Page 6 - Meghalaya

PM Modi to launch projects worth Rs 6,800 crore in Tripura, Meghalaya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Tripura and Meghalaya on Sunday and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of projects worth more than Rs 6,800 crore there. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement that the projects encompass a wide array of sectors, including housing, road, agriculture, telecom, IT, tourism and hospitality. Modi will also participate in the golden jubilee celebration of the North Eastern Council and attend its meeting in Shillong, it said. In Agartala, the prime minister will launch the "Grih Pravesh" programme for more than two lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban and Rural schemes. The PMO noted that the North Eastern Council (NEC) was formally inaugurated on November 7, 1972, and it has played a key role in the region's socio-economic development by supporting various infrastructure projects and development initiatives. It has helped create valuable capital and social infrastructure, especially in ..

India, Kazakhstan start joint military drill in Meghalaya

The armies of India and Kazakhstan on Thursday began a fortnight-long joint exercise in Meghalaya, a senior defence officer said here. The sixth edition of 'Kazind-22', a joint training exercise aimed at enhancing the level of defence cooperation and fostering bilateral relations between the two nations, started at Umroi, 25 km from Shillong, and will conclude on December 28, he said. "This joint exercise will enable the two armies to train, plan and execute a series of combined tactical drills for neutralising likely threats that may be encountered during UN peacekeeping operations," the Army officer told PTI. The two countries instituted a joint annual training exercise in 2016 as 'Exercise Prabal Dostyk', which was later upgraded to a company-level exercise and renamed 'Exercise Kazind' in 2018. The Kazakh soldiers were drawn from their South-based Regional Command while the 11 Gorkha Rifles will be participating in the exercise representing the Indian Army, the officer said. A

Mission Meghalaya: Mamata, Abhishek Banerjee on 3-day tour from today

It is learnt that West Bengal minister, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, will be accompanying the two

Meghalaya govt took Rs 1,500 cr loan to give to farmers ahead of polls: BJP

The BJP on Friday accused Meghalaya's National People's Party (NPP)-led government of availing a loan of Rs 1,500 crore to distribute to farmers under a scheme ahead of the assembly elections due next year. State BJP chief Ernest Mawrie also alleged that the NPP is trying to show the beneficiaries that it is the programme of the ruling party. The saffron party's accusations came three days after Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma distributed Rs 5,000 each to more than 53,000 farmers of the state under the Focus+ scheme, under which peasants who are part of a group of producers get the money. Efforts to reach government officials or senior party leaders for comments did not fructify. Mawrie claimed that the Conrad Sangma government had taken a loan of over Rs 1,500 crore from foreign investors to woo voters ahead of the elections. "I request the people of the state to be careful because you may receive Rs 5,000 but in future, you will have to repay back the loan with interest a

Meghalaya gives 45-day extension to panels on border dispute with Assam

The Meghalaya government granted a 45-day extension to the three regional committees formed to resolve the remaining six areas of differences with Assam, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang said on Friday. The announcement came after the Meghalaya High Court ordered an interim stay on physical demarcation or erection of boundary posts on the ground in connection with an agreement signed by the chief ministers of the two states in March, resolving differences in six of the 12 contested locations along the 884.9-km boundary in the first phase. The three regional committees were constituted on September 26 to examine the present status of the remaining six areas of difference and submit their report within 45 days, the chief secretary said. The committees were formed after the two states started the second phase of border talks for resolving the remaining six areas of difference. "The regional committees have been granted another 45 days extension to submit their report to the state government

Meghalaya CM distributes Rs 5,000 to more than 53,000 farmers in state

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma distributed Rs 5,000 to more than 53,000 farmers of the state under the Focus+ scheme of the state government. FOCUS+ is a scheme devised by the Meghalaya government where farmers who are part of a group of producers will get Rs 5000 each. On Monday, farmers young and old converged at the runway of the Baljek airport, 30 km north of Tura town in West Garo Hills district, to receive Rs 5,000 cash in their bank account. In a single press of a button by the chief minister, the farmers received a message on their phone. "Congratulations your FOCUS+ benefit has been transferred to your bank account. Welfare of farmers has been a priority of our government Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister, Meghalaya," the message read. "The government targeted to reach out to 4.5 lakh farmers this year. We have successfully transferred to more than 53,000 beneficiaries. We will transfer this amount every year (if voted again)," Sangma told the ...

Assam lifts travel restrictions to Meghalaya, 6 days after border violence

Assam on Sunday lifted travel restrictions to Meghalaya, six days after being imposed in the aftermath of violence in a disputed area along the inter-state border, police said. Vehicles from Assam are now allowed to enter Meghalaya, a senior police officer said. "Wherever necessary, vehicles are being escorted. In other vulnerable areas, police patrolling has been provided," he said. An advisory was issued by the Assam Police, asking people to avoid travelling to the neighbouring state following the incident on Tuesday. Violence had broken out at Mukroh village near the disputed border between the two states in West Karbi Anglong district in the early hours of Tuesday, after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest guards from Assam Six people - five tribal villagers from Meghalaya and a forest guard from Assam - were killed due to the clashes.

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Security deployment, prohibitory orders continue at Assam-Meghalaya border

Heavy security was deployed and prohibitory orders remained in force at the disputed area along the Assam-Meghalaya border, where six people were killed following violent clashes, even as travel restrictions between the two states continued for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday, officials said. An advisory was issued by the Assam Police, asking people to avoid travelling to the neighbouring state following the incident on Tuesday. The situation is still not completely peaceful in Meghalaya. There could be attacks on people or vehicles from Assam. Hence, we are asking people not to travel to that state, a police officer said. If at all someone has to travel, we have asked them to go by Meghalaya-registered vehicles, he said. Police barricades remained erected at Jorabat in Guwahati and Cachar district, the two main entry points from Assam into Meghalaya. No restrictions, however, were imposed on commercial vehicles like trucks, carrying goods and other items, the officer ...

LIVE: Tributes paid to martyrs on 14th anniversary of 26/11 terror attacks

Live news updates: ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed

Meghalaya-Assam border firing: Offices in Shillong shut; vehicles stranded

The state government has deployed additional central and state forces in various sensitive and important locations and installations

Assam continues 'advisory' against travel to Meghalaya amid border row

Assam on Friday continued to 'advise' people from the state not to travel to Meghalaya as the "situation is not very good" following a clash in a disputed border area between the two neighbouring states in which six persons were killed four days ago. Transportation of fuel from Assam to the hill state has also been stopped by the apex petroleum workers' body since Thursday following reports of attacks on vehicles from the state in Meghalaya, though other vehicles ferrying goods continued to cross the border. The situation at the clash site in West Karbi Anglong district continued to remain tense but under control with security forces ensuring no further flare-ups, official sources said. Restrictions under CrPC section 144 also remained in force in the area, they added. "Yesterday in Shillong, public burnt police vehicles. The situation is not very good. That's why we are advising people not to travel, especially people from Assam," Deputy Commissioner (East) of Guwahati Police ...

Shah assures CBI probe into border firing, as fresh violence hits Shillong

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given firm assurances at a meeting held in Delhi of acting on his request for a CBI probe into the "firing by Assam Police" along the states' border. However, even as the meeting unfolded in the national capital, mob anger over alleged shooting of tribal villagers from the state by Assam police spilled over on to the streets of the picturesque hill resort of Shillong. A police bus and a jeep were torched as stones and petrol bombs flew thick and fast. Seven people, including four police personnel, were injured in the clash that broke out between the angry protesters and the police, Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem told PTI. Protestors were demonstrating against the shooting of five tribal villagers by Assam police in the early hours of Tuesday at Mukroh, in West Jaintia Hills on the disputed Assam-Meghalaya border. The home ministry spokesperson later tweeted that Shah has assured

Mamata Banerjee voices anguish over violence on Meghalaya-Assam border

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed anguish over the violence at a disputed Assam-Meghalaya border location that killed six people a day before and prayed for peace there. Six people, including a forest guard, were killed in the violence in the early hours of Tuesday after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest personnel from Assam. "I am gravely anguished by the tragic instance of firing at Mukroh, Meghalaya, that claimed lives of 6 people. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this conflict. I earnestly pray that peace and calm prevails for the greater good," Banerjee said on Twitter. Notably, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the incident showed the 'ineptitude' of the Meghalaya government. Expressing shock over the incident, the TMC MP tweeted, "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the extremely unfortunate firing .

Border firing: Assam disagrees with Meghalaya CM Sangma on jurisdiction

Rebutting Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma's claim, the Assam government has said that the firing incident at Mukhrow village that killed six people falls within the territory of the state

Six killed in violence in Assam-Meghalaya border; police on alert

Four persons, including a forest guard, were killed in violence at the Assam-Meghalaya border in West Karbi Anglong district in the early hours of Tuesday after a truck transporting illegal timber was intercepted, officials said. Following the incident, the Assam police sounded an alert in all the districts bordering Meghalaya to thwart any possible law and order situation, another official said. The Assam forest department team intercepted and stopped the truck at Mukru area carrying the illegal timber towards West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya around 3 am, West Karbi Anglong superintendent of police Imdad Ali told PTI. As the truck tried to flee, the forest guards fired at it and deflated a tyre. The vehicle's driver and handyman and another person were then apprehended, though others managed to escape, he said. Police reinforcements were rushed to the spot when the forest guards contacted Zirikending police station. After the police reached the spot, a large number of peo

BSF seizes 1,025 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup on Meghalaya border

As many as 1,025 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup, which was meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh, were seized by the Border Security Force (BSF) from the International border.

If it comes to power, TMC will not control Meghalaya from Bengal: Banerjee

Abhishek Banerjee announced that former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma would be the party's chief ministerial face in the upcoming polls.

Second round of Assam-Meghalaya border talks likely by November-end: Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the second round of discussions with Assam for resolving the border dispute is likely to start by the end of this month. Assam and Meghalaya identified 12 disputed areas at the inter-state border. In the first round, the two Northeastern states resolved differences in six areas and signed an agreement in March. "Within November we should be able to have the official talks (for the six remaining areas)," Sangma told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The background work has already started for the remaining six areas, and different committees formed on the issue are coordinating, he said. "We should be able to have the first round of meeting with all the regional committees, and hopefully we will be able to initiate the talks of the second phase this month," he said. Noting that he recently spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the issue, Sangma said the two states will be able to hold the talks once the Nort

As Meghalaya, Nagaland head for elections, there is unrest in the air

When pundits are sceptical about Naga peace talks but all parties are united in seeking resolution of the issue before assembly polls, ethnic troubles may cause the situation to heat up in Meghalaya