Groups oppose issuance of ST certificates for Koch community
TURA, July 7: Several groups belonging to the scheduled tribe (ST) community from Garo Hills have moved Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla against the alleged issuance of ST certificates to people belonging from the Koch community. In a complaint to Shylla, the organisations alleged that the ST caste certificates are being issued in the surname of Koch-Rajbongshi, Rajbongshi, Barman, Sarkar, Choudhury besides others. A reply to an RTI application filed by the organisations under Raksamgre Civil Subdivision revealed that a total of 53 such individuals had applied for a ST caste certificate under the surname Barman. The complaint to the Social Welfare minister was jointly filed by the Meghalaya Rabha Jatio Sewa Sangha, All Rabha Students of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Hajong Welfare Association, Hajong Students’ Union, Meghalaya Boro Sahitya Sabha and All Boro Students’ Union. The organisations, in their complaint, while raising strong objection to the alleged issuance of ST certificates, urged the minister to look into the matter and take necessary action.
NEIGRIHMS declared regional centre for medical education
SHILLONG, July 7: The body that regulates medical education and medical professionals in India, National Medical Commission (NMC) has declared NEIGRIHMS to be a Regional Centre for Medical Education Technologies (RC-MET). The president of the Under Graduate Medical Education Board, NMC Dr Aruna Vanikar will inaugurate the Regional Centre at NEIGRIHMS on July 11, 2022. The Regional Centre will serve as the resource centre for training the faculty members of medical colleges in the north-eastern and eastern region of the country. On this occasion, Dr Aruna Vanikar will also release a book titled ‘English-Khasi Translation in Medical Practice with Khasi-Hindi Transliteration and Phonetics’. The book is an English-Khasi translation of commonly used terms in the health-care sector. It is intended to empower students and health care professionals to communicate effectively with patients.
EJH police seizes drugs, arrests duo
JOWAI, July, 7: Police in East Jaintia Hills on Thursday intercepted a Shillong-bound vehicle and, following a search, recovered contraband items. Acting on a tip-off, East Jaintia Hills police intercepted the vehicle (WB02P2867), which was transporting the contraband items from Silchar to Shillong, at Umtyra checkpoint and upon search, they recovered six boxes of heroin, weighing 72 grams, hidden below the garments of a duo — Heirtami Dkhar (29) and Rajen Pale (25), both from West Jaintia Hills. A total of 17 strips of banned Nitrazapam tablets and two mobile phones were also seized from their possession. According to police, the seizure was made after a 15-hour joint operation carried out by ANTF and Umtyra anti-infiltration personnel.
Measures against single-use plastic SHILLONG July 7: The Deputy Commissioners of West Garo Hills, Ri Bhoi and Eastern West Khasi Hills have announced measures against the use of plastic by issuing necessary directives for their respective areas of jurisdiction. West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Swapnil Tembe has banned the use of plastic bottles, plastic cutlery during meetings, seminars, and workshops at the DC Office, DRDA Conference Hall and the Tura Circuit House. In an order issued on Wednesday, Tembe pointed out that plastic bottles and other plastic cutlery constitute a major portion of the daily garbage and said that plastics can be simply avoided by installing water filters, water dispensers and RO systems in offices, conference halls and other venues. Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Arpit Upadhyaya has informed the general public that in compliance with the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the state government has directed concerned authorities that the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bag made of virgin or recycled plastic shall not be less than 120 microns in thickness with effect from December 31, 2022. Following suit, Eastern West Khasi Hills District Commissioner Wilfred Nongsiej, in an order issued under Section 144 CrPC has prohibited littering of plastic waste in offices, colleges, schools and tourist places of the district in compliance with the provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Act and Plastic Waste (Amendment) Rules, 2021. The order was issued following complaints that the use and littering of plastic waste in offices, academic institutions and tourist places were rampant.
Man gets 10 years for sexual assault
TURA/SHILLONG, July 7: A man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a minor at his residence in West Garo Hills in 2014 and has been sentenced 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 40,000, in default of which he is to serve another six months of simple imprisonment. The convict King Victor Ch Marak alias Tengchu had committed the crime in November 2014, and was arrested and chargesheeted in August 2017. On Monday, Marak was convicted of the crime by Special Judge (POCSO) West Garo Hills, Tura. In a similar case, the Court of the Special Judge (POCSO) on Thursday convicted one Betstarling Basan of raping a minor in 2012. It may be mentioned that an FIR in this regard was registered at Laban Police Station. “In default of payment of fine, the convict shall undergo another month of imprisonment for each default. The sentences shall run concurrently. In default of payment of fine, the convict shall undergo another month of imprisonment for each default. The sentences shall run concurrently,” it was informed.