Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 01: The heads of different villages in East Khasi Hills (EKH) district on Monday haveasked land owners and land agents to drop all negotiations with the Border Security Force (BSF) authorities who are trying to acquire a plot of land measuring 60 acres in the Maharam area.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the different villages and NGOs under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) held recently. The JAC comprises the heads of Mawmaram, Kyllang-Jasap and Sohphoh-Pyrton dorbar shnong and members of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) Mawmaram Units.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Mawmaram village dorbar secretary, JR Mawlong said,” We had decided in the meeting to strongly oppose any move to allow the BSF to acquire 60 acres of land within the Maharam area.”

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 01: The Khasi Students’ Union - South West Khasi Hills Unit (KSU-SWKHU) on Monday has decided to call for another two-day night road blockade from December 4 - 5, as a mark of strong protest against what it has termed as the government’s adamant attitude to the restoration of a major road project in the district.
Informing about the decision on Monday, the Union’s general secretary, Forwardman Nongrem said that the night road blockade will start from 7 pm to 5 am on December 4 and 5.

Kisama (Nagaland), Dec 01 (IANS): A new resurgent, stronger and more prosperous India and Nagaland needs to be built, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday, adding that the region is a Natural Economic Zone (NEZ) and it is his priority to tap it.
“There are SEZs in some parts. Here it is NEZ - Natural Economic Zone. My priority is to tap this NEZ for NE (northeast). NE made for NEZ, NEZ made for NE,” Modi said at the inauguration of the Hornbill Festival here.
“Let us build a resurgent, stronger and more prosperous Nagaland and India,” he added.
He said that the festival seeks to “promote, preserve and protect unique cultural diversity of Nagaland”.
Addressing the gathering in English, Modi, who wore a traditional Naga headgear, assured the people that he will often come to visit here.

Staff reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 01: Family members of the victims of the Mookhep firing on September 24, on Monday demanded the state government to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation and immediately make public the report of the magisterial inquiry even as they threatened to stage a hunger strike if the latter fails to comply with their demands.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Phillip James Bamon, a brother-in-law of Derest Siangshai, who was killed in the firing said, “We want the government to immediately release the report of the magisterial inquiry probing the firing incident in the public domain.”

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 01: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in charge Education, RC Laloo has said that the quality of education in the state has grown tremendously and has become more competitive.
“The quality of education in the state has grown tremendously both in terms of quantity and quality and it has become more and more competitive with time,” Laloo said while addressing at the 31st General Conference of the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) held at Lady Keane College on Saturday. 
Laloo stated that as the Education Minister of the state, he is committed to providing the students quality education.

Guwahati, Nov 30 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the image of the police has to change and called for SMART policing that would encompass sensitivity, reliability and modernity.
"I have a concept of SMART Police in my mind," Modi said at the 49th conference of directors and inspectors general of police from all states and union territories.
"S stands for strict and sensitivity, M for modern and mobility, A for alert and accountable, R for reliable and responsive, and T for tech-savvy and trained," he said, explaining his vision.
Modi asserted that the sacrifices and contributions of the police force should not be ignored.
"Since independence, 33,000 police personnel have sacrificed their lives for the nation... (This) is not a small number.