Meghalaya

In response to increasing reports of coercive and unauthorised fundraising practices, the East Khasi Hills district administration has banned all donation drives conducted without official approval. The directive was issued by District Magistrate RM Kurbah on June 19 and has come into immediate effect. The order follows growing concerns in the district about groups allegedly pressuring commercial establishments for donations, often without any legal or administrative clearance. Several complaints were recently reported in both print and electronic media, prompting swift action from authorities. As per the directive, no individual or organisation is allowed to collect donations in any form—whether in cash or kind—without prior permission from the competent authority. The ban has been en...

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Meghalaya Police, which arrived here on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing investigation pertaining to the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, has questioned around 20 people, including Sonam and Raj Kushwaha's family members, to date. Apart from the family members, Meghalaya Police also visited Sonam's brother Govind Raghuvanshi's plywood factory and questioned employees working there, who were known to Sonam and Raj Kushwaha, key accused in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi. During cross-examination of arrested accused -- Sonam, her alleged boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and his three friends -- the Meghalaya Police learnt that they had discussed the entire plan to execute crime at a restaurant located in Super Corridor area in Indore. The owner of the resta...

The elder brother of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was murdered in Meghalaya during his honeymoon trip, has alleged that the victim’s wife Sonam Raghuvanshi is misleading the police, demanding that she be subjected to detailed questioning. He said on Thursday that Sonam and four other accused in the case must be brought to Indore for a thorough investigation to uncover the “complete truth” behind the murder, which sent shockwaves across the country. The remarks came on a day a Shillong court extended the police custody of Sonam and her alleged paramour Raj Kushwaha by two days. “Sonam misled the investigators during her eight-day police custody and withheld key details about the murder. She must be remanded in police custody for a longer period for proper interrogation,” Raja’s brother Sachin Rag...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday felicitated top-performing students and schools of South Garo Hills while also launching key educational and environmental initiatives aimed at long-term development in the region. In a ceremony held in Baghmara, CM Sangma presented certificates of appreciation to three schools for their consistent academic excellence in the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations over the past three years. Students who performed exceptionally well in the recent Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams were also honoured. Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister encouraged the students to remain focused and contribute meaningfully to the development of Meghalaya. “May they continue to work hard and contribute to o...

In a major embarrassment for the state, Meghalaya has been adjudged the lowest performing state in the latest 2023-24 Performing Grade Index (PGI) that assesses school education at the district level, according to a report of the Ministry of Education. Out of the total weightage of 600 points, East Khasi Hills was the best performing district in Meghalaya with 212 points, followed by East Jaintia Hills (180), Eastern West Khasi Hills (180), Ri-Bhoi (180), East Garo Hills (170), West Khasi Hills (169), West Jaintia Hills (168), South Garo Hills (168), West Garo Hills (167), South West Khasi Hills (166), and South West Garo Hills (162). North Garo Hills, which scored 155 points out of 600, was the second-worst performing district in the country behind Longding, Arunachal Pradesh (145)...

In a new twist to the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, police have unearthed fresh details linking Sonam Raghuvanshi to a man named “Sanjay Verma”. Sanjay Verma, whose name has surfaced for the first time in the investigation, has been identified as a person who had extensive telephonic contact with Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, both before and after their wedding. Sources indicate that Sonam frequently contacted the number registered as Sanjay Verma on the Truecaller app. With the dramatic entry of Sanjay Verma in the investigation, the case is likely to take a new turn. The authorities are now trying to track Verma and ascertain his role, if any, in the conspiracy surrounding Raja’s murder. According to call data records accessed by the police, between March 1 and April 8, Sonam and S...

In a major breakthrough in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, the Meghalaya Police team on Tuesday traced a rented flat in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where the main accused and wife of the deceased, Sonam, is believed to have taken shelter after allegedly orchestrating the murder of her husband during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The hideout was located in the Dewas Naka area of Indore, following credible inputs received by police. Local officials confirmed that the Meghalaya team inspected the premises and gathered initial evidence linking Sonam to the flat, rented soon after the crime. “We received information that after the murder, Sonam stayed here briefly before travelling to Uttar Pradesh, where she was later arrested,” a local police officer told PTI. According to sources, the flat...

The state's continuous efforts to fortify its healthcare ecosystem took a major stride ahead at the inaugural Meghalaya Health Summit. The conference brought together health sector stakeholders and provided a forum for substantive discussion on important health issues, new technology, and ways to enhance service delivery, especially in rural regions. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma emphasized the state's dedication to revolutionizing healthcare service in his remarks during the conference. He pointed out that the sessions clarified urgent problems like diabetes and cancer, highlighting the significance of data-driven research in successfully addressing these health challenges. The summit's main goal was to increase cooperation, particularly in bridging the gap between access to technol...

Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, was taken to the Meghalaya Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (MIMHANS) for a psychiatric evaluation on Monday. According to East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, the evaluation was a routine procedure carried out based on a doctor’s recommendation. “It was done to ensure she is mentally sound and not showing any signs of depression while in police custody,” Syiem told reporters. He clarified that no unusual behavior had been observed, and the checkup was standard protocol. Sonam is in police custody along with her alleged lover, Raj Singh Kushwaha, and his three friends — Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi. All five were arrested from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in connectio...