Shillong

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...

A major fire broke out on Friday evening, gutting temporary tenement houses at Goenka Compound, Mawlonghat, which are owned by three individuals and shelter around 40 tenants. The Fire and Emergency Services received information about the blaze at approximately 4:30 PM. Six fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene to bring the fire under control. Fire personnel were still working to fully extinguish the flames at the time of reporting. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. The tenants managed to salvage some household items and LPG cylinders from the burning structures. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, and investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, local MLA Sanbor Shullai visited the area and assured full support to the affected families. In a...

Saleng A. Sangma, a Congress MP from Tura, has asked the Center to immediately bolster security along the porous India-Bangladesh border, cautioning that tense ties with the neighboring nation represent a severe threat to both national security and Meghalaya.His comments coincide with widespread worries over reported unlawful infiltration from Bangladesh through susceptible areas of the international border in recent days.Sangma addressed the issue, warning that uncontrolled unlawful immigration might have serious repercussions for the nation's internal and national security and that it should not be treated lightly.He claimed to have brought up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government, emphasizing the pressing need for improved border security.In order to s...

The Federation of Shillong Hotels has urged the government to restore interstate flights to Shillong Airport at Umroi under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme to help revive tourism in the region. The federation highlighted that the discontinuation of flights to cities like Agartala and Dimapur has negatively impacted tourist inflow and the local hospitality industry. Parambir Singh Sehdave, the President of the Federation, noted that the airport was previously linked to these cities, but the services ceased years ago, significantly affecting weekend visitors to Shillong. He emphasized the necessity of reinstating flights while waiting for planned airport expansions, which, although taking time, are crucial for enhancing tourism. Currently, Shillong Airport manages around 7,...

Meghalaya's BJP has demanded the permanent closure of all unlawful mining operations following the murder of activist Dilseng M Sangma during an inspection of an illegal quarry in West Garo Hills. BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang condemned the killing, citing a need for decisive action to prevent future tragedies and called for a comprehensive investigation into illegal mining activities statewide. He emphasized that mere arrests are insufficient and urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to implement substantial measures to permanently eradicate illegal mining. This incident highlights the ongoing issues related to illegal mining in Meghalaya, echoing similar past tragedies in Jaintia and Khasi Hills. Additionally, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) condemned the assault, demanding jus...

The debate over railway connectivity in Meghalaya has intensified, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) offering differing but intersecting perspectives on development, migration control and policy coherence. On Wednesday, the Meghalaya BJP reiterated its support for railway expansion in the state, arguing that rail transport is not only essential for long-term economic growth but also a more effective mechanism for regulating migration compared to roadways. Party spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang warned that continued resistance to rail infrastructure could prove costly for the state in the long run. “If railways do not come to our state, we will be the ones who lose out. Thirty or forty years from now, future generations may question why we ...