Meghalaya

Meghalaya took firm control of their Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Plate Group match against Sikkim after a commanding batting performance on the second day at the MCA Ground. The hosts reached 271 for 2 at stumps, just 75 runs short of Sikkim’s first-innings total of 346. After losing two early wickets for 59, Meghalaya’s middle order steadied the innings with a composed and unbeaten 212-run partnership for the third wicket. The pair batted through the day, ensuring no further damage while maintaining a healthy scoring rate. The early breakthroughs for Sikkim came through bowlers Kranthi Kumar (1/62) and Palzor Tamang (1/44), but the visitors struggled to make inroads once the partnership settled. Meghalaya’s batters combined a steady rotation of strike with calculated aggression, striking fre...

In response to long-standing public complaints over the illegal parking of heavy trucks along National Highway-6, the Ri Bhoi Police launched a major enforcement operation on Friday, covering the stretch from Byrnihat to Jorabat. This corridor has long been a bottleneck for commuters entering and leaving Meghalaya, with parked trucks often blocking nearly half a lane and causing severe traffic congestion. The drive, led by Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh Rathore and Additional SP Orville Massar, aims to ensure smooth vehicular movement and prevent accidents. Rathore explained that daytime restrictions on heavy vehicles entering Guwahati contribute significantly to the problem, and as a temporary solution, trucks have been directed to park under the Jorabat flyover along the S...

The inaugural All Shillong Interschool Swimming Championship 2025 kicked off on October 24 at the True North Fitness Centre and Swimming Academy’s indoor heated pool in Lapalang, drawing 155 participants from 25 schools across the city. The two-day event aims to promote youth sports and showcase emerging swimming talent in Meghalaya. Over 26 events ranging from the 50m backstroke to the 200m individual medley, students competed across five age categories: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17, and 18-20 years. Preliminary heats took place in the morning, followed by finals in the afternoon. Parents, teachers, and friends cheered on the swimmers, creating a lively atmosphere of camaraderie and sportsmanship. The championship was inaugurated by Keith Syiemlieh, senior-most member of the True Nort...

In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Meghalaya apprehended two suspected drug peddlers in the early hours of Friday at Sohryngkham. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about drug peddlers travelling from Silchar to Shillong, ANTF personnel set up a naka at Sohryngkham, where a suspected vehicle bearing registration number AS 11 EC 3733 was intercepted. During the search, officers recovered  four soap boxes filled with suspected heroin, weighing 54.13 grams in total. The contraband was seized on the spot. The two accused, identified as Smti Suma (42) and Shri Sultan Mahammad Mazumder (35), both hailing from Silchar, Assam, were taken into custody. Following the seizure, the arrested individuals and the recovered drugs were han...

Scientists at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) have embarked on a joint research project to develop new methods to improve 5G and 6G connectivity in Sohra, the rainiest place on Earth. After shifting to their permanent campus here earlier this year, researchers found themselves "fascinated and occasionally frustrated" by the sheer size of each raindrop that falls over Sohra in the state East Khasi Hills district. "The size and intensity of rainfall here are unlike anywhere else in the world. It disrupts communication signals and challenges existing network models," said a scientist involved in the project. While groundwork for the project has begun, researchers say it will take time before tangible outcomes emerge...

The 31st State Karate Championship began on October 23 at the JN Indoor Stadium in Polo, Shillong, with a record number of participants, reflecting the growing popularity of the sport across Meghalaya. This year’s three-day event has attracted 512 competitors from eight districts, up from 456 last year. Organised by the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association (AMKA) with support from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, the championship emphasises discipline, sportsmanship, and talent development. AMKA President Hunlang Lytan said the rising participation highlights the expanding reach of karate in the state. The opening ceremony featured a minute’s silence in memory of AMKA founder Stephan Leong, who passed away on October 23, 2011. Leong is remembered as a pivotal figure in the g...

In a major breakthrough, Meghalaya Police have chargesheeted the case of the sexual assault and murder of a child under Mawlasnai Outpost within 13 days. The accused, Iainehskhem Kharsati (22)of Kalapangti village, Ri-Bhoi, was charged under Nongpoh Women PS Case No. 58/2025 dated October 22, 2025. The case, registered on October 10 after the child’s body was found the previous evening, was investigated by WP/UBSI S. Ryngksai of Umiam PS. SP Vivekanand Singh, IPS, lauded the team’s swift work, saying it fulfilled the police’s commitment to file the chargesheet within two weeks, ensuring justice without delay.

Three women players from the state have been named in the North East Zone team for the upcoming BCCI Senior Women’s Inter Zonal T20 Trophy 2025–26. The tournament, which will be held in Nagaland from November 4 to 14, will feature top players from across India’s six zones. The three players — Debasmita Dutta, Riticia Nongbet, and Solina Jaba — have made the final 15-member North East Zone squad. Adding to Meghalaya’s pride, Debasmita Dutta has been appointed the captain of the team, while Baiahunlang Mylliemngap, also from Meghalaya, will serve as the team manager. This strong representation marks a major milestone for Meghalaya’s women’s cricket, reflecting the steady progress the state has made in recent years under the Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA). The final squad was a...

The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council has passed a resolution formally opposing a controversial government directive that removes the requirement for public consultations before uranium mining can commence in tribal regions. Council leaders expressed alarm over a September memorandum from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that exempts mining projects involving atomic minerals, including uranium, from mandatory public hearings. The directive applies to minerals listed under the amended Mines and Minerals Act of 2023, streamlining approval processes for what the government classifies as critical and strategic resources. Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh presented the resolution during the council session on October 22, describing the policy as a threa...

The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a banned outfit in Meghalaya, has strongly criticised the state government following the arrest of six youths linked to the seizure of an improvised explosive device (IED) at Umsning market in Ri-Bhoi district on October 12. In a statement, the HNLC described the arrests as acts of “state-sponsored harassment” and claimed that the youths had no connection with the organisation. The group accused authorities of using the arrests to create fear, justify government inaction on pressing issues, and suppress the Hynniewtrep community. The outfit also expressed concern over the re-arrest of recently released individuals, calling it a sign of political opportunism and a lack of transparency. “Those who speak of peace are creating war,” the H...