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The murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, allegedly by his wife and others, drew national attention, with police arresting several accused and filing a detailed chargesheet. The case sparked widespread debate over policing capability and the handling of high-visibility investigations.
Citing financial tracking and interstate coordination with agencies in Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya Police said it was one of the most resource-intensive investigations in recent years.
Political currents changed simultaneously. The Voice of the People Party (VPP), which secured its first Lok Sabha victory in 2024 by defeating three-time Congress MP Vincent H Pala in Shillong, strengthened its position by winning the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council elections and forming the executive committee earlier this year.
The result signaled the break of the long-standing coalition in the urban Khasi-Jaintia areas and underlined the transition from party movement to administration.
The Congress fell further behind when its only remaining MLA, Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, resigned and joined the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), a move recognized under the anti-defection law and which left the party without representation in the 60-member House.
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A major cabinet reshuffle in September further increased the churn in governance, with eight ministers resigning and eight joining the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, reorganizing the coalition representation into the NPP, UDP, HSPDP and BJP.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma retained finance and cabinet affairs, while the two deputy chief ministers held the portfolios of home, public works and urban infrastructure.
Sangma said the decisions were taken after consultations to ensure “balanced regional representation in the districts”.
The government has placed connectivity and youth-related investments as central fiscal priorities, investing in road upgrades, skills development and tourism infrastructure.
Beautification drives continued in Shillong along with appeals for traffic discipline, while judicial decisions put pressure on land acquisition associated with the airport proposal.
A An aid package of Rs 50 crore to revive an airfield in the western region was introduced as a step towards better air access.
Education and youth livelihoods attracted administrative attention. State disbursed
Rs 130 crore in scholarships covering about 70,000 students, and stepped up World Bank-backed initiatives to keep adolescents in school.
A new curriculum decision mandates Khasi and Garo education till Class 1, which Sangma framed as a cultural foundation, noting that children should learn with “confidence and a sense of belonging”.
Tourism and cultural events shaped the economic narrative. The revived autumn calendar saw the return of major festivals, with the Me’gong Festival in the Garo Hills attracting visitors. Officials claimed that the sector has revived after the pandemic.
Heavy rains caused landslides on tourist routes in Shillong and Seohara. In the Doki-Shnongpadeng belt, tourism stakeholders highlighted water pollution in parts of the Umngot river due to road cutting work on the Shillong-Doki section under the NHIDCL corridor.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board inspected the site, imposed fines for non-compliance and conducted strict checks on the route.
In the sports sector, work progressed for a 40,000 capacity football stadium near the state capital.
The issue of illegal coal extraction dominated the regulatory discussion at the end of the year.
In December, the East Jaintia Hills administration, acting on High Court directions under the supervision of enforcement and pollution control officials, demolished 11 unauthorized coke plants running without mandatory clearances.
A court-appointed committee later reported that illegal coal mining was active in some parts of the district. It recommended intensified patrolling, exit-point checks and regular compliance reporting to the Chief Secretary.
Controversy arose when a cabinet minister, responding to a question on missing coal stocks along the river bank, suggested that monsoon rains could have washed away some of the coal into Assam and Bangladesh – comments that were scrutinized amid judicial oversight.
Disputes on the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border also remained active.
In Lapangap, farmers attempting to harvest paddy on disputed land were stopped by villagers from across the border, following which police were deployed and the administration appealed for peace.
In October, a Karbi villager was killed and several people were injured in clashes over access to farmland near West Karbi Anglong and West Jaintia Hills. Both state administrations reiterated that regional mechanisms will continue.