Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Sept 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday held state’s opposition political parties responsible for the ongoing turmoil in the state even as he accused them for adding fuel to the fire.
The state is appallingly affected by the ongoing agitations called by pressure groups demanding for immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in state.

Staff Reporter
Tura, Sept 27: The ongoing ILP demonstrations were given a rest in the town of Tura on Friday for preparations for the upcoming Martyrs Day in Garo Hills region. While most places in Garo Hills still went ahead with the picketing of offices, however, the town of Tura gave the ILP demonstration a miss to prepare for the Martyr’s Day to be observed on September 30.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Sept 26: The villagers from the disputed Block-II area in Ri-Bhoi have asked the NGOs to stop interfering into their matter, especially with setting up of a bank in Sabuda village by Assam.
Traditional heads and residents from over seventeen villages from the disputed Block-II area on Thursday urged the NGOs to refrain from any kinds of interruption which will harass the public and their interest.

New Delhi, Sept 27 (IANS): In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday said for a vibrant democracy, the voter must have the right to reject all the candidates in the fray with the option of "none of the above (NOTA)" in voting machines and on ballot papers.
A bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "... in a vibrant democracy, the voter must be given an opportunity to choose none of the above (NOTA) button, which will indeed compel the political parties to nominate a sound candidate. This situation palpably tells us the dire need of negative voting."
"We are of the considered view that in bringing out this right to cast negative vote at a time when electioneering is in full swing, it will foster the purity of the electoral process and also fulfill one of its objectives, namely, wide participation of people," the court said in its judgment.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Sept 26: Two garment shops in Police Bazaar (PB), the heart of Shillong City, were set ablaze by miscreants early on Thursday morning, hours before the two days office picketing called by the pro ILP activists started. The owner of one of the shop ‘Satyanarayan garment’ was also assaulted by around eight boys before they threw petrol bomb into the shop.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Sept 26: The state government on Thursday ‘officially’ admitted the escalation of violent and communal incidents over the last few days across the state, even as it assured to deal such cases with a firm hand and address the issue of influx and illegal infiltration in a timely and integrated manner.