Shillong

Suzanne Farisha Syiem, a resident of Shillong, narrowly escaped the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22, where 26 people were shot dead. Syiem was visiting the region as a tourist with a friend and witnessed the horrifying incident firsthand. Speaking to a YouTube channel, she narrated the terrifying experience during their travel to the picturesque Pahalgam valley, which required about an hour and a half of trekking to reach. She described the location as reminiscent of the Shillong Golf Course — only more beautiful, nestled atop a hill. Recalling the terrifying moments, Syiem said she was resting under the shade of a tree, as suggested by a photographer accompanying them, when she noticed an armed man hiding behind another tree. According to her, the man — lat...

RTI activist Napoleon S Mawphniang has petitioned Governor CH Vijayashankar and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged financial irregularities in the Laitumkhrah Municipal Market redevelopment project. Mawphniang lodged a complaint with Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang, who is also the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, for a CBI probe alleging financial irregularities, procedural violations, conflict of interest, and environmental non-compliance of the project. He said on Sunday that documents obtained through RTI applications revealed a disturbing pattern of corruption and mismanagement that resulted in a 36.8% increase in project costs and a delay of over four years. He said a CBI probe is imperative for a comprehensive foren...

Anti-Aadhaar protesters held a public rally near the U Kiang Nangbah opposite Shillong Civil Hospital to oppose the government’s decision to push for mandatory Aadhaar-linking to access various government benefits. Later, a minor scuffle also ensued between protesters and police personnel, drawing criticisms. The government has however distanced itself from the matter of mandatory Aadhaar-linking, leaving accountability to the Centre. The Meghalaya unit of the Awaken India Movement (AIM) on Wednesday held a public rally near the statue of U Kiang Nangbah opposite Shillong Civil Hospital to oppose the government’s decision to push for mandatory Aadhaar-linking to access various government benefits. Speaking during the public rally, AIM Meghalaya unit chairman Banshai Marbaniang said the...

The third ASEAN-India Artists' Camp is being held in Shillong, bringing together artists from ASEAN countries and India in a joint endeavor to use art to explore cultural narratives. The goal of the March 29–April 7 event is to foster artistic communication and understanding between the participating countries. Of the 34 artists in the camp, 11 are from ASEAN nations, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. With a significant representation from Northeast India, Indian players come from a variety of geographical areas. Notable artists include Chandan Bez Barua from Assam Government Art College and Raphael Warjri from Meghalaya's Riti Academy. The program, which is organized by SEHER, encourages artists ...

In what can be termed a major bolt from the blue, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has suspended its sitting legislator from North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum, citing anti-party activities. In a letter to Nongrum, VPP vice president, Dr. Kara H. Shen, referred to a show-cause notice issued to him and stated that the party had carefully examined his response. “It is observed that your reply, rather than expressing remorse or acknowledging the concerns raised, was defensive, confrontational, and lacked any sign of regret for actions deemed detrimental to the party’s interests,” the letter read. The VPP further noted that Nongrum’s approach in responding to the notice reflected defiance of party discipline and principles, which could not be overlooked. Following thorough deliberation...

A Shillong court has convicted two individuals in separate Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases. On March 18, the Court of Special Judge (POCSO) sentenced Maitshaphrang Kharmawlong to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, along with a ₹10,000 fine. Additionally, he was sentenced to three years under Section 506 of the IPC for criminal intimidation, with an extra ₹5,000 fine. Failure to pay the fines will result in additional simple imprisonment. In a separate case, Demonstar Kharbani was convicted under Section 8 of the POCSO Act and sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment with a ₹3,000 fine. Non-payment of the fine will also lead to further imprisonment. Both cases were registered at Rynjah Police Station, with inv...

Prof. Sherwin M. Sungoh, who was appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in November 2024, has officially taken charge on March 21, 2025, in response to directives from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of India, and requests from State Government officials. Prof. Sungoh had initially refrained from assuming office due to the prevailing unrest in the University and in solidarity with students who were on a hunger strike. However, in light of the absence of Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.S. Shukla from the headquarters since March 3, 2025, the functioning of the University has been affected, particularly in academic, financial, and administrative matters. While routine operations have continued under the effective management of the Statutory Officers,...

The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, in association with the NSS Cell, successfully organized the District-Level Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Festival 2025 on March 18 and 19, 2025. The festival provided a platform for young minds to engage in meaningful discussions on governance, economy, national security, and social progress, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. The inaugural function was graced by Rudi V. Warjri, IFS (Retd.) as the Chief Guest, while F. Rumnong, State NSS Officer, attended as the Guest of Honour. Prof. K. Debbarma, Department of Political Science, presented the university's remarks on the significance of the event. The program commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. R. L. Nongkhlaw, Dean Students' Welfare, who introduced the dignitaries and ...

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has shifted the CUET examination centres for many Meghalaya students from Guwahati to Shillong following the intervention of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. “Happy that NTA has shifted most of the students from Meghalaya from the Guwahati center to the Shillong center after the intervention of the state government. I thank the officials of NTA and Hon’ble @dpradhanbjp ji for his continuous support and understanding,” Sangma posted on X on Tuesday. Earlier, the chief minister had sought the intervention of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to allocate CUET examination centres for candidates in Meghalaya.