Meghalaya

Meghalaya Police have registered a criminal case against the owner and contractor of an apartment in Lapalang following the death of five men who allegedly inhaled carbon monoxide inside a narrow well. Investigators are examining whether negligence and lapses in safety measures contributed to the tragedy. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said on Monday that a case has been registered under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing death by negligence, along with relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act. The apartment owner, K. Hinge, and contractor, M. Beena, were summoned under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and questioned by police. Their statements have been recorded, and notices have been served, although neithe...

Meghalaya Police have launched a nationwide search for a college student accused of raping a minor and sexually exploiting several young women, issuing a lookout notice across the country to facilitate his arrest. The accused has been on the run since allegations against him surfaced on social media around July 6, sparking widespread outrage and calls for immediate action. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said on Monday that the lookout notice was initially circulated in Mizoram before being extended to all states. A special investigation team has also been formed to trace and apprehend the accused. Police registered an FIR after the allegations came to light, and the statement of the primary complainant has already been recorded. During the course of the inv...

Meghalaya Minister Sanbor Shullai has welcomed the publication of draft building bye-laws for Cantonment areas, describing the move as a major step towards improving infrastructure development and addressing long-standing difficulties faced by residents of Shillong Cantonment. The draft regulations, notified by the Ministry of Defence, have invited objections and suggestions from the public until August 3 before the final notification. The proposed bye-laws aim to provide a structured legal framework for construction, expansion, and regularisation of buildings in cantonment areas. Shullai said residents of Shillong Cantonment had been facing challenges for nearly 37 years due to the absence of updated building regulations. He pointed out that after the introduction of a Floor Space ...

Meghalaya Police has issued a lookout notice for a Mizoram student currently on the run. The suspect allegedly committed sexual exploitation against multiple victims in Shillong. He fled to Aizawl during his summer break but vanished after police received a formal complaint. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the search is active. "The accused is currently absconding, prompting police to circulate a lookout notice to trace him," Syiem said. Social media accounts first blew the lid off the harassment claims. The story quickly gained traction. State commissions for women and child rights are now pushing the investigation forward. Local Mizo groups in Shillong have publicly condemned the acts. They remain in full support of the ongoing police effort. As ...

A district-level task force and joint check posts will be set up by the Meghalaya government in order to tighten its crackdown on cattle smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai said the decision was taken recently during a high-level meeting between the department and the Border Security Force where the Inspector General of BSF’s Meghalaya Frontier and senior officials from both agencies were also present. Shullai also said the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the handling of seized cattle will also be revised. “We reviewed the existing notification and examined measures to make enforcement more effective through better coordination among all agencies involved,” he said. The minister said the discussions foc...

East Jaintia Hills MLAs Santa Mary Shylla and Kyrmen Shylla have briefed members of the Jaiñtia Coal Miner and Dealer Association (JCMDA) and residents of the Jaiñtia Hills on the outcome of recent discussions between the Centre and the Meghalaya Government regarding the future of coal mining in the region. Addressing a public meeting, Santa Mary Shylla described the recent meeting between Union Minister for Mines and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in New Delhi as productive. She said the Union Minister had directed the formation of a state-level committee comprising government officials and representatives of coal mine operators to examine the scientific mining process and conduct field inspections. She added that the Centre has also sought a detailed report from the state ...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday chaired a review meeting with the Deputy Commissioners on the monsoon situation across the state.Continuous rain has caused landslides and localised flooding in parts of the Garo Hills and Khasi Hills. "I have directed the administration to remain on high alert as rain is forecast to continue, to work in close coordination with the block-level response teams and the line departments, to restore affected road connectivity on priority, and to ensure relief reaches every affected family without delay," he said.Sangma said that due to the alertness and hard work of field teams, no life has been lost in the current spell, and he was grateful to every officer and worker responding on the ground."I appeal to all citizens to stay safe: pleas...

The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, who also serves as Chairperson of the District Highway Safety Task Force, has directed that all commercial structures illegally set up within the National Highway right of way between 3rd Mile and 7th Mile in Upper Shillong be dismantled by July 15. The order, issued on June 30, gives operators 15 days to voluntarily remove the structures, failing which authorities from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways and InfrastructureDevelopment Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will carry out the demolition. According to the order, the affected structures have been erected within the National Highway "right of way"-the land legally reserved for the construction, operation, maintenance and future expansion of the highway. This ...

The remarkable journey of one of the country's finest pineapples took centre stage in the national capital today as the 4th Meghalaya Pineapple Festival was inaugurated at Dilli Haat, New Delhi. More than a celebration of a fruit, the festival has evolved into Meghalaya's flagship platform for connecting farmers directly with organised retail, exporters, food processors, institutional buyers and consumers, while successfully positioning its world-renowned pineapples into domestic and international markets. The festival was inaugurated by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon'ble Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Communications, in the presence of Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, senior government officials, industry leaders, retailers,...