SHILLONG, April 24: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids in several parts of South Garo Hills in connection with alleged illegal coal mining and the operation of unauthorised coke plants.
Sources informed The Shillong Times that the ED simultaneously conducted raids in multiple locations across both Meghalaya and Assam, targeting businessmen from both states.
Approximately 20 sites in South Garo Hills were reportedly raided as part of the operation.
The raids focused on individuals believed to be involved in the management and operation of the suspected illegal mining and coke plants, sources added.
South Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Shailendra Bamaniya confirmed the ED raids and said that information was scarce as no local officials were informed.

SHILLONG, April 24: A city resident was arrested on Thursday for making anti-national comments on a video of a private news channel from Assam in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem confirmed that one Simon Shylla (30), a resident of Umlyngka, had posted anti-national comments on a video aired by a news channel from Assam about the Pahalgam terror attack, using his Facebook account “Man Shylla”.
Shylla had supported the terrorists in their killings and exhorted the terrorists to initiate such attacks on a particular community in the North East, the SP said, adding that he was threatening the unity and integrity of the country.
After ascertaining his identity, police arrested Shylla from his residence at Umlyngka and seized two mobile phones from his possession. He will be produced in the court on Friday.

Two-day fest gets under way at Shillong school
SHILLONG, April 24: The two-day Empathy Art Festival commenced on Thursday at Assam Rifles Public School, Laitkor, Shillong. Organised by Assam Rifles in collaboration with Project Empathy, the festival seeks to promote emotional connection and compassion through the arts. It will culminate with special recognitions such as Most Heartfelt Message, Young Voice of Empathy, Spirit of Collaboration, and Voice of Hope and Healing. Every participating student will be acknowledged for their contribution. Students from 42 Assam Rifles Schools are participating in a range of creative activities at their respective campuses. These include writing postcards and poems, creating both individual and graffiti-style artworks, performing Nukkad Nataks, and taking part in group poetry recitations. A notable aspect of the event is the presence of delegations from seven schools, each representing one of the seven sister states. Each delegation includes eight students from Classes VI to XII and two teachers, all gathered at the host school in Shillong. It is pertinent to note that the Empathy Art Festival is more than just an artistic celebration; it marks the beginning of integrating empathy education into the regular curriculum across all Assam Rifles Public Schools (ARPS). This initiative, developed in partnership with Project Empathy, is based on the belief that empathy is a learnable and practicable skill. The project aims to instil self-respect and respect for others through early emotional engagement and creative expression. The event is expected to draw a diverse audience, including dignitaries, parents, students, and the general public.

Govt urged to raise awareness in rural areas on schemes for PwDs
SHILLONG, April 24: While the state government has rolled out various schemes and initiatives for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), many in rural areas remain unaware of these benefits. Highlighting the gap, Bertha Dkhar, Executive Director of Bethany Society, on Thursday urged the government to raise awareness about these schemes. “PwDs in rural areas are not aware of the schemes and are not receiving the benefits. Therefore, the government must reach out to PwDs in far-flung areas,” she said. Noting that employment continues to be a major challenge for PwDs in Meghalaya, she said the Bethany Society is working on ways to enhance employability for them. Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, speaking at the ‘Hat Jingkyrsiew’ (Jagruthi Mela) event, announced that the department will soon release Rs 76 lakh for the Bethany Society. He emphasised the department’s commitment to ensuring that PwDs receive the best possible services. The Hat Jingkyrsiew initiative is aimed to connect stakeholders in the disability ecosystem and provide essential information on education, skills training, government schemes and livelihood opportunities for PwDs.

Group moves DSEL for fill-up of vacant posts in WGH schools
TURA, April 24: The All Meghalaya Minority Students’ Union (AMMSU) has written to the DSEL, West Garo Hills, urging the immediate filling of vacant assistant teacher posts in deficit schools across the district, in accordance with the Meghalaya School Service Rule, 2025. “We have observed that several schools, including Rajabala Secondary School, Bhaitbari Secondary School, Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School, and Janapriya Secondary School, are currently experiencing significant vacancies in teaching staff. As per the Meghalaya School Service Rule, 2025, it is understood that these vacant positions are to be filled exclusively by the Meghalaya Education Recruitment Board (MERB),” AMMSU stated in the letter. The organisation added that classes in these schools are being conducted without sufficient teaching staff, which is ultimately hampering the quality of education and negatively affecting students’ learning outcomes. “The lack of qualified teachers in these institutions is disrupting the academic schedule and leaving students without adequate support and guidance in their studies. The education of our children is of utmost importance, and ensuring that our schools are adequately staffed is vital for fostering an environment conducive to learning and overall development,” said AMMSU president Nur Islam, urging that the vacancies be prioritised and filled at the earliest.

Saleng reviews central schemes
WILLIAMNAGAR, Apr 24: Tura MP Saleng A Sangma on Thursday reviewed the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes during DISHA meeting at Williamnagar Circuit House. The meeting, which was also attended by East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal, heads of offices and DISHA members of the district, reviewed the implementation of various central schemes under District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Health, Education, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, DCIC, PHE, Health, Agriculture, ICDS, Fisheries PWD, Social Forestry, Water Resources, Soil and Water Conservation, Sericulture, Horticulture, etc. During the meeting, the MP urged government officials to ensure that all schemes reach the intended beneficiaries in the district. The allocation of funds under the central schemes, issues and shortcomings relating to implementation of the schemes were also addressed during the meeting.

SHILLONG, April 24: The East Khasi Hills District Magistrate has prohibited the illegal killing of fish and environmental degradation in the Rynsha and Lawmei rivers within Lawmei village, following reports of rampant use of hazardous substances.
The order, which comes into immediate effect, indefinitely bans the use of poisonous chemicals and explosive substances—such as bleaching powder, ammonium-sulphate, pesticides, dynamite and fishing nets—in these rivers with the intent of killing fish.
The prohibition was promulgated following reports of miscreants reportedly killing fish indiscriminately using harmful methods in Wah Rynsha and Lawmei rivers, thereby causing serious ecological damage.
Meanwhile, authorities have warned that such practices not only harm aquatic life but may also lead to irreversible damage to the river ecosystem if not curbed immediately.

TURA, Apr 24: Various civil society organisations (CSO) held a sit-in outside the office of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Tura over various long-pending demands.
The CSOs, which were part of the protest, include the GSU, FKJGP, ADE, FAF, AYWO, TGCSU and FKJGP – TGC cell.
According to the protesters, the demands include the creation of a separate electoral roll, speeding up of the implementation of the Garo Customary Law (GCL), implementation of service and finance rules as well as the set up of a public accounts committee (PAC).

NONGPOH, April 24: Following reports of structural distress to a reinforced concrete bridge at Dong Mawshohroh in Umbir village, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal has prohibited the movement of heavy and overloaded vehicles exceeding 9 metric tonnes along the Mawmaram-Nongthliew-Mawmih-Mawlyndep road with immediate effect.
The order follows based technical assessments by the Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (Roads).
According to the reports, cracks were visible in the concrete encasement of RS joists and the RCC deck slab of the bridge, which is located at the 6th kilometre of the Lad Umsaw-UCC-Mawlyndep road under the jurisdiction of the PWD (Roads), Umsning Division.
Designed to support a maximum gross load of 9 metric tonnes, the bridge has been damaged due to repeated use by overloaded vehicles.
The 41.5-kilometre rural road, which connects West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts, is a single-lane stretch without proper passing bays and was intended solely for light vehicular traffic.
According to the official findings, the unauthorised movement of heavy vehicles has contributed to pavement deterioration, including rutting, longitudinal cracks and base failures, further compromising road safety.

SHILLONG, April 24: The North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) was felicitated on Thursday at the INDIAdonates Symposium for its exceptional contributions to grassroots sustainability.
The Synergy and Sustainability Symposium IV, held at the Chancery Pavilion in Bengaluru, was themed ‘Amplifying Impact: Scaling Solutions for a Sustainable Future’.
NESFAS received recognition under the category “Amplifying Impact through Ground-Up Community-Led Action” for its transformative work in promoting sustainable development and agro-livelihoods at the community level. Its inclusive and participatory model stands as a powerful example of fostering community ownership and creating lasting impact.
Representing NESFAS at the event were Executive Director Bah Pius Ranee and Senior Associate for Administration & Finance, Nangshan Skhem Lyngdoh.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to INDIAdonates for acknowledging NESFAS’s efforts in revitalizing, safeguarding and promoting local food systems,” Ranee said in his address.
He also noted that although they come from a region rich in biodiversity, local food systems are increasingly under threat from external forces. “In the face of these challenges, we need more support to restore pride, especially among young people by both introducing and reviving nature-based livelihoods through innovative approaches. We believe this will help reconnect them with Mother Earth,” Ranee added.
The event brought together leaders from philanthropy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), civil society, and government sectors to showcase scalable and impactful development models while encouraging dialogue aimed at inspiring systemic change.
It may be mentioned that the one-day symposium focused on promoting scalable solutions for a sustainable future, highlighting the importance of innovation and collaboration. It also served as a platform to catalyse social change by enabling meaningful partnerships between grassroots organisations, corporate and philanthropists.
Other highlights of the programme included keynote speeches, panel discussions and interactive sessions designed to promote knowledge exchange and yield actionable outcomes.

SHILLONG, April 24: A team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, has recently discovered four spider species from Northeast India—two of which are new to science, and two reported for the first time from the country.
These discoveries unveil the region’s rich yet underexplored arachnid diversity and highlight the importance of continued biodiversity research in one of the world’s most critical ecological hotspots.
The newly described species include Psechrus chizami, discovered in Nagaland, and Psechrus nathanael, found in both Nagaland and Meghalaya.
Psechrus chizami is named after its type locality, Chizami, while Psechrus nathanael is named in honour of Nathanael PA Newmai for his steadfast support during fieldwork.
With these additions, the number of known Psechrus species in India now stands at seven.
Spiders of this genus are known for building slightly dome-shaped sheet webs with tube-like retreats, usually in crevices, rock gaps, or under tree roots. These newly identified species can be distinguished from others in the genus based on their unique genital morphology. The discovery has been detailed in the latest issue of the journal Zootaxa.
In addition to these, the research team—comprising Dr. Souvik Sen, Dr. Sudhin PP, and Shouvik Mali—also recorded two other spider species, Pardosa tuberosa and Thiania abdominalis, from a relatively undisturbed area in Meghalaya.
These are reported for the first time from India, and the findings have been published in Records of the Zoological Survey of India.
The wolf spider Pardosa tuberosa is highly sensitive to environmental changes, and its declining population indicates habitat degradation, making it a valuable bio-indicator. The jumping spider Thiania abdominalis is medium-sized, with a light reddish-brown cephalothorax and a creamy yellow abdomen marked with bold black bands. Unlike web-builders, Thiania spiders rely on agility and sharp vision to hunt, playing a role in natural pest control.
“This is a significant discovery, not only because we found two new species and two new records, but also because it reflects the largely untapped potential for further biodiversity research in these areas. As we continue to explore these diverse ecosystems, we may uncover many more species that are yet to be documented,” said Dr. Souvik Sen, lead researcher of the study.
Commenting on the discovery, ZSI Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee said, “This discovery is just the beginning, and further surveys will be conducted in the unexplored corners of the Northeastern region as the biodiversity here is unparalleled. There is still a lot that is yet to be discovered. With continued investigation, the researchers hope to unravel the faunal mysteries that lurk amidst the forested hills of northeast India.”

SHILLONG, April 24: The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), a national non-political social organisation of Gorkhas across India, has vehemently condemned the terror attack at Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and called for the strongest possible action against those responsible.
The BGP described the attack as a barbaric act, clearly targeting religious groups other than followers of Islam.
Terming the incident deeply disturbing and a grim reminder of the ongoing threat posed by cross-border terrorism, it said that the pattern and nature of the killings strongly indicate links to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which it accused of continuing to be a hub for terror networks destabilising peace in the region.
“The Gorkha community stands in unwavering solidarity with the victims and their families, and with every Indian who believes in peace, unity, and the sovereignty of our nation,” it said.