Meghalaya

Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Friday hit back at the opposition VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit for alleging that the state government was "harassing" teachers by directing them to clear the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET), calling the statement "condemnable" and accusing the VPP chief of "not understanding the truth." "His statement alleging that we are harassing the teachers by asking them to clear the MTET is highly condemnable because he does not understand what the truth is. Before making such allegations, I feel he should first find out the reason behind such a decision," Rymbui told reporters. "However, Ardent, for some reason, sees everything through his 'black glasses' and through his dark lens, and that is why he does not see the truth," he...

Four minors among five persons were arrested and two scootys recovered from Pdengshakap in West Jaintia Hills district. The arrests and recoveries were made following a shift operation by police based on two separate complaints of theft lodged on Thursday. The police identified one suspected vehicle used in the theft through examination of CCTV footage. Acting swiftly, intensive patrolling was conducted, leading to the interception of the suspected vehicle. Five occupants, including four minors, were detained and brought to Phramer Traffic Cell, West Jaintia Hills, for interrogation. Additional Superintendent of Police (DSB) CW Lyngdoh informed that one scooty was stolen from Ialong Civil Hospital, Jowai while the other was lifted from Nongmensong, Langkyrding the same day. Based o...

A 27-year-old woman from Guwahati, who had been missing since April 24, has been traced safe in Shillong on Saturday. The woman, identified as Bhabana Sarma, was reportedly found inside a room at a branch of the State Bank of India near Polo Ground in Shillong. According to reports, bank employees who arrived early at the premises found her in a distressed state and alerted local police authorities. Sarma had been working as a teacher at a private school in Guwahati and had recently left her job. “A police team from Guwahati has reached Shillong to bring her back. We are investigating how she reached Shillong. On April 24, she left her home and initially booked an Uber taxi but cancelled it. She later headed towards Paltan Bazar after booking a Rapido ride. The case is at a prelimi...

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the consolidation of three FIRs lodged against former Member of the District Council (MDC) Sofior Rahman over a Facebook post, which allegedly led to violence that erupted in Garo Hills region following tension over the GHADC elections. A bench headed by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by Rahman seeking clubbing of the cases registered at different police stations. "The directions shall be complied with forthwith. The petition is accordingly disposed of," the court said. Rahman had approached the court contending that the FIRs, registered at Araimile, Songsak and Tura police stations in March, stemmed from the same social media post and therefore could not be investigated separately. His ...

Meghalaya has intensified efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with officials emphasising district-level execution, data systems and outcome-based budgeting at a state workshop on Thursday. The programme, held at the State Convention Centre, reviewed progress and gaps in SDG implementation, bringing together officials and development partners to align strategies with measurable outcomes. Commissioner and Secretary of the Planning Department, Vijay Kumar D, said the state has built a structured delivery system with SDG cells across districts, supported by research fellows and village-level data volunteers. He said the expansion of a catalytic fund would allow districts to access up to ₹1.5 crore each for targeted interventions, adding that the government aims ...

The District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills has issued a sweeping order prohibiting illegal sand extraction from river beds and unauthorised mining on hill slopes across the district, effective immediately. HML Kynta, District Magistrate, Shillong, issued the order on April 23, 2026, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), citing escalating environmental damage caused by rampant sand removal along the Wahnianglen River near Mylliem. The order comes in response to a directive from the National Green Tribunal's Principal Bench in New Delhi, which had already restrained "any person, company, authority to carry out any mining and quarrying activity or removal of sand from river beds anywhere in the country" without valid Mining Licences, Quarry Permits, and c...

The Meghalaya government has announced that the proposal for construction of a new Meghalaya House in Vellore is on, following concerns raised over the past few months about the condition of the existing facility. The issue was highlighted by North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, who flagged the deteriorating state of the building used by patients and their attendants traveling for treatment. GAD Minister Sosthones Sohtun, while speaking to reporters, said the matter was discussed with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Deputy Chief Ministers. He noted that several stakeholders and legislators had emphasized the urgent need to address the issue, given the importance of the facility to the public. Sohtun stated that due to the building’s age, renovation was not considered viable. Ins...

Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem, has confirmed that Kennedy Khongsit has confessed to the murder of two individuals in Nongrah. According to the SP, Khongsit admitted to killing a child identified Kyrshanbor Kharmudai and Eilang Phawa. He also reportedly demonstrated to the police how he carried out the murders and disposed of the bodies. Syiem stated that the accused will remain in judicial custody until the chargesheet is filed and the case is taken to trial. Police aim to complete the chargesheet within 90 days. Responding to questions about Khongsit's calm demeanor even after his arrest, the SP said that his mental condition was examined and found to be normal. "He is mentally sound and does not suffer from any cognitive impairment," Syiem ad...

The Directorate of Civil Defence and Home Guards, Meghalaya, has announced a statewide civil defence mock exercise on air raid and blackout, titled “ARMEX-I 2026,”to be conducted on April 24, following directives from the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The large-scale exercise will be carried out across all districts of the state, involving multiple agencies including the Air Force, Army, Police, SDRF, Home Guards, Civil Defence volunteers, Fire and Emergency Services, Health and Power Departments, along with community bodies such as Dorbar Shnongs and traditional village institutions. According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SDRF, B. Mukhim, “The exercise is aimed at enhancing preparedness and coordination ...

The Government of Meghalaya has intensified efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by strengthening district-level implementation, improving data systems and expanding outcome-based budgeting mechanisms. The focus areas were discussed during a state-level workshop held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Thursday, where officials and development partners reviewed progress and challenges in SDG implementation. Commissioner and Secretary of the Planning Department, Vijay Kumar D, said the state has created SDG cells across districts supported by research fellows and village-level data volunteers to strengthen monitoring and delivery systems. He added that the expansion of a catalytic fund would allow districts to receive up to ₹1.5 crore each for targ...