Ex-dy CM of Meghalaya Khongwir no more

Shillong: Former Meghalaya deputy chief minister SD Khongwir passed away at the age of 90 at the NEIGRIMHS Hospital here on Tuesday.Chief minister Conrad K Sangma paid his last respects at the residence of the late leader and said his passing away was a loss for the people of the state. Khongwir was the longest serving headman of Mawlai Nonglum with a record 55 years in this position and had a tenure of 25 years as the MLA of Mawlai. He was first elected as member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 1972 and continued to serve the people as legislator till 1993. The veteran public leader was also the chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board. tnn

Special forces of India, US kicks off drill in Meghalaya

India and the US have begun the Vajra Prahar combat exercise in Meghalaya, aimed at enhancing military interoperability. The exercise involves joint planning and execution of special operations, counter-terrorism, and air-borne drills in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios. The US has deployed personnel from the 1st Special Forces Group, while the Indian team is led by Para (Special Forces) commandos. The exercise, in its 14th edition, focuses on sharing best practices, enhancing interoperability, and strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.

Kerala: Former LDF candidate Shelna Nishad passes away

Shelna Nishad, the LDF candidate from Aluva assembly constituency in the 2021 elections, has passed away at the age of 36. She had been undergoing treatment for cancer. Shelna Nishad, who was the daughter-in-law of late Congress leader K Muhammad Ali, was selected by the LDF to compete against Anwar Sadath of Congress. Although she lost the election, she remained active in politics. Shelna Nishad was an architect and had worked on the design of metro stations in Aluva and other locations. She is survived by her husband Nishad Ali.

Director-actor Cheran's father passes away

Cheran, a popular Tamil director and actor, has suffered a personal loss as his father, Pandian, passed away at the age of 84. Cheran and his family members traveled to their native town for the funeral. Many celebrities and fans expressed their condolences on social media. Cheran's father, who worked as a theatre operator, inspired his son to enter the film industry. Cheran has directed successful films such as 'Bharathi Kannamma' and 'Autograph' and has also acted in several movies. His most recent appearance was in the 2023 Tamil film 'Tamil Kudimagan'.

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