Meghalaya

The High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday heard a PIL against the participation of non-tribals in the upcoming GHADC polls. The PIL was filed by Niksrang Ch Marak through his lawyer PT Sangma to bar non-tribals from taking part and contesting the upcoming GHADC polls. On February 17, the executive committee of the GHADC passed a resolution making it mandatory for the candidates to produce ST certificates. The petitioner's lawyer said the respondents from GHADC will apprise the court whether the resolution was approved by the Governor.The matter will be taken up on March 9.

One woman died, and three others were injured after a coal-laden truck skidded off the road and overturned onto two vehicles in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, police said on Thursday. The incident took place on Wednesday evening along National Highway 6 when the truck, carrying coal, lost control and overturned onto a car and a jeep travelling along the highway. Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania said the truck was moving from Khliehriat towards Lumshnong when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle at Byndihati village.

A Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet, which was on a routine training mission, crashed in Karbi Anglong district of Assam on March 5, killing two pilots, officials said.The IAF confirmed the deaths of Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The force expressed condolences to the families of the officers. “The IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” the Air Force said in a statement. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat at around 6.45 p.m. and lost radar contact with ground control at about 7.42 p.m., following whi...

An FIR has been lodged against Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal, among others, by Enilla Ch Marak, a Nokma (traditional head) of Danakgre Akhing, and her daughter, Amanche Ch. Marak. They allege illegal distribution of land pattas under the Akhing. The FIR, filed at the Araimile Police Station, references an ongoing High Court case challenging the Meghalaya government's land settlements in Danakgre Akhing, which the complainants assert was labeled as government land without proper authority. They claim that despite the court case, a list of residents and plot details for the contested lands has been circulated. The Chief Minister allegedly distributed pattas in February 2026, insisting residents pay substantial sums despite ...

Pig farmers from Bhoirymbong in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district met to address the challenges threatening their livelihoods, particularly the significant drop in pig prices and disrupted market operations. This decline has put financial strain on farmers, who depend on pig farming for their income and the education of their children. The meeting included key figures from the Hill Farmers Union (HFU), who listened to the farmers' concerns about their inability to repay bank loans due to losses. They also raised issues regarding rising costs of pig feed and veterinary medicines, alongside the impact of recurring swine diseases on productivity. Allfondbirth Kharsyntiew from the HFU assured the farmers that their plight would be communicated to state government officials, stressing the urgency f...

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which was established to investigate the illegal coal mining incident in Meghalaya following the mine blast at Mynsngat–Thangsko on February 5, has received an expanded mandate. This includes examining the relationship between demand and supply of illegally mined coal in the state. The commission will investigate the roles of individuals, government officials, and non-state actors such as NGOs in facilitating illegal mining, and will recommend institutional improvements, accountability measures, and preventive strategies to avoid future incidents. The commission is chaired by retired Justice R.S. Chauhan, with members including former IPS officer H. Nongpluh and former IAS officer P.S. Dkhar. Additionally, the Office of the Director General of Po...

Leader of Opposition Mukul M. Sangma has called on the Meghalaya government to provide clear guidelines regarding the eligibility of candidates possessing Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates for the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). He emphasized the need for clarity to avoid confusion and misinterpretation, stating that the lack of a definitive official stance could result in speculation and conflicting interpretations during the election process. Sangma highlighted the importance of the GHADC elections as a critical democratic exercise linked to the constitutional provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which aims to protect the identity, culture, and traditional governance of tribal communities. He asserted that these elections...

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem on Tuesday urged two‑wheeler owners to fit GPS trackers and locks after a recent spurt in thefts, mainly in the city. Syiem said patrols and nakas recovered three motorcycles — ML‑05‑T‑7719, ML‑05‑AF‑5335 and ML‑10‑D‑0839 — from Mawkynroh, Langlibun on March 2. Two suspects have been arrested and preventive steps are being added. The SP advised citizens to avoid roadside parking and to work with police to curb such crimes.

The long-delayed Shillong–Dawki road project in Meghalaya continues to face timeline challenges, with officials now indicating that Phase II and Phase IV are likely to be completed only by December 2027.Authorities have imposed traffic restrictions along several construction stretches to ensure safety during the ongoing work. Currently, vehicular movement is allowed only between 4 am and 11:30 am and again from 4 pm to 9:30 pm. While officials say the restrictions are necessary to prevent accidents, residents and commuters have raised concerns over the limited movement window, stating that it has significantly disrupted their daily routines and transportation.A senior official associated with the project said the curbs were implemented to avoid any untoward incidents during construction. ...

The fraternity of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Tura Campus, has condemned an alleged assault on its registrar in-charge, Prof Kailash Chandra Biswal, in Shillong recently. He was allegedly attacked while returning from NEHU Shillong at Mawlai Bypass on March 2, according a statement issued by the university on Wednesday. Prof Biswal, a Management faculty at NEHU Tura Campus, is currently holding additional charge as Registrar of the university. The NEHU Tura Campus fraternity while condemning the incident has demanded for strict action against the perpetrators.