Meghalaya

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has pulled up a road project agency engaged in constructing a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded highway from Shillong to Dawki for allegedly dumping construction debris into the Umngot River, one of India’s most pristine water bodies. Officials said the action followed complaints and viral videos showing the river’s crystal-clear waters turning murky due to dumping of waste from earthwork and excavation activities. Local residents, many dependent on tourism for their livelihood, had raised concerns about the pollution affecting the river’s ecology and its global reputation. The incident prompted Meghalaya MLA Ricky Syngkon to take up the matter with Union Ministers for Road Transport and Environment. Dawki, where th...

The Byatikram Group, in association with The Times of India and the Rabindranath Tagore Club, Laban, is all set to host the second edition of “Remembering the Maestro – S.D. Burman”, a grand musical evening celebrating the timeless genius of the legendary composer Sachin Dev Burman. The event will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 5 PM at the U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong. The announcement was made at a press meet held at the Shillong Press Club in the presence of Dr. Saumen Bharatiya, Patron-in-Chief of Byatikram Group; Pankaj Deb, President of Rabindranath Tagore Club, Laban; and members Alakananda Sen, Pritam Lahiri, and Urmimala Choudhury. As a symbolic homage to Burman’s 69 remarkable years (1906–1975), 69 artists from Bahaar Group will perform a special chorus in his mem...

A family in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district narrowly escaped a violent assault after a large mob attacked their home on Thursday night, accusing them of practising witchcraft. The incident took place in Khliehshnong locality of Sohra around 9.30 pm, when nearly 200 people gathered outside the house of local resident Ham Shangpliang, threatening to burn the home and harm the occupants. Police officials said tension escalated quickly after rumours spread that a boy had claimed to experience “visions” involving Shangpliang and believed he had been placed under some form of spell. The unverified allegation ignited panic in the neighbourhood, prompting a crowd to assemble and surround the house, despite the absence of any evidence to support the claim. Authorities described the situat...

In a significant step towards enhancing tourism infrastructure in Meghalaya, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Minister of Communications, along with Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, tomorrow will lay the foundation stone for the Integrated Development of Sohra Tourism Circuit in Sohra. The event is being organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with the Ministry of DoNER. It signifies the Union Government’s continued commitment to unlocking the tourism and livelihood potential of the North Eastern Region. Shri Timothy D. Shira, Minister of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, will also be present on the occasion. The project, worth more than Rs 200 crore funded under...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday unveiled the much-awaited lineup for the Cherry Blossom Festival 2025, promising “a grand celebration of music, art, and culture that showcases the rich diversity of our state.” The festival will see some of the world’s biggest names perform in Shillong. Day One will feature The Script, Jason Derulo, and Nora Fatehi, followed by Aqua and Tyga. On Day Two, and a power-packed finale by global DJ Diplo. Sangma also announced a special tribute to the late Zubeen Garg, calling it “a heartfelt moment to honour a legend who inspired generations.” Local favourites like Meba Ofilia,  Dapest, EDL and Girish and The Chronicles will share the stage with international acts. “This festival isn’t just about global stars,” Sangma said. “It’s a...

Police in Meghalaya are appealing for help to identify a man whose body was discovered in an abandoned house in the 20th Mile Pahammawlein area of Ri-Bhoi district on October 23, 2025. The Byrnihat Police Out-Post received information about the discovery at approximately 2:00 pm from the local headman. Officers arrived at the scene to find the body of a man believed to be between 58 and 60 years old. The deceased was known locally only by the surname "Boro" and had worked as a hired labourer in the area for approximately five to six years. Despite enquiries in the community, authorities have been unable to establish his full identity or locate any next of kin. Following legal formalities at the police station, the body has been transferred to the Civil Hospital Mortuary in Nongpoh for ...

The Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) has demanded that the NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government should immediately revoke all government land allocations in the Polo area, alleging that valuable public land has been handed over to private non-tribal entities in violation of existing laws. In a letter addressed to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, HNYF general secretary Tyllibbor Swer expressed concern over the alleged allocation of government land stretching from Polo Orchid up to Saw Furlong and beyond, as well as similar cases in Rilbong, where land has reportedly been allotted to non-tribal groups under the guise of trusts. Swer stated that the lands in question are government-owned, as confirmed by court rulings, yet they have been fenced off and transferred to ...

Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar has cautioned against widespread monoculture practices, warning that over-reliance on single-crop cultivation risks causing severe ecological imbalance. He stressed that safeguarding biodiversity is essential not only for the environment but also for long-term economic stability and sustainable rural livelihoods. Speaking at the 48th All India Botanical Conference and International Symposium on Plant Diversity and Bioeconomy at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, the Governor said biodiversity remains the bedrock of India’s bioresource wealth. He urged policymakers, scientists, and institutions to focus on sustainable agricultural models that protect genetic diversity and encourage community-led conservation. Highlighting...

Meghalaya secured a place in the semifinals of the Sub-Junior Boys National Football Championship 2025–26 (Tier 2) with a convincing 4-0 victory over Himachal Pradesh in their final Group C encounter on October 30 morning. Star striker Marbiang Marwein led the charge with a first-half hat-trick, finding the net in the 8th, 39th, and 45+2 minutes. His performance took his tournament tally to nine goals and earned him a third successive Player of the Match award. Wanpyndapbor Nongsiej added a fourth goal in the 62nd minute to seal the dominant win. With earlier triumphs over Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya finished the group stage with a perfect nine points under coach Dapmon Tariang, topping Group C. They will now face Telangana, the unbeaten leaders of Group A, in the fir...

A special court in Meghalaya has sentenced two drug peddlers to six years of rigorous imprisonment and fined them ₹60,000 each for distributing narcotics to minors, officials said on Wednesday. The East Khasi Hills Special Judge (NDPS) court convicted Marvinson Jyrwa and Skhem Kupar Massar on October 27 under Sections 21(b) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act. The prosecution established that both were involved in supplying narcotic substances to minors. Public Prosecutor S.S. Das represented the state in the case. Calling the offence “deeply aggravating,” the court said the act of targeting children for drug distribution showed extreme moral depravity and warranted strict punishment. In a separate ve...