Meghalaya IBSD trains farmers about medicinal plants

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 5: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Meghalaya organised a training programme for the farmers at Upper Shillong for cultivation of medicinal plants including Swertia chirayita (Chirayita) and Gaultheria fragrantissima (Jathynrat).

This training was organised by IBSD under the Himalayan Bioresources Mission and the guidance of Prof. Pulok K. Mukherjee, Director IBSD to promote medicinal plants resources of the region for societal benefit and livelihood generation.

During the programme, farmers from Mawbeh village, East Khasi Hills District were trained for cultivation and propagation of Chirayita, Jathynrat and explored various field trials of medicinal plants growing within IBSD campus. During the event, aromatic oil extraction was performed from Jathynrat and demonstrated to farmers.

IBSD is organising such programmes in North Eastern Region to promote bioentrepreneurship and bioeconomy from bioresources. The programme was also attended by students, scholars and scientists of IBSD.

BSF personnel under investigation for shooting trucker

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 21: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today informed that an investigation is on into the gunning down of a trucker by the BSF personnel at Mawshun village on May 5, this year.

Replying to a zero-hour notice moved by NPP legislator from Sohra Gavin Miguel Mylliem in the Assembly, Tynsong said that there are two FIRs being filed on the incident.

On May 5, 2023, at around 10.24 pm, an incident occurred in which (L) Running Nongkynrih of Jalynteng, driver of the truck (ML 05F 3885) was fired upon by a BSF personnel at Mawshun village near petrol pump, NH-40 (Shillong-Dawki Road, Pynursla.

Due to the firing incident, the driver succumbed to his injuries and died on the spot.

He said one FIR was filed by a relative of the deceased, Riverskhem Nongkynrih and another FIR was filed by the BSF against the deceased person at the Pynursla police station.

“The investigation of both the cases is ensuing, and the police officials are putting in sincere efforts to ascertain the facts and circumstances of both the cases,” Tynsong said.

He said that no one was arrested in connection with the instant case.

As per the report filed by Riverskhem, it was intimated that the complainant and his cousin’s brother, the deceased person, were proceeding from Umthli village to transport buffaloes to their owner’s shed and on reaching near Mawshun village, the deceased person took a right turn in order to unload the buffaloes. However, during that time a mini truck of BSF was also following them from behind and suddenly without any warning the BSF personnel rushed towards the complainant and the victim and started firing, as a result of which the victim collapsed.

In its counter FIR filed against the deceased driver (L) Running Nongkynrih, the BSF said that on the night of May 5, 2023, the mobile check post (MCP) party of ‘G’ Company, 4 Battalion Border Security Force deployed for duty at Pynursla-Dawki road near Wahkdait village, had cautioned the driver to stop for checking.

Instead of stopping, the driver tried to escape by hitting and running over the BSF personnel on duty.

The personnel on duty sensing danger, had fired 2 rounds in the air at an interval, but the driver did not stop and tried to hit the personnel on duty.

Seeing an imminent threat to his life the personnel again fired one round towards the tyre of the truck with the intention to stop the vehicle, but the driver turned his vehicle towards the left and collided with the divider.

Tynsong said that the gunning down of the victim had sparked the ire of the local populace and a law and order situation had arisen.

“In view of the tense situation in the area, security has been tightened and Meghalaya police is keeping a close watch on the situation,” he said while informing that as of now the situation is normal in the area.

Meghalaya BJP’s Mahila Morcha President Judy Surong expresses gratitude for tireless efforts of women party members

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 9: BJP Mahila Morcha State President Judy Surong has expressed her gratitude to all the members of the Mahila BJP for working tirelessly in the just concluded Assembly elections.

 “I thank the central leadership, State Prabhari Dr M. Chuba Ao, Election In-charge Dr Sambit, Rituraj Sinha, BJP Media Convener Assam Rupam Goswami and Meghalaya In-charge Aienla Jamir for actively involving the Mahila Morcha in every sphere of the campaign, in terms of providing resources which enabled us to reach out to women of the state to create an awareness about how central schemes have enriched and eased their lives,” she said in a statement.