January
2. Bid to blast Jowai Municipal Board office foiled.
3. Violence between Garos, Rabhas escalates, Indefinite curfew in troubled Resubelpara sub-division.
5. Ethnic tension mounts; 4 killed in East Garo Hills.
6. Conflict toll rises to 8; arson, indefinite curfew continues.
– ADM, Jowai appointed to conduct magisterial enquiry into the death of jailbreak mastermind Fullmoon Dhar.
7. PA Sangma’s family escapes mob fury during a visit to a relief camp in Assam.
11. Govt announces ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh for ethnic riot victims.
16. HSPDP allowed to retain Lion symbol by the election commission.
17. Govt puts on hold civic polls in Jowai.
18. BDR (then) halts a gallery construction project on River Umngot in Dawki inside the Meghalaya border.
20. Dissidence in Congress out in the open. 12 Congressmen skip CLP meet attended by AICC in-charge Meghalaya Luizinho Falerio.
21. City traffic branch to use FACEBOOK to guide public on traffic in Shillong.
23. Savio Marak, a Meghalaya police constable has gone missing with an INSAS rifle and reportedly joined the GNLA.
27. 50-year-old Washing N Marak killed by SOT personnel during an operation against GNLA.
31. Prem Singh takes over as Acting DGP of Meghalaya from SB Kakati.
February
2. Myntdu Leshka hydel project records burnt by unknown miscreants who barged into the MeECL office at Thamar in Jaintia Hills.
4. Bangladesh Commerce Minister Md Faruk Khan visits Meghalaya.
10. GHADC deadlock ends. Govt lifts 10-month-old Administrative Rule. Purno K Sangma to take over as new CEM.
– Assam October 30, 2008 serial blasts mastermind Mathuram Brahma alias Muthoi arrested along with his accomplices from their hideout in Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district.
14. AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi arrives on a day-long visit to Shillong. Conducts a NSUI recruitment drive in NEHU.
19. Urban Affairs, MUDA endorse MTC’s proposal to run, manage JNNURM buses.
– Two young trainee doctors from Meghalaya – Adaleen Shabong and Virginia Shangpliang stabbed in New Delhi.
24. State prepares Rs 2727-crore annual plan for 2011-12.
28. MMS scandal rocks Jaintia Hills.
March
2. KHADC passes Khasi Traditional Medicine Bill
3. Govt nominates ward members for Baghmara municipality.
4. AICC removes Luizinho Faleiro and major Ved Prakash and appoints Dhaniram Shandil and Sanjay Bapna as new in-charges of Meghalaya.
7. KHNAM hints at merger with UDP ahead of the 2013 Assembly polls in the State
Anti-Mukul wave gains pace, Rebel Congressmen camp in New Delhi. Lapang attempts comeback.
CM lays base for new Cancer wing at Shillong Civil Hospital.
8. Cabinet doubles pension of ex-MLAs from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
10. Govt proposes VRS for unqualified teachers in State.
13. Traffic held up on NH-44 for over 20 hours at Jowai
Local groups oppose alignment of Umsning Bypass.
14. Govt talks of forming boundary commission to resolve boundary dispute with Assam.
15. Assembly constitutes Joint Assembly Committee to probe into allegations of illegal toll gates operating on NH-62.
– Hyderabad-based firm M/S BSC-C&C(JV) awarded contract to construct Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road within three years.
17. NEEPCO awarded Rs 2700 crore 500-MW coal based thermal project at Darrugiri in EGH.
20. CAG report speaks of multi-crore scam in Assembly Secretariat. Report says articles worth rs 1.66 crore missing from MLA Hostel.
21. CM (also incharge Finance) presents Rs 419-crore deficit budget in Assembly.
23. Severe traffic jam brings life to a standstill in Shillong as a 40-ft truck turns turtle near Jaiaw Langsning.
24. All-women taxis launched in Shillong.
April
1. JHADC placed under animated suspension following political crisis within ruling Congress
2. Former Addl Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Ashok Kumar Tigidi appointed as MPSC Chairman
Administrative Rule imposed in JHADC.
4. Union Minister for Water Resources Salman Khursheed calls for ban on mining near water bodies in Meghalaya
6. Suspected GNLA militants gun down five migrant labourers at Masighat, 15 kms from Baghmara in South Garo Hills
11. CAG report of March 2006 states that there is large-scale diversion of PDS wheat to the open market
14. Political stalemate deepens, Anti-Mukul campaign gains ground
15. Dissidents come out in the open against Mukul’s leadership. Dissidents include Lapang, FW Momin, Prestone Tynsong, Augustine D Marak, Ampareen Lyngdoh and FS Cajee
16. MBOSE announces major reforms in examinations. Students to get copies of re-evaluated answer sheets. Results to be declared in May
19. SN Roy a police SI goes absconding while on leave. Roy is the prime accused in the gang-rape of a school girl at a city hotel
20. Mukul led govt completes one year of service
23. Suspene over Mukul’s fate. AICC envoys arrive in State
24. GNLA targets Govt non-Garo employees in Garo Hills. Serves demand notes of Rs 30 lakh to Govt officials
27. 20 GNLA cadres led by chief training instructor Mingran T Sangma surrenders with arms and ammunitions before Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh
30. State Govt suspends Pawan Hans chopper service in Meghalaya after reports of a Pawan hans chopper carrying Arunachal Pradesh CM Dorjee Khandu goes missing after taking off from Tawang
May
3. State Annual Plan fixed at Rs 2727 crore
4. Mobile court conducted by Ri Bhoi district administration puts traffic in chaos on highway. Traffic held up for 17 hours
5. A class IX student of Loreto Convent School jumps off the first floor of the school building. Admitted to Woodland in a critical condition
10. Govt orders removal of weighbridges to ease traffic jams on NH-40
27. Centre announces deduction of 10 per cent of funds for Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme after Meghalaya fails to meet centre’s guidelines on holding of municipal elections and passing of the Community Participation Bill.
June
4. Three cops killed in police ambush. GNLA suspected in attack. Outfit denies involvement
7. Major Cabinet reshuffle in State. Prestone Tynsong, FW Momin, Augustine Marak dropped from cabinet. Saleng Sangma, AL Hek and Shitlang Pale inducted. Stanleywiss Rymbai skips swearing in ceremony. Feigns illness. Portfolios exchanged.
– HC orders Govt to conduct municipal polls in four Garo Hills municipalities by September end
12. Gauhati HC stays demolition order by MUDA on illegal enchroachment in Polo area
15. After a long gap of 23 years the CBI Special Court finally sentenced all accused in the NEHU cement fraud case of 1988.
19. Huge cache of arms recovered from a vehicle at Umroi. 8 AK-47 rifles were recovered from three Mizoram smugglers.
21. State Govt approves the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education, 2009 formed on the lines of the RTE Act
25. Shillong Airport at Umroi gets major facelift. Union Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi inaugurates the state-of-the-art terminal at the airport.
27. MBBS students of NEIGRIHMS resort to indefinite agitation over non-recruitment of faculty at the institute
July
1. State govt withdraws VAT on LPG, kerosene and diesel.
– Govt hikes vehicular taxes by four to five times.
3. Ambush cops mistakenly fire on colleagues. Two policemen die
6. SC allows Lafarge to mine limestone at Shella
– HC orders compensation for 2004 firing victims. four villagers were killed in unprovoked firing by policemen in West Garo Hills on Feb 2, 2004.
7. CD Kynjing takes oath as new State Chief Information Commissioner
– Four Garo Hills MLAs resign. Mukul, Lapang rush to meet Sonia.
9. Political calm in Meghalaya. Mukul, lapang patch up.
12. Garo Hills NGOs call for 7-day strike against Govt’s decision to hold civic polls
13. Govt postpones civic polls in Garo Hills. JAC withdraws stir
22. JNNURM bus service launched in Shillong.
23. First border haat opened at Kalaichar in West Garo Hills district. Haat to boost trade ties between Meghalaya and Bangladesh citizens.
– KHADC CEM Pynshngainlang Syiem quits chair.
August
2. Centre okays Meghalaya Govt’s proposal to allow traditional bodies to nominate ward members for municipalities in State
– Prestone Tynsong re-inducted into Mukul cabinet
State Cabinet cuts vehicular tax hike by 25 per cent
9. GNLA deputy chief Roster Marak among four gunned down by State police’s SWAT near Williamnagar in EGH district
16. Six dead in major landslide in Garo Hills
26. Congress MLAs rally round Mukul. leadership issue resolved
30. Three dead in major mining disaster in Siju area of South Garo Hills
31. Joint border survey between Meghalaya and Bangladesh resumes.
September
3. Police seizure list claims Fullmoon Dhar, the mastermind in the Shillong Jailbreak case, was alive when caught.
4. EGH seize cash worth 7 lakh meant for GNLA chief
9. State Govt claims border issue between Meghalaya and bangladesh resolved.
– State cabinet gives nod for three new universities in State
– Administrative rule lifted in JHADC
11. Govt assures NGOs of implementing work permit system in State
12. NCP tables no-trust motion against Mukul Govt
– Several mysterious cracks appear on the ground at Sohkymphor village in jaintia Hills
14. Mukul wins trust vote in style
– Lamdibok Sumer elected JHADC CEM despite MPCC backing to Hambertus Nongtdu
15. State Govt decides to ask centre to amend RTE Act to safeguard schools run by missionaries
27. Addl Director general of Assam Police, N Ramachandan appointed new State DGP. Acting DGP Prem Singh appointed Director general, Civil Defence and Home Guards.
29. State Govt separates Executive and Judiciary in East Khasi Hills
October
1. State Govt reimposes ban on plastic bags
4. In a major attack GNLA militants raid Garo Hills forest armoury, loot seven rifles.
7. In a shocking incident a seven-yr-old child was allegedly murdered in an act of human sacrifice outside the BSF headquarters at Praharinagar in Tura
– Two BSF jawans detained.
10. Arrest warrant out on Assam-based tantrik who is the prime accused in the child sacrifice case
14. CM launches City beautification project estimated to cost Rs 16 crore
16. GNLA militants abduct three cops, kill one at Gambegre development block in West Garo Hills
18. In a major success, police kill GNLA deputy commander Dilseng alias Bashish near Williamnagar
29. Tura Salesian priest goes missing from Rajdhani Express somewhere in Bihar
30. GNLA kills four cops, 1 civilian in a daring attack on a police patrol party at Dobu area in East Garo Hills district.
November
1. KHNAM announces merger with UDP in December
– NEIGRIHMS Director Dr ME Yeolekar makes quiet exit after resigning from post
4. State Govt awards two more power projects — 85-mw Mawphu and 500-mw thermal power project in Garo Hills — to NEEPCO
– Meghalaya Council of Chiefs nominates Nelson Mandela for People’s Parliament Global Awards
8. Arrest warrant against GNLA chief Champion Sangma
10. State Govt joins rest of country in launching RTE awareness campaign
– A report published by Child Rights Index has labelled Meghalaya among worst performers with regards to child rights implementation
15. Nightmarish traffic jam hits highway commuters. Passengers spend night on highway
– CM talks of implementing district-wise quota policy
16. KHNAM heads for split over issue of merger with UDP
17. State Govt to seek exemption from Centre’s proposed Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011
21. GNLA militants abduct Dadenggre BDO Prafulla Kr Boro and two traders
22. Roshan Warjri named chairperson of Meghalaya State Women Commission
24. Reports of GNLA chief Champion Sangma’s arrest in Bangladesh pours in. No confirmation from Central, State authorities
– Govt orders probe into blue colouration of Lukha river in Jaintia Hilla
25. Traffic woes heighten in city and highway
26. KHNAM dissolved. Rebel party workers cry foul
28. Child killed by own uncle in city for ransom. Accused held
29. Sonia Gandhi endorses Congress election committee to monitor State Assembly polls in 2013
30. Gauhati HC, Shillong Bench orders State Govt to file affidavit on traffic snarls.
December
1. Tantrik wanted in human sacrifice of 7-year-old child in Tura surrenders.
2. Royal Wahingdoh FC wins maiden Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi football trophy in Guwahati.
10. Remote triggered IED found in Jowai, defused.
12. KHNAM formally merges with UDP
14. Tourist from Kolkata dies inside Mawsmai cave at Sohra
15. British-era Sonapani hydel project commissioned.
17. Umroi MLA Stanlywiss Rymbai creates storm after sending lookalike to attend a public function.
21. Nine labourers die after truck plunges into Ranikor river in West Khasi Hills district.
24. Abducted Dadenggre BDO PK Boro released unharmed by GNLA militants.
(Pictures by Sanjib Bhattacharjee)
