Meghalaya

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.

On Wednesday night, a tragic accident in Byndihati, Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, resulted in the death of one person when an overloaded coal truck overturned and crushed two vehicles around 8:30 pm. The victim, who has not yet been identified, died instantly as a result of the incident. This accident occurred shortly before a scheduled hearing at the Meghalaya High Court regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing illegal coal mining. The Court is set to direct current and former Superintendents of Police to appear in person as part of ongoing investigations into the illegal mining activities that have proliferated due to high demand and profitability. During prior hearings, concerns were raised about the effectiveness of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) handli...

The Meghalaya government has come under scrutiny for allegedly mishandling the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), as reported by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The CAG's critical report indicates that over ₹2.15 crore was improperly diverted for non-disaster relief related expenses, including donations to other states and the cleaning of the Shillong Secretariat. Investigations revealed that ₹2 crore was transferred to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) without the necessary approval from the State Executive Committee (SEC), with a portion of this amount categorized as a "loan." The SDRF is explicitly defined as a restricted fund subject to stringent regulations that prohibit its use for lending purposes to other government accounts. Moreover, the report o...

Three individuals were injured, and the headman of Lakadong Ummat village was arrested following violent clashes between residents of Lakadong Ummat and Lama villages during a land survey for the proposed Greenfield High-Speed Corridor. The incident took place at Khlieh Wah Rkhiang as officials conducted a joint measurement survey, which sparked tensions over a land dispute regarding the corridor's alignment. The situation escalated when arguments led to the use of daos and firearms, resulting in injuries to three residents from Lama village stemming from gunfire. In the aftermath, police arrested Rimiki Amkhloo, the headman of Lakadong Ummat, for his alleged role in the incident. Subsequently, the District Magistrate of East Jaintia Hills imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of t...

Eleven-year-old Shelevah N Jyrwa from Laimer, Upper Shillong, was crowned the winner of Sur Kynud Season 4 at the grand finale held on Thursday at the Don Bosco Youth Centre in Laitumkhrah.Organized by the Don Bosco Media Network Television (DBMNTV) under the leadership of Director Fr. Michael Makri, the competition concluded with eight talented finalists competing for the coveted top prize of Rs 1 lakh. The event showcased remarkable musical performances, reflecting months of dedication and rigorous training.The grand finale was attended by East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, who lauded the Salesians for their commitment to nurturing young talent. She emphasized that such platforms encourage youth to develop discipline, confidence, and perseverance in pursuit of their dreams. Also presen...

Batskhem Myrboh is the choice of the VPP to contest the Shillong Lok Sabha seat following the passing away of Shillong MP Ricky Syngkon. Myrboh is the spokesperson of the party. In a statement issued on Monday, AW Rani, spokesperson of the party said, "The Election Committee of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) on March 2 submitted its recommendation to the State Executive Committee for approval, proposing the name of Dr. Batskhem Myrboh as the party's candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha by-election from the Shillong Parliamentary Constituency, necessitated by the untimely demise of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ricky A. J. Syngkon, who passed away on 19th February 2026".