Meghalaya

The Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Meghalaya, seized drugs worth over Rs 55 lakh during a raid in Lower Rynjah, Shillong, on Monday. Police suspect the haul is linked to a larger interstate drug trafficking network. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the ANTF team searched the residence of alleged drug supplier Rahul Chhetri under provisions of the NDPS Act. During the operation, officials recovered 2,060 Nitrazepam tablets, estimated to be worth Rs 8.24 lakh in the illegal market. In addition, 23 plastic soap boxes containing suspected heroin weighing a total of 237 grams were seized. The heroin is valued at approximately Rs 47.4 lakh in the illegal market. A cash amount of Rs 27,300 was also confiscated from the premises. However, the main accused, Rahul Chhetri, managed to f...

Conrad K Sangma on February 23 informed the Assembly that Meghalaya has generated an estimated 3.66 lakh jobs between 2019 and 2025, with agriculture accounting for the largest share of employment. Replying to the debate on the Governor’s Address, the chief minister said agriculture alone contributed 1.90 lakh jobs, driven by targeted interventions such as floriculture (789 jobs), mushroom cultivation (4,078), fruit development (12,714), organic farming (47,927) and the Lakadong mission (15,333). He said the benefits were spread across districts, citing organic farming employment in West Garo Hills (5,279), Ri-Bhoi (4,301) and East Khasi Hills (4,728). Beyond agriculture, Sangma stated that the hospitality sector added 12,683 jobs, transport generated 9,835, and manufacturing and recyc...

Mukul Sangma, the opposition leader in Meghalaya, criticized the state government for its delays in announcing recruitment results, which he argues violates the Meghalaya Police Act 2010. He warned that the growing frustration among unemployed youth could lead to unrest, particularly in the Khasi and Garo Hills, where some may resort to armed actions. Sangma emphasized that numerous FIRs are left uninvestigated due to insufficient police personnel and expressed dismay over the government's failure to fill vacancies in the police force, suggesting it reflects a neglectful attitude towards public safety and the interests of local youths. He challenged the government's characterization of Meghalaya as peaceful, pointing to rising tensions in West Garo Hills and inadequate border security wit...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday presented the Budget for 2026–27 in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly with a fiscal deficit of Rs 2,672 crore, which is about 3.5 percent of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), remaining within the permissible limit.The total expenditure for the financial year has been estimated at Rs 32,023 crore, including Rs 21,812 crore under revenue expenditure and Rs 10,211 crore under capital expenditure. Excluding loan repayments of Rs 2,731 crore, the effective expenditure stands at Rs 29,293 crore.Interest payments are estimated at Rs 1,540 crore, while pension payments are projected at Rs 1,980 crore. The state is expected to record a revenue surplus of Rs 4,771 crore with a closing balance of Rs 714 crore.Presenting his ninth co...

Fourteen coal mine owners have been arrested in Meghalaya since 2018, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the state assembly on February 23, responding to a starred question on coal-related GST collections raised by MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit. The government has collected Rs 13,87,77,996 in GST from coal sales since 2018. Only three coal mine owners are currently registered with GST — Shainingstar Khardewsaw, Dapmain Shylla, and Leborlang Lyngdoh — while 574 coal traders in the state hold GST registration. The government has collected Rs 13,87,77,996 in GST from coal sales since 2018. Only three coal mine owners are currently registered with GST — Shainingstar Khardewsaw, Dapmain Shylla, and Leborlang Lyngdoh — while 574 coal traders in the state hold GST registration. The GST rate on co...

The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Commitee (MPCC) on Monday released the first list of candidates to contest the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) polls. The list was approved by MPCC president Vincent H. Pala. According to the party, Kartick R. Marak will contest from Siju, Budhar M. Marak from Wagesik, Arjun S. Marak from Silkigre, and Karak R. Sangma from Rongrikkimgre. Sengrik M. Marak has been nominated from Gasuapara, while Gredit T. Sangma will contest from Barenggapara and Luckshwell M. Sangma from Amongpara. From Tura, the party has fielded Prewil Ch. Marak, while Sadhiarani M. Sangma will contest from Dengnakpara and Binvinchand D. Sangma from Boldamgre. Premish S. Sangma has been named for Zigzak and Ajitav Koch for Betasing, while Ripseng K. Marak will contest fro...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said 92 villages in Meghalaya have been selected under Vibrant Village Programme-II, though the Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to notify implementation dates.The scheme, planned through 2028-29, will be overseen by the Border Areas Development department. “The Border Areas Development Programme was discontinued by government of India in September 2022 and that is where the government of India decided that a new programme be brought in which is called Vibrant Village Programme,” Sangma said while replying in the Assembly. He added, “MLAs met me in regards to sanctioning of some amount because of discontinuation of BADP and I had included some amount but it is not sufficient as we have to cover interstate and international borders.” “We will ...

The Mawkhar Presbyterian Church is grappling with one of the most serious crises in its history following alleged financial irregularities exceeding Rs 4 crore, leading to a sharp fallout with the KJP Synod Sepngi.The controversy began after discrepancies were found in church accounts for the financial years 2016–2019. A reconciliation process in June 2019 revealed inconsistencies between cash records and bank deposits. Initial verification of documents—including cash books, passbooks, deposit slips, and SBI Bara Bazar Branch statements—showed a shortfall of around Rs 2.86 crore.Further disclosures indicated that a portion of the discrepancy had reportedly been known since 2017 during an Income Tax exemption process but was not shared with the Church Committee, intensifying mistrust withi...

The Meghalaya Police has seized over 17,000 metric tonnes of coal and 25.5 kg of explosive material in East Jaintia Hills district, as part of a crackdown on illegal mining and transportation, officials said. The action comes after the February 5 blast at an illegal coal mine in the Thangsku area that killed 34 people and injured several others, prompting stricter enforcement and sustained police operations against unlawful mining activities. East Jaintia Hills SP Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania said the district police conducted the raid during the night of February 20-21, recovering 17,322 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal, and 25.5 kg of explosive material from abandoned mines.

The District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) have provided an inquiry report to the Meghalaya government concerning the absence of a doctor at the Mawlai Mawiong Community Health Centre (CHC) during the incident involving Lok Sabha MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon, who collapsed and subsequently died. This event has spurred public outcry and debate over perceived medical neglect, particularly focusing on the shortage of doctors in primary health centers (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs). Reports indicate that on the night of the incident, there was no doctor present at the Mawlai Mawiong CHC, which was staffed only by nursing personnel. This reported inadequacy in staffing has raised significant concerns among the public regarding the CHC's ability to provide continuous medical care, espe...