Author Archives: TARIQ ABDULLAH

===AUTHOR===

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma is attending the 16th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar in Ottawa, Canada, held from May 25 to 29.

Organised by the Parliament of Canada, the seminar is themed “Parliaments in the 21st Century: Innovation and Adaptation for Democracy.” The event brings together parliamentary leaders and officials to discuss emerging democratic practices and contemporary governance challenges.

The sessions cover a range of subjects, including the Canadian parliamentary system, youth engagement, and women’s political leadership. Participants will also examine modern legislative infrastructure, accountability mechanisms, hybrid proceedings, and the role of artificial intelligence in parliamentary functions.

The Speaker is accompanied by Assembly Secretary Malthus S Sangma and Deputy Secretary Raja K Kharpuri.

GOVERNMENT OF MEGHALAYA

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER ::: DISTRICT SELECTION COMMITTEE

EAST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT

SHILLONG

NOTICE

This is for general information for those candidates who have qualified the Written Examination for the post of Sectional Assistant conducted by the District Selection Committee, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, that the Personal Interview will be held on the 29^th May 2026.

For detailed information, kindly refer to the district website at www.eastkhasihills.gov.in

MIPR No.610

Dated:26/5/2026

Sd/-

Deputy Commissioner &

Chairman

District Selection Committee

East Khasi Hills District, Shillong.

===AUTHOR’S NAME AND AFFILIATION===
Sd/- Deputy Commissioner & Chairman, District Selection Committee, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong.

Source: IMD Shillong

MAX

Shillong 24.4

Sohra 21.6

Umiam 28.2

MIN

Shillong 13.8

Sohra 15.4

Umiam 18.2

RAIN

Shillong 21.6

Sohra 72.2

Umiam 13.0

FORECAST

Moderate rain is likely at most places

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: The state government has introduced 112 as the unified emergency helpline under the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which integrates previous emergency services, including Police (100), Fire (101), and Ambulance (108).

The Office of the Superintendent of Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Shillong, has notified the public that old contact numbers for the department previously listed in local directories are no longer in service.

Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services can now be contacted through the emergency helpline 112 or the landline number 2520400.

Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: The newly formed Federation of Piggery Farmers has petitioned the Meghalaya government for a 100 per cent waiver of all Piggery Mission loans, citing massive financial losses caused by African Swine Fever (ASF) and a collapsed local market.

In a memorandum addressed to Governor CH Vijayashankar, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and Animal Husbandry Minister Sanbor Shullai, the federation stated that repeated ASF outbreaks have wiped out livestock and pushed hundreds of farmers into severe debt.

The federation alleged that the unregulated influx of pigs and pork products from states like Assam, Punjab, and Delhi (Contd on P-7)

Chief Executive Officer

Jowai Municipal Board&

Member Secretary

Jowai Municipal Board Selection Committee

OFFICE OF THE

JOWAI MUNICIPAL BOARD, JOWAI

WEST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT, MEGHALAYA

No.JMB/Genl-7/Pt-1/2026-27 Dated Jowai the May 2026

This is for the general information of all concerned candidates that the personal interview for various posts will be held as follows:-

Sl No: 1, Name of Post (s): Account Assistant, Date:

Sl No: 2, Name of Post (s): Assistant Engineer, Date: 5th June 2026

Sl No: 3, Name of Post (s): Data Entry Operator, Date:

Sl No: 4, Name of Post (s): Driver, Date: 8th June 2026

Sl No: 5, Name of Post (s): Driver (JCB), Date:

Sl No: 6, Name of Post (s): Junior Engineer, Date: 10th June 2026

Sl No: 7, Name of Post (s): Sanitary Inspector, Date:

Sl No: 8, Name of Post (s): Sectional Assistant, Date: 15th June 2026

Sl No: 9, Name of Post (s): Sweeper, Date:

All concerned candidates are hereby informed to collect their call letters from 27th May 2026 at 12:00 Noon and are requested to bring their admit card along with a valid ID card at the time of collection.

MIPR No.609

Dated:26/5/2026

===AUTHOR’S NAME AND AFFILIATION===
Chief Executive Officer, Jowai Municipal Board&, Member Secretary, Jowai Municipal Board Selection Committee

Bongiya Sahitya Parishad, Shillong, will organise a cultural programme on the occasion of the 127th birth anniversary of acclaimed Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at its own auditorium on May 31. Artistes from different parts of Shillong will participate in the programme.

MISSING CHURCH FUNDS

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: The opposing faction of the Mawkhaw Presbyterian Church (MPC), under Mawkhaw District, Shillong Ri-Lum Presbytery and KJP Synod Sepngi, has hit back at Rev. Macdonald Pyngrope for claiming to be a pastor even after the Synod withdrew his ordination.

The MPC accused him of attempting to mislead the public by portraying himself as the sole person committed to exposing the alleged misappropriation of church funds.

In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, the faction alleged that recent media reports gave the impression that Pyngrope alone was dedicated to exposing the financial irregularities that tarnished the church’s image.

Questioning his position, the group asked who was trying to shield those directly or indirectly involved in the alleged misappropriation, while also pointing fingers at the auditors who had certified the church accounts between 2013 and 2019.

According to the faction, the auditors during the period when the funds allegedly went missing were JS Rajee, A Pariat, G Pakma, and WH Shulai. It further claimed that all of them are currently aligned with the “self-styled church committee” headed by Pyngrope. The faction maintained that the present dispute within the church is unrelated to the missing funds case and instead stems from Pyngrope’s refusal to sign the bond agreement issued by the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian (KJP) Synod Sepngi for pastors and church employees.

It said the bond, approved during the Synod meeting in 2021, requires pastors to refrain from indulging in political activities and devote themselves fully to church service, unless prior permission is obtained from the Synod for other engagements. The group stated that Pyngrope’s refusal to sign the bond led to his removal as pastor by the Synod, resulting in the emergence of two factions within the church—one remaining under the authority of the KJP Synod Sepngi and the other aligned with Pyngrope and no longer under any Presbyterian church authority.

Clarifying the FIR related to the alleged missing church funds, the faction said the complaint was not initiated solely by Pyngrope but was a collective decision of the church committee.

It stated that after learning about the alleged financial discrepancies, the church committee, during its meeting on July 31, 2019, resolved to file an FIR. Subsequently, on August 3, 2019, it was decided to withdraw the initial FIR and file a fresh complaint against the church chowkidar, with Pyngrope and former church secretary, A Syiemlieh, autho-rised to sign the complaint on behalf of the church.

The matter was later registered as GR Case No. 93(S) of 2021, with Alfast Bareh named as the accused. The case is currently being heard in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shillong, and is presently at the evidence stage.

The faction asserted that it was incorrect to suggest that Pyngrope alone brought the alleged fund misappropriation to light, stating that the discrepan-cies were detected by those responsible for preparing the balance sheet and conducting the church’s special audit.

It further alleged that Pyngrope already sought clarification from the Synod on whether signing the bond would affect the FIR filed in 2019, and that the Synod had clarified in 2023 that it would have no bearing on the case.

However, the faction claimed that this clarification was not shared with the congregation. It was raised only in 2025 when Pyngrope urged the church to seek clarification from the Synod.

The group also stated that discus-sions on the bond had been taking place in church meetings since 2022, but the church committee had initially treated the matter as a personal issue between him and the Synod.

The church funds initially found missing, which later exposed the alleged involvement of the church chowkidar, stood at Rs 3.26 crore. However, fol-lowing the police inquiry, the alleged amount misappropriated was found to have risen to Rs 4.58 crore.

The dispute involves a faction, led by Pyngrope, seeking to dissociate itself from KJP Synod Sepngi to be an independent entity and another under KJP Synod Sepngi, which wants to be governed by the provisions of the Pres-byterian Church of India.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 26: The Meghalaya Nursing Council (MNC), in collaboration with the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP), on Tuesday launched the “Continued Nursing Education (CNE) through Clinical Vignettes” to enhance clinical competency among nursing professionals in the state.

The programme introduces an online Healthcare Learning System (HLS), a digital platform providing case-based clinical education. This system uses structured clinical vignettes tailored to Meghalaya’s healthcare needs, aligning with national guidelines for maternal and child health, as well as communicable and non-communicable diseases. The modules also incorporate treatment protocols from the state’s Essential Drugs List.

The launch event was attended by principals, vice principals, and nursing superintendents from both government and private hospitals. Senior nursing faculty from across the state are contributing to the development of these vignettes to ensure they remain contextually relevant.

Addressing the gathering, MNC Registrar Grace Perry Sunn stressed the importance of continuous professional development for nurses. Dr. Anindita Bhowmik, Consultant at MHSSP, provided an orientation on the programme, while MHSSP General Manager Byron Phira presented the technical aspects of the HLS.

Officials stated that the initiative is expected to improve nursing practice across Meghalaya by strengthening clinical decision-making through practical, technology-enabled education.