Meghalaya

Meghalaya’s capital Shillong once again etched its name on the national football map as it hosted the 134th edition of the Indian Oil Durand Cup for the second consecutive year. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma inaugurated the historic tournament on Saturday at the newly upgraded Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. In a thrilling opener, local favourites Shillong Lajong FC crushed Malaysian Armed Forces 6-0 in a Group E clash. The stadium buzzed with energy as traditional cultural performances, military demonstrations, and musical acts set the tone for the tournament, Asia’s oldest football competition. CM Sangma, expressing pride in Meghalaya’s football legacy, thanked the Indian Armed Forces for entrusting Shillong as a host city once again. “It reflects the football culture and passion of ou...

A teacher’s 400-time squatting punishment has injured a student from the city. The incident was at a coaching centre for the National Defence Academy entrance in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The student, who was hospitalised after the incident, is under medication and bedridden at home. The parents filed an FIR seeking action. According to the FIR lodged on July 14 with the Officer-in-Charge, Laban Police Station, here, the 18-year-old Varghav Barman was undergoing coaching in Centurion Defence Academy, Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in preparation for entrance exams. On July 4, Barman was made to do squats for 400 times as he was found talking in the classroom by one faculty member of the Academy identified as Jay who teaches mathematics to the students, The next day on July 5, ...

Raising alarm over possible demographic changes in Meghalaya due to ongoing eviction drives in neighbouring Assam, Member of Parliament Ricky Syngkon of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. The demand, rooted in long-standing concerns of the indigenous people, was reiterated during a meeting in New Delhi on Friday. MP Syngkon expressed deep concern over a potential influx of undocumented settlers into Meghalaya’s border districts, particularly those adjacent to Assam and Bangladesh. "The unchecked migration into Meghalaya threatens the cultural identity, land ownership, and economic stability of the tribal population," Syngkon warned, pressing the Centre for urgent action. He highlighted that nei...

The state government plans to build a new bridge below the Umiam Dam by the end of 2025, providing relief for heavy vehicles. Currently, buses and trucks are prohibited from using the dam due to strengthening work. The government has installed CCTV surveillance and deployed security personnel to prevent violations. The bridge will serve as a bypass, reducing pressure on the dam.

The High Court of Meghalaya has called for accountability after 4,000 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal vanished from two coal depots in Rajaju and Diengngan villages. The court has asked authorities to identify the individuals or officials responsible for allowing the coal's disappearance. The 31st interim report submitted by the Justice BP Katakey Committee, monitoring coal mining and transportation issues in the state, revealed that only 2.5 MT of coal was found at Diengngan and 8 MT at Rajaju. The court has directed the state to take urgent action to trace those responsible and ensure officials under whose watch the lapse occurred are held accountable. The court has scheduled a further hearing on August 25.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, on July 25, inaugurated the True North Center at Lapalang, one of the largest initiatives under the CM ELEVATE program, sanctioned with Rs 1 crore. During the event, the chief minister lauded entrepreneurs for their achievements. "Entrepreneurs like Gary, who chase their dreams with relentless determination, continue to inspire us," he wrote on his official X handle, Further, he celebrated programs like CM ELEVATE and PRIME Meghalaya for "empowering such individuals to turn their vision into reality." The Meghalaya chief minister expressed his admiration for the quality infrastructure at the True North Center, highlighting the immense potential of the sports economy. "We want to see more of our youth and entrepreneurs tapping into this space,"...

As beer bottles, chip packets, plastic wrappers, cans, and other non-biodegradable waste increasingly mar the once-pristine landscapes of Meghalaya’s Sohra, the area’s traditional governing body has imposed a ban on picnicking, open cooking, and impromptu outdoor feasts by tourists. The measure is aimed at safeguarding the region's fragile ecology and preserving the natural beauty of the Mawkdok-Sohra stretch and other ecologically sensitive areas under its jurisdiction, officials said. Maremdor Syiem, the deputy chief of Ka Hima Sohra, the traditional governing body of the area, said unchecked picnic parties — both local and out-of-state — have led to widespread environmental degradation, particularly along the scenic Mawkdok-Sohra Road and nearby tourist locations.

With growing concerns over possible influx of illegal settlers evicted from Assam, an MP from Meghalaya on Friday urged the Union home ministry to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state, a long-pending demand that has been consistently voiced by the people over the years. During a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Voice of the People Party MP Ricky Syngkon expressed deep concern over the demographic pressures facing the state, citing increasing incidents of unauthorised settlements and encroachments, particularly in sensitive border and fringe areas, including along the international boundary with Bangladesh and those along the interstate boundary with Assam. "The unchecked influx of migrants poses a grave threat to the cultural identity, land rights, an...

South West Garo Hills organizations, including the Civil Society A'chik Welfare Organization, A'chik Progressive Approach, and AAYF, have raised concerns over the alleged illegal settlement of Bangladeshi nationals in various areas, including Isaguri, Mirjumla, Mahendraganj, and Kalaichar. They are urging the Deputy Commissioner to take action and ensure the protection of state-owned land, as the settlement could pose future difficulties for locals.

In a notable initiative aimed at alleviating congestion in the commercial center of Police Bazar, a total of 282 vendors have been relocated to the newly-built stalls at the MUDA parking lot following an extensive process that lasted approximately two years. Describing this as a momentous occasion, MDA Spokesperson and Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, remarked that the entire undertaking has spanned nearly two years, culminating in a thorough survey that encompassed around 1,400 street vendors. He stated that the government prioritized Khyndai Lad, recognizing it as the most bustling commercial district in Shillong. The government identified 407 vendors who were eligible to receive the certificate of vending (CoV), establishing specific criteria for obtaining the CoV. One criterio...