By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Dr G Kharkongor, Vice Chancellor, Martin Luther Christian University on Wednesday said that photographic evidence is very important since human beings has so many senses but is mostly used to verbal.

Speaking at the International Seminar on Indo-Bangladesh Cultural Relations and an Exhibition of Photographs by Arindam Mukherjee titled ‘Glimpses of Bangladesh’ organized by Institute of Social and cultural Studies (ISCS), Kolkata and Sri Aurobindo Institute of Indian culture (SAIIC) at the SAIIC campus in the city on Wednesday, he said, “I believe that this is very special, the seminar is organized at a right time in history and we have a window of opportunities between the two countries the people of northeast can be an important channel in the geographical proximity between the two countries, for the development of the region which is mostly happening via the sea route and overland opportunities has not got much importance.”

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Three youth lost their lives after they drowned while swimming at Spread Eagle Falls, Umkaliar here on Thursday afternoon. The youths have been identified as Manio Chachai (17), Prapik Chettri (16) and K Jowel Marin (17).

In other incidents, one Irshad Ali Khan, ETM, M/s Reliance Life Insurance Co., lodged a complaint that one Asfaque Nawaz, cheated two customers of the company, Brijita Papang and Rolina Sayoo of Rs 1 lakh by impersonation.

On Thursday morning, the body of one David Pde (44) was recovered from a drain at Forest Colony, Shillong.

On the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, unknown miscreants attempted to set fire to the Transport Department Office at Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills. However, no damage was reported in the incident.

On Sunday evening, one Hobat Koch sustained injuries after being assaulted by Debanand Hajong and Deben Hajong at Rongkachiring, Tura.

One, Syrpailin Pasi lodged a complaint on Wednesday that on August 12, one Milandus Kharumnuid raped her in her residence at Mawsiatkhnam in East Khasi Hills. Police have arrested the accused.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The controversy surrounding Langpih took a new turn on Thursday after an RTI filed by CSWO revealed that the disputed site does not figure in the map of the State published in 2009.

The Meghalaya map which was published by the Survey of India under the direction of Surveyor General of India, Dehradun in 2009 has shown Langpih as a part of Assam.

The Survey of India map, however, contradicts with the map printed by the Joint Director Meghalaya Survey in 1979-80 which clearly indicates that Langpih is in Meghalaya.

This disparity in two separate maps has led to further confusion in determining the boundaries between Meghalaya and Assam.

Revealing this glaring disparity in the two maps on Thursday, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing pointed out that the map prepared in 1979-80 clearly indicated Langpih, along the West Khasi Hills-Kamrup boundary, as an area within Meghalaya while the Block I and Block II areas were shown as “disputed.”

Interestingly, Kharshiing said that the map published in 2009 by the Survey of India showed that Langpih is in Assam.

Though Block I and Block II were mentioned as “disputed” in the 1979-80 map, the second map of 2009 did not mention that the two areas are ‘disputed’.

According to CSWO president, the map of 1979-80 was prepared as per Sub-Para (2) of Para 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.

“The new map (2009) was published behind people’s back,” the CSWO president alleged.

The organization also has sought a clarification from Chief Secretary WMS Pariat in this regard.

“We would immediately request for a clarification from your end as to why the map has been changed keeping Langpih and certain areas out of Meghalaya. We also want answers as to under whose orders were these changes made?” the CSWO said in a letter to the Chief Secretary.

Stating that the state as a whole has been cheated by a team of IAS officers who should have been its guardians, the CSWO said that the people of the State look forward to a prompt reply from Pariat’s end so that “the rule of law can prevail and the State is not sold off by a few IAS officers for their own vested interests.”

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: “There is nothing to cheer about for the State as far as allotment of seat in the National Institute of Technology (NIT) is concerned,” said UDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit.

Basaiawmoit said this on the eve of foundation stone laying ceremony of the institute’s permanent campus at Saitsohpen village in Sohra on Friday. Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal will lay the foundation stone.

According to Basaiawmoit, since all India pattern of population distribution would be applied for allotment of as many as 90 seats in the NIT , Meghalaya will not be benefited much from this institute.

As per the all India policy, while 50% of the total seats will be allotted for the State which sets up NIT, only 7% seat will be reserved for the tribal population of Meghalaya.

The remaining 50 per cent seats will be filled up under open category.

The UDP legislator said that with Meghalaya having more than 80% tribal population, the all India pattern cannot be applicable to the State.

“If we follow the all India pattern only four tribal students from Meghalaya (7% of 90 seats) will be accommodated in the NIT,” Basaiawmoit said.

In addition to this, there are seats reserved for scheduled castes and other backward class (OBCs).

According to him, the Meghalaya pattern of population structure where majority are indigenous people should be followed when it comes to seat allotment.

The UDP legislator urged the State Government to take up the matter with the Centre.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The beleaguered Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Meghalaya suffered a yet another setback on Thursday after the party’s Central observer Robert Kharshiing tendered his resignation from the party.

In his resignation letter forwarded to the NCP’s national president Sharad Pawar, Kharshiing cited his poor health condition as the reason behind his quitting the party.

Only a few days back 11 NCP legislators had merged with the National People’s Party headed by Purno A Sangma.

Kharshiing, who is a diabetic, said his sugar level had gone up soon after he took up the assignment as the party’s Central observer.

“The hurly-burly of election politics do not permit this as elections in Meghalaya are due in 5 months time and my health just cannot take the strain,” the letter added.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The district administration of East Khasi Hills on Thursday committed a major faux pas by making an official announcement that transportation facility has been arranged for the Government employees to attend the offices during ‘bandh’ on Friday.

After finding it to be a rumour, the administration later withdrew the order.

In fact, the BJP Mahila Morcha is organising a nationwide protest against cap on subsidised LPG cylinders and fuel price hike on Friday.

When contacted, BJP’s State general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty confirmed about this nationwide protest.

“We have not made any arrangement to participate in this nationwide protest in the State considering the festive season,” Chakraborty said.

Meanwhile, the Shillong Times office on Thursday was flooded with phone calls enquiring about Friday’s ‘bandh’.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Ending all speculations, UDP MDC from Nongthymmai Latiplang Kharkongor has finally resigned from the primary membership of the party.”I have taken this step since the party has allotted ticket for Nongthymmai constituency in clear violation of the merger agreement between UDP and KHNAM made on November 23, 2011,” Kharkongor said in the resignation letter addressed to the party president Dr Donkupar Roy on Thursday.

Kharkongor had given a hint of quitting the party soon after he was denied ticket to contest in the upcoming Assembly election from the constituency. The party offered the ticket to Dr Jemino Mawthoh claiming that Kharkongor withdrew from the race for the party ticket in favour of the former.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The MeECL has said that the water from the Umiam reservoir is likely to be released at any time. The water level now is 3218.5 while its capacity to accommodate water up to 3220 feet. MeECl senior official Alias Lyngdoh on Thursday said, “We may release water again.” On Thursday, the water from the reservoir was released for 20 minutes on Thursday.