Ranikor, June 12: The opposition Congress in Meghalaya on Tuesday suffered a setback after its party members from South West Khasi Hills district's Ranikor block resigned en masse and joined the ruling National People's Party while the local legislator is likely to follow suit.

Former Public Works Department Minister Martin M. Danggo, who is the sitting Congress legislator from Ranikor assembly constituency, is expected to resign as member of the state assembly and from the Congress.

The resignations came in wake of the refusal of the previous Congress government headed by Mukul Sangma, now the Leader of Opposition, to the local demand to upgrade the Ranikor Community and Rural Development Block to a Sub-Division.

Ranikor, bordering India-Bangladesh border, is around 121 km from Shillong

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who attended a meeting at Ranikor, recognised that the demand of the people for creation of a Sub-Division was a "genuine" demand and assured his government would fulfil it at the earliest.

During the meeting, the Congress block unit was dissolved by its President and General Secretary and all members welcomed by the state NPP President W.R. Kharlukhi in presence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is also the National President of NPP.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Home Minister James K. Sangma, C&RD Minister Snaiwbhalang Dhar and others were also present.

Danggo, who hosted the public meeting on behalf of the people of Ranikor, expressed his confidence in the leadership of Conrad Sangma and said that he foresees a brighter future for Meghalaya under his leadership.

"I am thankful to the Chief Minister for his assurance to accept our memorandum and demands. I assure him that I will resign from Congress party as and when the date for the inauguration of the new Civil Sub-Division is made," he said.

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Mangaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): A court in Mangaluru on Thursday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the murder of a 47-year-old man in Dakshina Kannada district in 2022.

The II Additional District and Sessions Court Judge, Jagadish V N, convicted the accused, Murugan, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000.

According to the police, the case relates to the murder of Harish Salyan, a resident of Ullanje in Mangaluru city.

The incident occurred on March 19, 2022, near a tourist car parking area at Mulki Pete in Bappanadu village of Mulki town in Dakshina Kannada district.

Investigations revealed that the accused attacked Salyan with a red laterite stone embedded in cement concrete, repeatedly striking his face and killing him on the spot.

Police said the murder was allegedly committed due to financial enmity between the accused and the victim.

Following the incident, a case was registered at the Mulki police station, and the matter was later taken up for trial in the Sessions Court.

The investigation in the case was carried out by Police Inspector Kusumadhar, who filed the charge sheet before the court. Assistant Sub-Inspector Sanjeev assisted in the investigation.

During the trial, the prosecution was represented by Public Prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak, who argued the case on behalf of the state.

Based on the evidence and arguments presented, the court pronounced the verdict convicting the accused and awarding life imprisonment.