New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS): As Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral procession wound its way through Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, a man wearing a skull cap and sporting a flowing beard, led a group of madrassa students chanting in praise of the departed leader as a mark of gratitude for the former Prime Minister who once helped him settle a dispute over a mosque.
The students from a nearby Muslim seminary said they had been waiting near a busy crossing close to ITO since early morning on a sultry Friday.

Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, AUG 18: Six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Manipur reiterated their demand today for the implementation of the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Councils Act, 1971. They also demanded that Rules 1972 with the subsequent Amendment Act of 2008 be ensured in toto, “in letter and spirit”.
This demand was made during the “One-day political conference of the 6 Autonomous District Council members, Manipur” held on Saturday at District Council Bhavan, Chingmeirong, Imphal.  These demands came after the ADC members thoroughly discussed their present status and on how to acquire the rights which have “been suppressed for the 20 years”.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 18: With the state government assuring that the four month pending salaries of the state’s teachers, the All Meghalaya Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan School Teachers Association (AMSSATA) has decided to put on hold its proposed agitation in demand for these dues to be cleared.
Addressing media persons here on Saturday, AMSSASTA president L Marngar said, “We have decided to put on hold our agitation programme after a meeting held with the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma recently.”

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 18: Praises were showered on the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma by two Ministers from Manipur have urged the people of South Tura constituency to vote for Conrad in the ensuing by election that will be held in the constituency.
Speaking at an election campaign meeting at Modynagar locality in Tura, Manipur’s Health Minister Jayantakumar Singh said, “Conrad Sangma has successfully positioned the party across North East and in different parts of the country. He is working very hard to fructify the vision and foundation of NPP laid by late Purno Sangma.”

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 18: Allegations of the Assam government illegally constructing roads in areas of Ri Bhoi district which fall under the jurisdiction of the Hima Nongspung have led the latter to seek legal recourse.
Informing this here on Saturday, secretary of the Hima Nongspung Michael Warjri said, “We have filed a petition before the Meghalaya High Court on August 13 against the illegal construction of roads by the Assam government.”

Accra, Aug 18 (IANS): Former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Prize Laureate Kofi Annan died on Saturday at the age of 80, his family said.
Annan passed away after a short illness, with his wife and three children by his side, a statement shared on Twitter by the UN Migration Agency (IOM) said. He died in the Swiss city of Geneva, where he had been living for several years.
"It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that the former Secretary General of the UN and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness," his family said.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 17: The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Hispreaching Son Shylla has been vindicated after the Meghalaya High Court has dismissed a petition against his recent election to the said post.
The Court had dismissed the petition after MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) has decided to withdraw from the case.

Staff Reporter
SHILONG, Aug 17: Meghalaya BJP on Friday remembered former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his contribution towards the nation and the region.
The BJP organised a condolence meeting here at the BJP office on Friday in which founding and senior members of the party recalled Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had a soft corner for the North East region.
Speaking at the meeting, BJP Meghalaya president, Shibun Lyngdoh said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee took special interest in the development of the North East region.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 17: The attempts of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to put an end to illegal trading on the part of non – tribals has hit a roadblock after the Meghalaya High Court has put the exercise on hold till objection thereto are filed.
It may be noted here that the JHADC had issued a letter on April 12 last for the engaging of an agent to identify and detect illegal trading by non-tribals.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 17: The Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Prestone Tynsong has lambasted a leader from a political party who had branded Martin M Danggo a ‘defector’ as was reported in a section of the media recently. In this regard, Tynsong, who belongs to the National People’s Party (NPP), said that the party does not believe in the policy of mud – slinging.
Addressing a rally at Rangthong to seek the mandate of the people for Danggo who will be seeking election as the NPP’s candidate in by-poll of Ranikor constituency, Tynsong pointed out that under the Constitution, an MLA who resigns from his post to re-contest the seat is ‘not’ a defector.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 17: Allegations of custodial deaths have prompted the Meghalaya High Court to take suo – motu cognizance of the matter and to serve the state government a deadline of two – weeks time to file its response against these allegations.
In its order issued here on Friday, the Court while taking suo-motu cognizance on the custodial violence and other matters relating to prison conditions has granted the senior government advocate two weeks time to file a response.

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS): Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away here at AIIMS on Thursday at age 93, was on Friday cremated with full military honours at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, where people turned out in tens of thousands to pay their final tributes.
Vajpayee’s foster-daughter Namita lit the funeral pyre amidst the chanting of vedic hymns and firing of a 21-gun salute by soldiers.