By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: Newly-appointed DGP N Ramachandran is currently on a three-day visit to Garo Hills to assess the law and order situation especially on the activities of the GNLA.

This is Ramachandran’s maiden visit outside the capital city since he assumed charge as the DGP in September.

Ramachandran’s visit is seen as significant considering the prevailing law and order problems in Garo Hills due to rampant extortions, kidnappings and arms looting being perpetrated by the GNLA, especially in East Garo Hills, the heartland of the Garo outfit.

It is learnt that the DGP held a series of meetings with senior police officials in East Garo Hills on Thursday.

Ramachandran called upon his subordinates to observe zero tolerance against law breakers.

The DGP also stressed the need for community policing, which he believed was essential to maintain law and order in Garo Hills.

When contacted, a senior police official on Thursday said that the issue of neutralising the GNLA and getting the support of the people in containing crimes was stressed by the DGP.

From Our Correspondent

NONGSTOIN: In a splendid display of bravery, a seven-year-old boy risked his life to save the life of his three siblings from a raging fire that engulfed their house at Mawmarin village, 46 km from Nongstoin, on Thursday.

The seven-year-old boy identified as Luston Langrin jumped into the fire to save his three siblings – Kadrial (5 years), Resmery (3 years) and Theilita (1 yr 11 months) when their house caught fire at around 4 pm on Thursday.

The incident occurred when their parents had gone out to earn their daily bread leaving the four children alone in the house.

Eyewitnesses informed that Luston was cooking on a stove when he went to the toilet leaving the stove burning. Kerosene oil leaking out of the stove set the house on fire in Luston’s absence.

When hereturne from the toilet, he saw the house on fire and rushed inside to save his infant siblings.

Though no one was hurt in the incident, the house was completely razed to the ground.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The home wine makers of the state under the banner Meghalaya Association of Wine Makers (MAWM) has urged the state government to legalize production of fruit wine in the state citing that this will not only boost the development of horticulture but also the rural economy of the state.

In this regard, the association submitted a memorandum to the State Excise Minister AT Mondal here on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons, President of MAWM Michael Syiem claimed that legalizing fruit wine making in the state, would give a boost to horticulture and in turn help in the economic development of the people.

“Legalization of fruit wine making would provide an avenue for self employment and also become an added attraction for tourists visiting our state”, Syiem claimed. When asked on the response of the Excise Minister on this matter, Syiem said the minister has assured the association that he will take up the matter in the next cabinet meeting.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Police on Thursday arrested a woman in connection with the recent incident of assault at Mawkisyiem in Sohra where two persons died while a third suffered grievous injuries.

The arrested woman, Balasuk Jyrwa, 28, was remanded in seven-day police custody along with five others who were arrested on Wednesday.

It may be recalled that two persons were killed and a third injured after residents of Mawkisyiem village assaulted them, suspecting them to be menshohnohs (cut-throats).

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: With an aim to provide a better life for the less privileged children, the Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) presented the annual educational and healthcare aid under the Project Sunrise for the children of AW Thomas Girl’s Home, a shelter home here.

In a special gathering held at Mawkhar here on Thursday, AOF donated Rs 1 lakh 30 thousand to the AW Thomas Girl’s Home in the presence of former MLA, Roshan Warjri. This donation marked the 3rd year of partnership with AW Thomas Girl’s Home under Project Sunrise.

The AW Thomas Girl’s Home, a shelter home was set up in 1981 by the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Assembly Social Economic Life Development and at present provides refuge to 73 girl children abandoned by their parents.

Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Roshan Warjri lauded the effort of AOF saying “The initiative taken by AOF has benefited the less privileged children in every way bringing in meaningful differences in the lives of these children”.

Commenting on the initiative, Area Manager of Amway India Bickramjit Paul said “The annual aid to the children of AW Thomas Girl’s Home is to ensure a bright future for the less privileged children and help them become economically self reliant.”

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Shillong is set to become a model city in the country as the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) is committed to turn the city into a cent percent “no plastic” zone.

The stringent enforcement on the use of plastic bag being imposed recently by the Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh along with the SMB has been successful to a large extent, as learnt, since the SMB is all out and have made it clear to the public that it is against the use of plastic in the city.

Speaking to The Shillong Times, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SMB Tableland Lyngwa, said that on October 1 the SMB had seized two truckloads of plastics from Iewduh and hunt is on to catch such consignments and even individual public who are seen endorsing a plastic bag. “We are forming a special team within SMB who will move out in the commercial areas to make the ban on plastic more effective,” he said.

He informed that the plastic suppliers’ margin is so less that they don’t find it convenient to supply them anymore to commercial establishments.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya is also set to replace the use of plastic bags with eco-friendly hand woven leaf bags called “Pla Iew” and “Sla”, locally.

Many food items will now be sold in leaves form of carry bags which are environmentally acceptable. The use of such bags, authorities said, will go a long way in arresting the deteriorating environment and large scale pollution including rivers and streams in the city.

The efforts to use such biodegradable bags and leaves are to free the city which is often likened as the “Scotland of the East”. It has been seen that various city drains and streams including the Umiam Lake are infested with child labourers and rag pickers who engage themselves in collecting these plastics and sends them for recycling in Guwahati and elsewhere, which is also a lucrative business.

It may be mentioned that the SMB has warned that violators who are found using plastic bags would be fined as per rates being fixed by the Board besides habitual violators can even earn up to imprisonment as punishment.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister In-charge Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Bindo M Lanong, on Thursday informed that the department has already initiated the process for construction of the slaughter house (abattoir) at the proposed sites in Mawlai Mawiong.

While initiating the whole process, Lanong said that the department would hold dialogues with the people who are opposing this project.

“We would like to clarify on all the misperceptions in the minds of the people over the proposed project,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

When asked about reservation among the people that the slaughter house would destroy the cleanliness of the whole area especially when it is located very close to Marten, he said that the slaughter house would be totally covered.He said that all the necessary infrastructures which are required in the slaughter house would be installed.

With the whole area to be fenced, he said he does not see any reason behind the fear among the people that the place would become dirty if the slaughter house comes up.

“We shall be constructing the tailing ponds for draining all the waste which would emerge out of the slaughter house. We would also be treating the water collected in the tailing pond. This treated water would again be fit for human consumption,” he said, adding, “I do not think the people would be affected since the slaughter house would be far from residential areas.”

Meanwhile, Lanong said the proposed abattoir would allow people of the State to get access to hygienic and clean meat.

“At present, pigs and cows are being slaughtered in areas which are in very dirty and filthy conditions. Questions have been raised from to time on whether it was safe to consume meat slaughtered in such dirty places,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, Lanong also informed that a total amount of Rs 23 crore has been sanctioned for the proposed abattoir.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Lack of awareness on the oral hygiene in the state coupled with excessive intake of tobacco has gave way to high dental-related diseases like oral cancer.

People are less concerned about dental health and even those living in the urban areas lacked proper knowledge on this health related issue and this poor oral hygiene can result to cancer, heart disease and other ailments.

“The scenario of oral hygiene in the state is very poor and dental-related diseases is very much prevalent in the state even at a very young age”, President of the Indian Dental Association (Meghalaya Branch) Dr KS Sehdave revealed this on Thursday.

Narrating the main problem behind the poor oral hygiene in the state, Dr Sehdave said lack of awareness coupled with poverty and easy access to chewing tobacco like gutkhas, kwai and other items at a very cheap price are the main reason behind this cause.

“It is very important for people to take note of their dental health care as there have been cases where people with dental problems, hesitate to seek a doctor at the earlier stage leading to the fast spread of the disease in the gums and teeth of the individual making it difficult to cure”, secretary of the Indian Dental Association (Meghalaya Branch) Dr Kyrpang Passah stated.

It is due to this concern that the Indian Dental Association, a national association with its branches all over the country has decided to hold its 7th North East Regional Dental Conference 2011 on the theme ‘Learn, excel and enjoy’ at Shillong Club on October 17 and 18. This is one of the first ever conferences on dental health care to be held in Shillong with around 500 delegates from all over the country taking part.

Lectures and hands on courses will be delivered by eminent speakers from all over the country. These courses will be provided with an aim to enable the students and private practioners of Meghalaya and Shillong in particular to gain knowledge on the latest advancement of dental treatments and procedures.

Keeping abreast with the fast and furious development of dental materials, there will be a trade fair in the venue itself for both the days that will showcase various materials that will help the dentists in their dental practice.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The World Sight Day observed by Bansara Eye Care Centre in collaboration with Meghalaya Blindness Control Society which started on Wednesday with ‘The Walk for Sight’ and the Informative Seminar concluded on Thursday with the Free Eye Screening Camps held over all the vision centres of Bansara Eye Care Centre in the state.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Three people were assaulted by unidentified assailants in two separate incidents in the city on Thursday morning.

In the first incident, two people – Muhammad Abdul Das and Anil Kumar Paril were assaulted by unidentified miscreants at Iewduh, police said. In the second case miscreants attacked one Shankarlal Sharma at a place between Umsohsun and Motphran.

Police suspect that the same persons may have been involved in both the assault cases.All three victims were released from Shillong Civil Hospital after being administered first aid.