Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXXIII No. 176
DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2023 Pages 16 ` 5.00
‘Collapse’ of Indian democracy will have an impact on world, says Rahul
Minor wrestler sexually harassed multiple times by WFI chief: FIR
FOLLOW US ON nagalandpostofficial
INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 13
@Nagaland_Post
SPORTS, PAGE 16
Odisha triple train crash: 70 dead, over 350 injured Load shedding throughout Nagaland BALASORE/HOWRAH, JUN 2 (PTI): At least 70 people were killed and more than 350 injured in a horrific train crash on Friday in Odisha involving the BengaluruHowrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train, officials and hospital doctors said. Local villagers, however, claimed that the number of dead could be nearer 100. Officials said several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah train travelling to Howrah derailed at Bahanaga Baazar in Balasore district and fell on adjacent tracks. “These derailed coaches collided with 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and its coaches capsized too,” a senior official said. A goods train was also involved in the accident as some of the coaches of the Coromandel Express hit its wagons after getting derailed, the official said. The
Rescue operation underway after the incident at Balasore on Friday. (PTI)
accident happened around 7 pm, he said. Railway spokesman Amitabh Sharma, however, told PTI Video that the Coromandel express derailed first, and its 10-12 coaches fell on the path of the Bengaluru-Howrah express, which then jumped off the tracks. The two dif-
fering versions could not be immediately reconciled. Over 350 people have been admitted to different hospitals across the district, officials said, adding that all private and government hospitals have been put on alert in the nearby districts, including state capital Bhubaneswar. So far, 50 bod-
ies could be brought out from under the overturned coaches, they said. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he was rushing to the accident site, while Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik is expected to be also at the site by tomorrow morning. Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State govt. teams and Airforce also mobilised. Will take all hands required for the rescue ops,” he tweeted. He also announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for those grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who got minor injuries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed his distress. “Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock
of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected,” he tweeted. Four units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three units of NDRF and 60 ambulances were working to rescue the injured, officials said. Odisha government has issued helpline 06782262286. The railway helplines are 033-26382217 (Howrah), 8972073925 (Kharagpur), 8249591559 (Balasore) and 04425330952 (Chennai). Expressing concern over the accident, in which a large number of people from Bengal were involved, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was monitoring the situation along with the chief secretary and other officials. West Bengal chief secretary HK Dwivedi added that the state was sending a team led by minister Manas Bhunia and MP Dola Sen to the spot.
due to lower power generation: DoPN
DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): Department of Power Nagaland (DoPN) has informed that due to low generation from the hydro power stations and the resultant reduced power allocation to the State, the department was compelled to impose loadshedding throughout the State. In a press release, chief engineer (T&G) Er. Penrithung Yanthan informed that presently the State’s power availability was around 147 MW out of a peak demand of 180 MW (60MW during 1990s). The department also informed that the stateowned Likimro Hydro Electric Project has been generating around 6-12 MW only out of its installed capacity of 24 MW for approximately 12 hours a day due to poor hydrological condition during this season. Due to extreme weath-
er conditions during the last few days, the department said there has been rise in the power demand resulting in burning of distribution transformers due to overloading especially in Dimapur and adjoining areas. The department stated that the responsible electrical divisions were making every effort to restore/replace the damaged transformers on war footing. Further, the department expressed regret that one of the units of Palatana Thermal Power stationin Tripura from where Nagaland gets maximum allocation, was under shutdown from June 2, 2023 for annual maintenance aggravating the state’s power shortage situation. However, in order to tide over the power shortage, the department said it was making an arrangement to purchase additional power
at a higher cost as a shortterm measure during this crisis. As loadshedding is inevitable, the department said it was regulating the loadshedding on rotational basis among the three load centres of the state—Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung. “Unfortunately, we anticipate that this power shortage and load shedding crises shall repeat every year,” the department stated. Pointing out that Nagaland was 90% dependent upon import of power, the department said the only long-term solution was for a concerted and prioritized effort to reduce dependency up to the extent possible by developing State’s own internal Hydro power generation, which the department at present was facing some difficulties to overcome. (Cont’d on p-8)
98 killed, 310 injured in Manipur violence: Govt NSF units, subordinate bodies hoist black flags Correspondent/PTI
IMPHAL, JUN 2: At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago, the government said in a statement on Friday. A total of 37,450 people are in 272 relief camps at present, said the statement, issued by the CM’s Office. In all, 4,014 cases of arson have been reported since the violence broke out in the state on May 3, it said. “The number of deaths is 98 and the number of injured reported is 310,” it said. Over the last one month, the state police have
registered 3,734 cases and arrested 65 people for their involvement in the violence, the statement said. “Sporadic incidents of firing or torching of houses by miscreants are becoming rare now as coordinated effort is made by different security agencies,” it said. The Ar my, Assam Rifles, CAPFs and local police have been deployed in vulnerable places, it added. “More companies are being deployed. Flag march and area domination exercises are being carried out widely. Search operations will be conducted from today to recover snatched arms and ammunition,” it said.
IMAPUR, JUN 2 Over 140 weapons surrendered D(NPN): Naga Students’
Some of the surrendered weapons at a police station.
More than 140 weapons have been surrendered in different places in Manipur after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s appeal a day ago, sources said on June 2.
Shah on Thursday, appealed to all concerned to surrender their weapons to the security forces and administration.
(Cont’d on p-8)
Federation (NSF) along with all its federating units and subordinate bodies Friday hoisted black flags at their respective offices in protest against the failure of the authorities to arrest those involved in vandalising NSF office even after lapse of six days. The NSF hoisted a black flag and also put up a banner outside its vandalized office in Kohima. The banner put up by the NSF at its makeshift office read as: “Culprits should be booked at the earliest” and “Justice should
Black flag and banner put up outside NSF makeshift camp (R) students holding placards.
be delivered without any further delay.” NSF had said that despite the perpetrators publicly claiming responsibility
for the crime the authorities concerned were still yet to act. Meanwhile, the federation said that they have
received positive response from all its federating units and subordinate bodies, both within Nagaland and outside.
Active Covid cases Arrest Brij Bhushan by June 9: Haryana ‘mahapanchayat’ STPF reaffirms ultimatum on H&FW in India dip to 3736 CHANDIGARH, JUN Union (BKU) leader 9, “there will be an an- DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): on the department to fulfil the de-
NEW DELHI, JUN 2 (PTI): India has logged 267 new Covid infections while the active cases decreased to 3,736 from 3,925, the health ministry said on Friday. The death toll has increased to 5,31,874 with two more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.49 crore (4,49,91,143), it said. The active cases now comprises 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,55,533, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent.
This is it!
“Opposition parties are united in opposing each other. That’s my view.” K Y M C
2 (IANS): Farmers and representative of Khap panchayats, expressing solidarity with the protesting wrestlers in Delhi, on Friday gave the BJP government in the Centre an ultimatum to arrest Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing female grapplers, by June 9 or prepare for a larger protest. A collective and unanimous decision in this regard was taken at the ‘mahapanchayat’ held in Haryana’s Kurukshetra town on the future strategy
Khap Panchayat members during a ‘mahapanchayat’ organised over the ongoing protest by wrestlers, Thursday. (PTI)
of wrestlers’ protest. A day earlier a ‘mahapanchayat’ was held in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar where it was decided that a delegation would meet President Droupadi Murmu to seek justice for
the wrestlers. In Kurukshetra, khap panchayats (community courts) of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi were gathered to seek justice. Addressing a huge gathering, Bhartiya Kisan
Rakesh Tikait warned the Central government that if no action is taken against Brij Bhushan by June 9, they will hold a larger protest along with wrestlers. “We have taken a decision that the government must address the grievances of wrestlers and he should be arrested otherwise we will go with wrestlers to Jantar Mantar, Delhi, on June 9 and will hold panchayats across the nation,” he said. At the same time, Tikait warned the Central government that if they aren’t allowed to protest at Jantar Mantar on June
nouncement of agitation”. Anurag Thakur assures justice: Amid ongoing protests by the country’s top wrestlers, the Union Information and Broadcasting and Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur on Friday said that justice will be done as police will soon file a charge sheet and the governing body now has no authority in managing daily affairs of the sport. Speaking at an economic conclave here, Thakur said that the case was registered and a committee was formed to investigate the matter.
Even as the state health and family welfare (H&FW) department responded to its ultimatum, the Shamator Town Public Forum (STPF) on Friday reaffirmed its demands that the department inaugurate the Community Health Centre (CHC) building at Shamator, deploy more doctors and adequate number of staff nurses and other required manpower and facilities before the expiry of its deadline served on the department. STPF president Kiumehean and secretary Yimso asserted that Noklak as a district HQ required district hospital as per the provision, but did not even have proper CHC. STPF said it has, therefore, decided to reaffirm its ultimatum
mands. The forum stated that the lives of the citizens of the district had been threatened as there was only one general duty medical officer and one dental surgeon (without dental equipment). STPF pointed out that citizens despite being economically poor were compelled to travel to other district hospitals for medical assistance. The forum has also requested the department to carry out physical verification and get first-hand account of the grievances. In this regard, the forum cautioned that in the event of failure to address the demands within the stipulated period, the department would be held solely responsible for any consequences.
Airborne gravity gradiometry, magnetics survey by OIL KU ‘in principle’ supports repatriation initiative DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): Oil India Limited (OIL) has launched Airborne Gravity Gradiometry& Gravity Magnetics (AGG & GM) data for unapprised areas of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Dima Hasao, Arunachal Pradesh, Cauvery, Bastar, Satpura, Spiti-Zanskar and Karewa areas, according to a report by Guwahati based news portal (EM). The reports said the acquisition of the AGG and GM survey started from Jorhat Air Base on May 27. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas entrusted OIL with the re-
sponsibility of Acquisition Processing and Interpretation (API) of 40,000 flight LKM of AGG and GM data in these unapprised areas. The second aircraft is scheduled to start acquisition from Dibrugarh airport to cover the North East. The survey will also include Nagaland where Oil India Limited has been awarded the oil blocks. Changpang and Tssori areas, 75 oil wells have been drilled and oil extracted on trial basis till the operations were stopped in 1994. The rest of oil the belt covers areas within Mokokchung has a huge potential of estimated reserves. The other blocks
include Dimapur, Peren and Mon districts where exploration is yet to be conducted. Centre has awarded an oil exploration block in Nagaland to Oil India Ltd. OIL is seeking permission for Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) in order to invest in the State and ascertain hydrocarbon prospects and reserves within the awarded block. This would be only to explore and the activities would open up a colossal avenue for generation of employment to hundreds besides related commercial activities which would immensely benefit the local people. In total, Nagaland has potential estimate of
around 600 MT of crude oil. The initial step would be to obtain PEL or License to ‘explore.’ After confirming crude reserves, the next step would be to award Petroleum Mining Licence or license to ‘extract’ to drill oil wells for extraction. PEL and PML are two separate and distinct operations. Applying this distinction in the present context would make public understand the difference between exploration (survey) and extraction (mining). According to a 2022 estimate, Nagaland is losing Rs.1,825 cr annually in oil royalty because of the non-operation of more than 30 oil fields along the disputed border.
DIMAPUR, JUN 2 (NPN): Konyak Union (KU), which met a delegation of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and Recover Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team at the KU headquarters, Mon town, has agreed in principle to support the initiative of repatriation of Naga ancestral remains. In a press release, KU president Tingthok Konyak and press & media secretary Nokzei P Konyak stated that KU was committed to support the ancestral Naga remains initiative undertaken by FNR with the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University and cooperate
in any way possible to repatriate the remains of their respective ancestors. As the apex Konyak body, the Konyak Union reiterated the importance of the repatriation process. Speaking at the meeting with FNR and RRaD team, KU president Tingthok noted that KU had earlier sent an official letter to FNR with a desire to learn about the repatriation initiative. He said KU was happy that FNR and RRaD team accepted the queries and decided to visit the union members to initiate a dialogue on decolonization, healing, and repatriation.
Describing as a historic event that requires Naga people to work towards unity, KU president called upon the Naga researchers to focus on the historical relevance and importance of the repatriation process. Also, speaking at the meeting, KU vice president noted that the larger community heard about the Pitt Rivers Museum after the repatriation initiative started. He said KU believes that this was an important process, but it was pertinent that all matters related to artifacts, whether human remains or cultural artifacts, were respectfully handled. (Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C