The Shillong Times

The Shillong Times Northeast India’s second oldest English daily established on August 10,1945, The Shillong Times is
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The Shillong Times, a leading media house in Meghalaya, dedicated to delivering news and information from across the state, the Northeast, and the nation. Founded on August 10, 1945, The Shillong Times is the second-oldest English daily in Northeast India and is celebrating 78 glorious years of journalistic excellence.

08/06/2026

ST VIDEOS

A geyser explosion caused extensive damage to a house at Jaiaw Pdeng Main Road, Block-3, in East Khasi Hills district on Saturday afternoon, police said.

According to police, the incident occurred at the residence of Donbok Jana Nongbet.

She had switched on the geyser installed in the bathroom at around 11 am.

However, at about 2.35 pm, the geyser suddenly burst, causing significant structural damage to the bathroom.

The impact of the explosion led to the collapse of two sides of the bathroom wall, while other portions of the structure developed cracks.

Police said no one was injured in the incident as there was no person inside the bathroom when the geyser exploded.

The damage to the property has been estimated at around Rs 3 lakh. Police suspect that the blast may have been caused by a malfunction of the geyser.

08/06/2026

ST BYTES

Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) nominee James PK Sangma on Monday filed his nomination papers for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya.

Sangma submitted his nomination before Assembly Secretary Malthus A. Sangma at the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Cabinet ministers, legislators and representatives of MDA constituent parties.

With Monday being the last day for filing nominations and no opposition candidate having entered the fray till late evening, Sangma appeared poised for an uncontested election to the Council of States. The Rajya Sabha election is scheduled to be held on June 18.

Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination, Sangma expressed gratitude to the people of Meghalaya and the leaders of the ruling alliance for reposing faith in him.

“I am first of all very grateful to the people of Meghalaya and especially to our Chief Minister Dr Conrad Sangma, the Deputy Chief Ministers, ministers, MLAs and our alliance partners from the UDP, HSPDP, PDF and the Independents for supporting my candidature to the Rajya Sabha,” he said.

Describing the nomination as a collective decision of the MDA, Sangma said he felt deeply honoured and privileged to have been unanimously selected by the alliance.

“Today I have just finished filing the nomination and I look forward to being elected. Once elected, the responsibilities of a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament will fall on my shoulders. I intend to be vocal on issues concerning Meghalaya so that the voice of the state can be heard in Parliament,” he said.

The former minister said he would focus on both long-pending issues affecting the state and emerging challenges that Meghalaya would have to navigate in the future.

05/06/2026

ST BYTES

The Meghalaya government has said that the recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in parts of the state has been largely brought under control, with the number of cases now showing a declining trend. Authorities remain vigilant and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Speaking to reporters, Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, FR Kharkongor, said the department has activated 162 rapid response teams and task forces to contain the disease and prevent its spread to unaffected areas.

Cases of ASF were reported from several pockets of East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, West Khasi Hills and Eastern West Khasi Hills districts. The government has intensified surveillance and response measures in the affected regions to minimise further losses.

To support farmers impacted by the outbreak, the state government is providing compensation of ₹4,000 for pigs lost to the disease. Kharkongor also said that Meghalaya has sought access to ASF vaccines, with some vaccine candidates currently undergoing trials, offering hope for a more effective long-term solution to the recurring outbreaks.

05/06/2026

ST VIDEOS

Despite recent improvements in examination pass percentages, Meghalaya continues to rank at the bottom of national education assessments, exposing deep-rooted problems in the state's school system. One of the most pressing concerns remains poor infrastructure and weak oversight in rural areas, which contribute to high dropout rates and poor learning outcomes.

A stark example is Durama Kakija Government LP School in South Garo Hills, located about 10 kilometres from Chokpot near the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve. Established in the 1930s, the school serves a remote community accessible only by motorcycles or four-wheel-drive vehicles due to the poor condition of roads.

Villagers allege that for nearly four years, the school functioned with only one teacher, Gacheng Ch Marak, who was frequently absent. According to residents, classes were rarely held, students were often left without instruction, and examinations were conducted without proper teaching. Despite repeated complaints to education authorities, no action was reportedly taken against the teacher.

The situation began to improve after additional teachers were appointed, including the current headmaster. However, the new staff discovered that many pupils did not even know which class they belonged to, forcing teachers to place students according to their age and ability. Residents also claimed that attendance records for teachers were not properly maintained until this year.

Infrastructure remains another major challenge. The school has only one classroom measuring 18 by 12 feet, where around 60 students across seven classes are accommodated. Community leaders and civil society groups have criticised both the education department and the government for failing to ensure accountability, improve facilities and provide the support needed to deliver quality education in remote parts of Meghalaya.

04/06/2026

ST BYTES

The Meghalaya government has urged the Centre to address four long-pending issues concerning the state, including a mechanism to curb illegal immigration, inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, amendments to the Sixth Schedule, and proposed changes to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said these concerns were raised in a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Shillong for the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC). He said the state has sought an effective framework to tackle illegal immigration, including consideration of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and provisions under the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).

The memorandum also reiterated Meghalaya’s demand for constitutional recognition of Khasi and Garo languages, a long-standing issue backed by resolutions of the state Assembly. On Sixth Schedule reforms, the state stressed that any amendments should be made only after consultations with state governments and autonomous district councils to protect the interests of tribal communities.

On FCRA amendments, concerns raised by organisations regarding their impact on institutions receiving foreign funds were conveyed to the Centre. Sangma said the Union Home Minister responded positively and asked the state to submit detailed written proposals, adding that Meghalaya will continue to pursue all four issues.

04/06/2026

ST VIDEOS

Traffic restrictions imposed across Shillong in view of the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah triggered widespread frustration among residents on Thursday, with massive traffic congestion reported from several parts of the city.

Long queues of vehicles were seen on major roads, causing significant delays for commuters, office-goers, students and the general public. The restrictions, put in place as part of the security arrangements for the Union Minister's visit, led to traffic snarls in various localities throughout the day.

Many residents expressed anger over the inconvenience caused, questioning the planning behind the arrangements. Several commuters took to social media and voiced their displeasure, with some sarcastically suggesting that the Union Home Minister should have travelled by helicopter to avoid disrupting normal life in the city.

Others argued that the government should have declared a public holiday if such extensive traffic restrictions were necessary, saying that people were left stranded for hours and faced difficulty reaching their destinations.

04/06/2026

ST VIDEOS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired the 73rd Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, bringing together top political leaders and officials from across the Northeast to discuss key issues related to the region's development and growth.

The meeting was attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, Meghalaya Governor C.H. Vijayashankar, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and DoNER Secretary Sanjay Jaju, among other senior officials.

Governors and chief ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura also participated in the plenary session, which serves as a platform for reviewing development initiatives, strengthening regional cooperation and addressing key challenges facing the northeastern states.

04/06/2026

ST VIDEOS

Taking advantage of the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Meghalaya for the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) on Thursday renewed several long-pending demands, including the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), resolution of the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam, and protection of the state's natural resources.

Members of the students' body displayed placards at various locations across Shillong, including Polo Grounds and near the statue of U Kiang Nangbah, seeking the Centre's attention on issues affecting the indigenous people of the state.

The KSU reiterated its demand for the immediate implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya, describing it as a necessary mechanism to check illegal immigration and protect the identity and interests of the indigenous population.

Several placards carried by the protesters read, "ILP is the only solution to stop illegal immigration", "Government of India can grant ILP to Manipur, then why is it silent when it comes to Meghalaya?" and "ILP is not anti-development. ILP is our right to protect ourselves."

The union also urged the Centre to refrain from pursuing uranium mining in the state, with placards carrying messages such as "Leave it on the ground: Stop uranium from tainting our towns."

Apart from ILP and uranium mining, the KSU highlighted concerns over the long-pending inter-state boundary dispute with Assam. One of the placards read, "Every inch of our land, every drop of our right. Government of India, secure our borders."

The students' body also raised concerns over the recruitment of nurses at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), alleging delays in filling vacancies and stressing the need for qualified healthcare personnel.

03/06/2026

ST BYTES

The Meghalaya government will continue to press for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and inclusion of the Khasi and Jaintia languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution during interactions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in Shillong for the plenary session of the North Eastern Council.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that while the NEC meeting is focused on regional development issues, the state would utilise any opportunity to raise its pending demands with the Home Minister.

Tynsong said the Meghalaya Assembly has already passed resolutions on both issues and the government remains committed to pursuing them with the Centre.

He also reiterated that public concerns over the railway project remain linked to the demand for ILP, stating that stakeholders want the long-pending permit system addressed before discussions on railway expansion move forward.

He added that border security and other regional issues could also feature in discussions during the NEC deliberations.

03/06/2026

ST BYTES

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance-II (MDA-II) on Wednesday unanimously endorsed National People's Party (NPP) leader James PK Sangma as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for June 18 after coalition partners agreed to follow the convention of backing the nominee of the alliance's largest constituent.

The decision was taken during a meeting of leaders of the parliamentary parties of all MDA-II constituents chaired by Chief Minister and alliance leader Conrad K Sangma.

Announcing the decision, MDA-II parliamentary party secretary and West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh said member parties had initially proposed different names from their respective political organisations for consideration.

However, as no consensus emerged around a single candidate, the alliance resolved to adopt the established parliamentary convention of endorsing the proposal put forward by the NPP, the largest partner in the coalition.

The meeting was first briefed on the Rajya Sabha election schedule and the NPP's position on the matter by the party's national and state leadership. Following deliberations, all coalition partners agreed to support James PK Sangma as the official MDA-II nominee.

Speaking after the meeting, Conrad Sangma said the consensus reflected the collective decision of all alliance partners. He emphasised that the candidature should now be viewed as that of the MDA-II rather than any individual political party.

He also clarified that the question of issuing a whip did not arise in the present context, as all constituent parties had formally agreed to back the alliance nominee. Any whip issued by individual parties, he added, would only direct their legislators to support the MDA-II candidate.

James PK Sangma is scheduled to file his nomination papers on June 5 at 2.30 pm. The meeting concluded with Conrad Sangma urging all alliance partners to work together to ensure the successful implementation of the decisions taken.

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