Meghalaya

The Meghalaya BJP has strongly rejected claims linking the party and the National People’s Party (NPP) to law-and-order issues in Garo Hills, instead accusing Meghalaya Congress president Vincent H. Pala of misrepresenting facts to protect his party. The party's vice president, Bernard N. Marak, labeled Pala’s assertions as misleading and argued that unrest in Garo Hills stemmed from actions by the Congress party. Marak noted that volatility increased after a Congress candidate filed his nomination amidst local opposition, claiming to have consulted key political figures but omitting mention of Pala and other Congress leaders who supported him. He criticized the Congress leadership for passing blame onto the BJP and NPP while the candidate acted on their behalf. Marak emphasized Pala's ne...

Mukul Sangma, the Leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya, has called for an independent Commission of Inquiry into the unrest and communal tensions in the Garo Hills, attributing the violence to political negligence and a “criminal conspiracy.” In a memorandum to Governor C.H Vijayashankar, he highlighted several triggers fueling the unrest, such as the demand from Garo civil society for restrictions on non-tribals in council elections, a controversial notification from the former Chief Executive Member of the GHADC, and an unlawful meeting held by a former MLA in Phulbari. The situation escalated into clashes resulting in two fatalities, creating a tense atmosphere across the districts. Sangma criticized the state government for its failure to implement preventive measures or respond to e...

The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has raised serious concerns over alleged violations of labor laws in Meghalaya, calling for stronger enforcement and greater accountability from authorities.Addressing the media, KHNAM Working President Thomas Passah claimed that many workers across the state are not receiving wages in line with legally mandated minimum standards. He alleged that several employers are underpaying workers, leading to exploitation and denial of basic labor rights.Passah pointed to weak monitoring and poor enforcement by the labor department as major reasons behind the continued violations. “Despite clear rules, implementation remains inadequate. This has resulted in widespread irregularities in wage payments,” he said.He also highlighted the issue of ...

The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) on Friday approved the budget for the 2026-2027 financial year, with an estimated total expenditure of Rs 309,26,80,500. The Council's total revenue for the period is projected at Rs 293,64,42,000. The budget covers allocations for various departments, including General Administration, Finance, Land Revenue, Forest, Civil Works, Education, and Village and Town Administration. During the concluding day of the session, opposition MDCs initially moved several Cut Motions, seeking clarity on specific departmental expenditures. However, the motions were withdrawn after Executive Members (EMs) provided justifications for the proposed spending and outlined the necessity of the funds for the smooth functioning of the JHADC. In addition t...

An Awareness Program on Women’s Health and Hygiene was successfully conducted at St. Margaret’s School, with active participation from students and the community. Organized by Shubham Charitable Association in collaboration with Operation Clean Up and Martin Luther Christian University, and sponsored by Star Cement, the program focused on promoting health awareness, hygiene practices, and sustainable solutions. The event was held under the guidance of Principal Christina Khujur. A key highlight was the introduction of reusable sanitary pads (Fresh Pads), with sessions on their usage and benefits for eco-friendly menstrual hygiene. Banlamlynti Lamare represented Martin Luther Christian University at the program. The program concluded with a strong message on the importance of awarene...

In yet another shocking case of murder linked to allegations of witchcraft, a woman was brutally hacked to death in South West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. The incident took place on Friday in Jaluagre village near Rangsakona. The victim has been identified as Nemjak Ch Marak. According to reports, she was attacked and killed in the early hours of the day after being accused of practising witchcraft. Superintendent of Police of South West Garo Hills, Vikash Verma, stated, “Both the victim and the accused belong to the Garo community. The accused has been arrested by the South West Garo Hills police, and necessary legal action has been initiated under the BNS Act.” Further details are awaited. This is not the first such incident reported from Meghalaya. Similar cases in...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has felicitated Sanfida Nongrum, who became the first woman footballer from the state to play for the Indian senior team and score at the Women's AFC Asian Cup, ending a 23-year goal drought for India at the tournament."It was a pleasure meeting Sanfida Nongrum today, a true pride of our state. Her historic achievement of scoring India’s first goal in 23 years at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and becoming the first woman from Meghalaya to represent India at the senior level is nothing short of remarkable," Sangma said."Glad to extend my support to her as she continues to shine on the national and international stage. Wishing her continued success," he added.Nongrum thanked the chief minister for extending financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh under the CM'...

UNICEF India has extended its support to Meghalaya’s newly launched Young People’s Action Group (YPAG), an initiative aimed at enhancing youth participation in governance and policymaking. Launched in March 2026 by the Government of Meghalaya in partnership with UNICEF India and the Centre for Policy, the platform seeks to integrate youth perspectives into state planning. The initiative aligns with the Meghalaya Youth Policy 2021 and focuses on key sectors such as climate action, health, education, and community well-being.Welcoming the move, UNICEF India described YPAG as a vital platform enabling young people to contribute to areas including climate resilience, water, nutrition, and public health systems. The program is designed to build capacity among youth in research, leadership, and...

The National People's Party (NPP) has announced three candidates for the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly election, fielding Daniel Langthasa from Haflong, Ganseng B Sangma from Boko-Chaygaon, and Aminul Islam from Mankachar. The list was issued from Shillong and signed by James K Sangma. Before being named as the party's candidate, Aminul Islam resigned from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) on March 17, citing personal reasons after nearly two decades with the party. Islam said he has no grievances against the party or its leadership and described AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal as his mentor.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday met the Governor after nearly two weeks of on-ground assessment in Garo Hills, where recent law and order disturbances had raised concerns. The meeting focused on providing a comprehensive update on the situation and the government’s response. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sangma said the visit was necessary as he had earlier only been able to communicate with the Governor over the phone while stationed in Garo Hills. “For most of the last two weeks, I was in Garo Hills… there were different law and order issues that required my full attention. I was only able to communicate with the Honorable Governor on the phone,” he said. The Chief Minister stated that he, along with the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home, presented a detaile...