Friday, July 24

Meghalaya

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to begin 4-day Meghalaya visit from Thursday
Meghalaya

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to begin 4-day Meghalaya visit from Thursday

Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will arrive in Shillong on Thursday for a four-day visit to Meghalaya and will participate in various events, such as the Northeast Conclave, officials said. She is expected to arrive in Shillong in the afternoon, they said. Her visit aims to review development initiatives, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen engagement with local communities in Meghalaya, the officials said. The centrepiece of her visit will be the inauguration of the Northeast Conclave on July 11, designed to boost business opportunities and investment in the region. The event will coincide with the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs campus at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, with Chief Ministe...
Govt suspends SI, 4 other police officials for alleged ‘assault’ of detainee at Sohra PS
Meghalaya

Govt suspends SI, 4 other police officials for alleged ‘assault’ of detainee at Sohra PS

A sub-inspector and four constables posted at Sohra Police Station in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district were suspended for allegedly assaulting a detainee and forcing him to drink water from a toilet earlier this month, a senior officer said on Thursday. They were suspended after a preliminary inquiry into a complaint filed on July 7 by the mother of the detainee who was injured during the alleged assault by the police personnel. He had been referred from the Sohra CHC to the Civil Hospital here, the officer said. "Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against them. Additionally, a criminal case has been registered against the concerned personnel under Sohra P.S Case No. 10/2025 U/S 120(1)/3(5) BNS, and the investigation is being conducted by an Inspector-level officer fro...
Meghalaya High Court strikes down LASIK ban for nurses, orders immediate appointment
Meghalaya

Meghalaya High Court strikes down LASIK ban for nurses, orders immediate appointment

In a landmark verdict, the Meghalaya High Court has declared the ban on LASIK eye surgery for nurses as discriminatory, calling it “wholly arbitrary and unreasonable.” The ruling, delivered on July 9 by Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, has far-reaching implications for recruitment policies across India’s armed forces and healthcare services. The case was brought to the court’s attention by Smt. Naresh Kumari, a qualified staff nurse who was denied appointment in the Assam Rifles under the Rajasthan quota in 2017. Although she met all required qualifications, including the prescribed visual standards after undergoing LASIK surgery, she was rejected during the medical examination. The reason: recruitment guidelines barred subordinate officers—including nurses—from any kind o...
FM Sitharaman is set to embark on a three-day visit to Meghalaya starting today
Meghalaya

FM Sitharaman is set to embark on a three-day visit to Meghalaya starting today

Shillong, July 10 (IANS) – On Thursday, officials announced that Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would travel to Meghalaya for three days starting on July 10 to attend a number of events. According to a Meghalaya government official, the visit would start with the Polo Shopping Complex's inauguration, and then there will be a meeting in Shillong under the Project Monitoring Information System. The Northeast Conclave and the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs campus at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong will be officially opened by the Finance Minister on July 11. Conrad K. Sangma, the chief minister of Meghalaya, would be the honoured guest. Sitharaman will also open an exhibition at the Lariti International Cen...
Makers of the Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala have agreed to change the title following a disagreement with the censor board
Meghalaya

Makers of the Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala have agreed to change the title following a disagreement with the censor board

The producers of Janaki vs State of Kerala, featuring Union Minister Suresh Gopi, notified the Kerala High Court on Wednesday of their readiness to alter the film's title to V Janaki or Janaki V, as recommended by the Central Board of Film Certification. What did the cbfc object to The Censor Board has allowed certification for a film titled Janaki V, referring to the lead character, despite previous restrictions due to religious sensitivity. About Janaki vs State of Kerala Anupama Parameswaran and Pravin Narayanan both star in the Pravin Narayanan-directed movie, which follows a woman's fight for justice following an assault. After certification delays affected the movie's release date, the production firm, Cosmos Entertainments, went to court.
Meghalaya signed an MOU to construct shooting sports facilities at the national level
Meghalaya

Meghalaya signed an MOU to construct shooting sports facilities at the national level

Meghalaya signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step toward the development of professional sports shooting facilities. In order to create organized training, infrastructure, and talent development for shooting sports, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Shooting Association of Meghalaya, and the state's Sports Department have reached an agreement. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by state Sports Department representatives, NRAI Secretary General K. Sultan Singh, and Shooting Association of Meghalaya President John F. Kharshiing. The signing was witnessed by NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. "A structured roadmap for developing world-class shooting infrastructure in Meghalaya, ...
Court waits for report on hawkers by Aug 5, minister says action by July 22
Meghalaya

Court waits for report on hawkers by Aug 5, minister says action by July 22

Tourism minister and government spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh on Monday asserted that the hawkers will be relocated to MUDA complex by July 22 whereas the High Court-appointed special officer got time till August 5 to address the issue. The special officer, Subhasis Chakrawarty had met the Municipal authorities and the hawkers’  association to discuss the matter. He will be holding a joint meeting shortly.before submitting a report to the court. However, speaking to reporters in the city, Lyngdoh said the government is firm on implementing the deadline of July 22 for the relocation of hawkers and street vendors from Khyndailad area. Lyngdoh said, “The government expects complete compliance of the order for relocation of hawkers by July 22. We have adequate manpower and also the high c...
Meghalaya Deputy CM visits Lapangap after border flare-up over Assam’s plantation drive
Meghalaya

Meghalaya Deputy CM visits Lapangap after border flare-up over Assam’s plantation drive

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday visited Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills to assess the tense situation following a recent confrontation over a tree plantation drive reportedly undertaken by authorities from neighboring Assam. The incident has once again brought the fragile Assam-Meghalaya border issue into sharp focus. Dhar, who also heads the Regional Committee for West Jaintia Hills and represents the Nartiang constituency, was accompanied by Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat, Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh, and Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanao. The visit comes in the aftermath of protests on June 25, when over 400 villagers from Lapangap and adjoining areas, supported by loc...
On July 9, Meghalaya tourist taxis are scheduled to avoid Assam routes in support of a nationwide strike
Meghalaya

On July 9, Meghalaya tourist taxis are scheduled to avoid Assam routes in support of a nationwide strike

The AKMTTA has announced that tourist taxis from Meghalaya will not operate towards Guwahati or Assam on July 9, 2025, in support of the nationwide All India General Strike. The 24-hour strike on July 9 aims to address key demands for transport workers in India, including the withdrawal of the Motor Vehicle Reforms Act 2019, removal of the "Hit and Run" clause, immediate toll tax halt, simplification of pollution rules, provision of rest areas, and legal harassment. The association of taxi operators in Meghalaya has suspended services to Assam due to a strike, citing safety concerns. It has appealed to operators not to overcharge passengers, especially in emergencies or short-distance travel. Normal taxi services are expected to resume on July 10, 2025.
Meghalaya deputy CM visits violence-hit Lapangap, assures villagers of looking into issue
Meghalaya

Meghalaya deputy CM visits violence-hit Lapangap, assures villagers of looking into issue

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday said the state government will look into the recent incident of violence arising from a tree plantation drive allegedly undertaken by Assam authorities at Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills. Dhar, who also represents Nartiang constituency, visited Lapangap to assess the situation and ensure the safety of villagers. He was accompanied by Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council chief executive member Thombor Shiwat, deputy commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh and SP Jagpal Singh Dhanao.