News

Shillong, Feb. 4: The Nationalist Congress Party has denied Meghalaya chief minister F.A. Khonglam a ticket to contest the Assembly elections slated for February 26.

The general secretary of the NCP?s Meghalaya unit, Fearless Warjri, told newspersons today that Khonglam?s application had been rejected. ?The NCP high command has approved the decision taken by the state election committee sometime back,? Warjri said.

The NCP confirmed the news through a statement here this evening. ?Khonglam?s application has not been entertained. The party decided not to nominate him as its candidate for the...

Feb. 3: Firearms deposited with Assam police during Operation Rhino in 1990 are being ?conditionally released? to their owners.

Though the Assam government has yet to officially announce any change in its policy on private ownership of firearms, it has reportedly decided to return weapons stocked in the police malkhanas because of an improvement in the law and order situation.

Sources in Guwahati said the government had not framed a new policy on the issue, but asked the authorities of various districts to release firearms after verifying the individual requirements of their owners and the...

Shillong, Feb. 4: Ingenuity seems to be the flavour of the election season in Meghalaya. A few days after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) released an audio cassette of songs to woo the electorate, chief minister F.A. Khonglam?s campaign team came out with a colourful calendar bearing his photograph and name. Copies of the calendar are now being distributed free among voters in Khonglam?s constituency, Sohra.

J.S. Phanbuh, who is the chief minister?s brother-in-law and NCP candidate for the Jirang seat, and Ardhendhu Chaudhuri from Mawprem are doing likewise in a bid to gain visibility...

Kohima, Feb. 4: The wife of Nagaland?s first chief minister has accepted the challenge of ousting the one who is in charge at present.

Chubala Ao, a Padmashree, will take on S.C. Jamir in Aonglenden constituency of Mokokchung district, a seat the chief minister has retained for several terms. She will be contesting the election as a representative of the newly-formed Nagaland People?s Front (NPF).

Ao, whose husband P. Shilu Ao had steered Nagaland through its first few years as a state of the Indian Union, was offered the poll ticket at a convention of the NPF. While addressing the gathering...

SHILLONG, Feb 3 ? The annual pilgrimage to the sacred U Lum Sohpetbneng peak in Umiam, about 20 kms from here was organised today drawing thousands of followers of the Khasi traditional faith from all parts of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The day-long pilgrimage, was organised by the Seng Khasi, the spiritual and cultural custodian of the ?Hynniewtrep? people comprising the Khasi and Jaintia races. The Hynniewtrep community fondly regards the Sohpetbneng peak as the trusted divine sentinel, jealously guarding the spiritual belief, the territorial integrity and cultural heritage of the Khasi...