MEGHALAYA

The 12th South Asian Games, co-hosted by Guwahati and Shillong, in February was a major highlight of the year. Shillong hosted eight disciplines - women's football, archery, boxing table tennis, wushu, judo, taekwondo and badminton. The games were a success in both Assam and Meghalaya. Sportsmen and women from eight countries displayed their skills and vied for laurels. Ei Prithibi Ek Krirangan, sung by late Bhupen Hazarika, was chosen as the theme song of the Games.

Towards the end of the year, Meghalaya received some good news from the Indian Olympic Association, which accepted the state's bid to host the National Games in 2022, when Meghalaya will celebrate 50 years of its statehood.

Militant activities witnessed a decline in 2016, courtesy of the spate of surrenders and arrests of militants and seizure of arms and ammunition by Meghalaya police. Militants, especially those belonging to the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), surrendered in large numbers. Around 165 militants from various groups surrendered while more than 200 of them were arrested. Around 23 militants were also killed.

Besides, police managed to seize a large number of arms and ammunition. In August, the United A'chik Liberation Army (UALA), with 66 cadres, was disbanded in Tura, West Garo Hills.

The Meghalaya government commissioned the Special Force-10 (SF-10) commandos with the responsibility to take on militants.

Meghalaya's political scene witnessed disquiet following the defeat of the Congress in the Tura Lok Sabha bypoll in May.

The National People's Party president, Conrad K. Sangma, drubbed Meghalaya Congress legislator Dikkanchi D. Shira, the wife of chief minister Mukul Sangma, by a record margin of around 1,92,212 votes. Many Congress legislators felt Mukul should be replaced as chief minister.

Although the AICC intervened at a later stage, Mukul remained firm in his seat while a cabinet reshuffle, the first since the government was formed in 2013, was ordered.

Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council chief executive member P.N. Syiem, a legislator from Mawsynram, was suspended by the Congress for three years owing to alleged anti-party activities. Following Syiem's suspension, five Congress council members also quit the party in support of the KHADC chief. In November, bypolls to seven autonomous district council seats were held in the Khasi and Jaintia hills where the electorate gave a mixed verdict.

The BJP, which contested the polls, failed to make any dent.

Meghalaya lost its stalwart Purno Agitok Sangma in March. He passed away in New Delhi. His son, Conrad, was chosen as his replacement to become the NPP national president.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his maiden visit to Meghalaya in May and addressed the 65th plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong. Modi also visited the Khasi Heritage Village at Mawphlang.