By Lamphrang Nongspung

MAWLONG (SHELLA): The Congress party has suffered a major setback ahead of the upcoming Assembly election with the dissolution of the Shella Block Congress Committee (SBCC).

The SBCC was dissolved in protest against the decision of the Central party leadership to deny ticket to senior party leader and SBCC president Leston Wanswett.

The SBCC was dissolved at a massive public meeting which was attended by thousands of party workers from the 36 party units of the Block Congress at Mawlong village on Friday.

Resolving to dissolve the SBCC, they all resolved to support Wanswett’s candidature as an Independent candidate from the constituency.

Earlier, majority of the Congress party leaders from Shella constituency expresses their disappointment over the decision of the AICC to deny ticket to Wanswett who had been responsible in organising and holding Block party unit for the past many years.

While criticizing the decision to allot the ticket to Jropsing Nongkhlaw, who is not even a member of the SBCC, the party leaders said that this decision to allot ticket to a person from outside the constituency is a blatant attempt on the part of the AICC to demean the voice of the majority in the constituency.

Questioning the decision of the State party leadership in holding of the election at the primary unit for recommending of the party candidate, the party leaders said that the holding of election at the primary unit was a futile exercise since the recommendation of the unit was not taken into consideration when the final decision for allotment of the ticket was taken.

“If weightage is given to recommendation of the primary unite, he (Wanswett) should have been given the ticket since he had won by a thumping majority in the two elections of the primary unit. It appears that someone from the State party leadership is making money by holding these elections,” the SBCC leadership stated. The SBCC leaders also questioned the political game of both MPCC president DD Lapang and former Union Minister of State Vincent H Pala for allotting the tickets to their close aides.

“Denial of the ticket to Wanswett might prove to be a blessing in disguise for him since no Congress candidate has ever won from Shella,” the party leaders added.

Wanswett also questioned the decision to deny him the party ticket, saying that he had been informed that his name was removed from the list at the very last minute and replaced by an individual who managed to get the ticket through lobbying by some top State leaders with clout in Delhi.

“The State leaders told the AICC president it would not be a good idea to award me the ticket since I am not able to get off my bed due to my ill health,” he said, while adding that another reason which they had cited to Ms Gandhi was that being a man of less words he (Wanswett) would not be able to get along with the electorates in the constituency.

Meanwhile, KHNAM Shella Circle members, who also attended the public meeting, have unanimously resolved to support Wanswett by not putting up their candidate from the constituency.

From Our Correspondent

NONGPOH: Registering their stern opposition to the arbitrary transfer of Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police Claudia Lyngwa, a conglomeration of four leading NGOs of the district on Friday announced a two-day office picketing on January 14 and 15 of all government offices across the entire district.

The NGOs – Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) North Khasi Hills and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) North Khasi Hills – held a meeting at Umsning in this regard on Friday.

Besides, the Nongpoh Region Auto Owners & Drivers Association and the Lynti Jam Welfare and Development Association have also strongly opposed the transfer of Lyngwa on flimsy grounds stating that the law and order situation and the traffic management has improved a lot under her regime.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Ri-Bhoi Police department organised a farewell party for Lyngwa on Friday afternoon.

Lyngwa’s next assingment will be as Commandant of MLP 3rd Battalion, Khliehtyrshi, Jowai.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: With the model Code of Conduct coming into force with immediate effect following the announcement of the election date by the Election Commission of India, there is a major question on the timing of the State Government to appoint Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei president Theilin Phanbuh as the new chairperson of the Meghalaya State Women Commission.

The Government appointed Phanbuh in the wake of the resignation of Roshan Warjri from the post to contest the Assembly election. While the ECI announced the date of election on Friday at around 3.30 pm, the notification for appointment of Phanbuh reached the newspaper offices late evening of Friday.

The statement of DIPR regarding the appointment was received via email at 7.29 pm on Friday.

As per the official notification signed by Governor RS Mooshahary, Phanbuh has been appointed as the new chairperson with immediate effect till the expiry of the present Commission, the statement informed.

When contacted, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Prashant Naik said that the EC would inquire into the matter ‘if anybody lodges a complaint’.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday announced its second list of nine candidates for the February 23 Assembly polls in the State.

Those included in the second list are Ex GHADC MDC Panseng R Marak (Baghmara), Ex GHADC MDC Mrinal Marak (Tikrikilla), Islam H Choudhury (Rajabala), Sunolsing Sangma (Rongjeng), Charles GR Syngkli (Nongpoh), Tobias R Marak (Mawsynram), R Mording Dorphang (Umroi), Mafiara T Sangma (Mahendraganj) and Sanjiv R Marak (Gambigre).

From Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi: Former Union Minister of State and Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala, was on Friday nominated to three parliamentary committees as Member.

According to a Rajya Sabha Secretariat notification, Pala has been nominated to the Standing Committee on Science & Technology and Environment & Forests from this month. The Shillong MP has also been nominated to the Parliamentary Consultative committee on Rural Development.

Besides, a Lok Sabha letter mentioned that Pala has been made a member of the Committee on Petitions.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: The BSF on Friday nabbed three GNLA cadres – two in South West Khasi Hills and another from Mawsynram, East Khasi Hills.

Acting on specific inputs, the BSF launched a special operation and apprehended two GNLA cadres at Barsora market, South West Khasi Hills. The arrested cadres were identified as Nowel Momin (25) and Arbin Marak (20), hailing from Mawsynram.

The troops recovered two mobile phones with Bangladesh SIM, two blank GNLA demand notes and Indian currency worth Rs 2,050 from the duo.

In the other case, BSF troops with Meghalaya Police carried out a joint operation in Horupukni village in Mawsynram and apprehended a GNLA cadre Sukumar R Sangma (23) of Mawsynram.

During the search, party recovered two 9 mm revolvers, 19 rounds (9 MM) and one mobile with one Bangladesh SIM.

All the cadres have confessed to their involvement in criminal activities including extortion.

From Our Correspondent

JOWAI: One Rambahadur Thapa (48), a daily wage labourer of the MeECL, drowned at Leshka Power house on Friday noon.

Thapa, a father of six children, was working inside the dam of the Power house, when the boat he was on capsized and sank.

Ladrymbai Police arrived on the spot and helped to pull out the body from the pond a few hours later after which it was sent for post mortem examination before being handed over to the family members.

From Our Correspondent

NONGSTOIN: Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh officially inaugurated the Shallang Police Station at Shallang on Friday.

DGP Kulbir Krishan, Joint Secy of Home VRS Syiem, DIG (Eastern Zone) A Sunamong others were present on the occasion.

The Shallang PS had been an unsanctioned police outpost since 1987 and was finally notified as a Police Station in January 2012. Since April 2012, it has been functioning as a full- fledged PS.

The PS has under its ambit, 2598 households, 15,500 local population, 20,000 migrant workers during coal season, 93 villages and vehicular traffic of over 3000 vehicles. It shares its border with South and East Garo Hills district in the west.

Famous for its rich coal- mines, Shallang is frequented by cadres of various militant outfits like the GNLA, ANVC, LAEF, NSCN etc. The coal- rich area lures these outfits to extort money from the businessmen there.

Presence of these outfits in the area has been felt since the last 15 years.

Likewise, the Shallang PS has been working tirelessly to provide security to the people and despite many constraints has been able to curtail militant activities in the area to a great extent.

Robert Sohbar, representing the Sohbar clan of the area said that it was a dream come true to have the PS notified by the state government. He said that the Sohbar clan had donated the land free of cost for the setting up of the PS in 1987. He also took the opportunity to request the Minister for other developmental works like creating Riangdo into a Civil Sub-Division, transforming Shallang to a C&RD Block and creating good academic infrastructure there while adding that people were willing to donate land for such projects.

Speaking on the occasion, DGP Krishan reminisced his tenure as the SP of West Khasi Hills in 1982. He said Shallang was peaceful then as the coal- mines were not yet explored. He told the people that in order to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, the police needed a helping hand from the people of the area. He informed that Shallang PS with its first Officer in-charge, D Mawlein, had come down heavily on the various outfits operating in the area.

HDR Lyngdoh congratulated the people on the inauguration. He said that in 1987, the state government had set up the outpost even without sanction as the area was beginning to lure militancy. Only last year during his visit, the people placed the request for the upgradation of the Outpost, HDR said. HDR reminded that he had assured to do so and on 11/01/2012, the order was passed. HDR said that during his tenure as Home Minister, he had inaugurated three PS and six Outposts.

From Our Correspondent

NONGSTOIN: While majority of the Congress ticket aspirants who have been denied the chance are looking elsewhere to fulfill their electoral ambitions, deprived members of the Nongstoin Block Congress Committee have decided to rally behind Dr Advisor Pariong who is the official candidate of the party form Nongstoin.

In a executive meeting held at Congress Bhavan here on Friday Nestingdar Nongdkhar and Bestar K Bani, who did not secure the coveted ticket from the constituency, along with other NBCC leaders decided to support Dr Pariong.

Nongdkhar said that he along with Bani will remain with the party and work unitedly to make Dr.Pariong the first successful candidate from Nongstoin.

“We depend upon the AICC and MPCC to choose the candidate who is fit to fight against the like of Hoping Stone Lyngdoh in Nongstoin,” Nongdkhar said adding that the party has to remain united for its own interests.

Nongdkhar also appealed the NBCC members and Congress supporters to back Dr Pariong in the coming Assembly election scheduled for February 23.

From Our Correspondent

JOWAI: At least 258 United Democratic Party (UDP) supporters in Khliehriat joined the Congress on Friday. Former Tuber MDC, Helping Phawa who recently quit the UDP, former Musniang Rangad MDC Planing Rymbai and UDP Youth Wing general secretary Balios Swer were among the ones who quit the regional party. The Khliehriat Block Congress Committee general secretary, Phervision Nongtdu informed that all new members were inducted to the party at the KBCC meeting held at Khliehriat.

According to Nongtdu, Balios Swer along with 58 UDP supporters, Helping Phawa along with 150 UDP supporters and Planing Rymbai along with his 50 supporters were formally inducted in to the party, which also included a well-known coal businessman in East Jaintia Hills, Francis Swer.