Ex-militant opposes move to evict shopowners
TURA: Former chairman of the ANVC (B), Bernard Rimpu N Marak, has opposed the eviction notice served to shop owners along the P A Sangma Road in Tura, claiming that the move goes against the rights of hill people over land which has been safeguarded in the Constitution. Marak, while pointing out that most of the shop owners who were issued eviction notices belong to the ST category, alleged ignorance of many public leaders and officers about the provisions of the Sixth Schedule. “Many public leaders and officers are unaware of the provisions of the Sixth Schedule which confuses them and needs to be clarified through table talk. I stand for the rights of the Scheduled Tribes and will immediately take up this matter with the chief minister and others concerned,” Marak said. He urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to set up a committee to look into land issues. Marak alleged that the roads were not acquired by the government and no compensation paid to the custodian of the land which is confirmed by the RTI reply from the PWD department.
Sale of tobacco products to minors prohibited
Shillong/Williamnagar: The District Magistrate, East Jaintia Hills District and East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Swapnil Tembe has prohibited persons to sell, offer for sale or permit sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products to any person who is under 18 years of age in an area within radius of one hundred yards of any educational institution within the districts. The order comes into force with immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders. This order is necessitated following reports that there are shops and shopkeepers who sell tobacco products near school premises, educational institutions which is in violation of Section 6 of the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. Moreover, sale of cigarette and other tobacco products to a person below the age of 18 years is a punishable offence. It also said that vendors and shop keepers selling tobacco products should display a notice saying that sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to person under the age of 18 years is strictly prohibited.
Court sentences rapist
NONGSTOIN: The Court of the District Session Judge, West Khasi Hills on Tuesday convicted Khainborlin L Rngaid and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 50,000 in the rape case of a minor. It may be mentioned that in June Khainbor L Rngaid had raped a minor in his village near Nongstoin, WKH.
Shooting condemned
TURA: The Anti-Corruption and Human Development Organization (ACHDO) has strongly condemned the incident where miscreants shot at a trader’s son at Chibinang Town of Phulbari in West Garo Hills on Tuesday night.Raihan Akond, the son of a local trader, was shot on the leg by criminals when he tried to resist their attempt to rob them while returning home with his father from their shop at Chibinang market. “We strongly condemn the incident. Given that Chibinang market is infamous for such incidents, why was there such a weak security system in place? We demand strict action from the administration so that such incidents are not repeated in future. We also request the government to set up a police outpost at Chibinang,” it said.
3 weeks to appoint Principal
TURA: Organisations from East Garo Hills, including the GSU, FKJGP, AAYF and the Williamnagar Government College Students’ Union (WGCSU) which are demanding the immediate appointment of a full time Principal at Williamnagar Government College, have given the authorities three weeks to act on their demand. Earlier, the four organisations had launched a two-day picketing at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday, which was later called off after assurance was received from the DC. The organisations said that they would not hesitate to restart their agitation if the authorities fail to act within three weeks.
Army organises medical camp
SHILLONG: A multi-specialty medical camp was organised by Military Hospital, Shillong under the aegis of Headquarters 101 Area and in conjunction with Meghalaya State Health Authorities at Ranikor on Tuesday. Out Patient Departments (OPD) were set up with specialists of surgical, eye, ENT, skin, paediatric, general medicine & dental facilities in the remote area to provide relief and succor to the residents of Ranikor and surrounding villages. Five hundred locals benefited from it. The camp was an initiative taken to reach out to the local populace in keeping with the ethos of Army Medical Corps that is “Sarve Santu Niramaya (Let All Be Healthy)”.
Women group to build road
SHILLONG: The Seng Kynthei of Jakhong village in Mairang under West Khasi Hills in a press statement express discontent over the government’s lack of empathy towards constructing the PWD road from Mawkarah to Jakhong. The road which connects five villages have become a burden to the villagers. Since the government is not paying heed to their demand of building the road, the Seng Kynthei of Jakhong have decided to build the road by themselves on July 6. The construction of the road will start from Khlieh Bir and will end at Umpongdeng. The Seng Kynthei added that the kuccha road was built in 2002 and till now there is no black topping on the road. They further stated that because of the horrible condition of the road it has affected the villagers be it in medical emergencies or going to the market to sell their produce.
Swachh Bharat internship
SHILLONG: William Carey University-NSS units in collaboration with State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Meghalaya organised the inauguration-cum-orientation programme of Swachh Bharat Summer Internship 2.0 on the theme `Solid Waste Management’ at the university premises on Wednesday. Environmental Engineer of SPCB W Kharkrang was the resource person. He spoke at length about the various dimensions of solid waste management and also urged the students to be role models for the villages that are adopted for the summer internship.
Radio bridge programme
Shillong: The North Eastern Service, of All India Radio Shillong in its Radio Bridge Programme will broadcast LIVE interactive discussion on “Cultural exchange for better relations and development of NER” from 8 pm to 8:40 pm on July 5. The programme will be available on FM 100.1 Mghtz; AIR-NE DTH; AIR live-streaming mobile app on “North Eastern Service” and on Alexa. The panellists for the Radio Bridge Programme from four different capital AIR-stations are Aribam Sivadas Sharma, Director Art & Culture, Imphal Govt of Manipur, D. Kharjana, Archivist Audio Visual Art & Culture Dept, Government of Meghalaya, Swapnanil Barua, former commissioner Dept of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam, Guwahati and Hovithal Sothu, Project Director Music Task force, Government of Nagaland.
Registration of private borewells
Shillong: With an aim to study the ground water development and its scientific management in East Jaintia Hills District, the Executive Engineer, Water Resource (WR) cum member secretary District Level Committee on ground water resources, East Jaintia Hills Division, Khliehriat has directed all individuals, private and public institution within the district owning private bore wells, tube wells to compulsorily register themselves with all relevant documents in the office of the Executive Engineer, Water Resource (WR), East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat with immediate effect. Non-compliance of the directive will be dealt as per provision of law. Necessary details and information are available in the office of the Executive Engineer, Water Resource (WR), East Jaintia Hills Division, Khliehriat.