Meghalaya

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday, September 2, questioned the police over the arrest of only four people in connection with the violence during a bike rally in Shillong, despite allegations that hundreds were involved in vandalism and assaults. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Tevati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh, hearing a suo motu PIL on the incidents, expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation and directed the police to identify all those involved in the violence. The court was informed that 22 FIRs had been registered in connection with the incidents — four at Shillong Sadar police station, nine at Rynjah, seven at Mawlai, and one each at Laitumkhrah and Lumdiengjri police stations. Police informed the court that four people, all leade...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma felicitated outstanding students at the SPARK Meghalaya District Talent Event in Tura, highlighting the programme’s role in developing confidence, communication skills and talent among young learners. Sangma said he was impressed by the confidence and abilities displayed by participating students and noted that programmes such as SPARK were unavailable during his own school days. Launched as a small pilot in 2024, SPARK has expanded to reach 12,078 students across 53 campuses in all 12 districts, with more than 20,000 students benefiting from the initiative so far. The Chief Minister said Meghalaya’s future would depend not on the size of its population but on the quality, capabilities and confidence of its people. Through activities focused on ar...

The Meghalaya BJP on Tuesday refused to shut the door on nine UDP legislators amid reports that they have opened a line to the party's central leadership, while stopping short of confirming that talks on a switch are under way. Chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang would neither confirm nor deny the reports. There would be "no smoke without fire," he said, pointing to earlier signs that sitting MLAs had already made contact. The speculation sharpened after the nine UDP MLAs were reported to have met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The legislators have maintained that the discussion was about the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill. Kharkrang said he believed FCRA was on the table, but did not rule out other subjects. The State unit, he added, had received no commun...

Meghalaya has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by 14 days, following disruption to the process in Shillong last month. The revised schedule, announced by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Meghalaya, on Tuesday, sets September 18, 2026, as the last date for filing claims and objections. The disposal of claims and objections, including the notice and hearing process, has been extended to October 17, while the final electoral roll will now be published on October 21. The decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by the CEO with deputy commissioners and district election officers, electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers. A separate meeting was also ...

Speculation over a possible political realignment in Meghalaya intensified following reports that as many as nine of the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) 12 MLAs could join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, the UDP dismissed the reports as rumours and maintained that none of its legislators has expressed any intention to leave the party. The political discussions reportedly gained momentum after a meeting involving UDP leaders and BJP leaders in Guwahati. BJP national spokesperson and Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra is understood to have conveyed the developments to the party’s central leadership in New Delhi, while Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma is expected to remain in contact with the legislators. Patra left Guwahati for Manipur on Monday afte...

An FIR has been filed against an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer in Meghalaya following an allegation of assault during questioning in connection with a case related to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). Advocate Niksrang Ch. Marak lodged the complaint at Nongmynsong Police Station on behalf of his client, Sansilstone Sangma, who alleged that ED Investigating Officer Shekar Kumar physically assaulted him on August 27 while his statement was being recorded after he was summoned for questioning. According to the complaint, Sangma was cooperating with the questioning and the alleged use of force was unwarranted and disproportionate. He reportedly suffered pain and swelling in his forearm and hand and subsequently received treatment at Civil Hospital, Shillong. The lawye...

Intensifying the demand for removal of Advocate General Amit Kumar, bar associations of Meghalaya have decided to abstain from court work from September 1. A joint meeting of High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and Shillong Bar Association on Monday passed a unanimous resolution on the boycott of court duty. The bar associations of the state unanimously decided to pursue the demand for Kumar’s removal. All advocates practising in all courts and tribunals in Meghalaya shall abstain from judicial work from September 1 until the government removes Kumar from the post of Advocate General, according to the bar associations. The resolution said the decision was taken as the state government has not shown any interest to communicate with the associations and address their demand,...

Amidst report of nine UDP MLAs planning to shift allegiance to the BJP, the state’s largest regional party continues to put up a brave face, asserting that a majority of its MLAs remain with the organisation and alleged that someone — inside or outside the party — was trying to create confusion and split it. UDP general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne said no UDP legislator had publicly declared an intention to join the BJP. “There’s no one from our party or any MLA who spoke to any news channel or print media that we are going to join BJP.” He said the reports were being spread for personal interest and to weaken the party in the Assembly. Asked whether all UDP MLAs were still with the party, Chyne said “almost,” but stressed that the majority remained intact as of Sunday. H...

Meghalaya Police reportedly neutralised four suspected members of an armed gang during an early-morning operation near Songsak in East Garo Hills district on Sunday, August 30. The operation was carried out at around 4 am, following inputs regarding the presence and activities of the suspected gang in the area. The group is believed to be linked to several criminal cases reported across the Assam-Meghalaya region. Police are also examining a possible connection between the gang and the recent murder of a businessman at Damra Bazaar in Assam’s Goalpara district. Investigators are working to establish whether the suspects had any role in the incident. Following the operation, forensic teams reached the scene and began collecting evidence as part of the ongoing investigation. The ev...

Meghalaya’s economy demonstrated robust performance in the 2024-25 financial year, growing by 12.03 percent and outpacing India’s overall GDP growth rate of 9.78 percent, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) State Finances Audit Report tabled in the assembly. The state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) expanded from Rs 53,223 crore in FY24 to Rs 59,626 crore in FY25. However, the CAG report highlighted a simultaneous 4.58 percent decline in total revenue receipts, which fell from Rs 17,977.86 crore to Rs 17,153.91 crore. This revenue contraction was primarily driven by a sharp 40.15 percent reduction in grants-in-aid from the Central government, which dropped to Rs 3,336.37 crore—the lowest level of central grants received by the state in five years—alongside a 9.4...