Shillong

The Khasi Students’ Union’s (KSU) West Jaintia Hills District Unit has warned the Meghalaya government against the proposed railway project in Khasi Hills or future extension of tracks to Jaintia Hills, stating that railway connectivity would accelerate demographic changes and threaten the survival of indigenous Hynniewtrep communities. The student union’s warning comes in the wake of reports of a plan by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to conduct preliminary survey for the proposed 135-km Chaparmukh-Jowai new broad-gauge line as early as 2026. “KSU has never compromised on the issue of railways from the very outset in 2008-09 till today. If the government forcibly tries to bring railways to Jaintia Hills, we will have no option but to physically defend our land and our future gen...

The Meghalaya government reported to the High Court that two illegal coke oven plants, which breached siting norms set by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), have been demolished, with plans to dismantle the remaining 15 by December 15. This update came during a hearing regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing illegal coal mining and transportation in the state. The MSPCB is scheduled to carry out inspections quarterly, with consolidation of findings to follow. Additionally, the government is awaiting approval for the shifting and auctioning of 3,039.92 MT of coal located in Nongjri, while investigations continue into 920.73 MT of missing coal. An aerial survey by Garuda in South West Khasi Hills identified 37 coal dump sites; 28 have undergone physical ...

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State Heritage Committee to submit a comprehensive report identifying all buildings, artefacts, structures and other elements covered under Section 3 of the Meghalaya Heritage Act, 2012. The Committee have also been asked to outline the steps taken so far for their restoration and preservation. The directive was issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the proposed demolition of Bidhan Bhavan, also known as Roy Villa, which currently functions as a State Circuit House.During the hearing, the Advocate General sought additional time to file a detailed affidavit after reviewing official records relating to the history of Bidhan Bhavan ...

Shillong Lajong halted Nongkseh’s imposing 11-match winning streak with a 1-1 draw in a high-stakes SSA Champions Cup Group B fixture that delivered major implications for the knockout stage. The point proved decisive for Nongkseh, securing their passage to the semi-finals, while Lajong — already qualified — extended their own unbeaten run across competitions to 15 matches. The result also marked the first time either side conceded in this year’s tournament. The point proved decisive for Nongkseh, securing their passage to the semi-finals, while Lajong — already qualified — extended their own unbeaten run across competitions to 15 matches. The result also marked the first time either side conceded in this year’s tournament. Nongkseh struck first through Kynsaibor Lhuid in the 67th minu...

An interim report of the Justice (retired) B.P. Katakey-led committee has highlighted a major failure in ground-level policing in East Jaintia Hills, stating that officers of Umpleng Outpost under Khliehriat Police Station failed to detect an operational illegal coal mine in Lumbangla village.The lapses, the panel report stated, had occurred despite the site having reinforced cement concrete boundaries along with cranes, tools and 2,112 MT of illegally mined coal dumped nearby. The findings came after a complaint was lodged by Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang on November 19, 2025. The complaint was supported by video clips showing active mining. Marbaniang informed the committee that despite complaints lodged by the Dorbar Shnong Lumbangla with the Superintendent of Police (SP) on Aug...

The Regional Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Conference 2025, a flagship regional event leading up to the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026, was held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Wednesday.Virtually addressing conference, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav said, “During this conference in Shillong, the focus will be on people, planet and progress, which are the three pillars, the three sutras of the AI impact summit.” Vaishnav spoke on the central government’s mission to develop AI in the country. “As a part of this mission, we have allocated Rs 10,300 crore over the past five years. We have created a common computing facility for everybody to get access to AI resources and more than 38,000 Graphics Processing Unit (GP...

National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday said the party was prepared for the political and law-and-order challenges confronting Manipur, describing the current crisis in the state, governed by the administration under President’s Rule, as an opportunity for organisational growth. “There will always be challenges, but at the same time, challenges mean opportunities also,” Sangma told mediapersons after felicitating newly appointed Manipur State President Dr. Lorho S. Pfoze at the NPP office in Shillong. Along with Pfoze, newly appointed legislative party leader Rameshwar M. Singh, Chief Whip Loken Singh and working presidents Janghemlung Panmei and Noorul Hasan were also felicitated. The NPP chief expressed confidence that under Pfoze’s leadership, the party w...

In a major development for heritage conservation in Meghalaya, the High Court has ordered status quo on the proposed demolition of the historic Circuit House in Laban, Shillong—also known as Bidhan Bhavan or Roy Villa—until further orders. The decision comes after a strong citizen-led campaign spearheaded by Malabika Bisharad, a Shillong resident originally from Behala, Kolkata, who has been actively raising concerns over the state government’s plan to raze the structure for a concrete expansion project. Earlier this month, the High Court registered a public interest litigation (PIL) based on a letter addressed to Chief Justice Soumen Sen. The letter described the Circuit House as a heritage site of immense historical importance. On Thursday, the matter came up for hearing before a Divisi...

MWire Labs, a technology startup based in Shillong, has announced the release of NE-BERT, an AI model built specifically for the languages of Northeast India. The new model supports nine languages: Khasi, Garo, Pnar, Assamese, Manipuri (Meitei), Mizo, Nyishi, Kokborok, and Nagamese. Unlike global Al models which primarily focus on English or Hindi, NE-BERT is designed to help digital tools and apps understand the unique languages of the Northeast.

The U Soso Tham Auditorium roared to life as acclaimed actor Vinay Pathak delivered a gripping performance in a play inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear at the Shillong Literary Festival. Directed by the visionary Rajat Kapoor, the production blended tragedy, dark humour, and contemporary drama into a spellbinding theatrical storm. Pathak’s portrayal of the tormented monarch unraveling under the weight of betrayal held the audience captive from the first moment. Kapoor’s signature minimalist direction gave the classic tale a fresh heartbeat, turning Shakespeare’s centuries-old tragedy into a modern emotional spectacle. The crowd rose in a standing ovation as the curtains fell, marking the performance as one of the festival’s most electrifying highlights. In just one evening, Shillon...