Author Archives: TARIQ ABDULLAH

(PTI) PERTH, May 25: The Indian women’s hockey team would look to kickstart its preparations for the FIH Nations Cup on a positive note when it takes on Australia in the four-match series starting here on Tuesday.

The Salima Tete-led side will aim to build vital momentum ahead of the crucial FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup to be held in Auckland from June 15 to 21.

Fresh from an encouraging display in Argentina earlier this year, where India drew the four-match series 2-2 against the world No. 2 side after losing the first two matches, the visiting team enters this tour with confidence.

The squad spent the last few weeks grinding through high-intensity tactical drills at the national training camp in SAI Bengaluru, which helped the players sharpen their skills, structural play, penalty corner variations and overall match fitness under the watchful eyes of chief coach Sjoerd Marijne.

India captain Salima said the players are upbeat about the tour.

“The entire squad is really looking forward to this tour. Playing against Australia, especially on their home turf, is always a tough challenge, and that is exactly what we need at this stage of our preparations. Every match in Perth will be crucial for us,” she said.

“We want to head into the Nations Cup in Auckland with momentum and confidence. Australia will push us to our limits, and we want to use that to become a stronger unit.”

The 22-member Indian team has an exciting mix of youth and experience, with rising talents Sonam, Hina Bano and Lalthuantluangi eagerly waiting for their opportunity.

Currently ranked ninth in the FIH World Rankings, the Indian team is ready to pull out all stops to challenge its eighth ranked opponents.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H. Pala on Tuesday claimed that internal divisions within the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) are widening and may intensify in the coming months.

Speaking to reporters, Pala alleged that dissatisfaction within the NPP has increased following recent political developments, including ministerial changes and leadership issues. He pointed to rising differences between leaders from the Khasi Hills and Garo Hills over political representation and the allocation of key positions.

Pala claimed that disagreements have also surfaced regarding future appointments, particularly nominations for Rajya Sabha seats, with legislators from different regions pushing for their preferred candidates. These tensions, he said, are now being openly discussed even at the grassroots level, with many feeling that leadership positions are not being equitably distributed.

The Congress leader further alleged that the ideological gap between the NPP and the BJP is narrowing, as both parties appear to be adopting similar political approaches on several issues. He warned that such developments could eventually undermine the stability of the ruling alliance in the state.

Pala asserted that the Congress remains the only credible political alternative for the people of Meghalaya amid growing public discontent over unemployment, poor governance, and unfulfilled promises by the current government.

He claimed that after years of experimenting with other parties, people are gradually returning to the Congress. The party, he said, is best positioned to counter the BJP both nationally and in Meghalaya, while several regional parties continue to align with the saffron party.

Pala criticised the present government for relying heavily on publicity and presentations rather than sincerely addressing the problems faced by ordinary citizens. He highlighted issues in education, pending dues, and stalled development works, stating that several sectors have deteriorated due to lack of seriousness and long-term vision.

Pala informed that the Congress has already begun preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. For the past three to four months, the party has been focusing on quiet grassroots outreach through house-to-house meetings and local-level engagement instead of large public rallies.

(Contd on P-7)

PTI

NEW DELHI, May 25: In a rejig of the Sports Authority of India’s day-to-day operations, the N S Johal-led Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Division has been given charge of 27 Olympic disciplines besides being told to address governance issues in national federations whenever asked by the Sports Ministry.

In an order issued by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, who is also the Director General of SAI, the TOPS division has also been entrusted with the task of being the primary interface between SAI and respective National Sports Federations (NSFs).

Johal is already in-charge of the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), which will continue to exist as a sub-group in TOPS.

“This has been done to ensure better coordination in operations and reduce bottlenecks,” a top SAI source told PTI.

TOPS was instituted in 2014 to primarily assist elite athletes in their training and competition planning in high priority sports like boxing, badminton, and athletics.

From now, aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, sport climbing, squash, surfing, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, and wrestling will be overseen by TOPS completely.

The order stated that TOPS will act as the “primary interface” between SAI and respective National Sports Federations (NSFs), associations, and stakeholders for assigned sports.

The division will also address governance issues whenever referred by Ministry, development proposals and budgeting matters of NSFs for the allocated disciplines.

Overall coordination for participation in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Youth Olympics, Asian Youth Games, and Asian Beach Games has also been entrusted to TOPS.

The Training of Elite Athletes and Management Support Division (TEAMS), which also comes under Johal, will manage operations related to disciplines, other than those handled by TOPS, including Para, Winter and non-Olympic disciplines.

Johal is a former Olympian sailor.

The coordination for National Sports Awards, Republic Day, Rashtrapati Bhawan and Prime Minister Office functions, will also be handled by the TEAMS division.

From Our Special Correspondent

From Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, May 26: In a move which will impact the bordering region, particularly the Northeast, the Centre on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee to study the “unnatural” demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons, and to suggest measures to deal with these demographic changes.

The ‘High-Level Committee on Demographic Change,’ will be headed by Justice (retired) Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar. The Census Commissioner along with retired IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, retired IPS officer Balaji Srivastava and Dr Shamika Ravi will be the other members of the committee. The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), will be the Member Secretary.

The committee will scientifically assess the demographic changes occurring in various parts of the country due to illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons. It will analyse the causes, and recommend appropriate policy, legislative, and administrative measures.

Further, the committee will comprehensively deliberate on the challenges arising from demographic changes, including illegal immigration, and study the possible causes of such demographic changes, such as cross-border activities (including illegal immigration), economic opportunities, and other socio-environmental factors. It will identify the underlying factors behind these changes, which include illegal immigration, abnormal settlement patterns, and orchestrated migration.

The committee will submit its report within one year. If necessary, the MHA may extend the tenure of the Committee by up to six months. The eight northeastern states are having most parts of their border with foreign (Contd on P-7)

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) could not conclude its inquiry on Tuesday into the alleged failure of Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) officials to act on sexual harassment complaints filed by members of the state Under-23 women’s cricket team.

Three former MCA officials — honorary secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, former president Nababrata Bhattacharjee, and former cricket operations manager Shining Star Lyngdoh — appeared before the commission and recorded their statements. However, former treasurer Dhrubajyoti Thakuria failed to attend as he was out of station.

MSCW Chairperson Iamonlang Syiem said the inquiry remains incomplete due to the absence of one official. “We will need to conduct another hearing to record his statement. Today was supposed to be the final hearing,” Syiem said.

She confirmed that statements from team manager Sanjay Mandal and head coach Hemant Roy — the two officials named in the complaints — have already been recorded.

The MSCW had summoned the officials after receiving complaints alleging that they had prior knowledge of the sexual harassment faced by the women cricketers but failed to initiate any action or internal inquiry.

In a related development, the HYC has strongly urged the BCCI to intervene immediately. In a letter addressed to BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia, HYC Sports Cell Chairman Franky Kharumnuid demanded an independent probe into the allegations of sexual harassment involving women cricketers and the alleged failure of MCA.

He called for the suspension of all accused individuals pending completion of the inquiry, protection and support for the affected players, and a review of safeguards and grievance redressal mechanisms within the MCA. Kharumnuid warned that any attempt to suppress complaints would undermine public trust in cricket administration and emphasised that the safety and dignity of women cricketers must not be compromised.

(PTI)

MUNICH, May 25: Two finals in the men’s 10m air pistol and 10m air rifle events are scheduled on the opening day of competitions at the Munich leg of the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol on Tuesday with Samrat Rana and Arjun Babuta leading the Indian challenge.Traditionally billed as a blue-riband annual event in the sport, the German capital will see participation of 696 shooters from 80 countries, including a galaxy of Olympic and world champions.

The 22-member Indian squad has a healthy mix of experience and youth.

The India squad includes four debutants in the senior level — Suraj Sharma, Sakshi Padekar, Ajendra Singh Chauhan and Udhayveer Sidhu who is making his debut in a senior world cup for an Olympic event.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: The 34th emergent Academic Council meeting of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on Tuesday approved the curriculum and syllabi for the seventh and eighth semesters of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The meeting also addressed key concerns regarding the transition of fourth-year students to the proposed one-year postgraduate (PG) programme.

The Academic Council held extensive deliberations on pending academic matters, particularly the full implementation of the FYUP and the university’s preparedness for the one-year master’s programme.

NEHUSU general secretary Martin Warjri said the students’ body had strongly urged the university to immediately constitute a committee to oversee the rollout of the one-year PG programme. The committee would be responsible for preparing the syllabus, framing admission rules, and ensuring a smooth transition.

“As the university is yet to finalise the framework for the one-year PG programme, we have requested the Academic Council to form a committee at the earliest so that students do not face any difficulties due to administrative delays,” Warjri said.

He clarified that students completing the third year with 120 credits under FYUP will have the flexibility to either continue into the fourth year or exit and opt for the conventional two-year postgraduate programme.

Warjri expressed satisfaction that several long-pending academic issues, some dating back to 2023, were finally addressed in the meeting.

Meanwhile, NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma confirmed that all remaining syllabi for the seventh and eighth semesters have been approved, completing the academic framework for the entire FYUP.

Kma assured that students who opt for the fourth year but are unable to complete it will still be eligible for the three-year undergraduate degree, ensuring no one is academically disadvantaged.

On the transition to the one-year master’s programme, Kma stated that the university will soon constitute a committee to frame the necessary rules and regulations. He added that the university aims to have the framework ready by July or August 2027.

The decisions taken by the Academic Council are expected to bring much-needed clarity and confidence to students pursuing studies under the NEP-implemented FYUP, particularly regarding academic continuity and postgraduate pathways.

From Our Special Correspondent

From Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, May 26: BJP leader and former health minister, A.L. Hek called on Union Minister Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday and shared his concern over rising cancer cases in the hill state.

The state faces one of the highest cancer incidence rates in India, reporting 176 cancer cases per one lakh population higher than the national average of approximately 100 cases. East Khasi Hills is particularly affected, with a staggering 227 to 228 cases per one lakh population.

The high cancer burden in the state is heavily linked to the widespread local consumption of tobacco and betel nut. Hek said that the Health Minister of Meghalaya has already written to the Ministry concerning the same.

After the meeting Hek said that the union minister assured full support and positive action to control the fatal disease. The Centre, in collaboration with the state government, is actively addressing the state’s high cancer burden through the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) and collaborating on several multi-pronged approaches to prevent, screen, and treat cancer in the state and the region as a whole.

Our Bureau

Our Bureau

SHILLONG/NONGPOH, May 26: In a significant breakthrough, Ri-Bhoi Police have arrested a man from Rajasthan for allegedly impersonating an IPS officer through a fake social media profile and cheating a victim of money.

The accused, identified as Jahul Ali, son of Farukh Khan and a resident of Kakrali Meo in Alwar district, Rajasthan, was apprehended from Jaipur on May 23.

According to police, the fraudster created a fake social media account in the name of IPS officer Vivekanand Singh Rathore and contacted the victim under false pretences. Believing the profile to be genuine, the victim transferred money and was subsequently duped.

Following a complaint, Nongpoh Police registered a case vide Nongpoh PS Case No. 28(05)2026 under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act.

The arrest was made after sustained investigation, technical surveillance, and intelligence inputs. Ri-Bhoi Police stated that further investigation is under way to uncover additional links and gather more evidence in the case.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: The BJP’s Meghalaya unit on Tuesday urged the state government to revisit tender eligibility norms to create greater opportunities for local contractors, as concerns were raised over the award of Public Health Engineering (PHE) projects worth nearly Rs 1,900 crore to Hyderabad-based BAC Infratech Pvt Ltd.

Addressing reporters, BJP Meghalaya spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said while the PHE Department maintained that the tendering process was transparent, the broader concern was about the framing of eligibility criteria that might prevent local contractors from competing for major government projects.

“The department has clarified that the process was transparent and we accept that. However, transparency alone is not the issue. If the tender conditions are structured in a way that excludes local (Contd on P-7)