Tue Oct 28 11:56:26 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written from an Indian perspective:
The Hindu: Uranium Mining Opposition Rekindled in Meghalaya on Anniversary of Resistance Icon’s Death
GUWAHATI, October 28, 2025 – The fifth death anniversary of Spility Lyngdoh Langrin, a revered matriarch and symbol of resistance against uranium mining in Meghalaya, was marked by renewed calls to halt any attempts by the central government to extract the radioactive element.
Langrin, who passed away on October 28, 2020, at the age of 95, became a local hero for her unwavering opposition to uranium mining in the Domiasiat area of South West Khasi Hills. In 1993, she famously rejected a lucrative offer to sell her land after exploratory drilling by the Atomic Minerals Directorate revealed significant uranium deposits.
“Today, on Anti-Uranium Day, we reaffirm our commitment to prevent any uranium mining in Domiasiat,” stated Lambokstar Marngar, President of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU). The renewed urgency stems from a recent memorandum by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change exempting uranium mining from mandatory public consultations. This move, according to Mr. Marngar, “is an assault on the rights of the indigenous people and a violation of our constitutional rights.”
Meghalaya possesses some of India’s largest uranium reserves, concentrated in the Domiasiat, Wahkaji, Mawthabah, and surrounding regions of West Khasi Hills, near the border with Bangladesh. Local communities have consistently resisted efforts to exploit these resources, citing concerns about environmental degradation and potential health risks.
Leaders of the KSU and other organizations, including the Hynniewtrep Youth Council, invoke Langrin’s legacy as a source of inspiration. Her iconic declaration, “Money cannot buy me freedom,” resonated deeply with the community, motivating them to safeguard their ancestral lands.
Langrin’s second major phase of protests began in 2009, triggered by the Meghalaya government’s decision to allow the Uranium Corporation of India Limited to conduct exploratory activities on 422 hectares in the district. At the time, the state was estimated to have 9.22 million tonnes of high-grade uranium ore deposits. These protests, fueled by awareness of the negative effects of uranium mining as seen in Jadugoda, Jharkhand, eventually led to the revocation of permissions in August 2016. The movement continues today as the memory of Langrin and the determination of her community to protect their land remains strong.
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