the government’s focus on youth empowerment through athletics and recreation. He added that the administration is now promoting block-level sports leagues to increase grassroots participation and discover new talent across rural areas. Calling sports a “powerful tool for transformation,” the Chief Minister urged co...

The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Smti. R.M. Kurbah, I.A.S., has declared October 20, 2025, as a "Dry Day" throughout the district in observance of Diwali. The order, issued under Section 52 of the Meghalaya Excise Act (Assam Excise Act, 1910 as adopted), mandates the closure of all Bonded Warehouses, IMFL "OFF" & "ON" shops, Home-Made Wine license premises, Wine & Beer Bars, Canteens, Outstills, and Home Delivery services on the said day.

The State Cabinet in its meeting held on  Wednesday took several key decisions, including the release of fund for GHADC. During the meeting, the cabinet released Rs 79.5 crores to GHADC .This fund will enable GHADC to clear the backlog of one year Salary of the employees  Out of 79 crore,11 crore is the due whole 68.5 crore is being released as advance grant to GHADC The cabinet also  approved the Meghalaya State Education Commission Report 2025. Members of the Cabinet held detailed discussions on the various recommendations outlined in the report and have directed the Education Department to thoroughly examine the proposals and prepare a set of actionable steps, along with a clear roadmap for their implementation. Based on the department's roadmap, the Cabinet will take...

In a significant move for healthcare professionals in the state, the Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the regularization of more than 1,000 nurses who were appointed on an ad-hoc basis against sanctioned posts before December 2007. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, after chairing the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, stated that the decision pertains to the regularization of positions under the Meghalaya Nursing Service, including staff nurses and auxiliary nurses and midwives. The Chief Minister recalled that in 2022, the state government had regularized over 3,000 employees who had similarly been appointed on an ad-hoc basis before December 2007, following a Supreme Court ruling. "This time, the Health Department submitted a fresh list of nearly 1,000 nurses who fall into the same category ...