Shillong

Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday said the proposed public rally by the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) on issues including the Lumpongdeng Island project was tied to campaigning for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha byelection. “The public rally by the VPP is because they have started campaigning for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection. We are also going to start our campaigning maybe by next month,” Dhar told reporters. Referring to the state government’s decision to exclude Lumpongdeng Island from the Taj resort and spa project, he said, “The statement of deputy chief minister and cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla is very clear and exactly it has happened like that only.” Asked if the VPP was targeting the NPP, Dhar said, “No, every political party it ...

Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has called on citizens to come together in large numbers for a public meeting scheduled to be held at Madan, emphasizing unity, collective strength, and pressing socio-political concerns. In a message addressed to supporters and the general public, Basaiawmoit began by acknowledging the continued backing of the people and party workers. “Once again, through this message, I would like to congratulate the people of the country… and all the strong support of the Voice of the People Party,” he said. He urged residents from various communities and groups to actively participate in the upcoming gathering. “I would like to urge the residents… to attend this new meeting organized by the Voice of the People Party,” he sta...

Tension prevailed at the Institute of Hotel Management Shillong in Mawkasiang, New Shillong Township, after members of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), Shillong Mihngi Circle, on Monday placed the office of the principal under lock and key in protest against the alleged termination of local Khasi employees and a host of unresolved student issues. A leader of the KSU Shillong Mihngi Circle, Samuel Kharbani told reporters that the union was forced to resort to the drastic step after repeated attempts to engage with the institute's principal, Dr B Kharshiing, failed to yield any response. According to Kharbani, the union had formally written to the principal on April 8 seeking a meeting to discuss various grievances affecting both students and staff. However, he alleged that the pri...

Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma on Thursday underscored the need to rectify historical oversights by amending the Autonomous District Council Rules to address the contentious issue of non-tribals participating in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections. The Congress MP met Governor C.H. Vijaya Shankar in Shillong and discussed primarily the situation in Garo Hills apart from procedures under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and concerns over alleged infiltration of Rohingyas into Meghalaya. On the core issue of non-tribal participation in the GHADC elections, Sangma observed that the council currently lacked specific rules on the matter. “Since the GHADC does not have any such rule in place, the procedures for enacting appropriate laws need to be discussed,” he said, ad...

The "Football for Schools (F4S)" programme was conducted at JNV School in Rymbai, East Jaintia Hills district, aiming to empower youth and instill discipline through football. The event, which took place on Friday, involved the distribution of FIFA footballs to 29 schools in the district. Organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with FIFA for Schools and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the programme included various activities such as a lamp-lighting ceremony, a traditional dance performance, a motivational speech by a student who found success through football, a friendly match between JNV Rymbai and other schools, and the distribution of a total of 112 footballs to participating schools. Important attendees included Dr. Raj Kumar, Pr...

The New Shillong Township Water Supply Scheme is progressing well, with major land disputes cleared and construction of a dam commenced. The project is expected to be completed by next year, with work on the jackwell pump starting. The project, which will serve the New Shillong Township and 32 surrounding villages, has received administrative approval for Phase I with a budget of Rs 538.44 crore. The system will initially supply 33 million litres per day, with a total future capacity of 70 MLD. Raw water will be piped to a treatment plant for processing and distribution. The project integrates a SCADA system and IoT technology for automated monitoring of water flow, pressure, and leak detection.

Meghalaya is set to make its first organised entry into the national spice market with the launch of the Meghalaya Spice Festival, scheduled to be held from January 30 to February 1, 2026. The three-day event will take place at Jio World Drive in Bandra Kurla Complex, one of the country’s leading business and trade hubs. Officials said the festival marks a clear effort by the state to secure better markets, stronger value chains and export opportunities for farmers and producer groups from Meghalaya. The event has been planned as a business-focused platform, bringing together farmer producer organisations, self-help groups, cooperatives and MSMEs from the state with buyers, exporters, organised retail chains, HoReCa players, nutraceutical companies and institutional buyers. A wide r...

A special POCSO court in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has convicted Pynkloide alias Deibor Phyrnge for sexual offences against a minor, ending a case initiated from a missing child complaint in October 2024. An FIR was lodged on October 9, 2024, after a woman reported her granddaughter missing from their home on October 7, with the child recovered the next day. The police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, leading to a thorough investigation by the women police wing and the filing of a chargesheet on January 2, 2025. Upon conclusion of the trial, Special Judge Smti B. Khriam found Phyrnge guilty, sentencing him to three years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000 on...

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) to adopt transparency reforms in its recruitment processes. KSU employment and monitoring cell chairman Reuben Najiar met with MPSC Chairman D Langstang to reiterate demands for implementing key recommendations, including the disclosure of marks. He highlighted that a report from a committee led by Principal Secretary FR Kharkongor was submitted five months ago, yet no actions have been taken. Najiar criticized the MPSC for unjustified delays and stated that the committee's findings should lead to immediate implementation rather than further study. He emphasized that the recruitment process currently lacks fairness and transparency. Additionally, Najiar urged that job advertis...