April 4, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 118

DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

647 confirmed corona cases linked to Jamaat

Follow us on @Nagaland_Post

national, Page 5

Govt working to ensure Dimapur remains free from COVID-19: Rio

Rio talking to media persons at Tourist Lodge, Dimapur. (NP/NE8)

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): State chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the state government was committed to ensure that Dimapur remained free from the COVID-19 pandemic so as to prevent the spread to other parts of Nagaland. Rio said this while interacting officials and sections of media during his visit to the 100-bedded Dimapur District Hospital, which has been designated as COVID-19 Hospital. Rio explained that as Dimapur was a “miniature India” and gateway to Nagaland, ensuring it remained COVID-19 free

was crucial. He said if the pandemic could be checked in Dimapur, its spread to other parts of the State would be prevented. Rio said in line with this commitment, he and his colleagues decided to visit the DHD. The chief minister also said he was maintaining regular contacts with commissioner of police (CP) Dimapur Rothihu Tetseo, deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi and medical officials and lauded their hard work, commitment and dedication. He also expressed gratitude to NGOs, civil

society groups and the public for their support and cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement for the nationwide lockdown and adhering to the complete ban on any kind of movement in the town. He remarked, “Together we can achieve.” Accompanied by deputy chief minister Y Patton, health & family welfare minister Pangyu Phom, PHED minister Jacob Zhimomi, adviser power Tovihoto, chief secretary Temjen Toy, director general of police TJ Longkumer and other senior State government officials, the chief minister visited the COVID-19 Hospital to review the overall preparedness level. The team inspected the hospital’s ICU unit equipped with three beds and three ventilators and the 10-bedded isolation ward , besides visiting the rooms at Tourist Lodge which are being utilized as quarantine centre for the district.

Dimapur wholesale market to open Apr 6

State government-constituted special committee for Dimapur district has permitted opening of wholesale market from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. at GS Road starting April 6. However, buying from that area would be permitted only with written permission from the concern administrative officer/GB/village council. According to a DIPR report, the panel held a meeting with district administration, police, Naga Council Dimapur, village councils, GBs, DMC and DCCI at DC’s conference hall on April 3. The meeting also decided that all markets in the main town would continue to remain closed, but shops dealing with essential commodities and pharmacies in colonies/ villages would be allowed to cater to public needs. Further, the retail shops in colonies/wards/ villages would be permitted to open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting Monday.

nagalandpostofficial

This is it!

“He knows so much about COVID-19. He now wants protective gear.” K Y M C

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): Following reports of some Tablighi Jamaat devotees that have reportedly gone missing after attending the event in Delhi, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has appealed to the state government to step up its vigil along the border areas. Taking note of the porous border with Assam, CNTC has asked the public to be on full alert and report to the authorities if any new visitor or information about those who attended the religious event was noticed. “This is a very serious issue as many persons are now said to have gone into hiding and switched off their phones as per the reports going around,” it said. CNTC clarified that this was not about communalizing any group

or people, but to save the society from the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. CNTC urged the community involved to come forward and cooperate with the authorities in indentifying the persons and take necessary measures at the earliest for the safety of all. It also appealed to all GBs, chairmen and councils to remain extra alert and report if any person was found to have entered into their areas in recent time. The landlords and house owners should also verify in their premises and bring to the notice of the authorities, it added. Appreciating the state government’s effort to deal with COVID-19 pandemic, CNTC said that a testing lab should be set up at the earliest as was done by neighbouring states. (Cont’d on p-5)

Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) has demanded an immediate sealing of all the borders, saying that there was “a very high chance” of missing attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz, Delhi taking shelter at the border areas of Dimapur district and inside Dimapur. WSH, in a press release issued by its president Dr. Kakheto Zhimomi, also demanded that the deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur direct all the localities and villages to indentify and report “any visitors and newcomers” to the police and health authorities immediately during the ongoing lockdown so as to put them in quarantine. “If the lockdown is lifted, they pose a very serious grievous risk of spreading the deadly vi-

international, Page 9

RN Ravi apprises 3332 under quarantine in state: Govt President, VP on status of Nagaland ONLY 2 FROM NAGALAND ATTENDED Tablighi Jamaat DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): Nagaland governor, RN Ravi, Friday briefed the President of India Ram N a t h Kov i n d a n d t h e Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on the status of COVID-19 related situation in Nagaland. According to a Raj Bhavan communiqué, the briefing was a part of discussions the president and the vice president held with the governors, lieutenant governors and administrators of states and union territories. The communiqué stated that Governor Ravi informed the president how the lockdown in Nagaland was near total with popular support. He also highlighted that the health workers in the State were doing their best with the available resources. Governor further praised the religious leaders for encouraging the people in observing social distance, crucial to containing the spread of the pandemic. Governor thanked the president and the vice president for offering all possible assistance to the State in the fight against COVID-19.

Zeliang appeals Tablighi issue: Organizations ask govt to act for united fight against COVID-19 Step up border vigil, CNTC tells govt WSH, WSYF demand border sealing

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang has appealed to the citizens of the state to cooperate with the government in the fight against (COVID19). In a statement, Zeliang suggested that the state government bring out prudent and pragmatic measures to handle COVID-19 in case of an outbreak in any district. He also urged the government to frame immediate policies to secure the lives of front-line workers like health professionals, police and home-guard personnel, magistrates and government officials on duty etc. who were bound to directly deal with affected or suspected people. Zeliang said though there has been no report of COVID-19 case in Nagaland, the state cannot be complacent as it is sandwiched between two affected states-Assam and Manipur besides sharing a 215-km long international boundary with Myanmar. While encouraging donations towards Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES) and also towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF), Zeliang however urged people to contribute in saving the society by staying at home.

Global virus cases top one million

nagalandpostofficial

rus which has caused a huge number of deaths all over the world,” the hoho stated. WSH suggested that respective organizations be given the responsibility to identify and conduct test on those attendees as they posed “a very high risk” to the whole Nagaland population. Further, WSH urged the DC “not to act on the behest of the selfish interest of the traders”, but for the welfare and the safety of the people. It also urged DC to seek the help of the local grassroots organizations to enforce the lockdown as police alone could not shoulder “this herculean task alone.” The hoho suggested that the district administration streamline the supply of all essential (Cont’d on p-5)

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): State government spokesperson and minister for Planning Coordination and Land Revenue, Neiba Kronu on Friday while briefing on the status COVID-19 informed that 3332 persons were currently under quarantine in the state as on April 3, 5 p.m. Kronu said that 41samples of suspected cases were sent for testing, out of which 32 have tested negative and results of 9 were awaited. He said total of 4715 persons had signed using the ncovid-19 Nagaland App, and out of which 3327 persons self declared with details. Kronu appealed to those had entered the State after March 6, 2020 to self register in the App with full details. With regard to tracking individuals who may have attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddhin, New Delhi, Kronu said that both the Health department and the state control room for COVID-19 were separately tracking the persons. He said that till date they

Covid-19 status AS ON APRIL 3, 2020 North East

Confirmed

Nagaland

Nil

Nil

Nil

Assam

20

Nil

Nil

Manipur

2

Nil

Nil

Mizoram

1

Nil

Nil

Arunachal Pradesh

1

Nil

Nil

India

2895

194

75

World

10,30,628

2,18,771

54,137

were able to contact 62 people (22 within the state and 40 outside the state) out of 70 in the list. Further, out of 22 persons in the list, only two were found to have attended the event (Tablighi Jamaat) at Nizamuddin, Kronu stated. Kronu appealed that if there was anyone else from Nagaland, who had attended the religious congregation at Nizamuddhin, to voluntarily come forward and report to the respective DCs. Kronu also informed that over 3000 people were being provided food on a daily basis and 346 people have been housed in relief camps and shelters. Meanwhile, a team from the Health & Fam-

ily Welfare department led by principal director V. Suokhrie visited Kiphire, Zunheboto and Mokokchung districts to oversee the designated COVID-19 hospitals and interacted with the district administration and district health officials. 18 arrested for violation of lockdown orders: As on April 3, 2020 altogether 14 violations of the lockdown were reported in the State. Principal Secretary and Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha said 18 persons were arrested and 14 non-FIR cases registered. However, no fine has been imposed and no vehicles seized.

Residents flout lockdown in Kohima

State gets `3 crore to tackle COVID -19

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 3 (NPN): Residents in the State Capital continued panic buying during the window period for shopping 10 a.m. to 12 noon, creating harder task for security forces to rein them in. On Friday, swarm of people descended on the road at Razhu Point, leading to traffic congestion in the area, while none of the shopkeepers or the buyers bothered to maintain social distancing in almost all the grocery shops that were open. It was found that drivers of many vehicles often got annoyed when police stopped them for identification, even as many vehicles using “exempted” car passes provided by the district administration were seen moving around without the officials on duty inside. On the contrary, some vehicle owners were even seen arguing with the security forces for asking them to identify themselves without realising that the latter were only performing their duties risking their lives. The market area below police headquarter in BOC was heavily

Police officer stops a biker at Kohima town on Friday. (NP)

packed with buyers rushing to buy essential commodities. Speaking to Nagaland Post, Kohima superintendent of police K Sophie admitted that it was not the ignorant or uneducated people who were trying to take advantage of the exemption passes that were purely meant for official purposes. He said those officials who were not on duty must own social responsibility by removing the exemption passes when they were not on official duties. Pointing out that many people had been detained but still the people did not listen, Sophie warned that if the present scenario persisted, he would be compelled to take strin(Cont’d on p-5) gent action.

Fruits, vegetables perish in Dimapur due to lockdown AYO to regulate public Staff Reporters

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): As Dimapur district entered the third day of total lockdown, vegetable and fruit vendors incurred huge losses after the abrupt shutdown of markets that has led to decay of huge quantities of vegetables and fruits worth several lakhs of rupees. Pressurised by public resorting to panic buying, hoardings and breaching the recommended social distancing, Dimapur district administration and the Police Commissionerate had on March 31 announced total lockdown from April 1 to April 3 midnight. The lockdown was further extended to April 5 midnight. This sudden lockdown without prior information to the vendors selling perishable food items caused immense financial loss to

Vendors selling vegetables along the footpath on March 31 in Dimapur. (NP File)

vendors, who are mostly daily wage earners. It has been learnt that large quantities of vegetables and fruits perished because of lack of proper storage system. Niresh, a vegetable vendor, told Nagaland Post that he has incurred losses over Rs 5,000 in the last three days as all the vegetables he had procured from the wholesalers before the total shutdown perished.

With no cold storage facility available in the town, Niresh admitted that he and other vegetable vendors had no means to preserve the vegetables leading to huge monetary losses. Fruit vendor Hussain said he was left with rotten fruits worth over Rs 10,000 because of the sudden lockdown. He claimed that his business was already running in losses due to the 21-

Recovered Death

day nationwide lockdown and wondered whether he would ever be able to recover the huge loss. A vegetable and fruit wholesaler also confirmed that due to the sudden lockdown announced by the administration, huge quantities of assorted vegetables and fruits were lying rotten at godowns. The wholesaler feared that the sector of perishable items would end up incurring losses in terms of several lakhs of rupees, if the vendors were not permitted to ply their trade soon. When contacted, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DCCI) president Akashe Zhimomi admitted that vegetables and fruits vendors, who were mostly daily wage earners, had incurred huge loss due to the abrupt total lockdown. (Cont’d on p-5)

movement in Kohima

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): Observing that there has been a mixed response from the public in Kohima town towards the nationwide lockdown, Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has announced starting of regulating movement of people and vehicles in the town. In a release issued through its president Kekhrie Pfukha and vice-president Neidilhoutuo Sechu, the organisation appreciated villages and colonies that have responded positively in adhering to the directive, but noted that many irresponsible residents continued to violate it by coming out of their homes. In spite of the lockdown, it said the State Capital resembled a busy town between 10 am and 2 pm, the period when shops were opened for public to buy their essential com-

modities. Due to the need of the hour, Angami Public Organisation directed AYO to assist government agencies in controlling the violation of the standing order, the statement added. Hence, AYO explained that though principal secretary and home commissioner Abhijit Sinha had clarified that no organisation has been entrusted or assigned in implementing the State government orders, it was compelled to stand up and respond to the lackadaisical approach of the government and public. As vehicles carrying essential commodities had been exempted from the lockdown, it also urged the police to strictly monitor movement of these vehicles by not allowing unnecessary stoppages on the highways.

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): North East Council (NEC) has released Rs. 3 crore to the government of Nagaland to fight the COVID19 outbreak effectively. A statement from NEC secretariat informed that this release was in the nature of an untied fund, which could be utilized as gap funding on activities relating to COVID-19 pandemic not covered under existing central packages. It further said that this release would be in addition to the funds otherwise allocated by the Ministry of DoNER/NEC to Nagaland under existing schemes. NEC stated that the present primary focus of both central and state government was to effectively deal with the serious threat posed by COVID-19 and ensure that it was brought under control with the active participation of the whole society. The sanction comes a week after DoNER minister Dr. Jitendra Singh held review meeting on March 27 through video conferencing, wherein it was decided that DoNER/NEC would provide support of Rs. 25 crore to NE states .

State govt orders bureaucratic rejig

DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): In a major reshuffle of the bureaucracy, Nagaland Governor has ordered transfer and posting of the several senior IAS/NCS/NSS officers with immediate effect. State chief secretary, & Finance commissioner Temjen Toy IAS, has been relieved of the charge of Finance commr. Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS, Addl. CS & APC has been transferred and posted as Finance commissioner. Jan-e Alam, IAS, Addl CS to chief minister, development commr. and Tribal Affairs department will hold additional charge of Transport department on matters relating to Civil Aviation, Railway and Wa(Cont’d on p-5) terways. (Cont’d on p-2) K Y M C

state

2

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

Deptts, orgns issue directives, information on COVID-19 KIPHIRE, APR 3 (NPN):Various government departments and organisation have issued directives in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown across the country. USSC directives to fight COVID-19 The United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) has directed all the concerned students and citizens of Kiphire district (irrespective of tribe) who are staying outside the state of Nagaland to contact and provide all their details and address information to the office of USSC Hq. Kiphire, at the earliest. To provide the information, concerned persons can contact the vice president at 8837315192 and 8118922190 or contact the general secretary at 7628812526 7005168875. In the press release, Sethrongba Y Sangtam, vice president, USSC stated that the directive has been made in consultation with concerned authorities for safety measures and to assist them with the help of their counterparts. USSC has also appealed the concerned higher authority to provide all the required personal protection equipments to all the health providers and police personnel who are on COVID-19 duty. Meanwhile, the conference has also informed that no individual will be allowed to enter its jurisdiction without permission from the concerned authorities or prior medical COVID-19 check up certificate until the pandemic

Serika village leaders after sealing their entrance on April 3.

outbreak ends. Any persons who enter due to unavoidable cases shall be kept in strict quarantine center in accordance with the preventive measures laid down by the concerned health department, it stated. It also informed that all the permitted truck drivers and handymen who carry essential goods and commodities from other district to Kiphire shall be tested and sanitized before entering in its jurisdiction. All the truck drivers and handymen have been advised to maintain home quarantine and follow all the medical terms and conditions for safety of all. It also informed that all the essentials goods and commodities trucks shall be sanitized by the health agency before distributing to the general public. The Conference stated that the notification comes into force with abundant

NGBF appreciate govt & agencies

DIMAPUR: Nagaland GB (village chief) Federation (NGBF) while extending its appreciation to the Nagaland government for all the efforts that are being carried out to control the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) stated that Nagaland being “way behind in medical infrastructure to tackle such pandemic must understand the situation and cooperate with authority in all possible manner”. In a press release, NGBF through its media cell stated that in situations like these all the front liners headed by district administration, medical department, doctors and nurses, police department, health workers and colony leaders were equally appreciated. NGBF also thanked NGOs and individuals helping out daily wagers and migrant workers in cash and kind and that the appreciated the efforts and responsibility at this juncture as they were

“risking lives and sacrificing for humanity”. Meanwhile, the federation has appealed to all villagers and citizens to abide by the government directives at this crucial time as “lapses from any side could be hazardous” for all the people. NGBF also urged the government to make a “rush for procurement of testing kits for COVID-19 in Nagaland and for faster and effective results, they must “no longer depend on other states but must have the equipments of our own”. Further, the federation requested the government to kindly impart awareness regarding COVID-19 in rural areas and villages through a medium of medical agencies so that they can equip themselves to counter the disease. NGBF also appealed all to “kindly donate for arrangements” to combat COVID-19 and to remain steadfast in prayers.

DMC permits door-to-door delivery DIMAPUR: Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) administrator Albert Ezung has informed public that six (6) firms and groups have been permitted to undertake door-to-door delivery of essential commodities such as grocery/green vegetables and fruits within DMC. The permit holders include: Meat & More (8118977906); Freshzola (8119037071); Ahibo L.L.B (8837062880); Nagaland Two Wheeler Taxi Association Dimapur dist (9774171883);Tribal Spoon (9366573196) and The Delivery (8575041286). The permit holders are to ensure proper sanitation procedures by wearing hand gloves, mask and maintaining at least two-meter distance from customers.

DMC has also prescribed delivery not to exceed Rs.50. Permit holders can deliver essential items on a 24x7 basis. Also permit holders cannot charge more than the approved market rates. Permit holders are to comply all directives passed either by DMC,state and central government from time to time. The permit are valid till further notice . The administrator has also clarified that permits were valid till further notice and may be cancelled in the event of breach of contract or in the event of any dispute in future. All firms or groups with trade license or documentation are also to contact the DMC office or email : dmcnagaland@ gmail.com for such services.

Nodal officer for stranded labourers

DIMAPUR: Joint Secretary, Tribal Affairs, Government of Nagaland, Rahul Mali, has been nominated as the nodal officer for stranded migrant labourers and daily wage earners in the state for various mitigation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic situation. One could contact the nodal officer at 9284488068/0370-2291122 or email- rahulias33@ gmail.com

caution of public health and safety and taking serious note about the report of positive COVID cases increasing in the neighbouring states. Therefore, the Conference has directed all the general public to adhere to the notification and cooperate with the government directives to fight against this COVID19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the District Task Force Kiphire coordination meeting headed by Deputy Commissioner Kiphire was held on April 1. Subject relating to present COVID-19 was discuss at length and for betterment of the district in time of emergencies. During the meeting SP Kiphire requested United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) to submit the list of person from Kiphire district studying or working in other parts of the state for better coordination in case

of emergencies arises. District Health Authority advised to undertake measures In the event of District Hospitals being converted to dedicated COVID-19 Hospital, the Principal Director, H&FW, Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie has advised the District Health Authority to undertake the measures to ensure continuity of specialist services for general patients for critical cases like dialysis and chemotherapy sessions in day care, emergency obstetrics services, emergency medical care and surgical procedures. According to DIPR report, necessary measures are put in place to prevent intermingling of patients including putting such services in a separate block with separate entry and exit points. If such segregation measure is not feasible,

then in addition to the identified private hospitals, nearest public health facilities such as UPHCs and other public may be identified to deliver specialists services eg: Obs & Gynae, ENT, Eye, Dental, Oncology etc. The Principal Director said that private hospitals may not have specialists’ services in certain disciplines such as oncology etc. In such situation, he urged the specialist of the concerned DH to extend visiting consultancy services. He informed that such services are to be continued till positive COVID-19 cases are admitted or the concerned specialist is put on COVID-19 Hospital duty. “There should be an emergency exit plan to move patients out of the hospital in case of admission of COVID-19 positive case”, he added. 17 check points erected at Pungro In the third week of March, the administration at Pungro has been able to establish 17 (seventeen) check points all around the Pungro sub-division. NAP, Police and the Village Guards (VGs) keeping a vigil, operating 24×7 to ensure that no one from any parts of Nagaland enter in the area unreported or medically examined. According to DIPR report, ADC Pungro, Abhinav Shivam has said the administration was under a multitude of challenges like porous border with Myanmar, population dispersed among 54 villages, the threat of movements

of vehicles and people were often in dereliction of orders. He also said that 65 strong NAP personnel has to be kept at reserve for unforeseen exigencies, while the Police forces numbering only 45 personnel were too little to be spread out in the surrounding villages, roads and at the entry points. Lauding the village guards posted under Pungro, Abhinav said that the administration was in constraints of forces, and just in time, an effective solution was found in the village guards. Administration is checking the exit and entry points on daily basis confirming that the border is sealed in letter and spirit. In order confront the challenge, a network of responsible and proactive citizens were also established to report any unsolicited movements of people and traffic. Authorized officers for issue of essential commodity passes Deputy Commissioner Kohima Gregory Thejawelie has authorised the following officers for issuance of passes to vehicles for enabling movement of essential commodities within Kohima district. According to DIPR report, the jurisdiction/ area wise authorised officers are as follows: Kohima Sadar (Rural) SDO (Civil) Kohima, Longasen Lotha; Kohima HQ (KMC), inter-district, interstate and all other categories SDO, (C) Kohima, R. Daniel Angami; Chiephobozou sub-division

ADC Chiephobozou, Vekhoyi Chakhesang; Tseminyu sub-division ADC Tseminyu, Nokshasashi; Jakhama sub-division SDO (C) Jakhama, Alemyapang Longchar; Sechü-Zubza sub-division, SDO (C), Mhomo Tungoe; Kezhocha sub-division EAC Kezhocha, Veneikho Tetso; Botsa sub-division EAC Botsa, Sarato Katiry and Tsogin sub-division EAC Tsogin, Rozy Sangtam. Henceforth all vehicles to be engaged in transporting essential goods and commodities within and outside the district or for use as conveyance for medical related works or any other extremely important movement/consignment, should mandatorily obtain movement permit/pass from the respective authorised officers as stated above. Apart from those with vehicle passes issued by the authorised officers, there will be a total restriction of movement for motor vehicles of all types, both private and government (2/4 wheelers). Any violation of the above provisions will be proceeded against as per the provision of Section 51-60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 besides legal action under relevant Sections of the IPC. This order will come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in-force till further order. CMO Mkg informs: Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Mokokchung has informed any stress, anxiety or mental concern and queries related to COVID19 pandemic can be sent

through WhatsApp with name, age, gender, address and reasons to 8787475779. CMO informed that professionals would get back to the concerned between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day and that strict confidentiality will be maintained. DC Mon informs: DC Mon Thavaseelan K has directed that no other person besides the driver will be allowed per vehicle within Mon town. Vehicles found violating this order will be penalised under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. Based on complaints received from the general public that some fair price shops in Mon district were selling rice meant for public distribution at a price more than the prescribed rate, DC has directed all fair price shops to sell the rice at rate set by government. Failure to comply with this order will lead to immediate cancellation of the shop permit without any exception. Any complaint in this regard can be directly sent to DC, Mon at WhatsApp No. 7005766737. Serika village: Serika village, Merapani, under Wokha district located in the interstate border of Assam and Nagaland also observed the nationwide lockdown for COVID-19 outbreak. The village also sealed its entry into its jurisdiction to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The village elders appealed to all villagers and adjoining villagers to adhere seriously to the government directives and to avoid maximum restrictions of movements.

State govt orders bureaucratic reshuffle Former DMC member condolence

(From p-1) R Ramakrishnan, IAS, principal secy. H&FW, Justice & Law and Science & Technology has been relieved of the charge of H&FW and Science & Technology OT Chingmak, IAS, principal secy. Water Resources has been transferred as principal secy. Science & Technology. Kikheto Sema, IAS, commr & secy. Horticulture is transferred as APC and commr. & secy. Agriculture. Chubasangla Anar, IAS, commr. & secy. Land Revenue, NRE and F&CS is relieved of the charge of F&CS. Anenla T Sato, IAS, commr. & secy. Women Resource Development shall hold additional charge of Horticulture. Kekhrievor Kevichusa, IPoS, commr. & secy. on deputation is posted as commr. & secy. Industries

& Commerce. T Mhabento Yanthan, IAS, commr. & secy. to Governor Nagaland shall hold additional charge of Team Leader, NHBM. Kenilo Apon, IAS, commr. & secy. Transport is transferred as commr. & secy. Water Resources. Sarah R Ritse, NCS, secy. Social Welfare on promotion is retained as commr. secy. Social Welfare. K Libanthung, NCS, secy. Works & Housing on promotion is transferred as commr. & secy., Transport. W Honje Konyak, NCS, addl. secy. Works & Housing on promotion is transferred as secy. F&CS. Wezope Kenye, NCS, additional secy. H&FW on promotion is retained as secretary, H&FW. S e h j a n g D o u n ge l , NCS, addl. secy. Soil & Water Conservation on promotion is transferred as

secretary, Parliamentary Affairs. A Robin Lotha, NCS, addl. secy. Transport on promotion is retained as secy, Transport. Sedevikho Khro, NCS, secy. Power is transferred as commr. of Excise. Tarep Imchen, NCS, commr. of Excise is transferred as additional secy. Works & Housing. Mohammed Ali Shihab. IAS, jt. secy. Art & Culture on promotion is transferred as addl. secy. Power. Akumla Chuba, NCS, director, YRS on promotion is retained as director, YRS. Zarenthung Ezung, NCS, jt. secy. Horticulture on promotion is retained as addl. secy. Horticulture. Imtirenla Jamir, NCS, jt. secy. W&H and team Leader, NBM on promotion is retained as addl. secy. W&H and Team Leader, NBM. Zhothisa Dawhuo, NCS,

director Lotteries on promotion is retained as director Lotteries. Jo h n B C h awa n g, NCS, jt. secy. Eco. & Statistics on promotion is retained as addl. secy. Eco. & Statistics. Renbonthung Tsopoe, NSS, addl. secy. School Education is transferred as addl. secy. F&CS. T Wati Aier, NCS, jt. secy. Water Resources is transferred as jt. secy. YRS. T Nehumbemo Odyuo, NCS, dy. secy. Power on promotion is transferred as jt. secy. Municipal Affairs. Hiazu Meru, NCS, jt. secy. F&CS is transferred as jt. secy Home (GAB). Sangmai C Imlong, NCS, ADC commr. Office on promotion is retained as dy. commr. Commissioner’s Office and Chubawati Chang, NCS, dy. secy IDAN on promotion is retained as jt. secy. IDAN.

DIMAPUR: Former member of Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) expressed grief over the demise of their former member and colleague late Atomu Wotsa, who passed away on April 1. A press release from Kuhoi Zhimo ex-DMC member stated that late Atomu, as they fondly recalled was “a true leader” who was always “in the

frontline in any voluntary and public welfare works”. The ex-members of the council stated that society had lost yet another “selfless leader” and that the vacuum created by him would be difficult to fill. Further, the former members conveyed their heartfelt condolences to his wife and prayed that God grant solace to all his family members and relatives.

NSO Myanmar condolence

DIMAPUR: Naga Students Organization (NSO) Myanmar has mourned the demise of first Naga Hills Progressive Party (NHPP) general secretary, Shin Ba, who passed away on April 3, at Khamti Civil Hospital, Myanmar. In a condolence message through media cell NSO, it stated that late Shin Ba was the first general secretary of Naga Hills Progressive Party (NHPP) from 1988-1992 and a well known visionary and respected leader in the Naga community. NSO said that his demise was a great lost for Naga people in general. Late Shin Ba fought his good fight and his legacy will remain in the hearts of the youngsters, it added. NSO extended its deepest sympathy with love and remembrance to the bereaved family and relatives.

Complaints receiving from Nagas outside state: PD, SED

C Shanavas (NP) Correspondent KOHIMA, APR 3 (NPN): Principal director (PD) School Education department, C Shanavas, who has been assigned with necessary monitoring and coordination with other states of students from Nagaland and other Nagas stranded outside, Friday disclosed that he had been receiving around 150- 200 complaints in a day. Shanavas informed Nagaland Post that there were around 30,000-35,000 Nagas in Delhi, 9000 in Bangalore and 1000 in Mumbai. He said that complaints were mostly from

students and working people outside state. The PD, however, said that with the help of the Naga Christian fellowships, student unions and Nagaland Houses in different cities, the government has been able to reach out to genuine cases and help them. Shanavas said complaints ranged from house owners asking them to vacate due to non payment of rent, to running out of essential commodities or financial constraints. PD, however, said those house owners have agreed to reconsider in response to his request against the backdrop of the

present situation. Shanavas said his office had also been calling all the victims and helping them in whatever way possible. He said a complaint was received from Pune through email without any contact details. Shanavas said his office has written back seeking more information. He also disclosed that through the chief minster relief fund, Rs.1 lakh was given to smaller population and 2 lakh to larger population. Meanwhile, PD informed that a nodal officer has been designated for each district in Nagaland, adding that their reports were awaited. With regard to students in Nagaland, Shanavas said it included both students and working people residing in other districts and wanting to go home. Some were without commodities and food, but had been taken care of with the help of appointed nodal officer and disaster management department.

MLA Er. Picto donated towards the fight against COVID-19 for Atoizu, sub-division. The donation was received by SDTF Atoize sub-division which included 350 surgical marks/reusable masks, 50 hand sanitisers, 5 bottles of Detol and 10 bottles of disinfectant. (SDTF)

CCSU seeks testing kit for Tuensang distt. DIMAPUR, APR 3 (NPN): Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU) has appealed to the principal director health & family welfare (H&FW), elected legislators of the district, bureaucrats, contractors and well wishers of Tuensang district to contribute in procuring testing kit for the people of the district. In a press release, CCSU president Chingmak Kumchuba and general secretary C Pongsu stated that Tuensang would suffer severely in the event the COVID-19 pandemic affected the area, which was geographically placed in a far flung area with inadequate medical care facilities. CCSU pointed out that Tuensang’s lone civil hospital was equipped with an ICU, but ventilator has stopped working. It said that the hospital with only four doctors on duty needed to be medically well prepared. Further, the union has appealed to the elected legislators, bureaucrats and contractors of Tuensang district to extend their generosity towards the people. CCSU said that the “funds are flowing”, but it was not enough to even cover the daily wage earners alone. It added that there many more sections of the society that had been badly affected. CCSU has, therefore, urged the responsible authority to realise the sorry state of people and take action.

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State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

Reports on distribution of food, meetings on COVID-19 across the state

‘Friends from other states’ queue for lunch at Distribution of relief ration to daily wage earners underway at Kohima Relief National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries followed proper social distancing Mokokchung. (NP) Distribution Center, Local Ground on April 3. (DIPR) protocols to receive food grains from fair price shops in Longleng.

173 CRPF Bn, Airfield Dimapur distributed food, medicines Special committee members, district administration, police and village functionaries meeting in District Administration, DTF on COVID-19 Meluri and provided water in Dimapur and Chumoükedima. distribute free food grain to citizens of Meluri-town. progress on 3rd April 2020 in the conference hall of DC Dimapur. (DIPR)

effort was to share the blessings received from God to those who are in need like cobblers, barbers, daily wage ear ners, construction workers, mechanic or any needy people. Longchar said MTBC will continue the mission till lockdown period gets over adding that MTBC selected steward from every ward and these stewards comes forward in cooking on rotation wise. Not wanting to draw line in between, he said “We call them friends from other states”, yet he said if anybody was in need, the mess is open for all. On the day of opening the community mess centre, he said 71 people from different walks of life came and had lunch. He informed that it will open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day. (Correspondent) Report on COVID-19 lockdown According to the renagalandpost.com Poll port on law and order and Q.: Are public adhering facilitation of essential t o d i r e c t i v e s o n goods and services for current lockdown in April 3, 14 violations of Nagaland? the lockdown were re100% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ported in the state. 90% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In a report issued by 80% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Principal Secretary to the 70% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Government of Nagaland, 60% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Abhijit Sinha stated that 50% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 18 persons have been ar40% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– rested and 14 non-FIR 30% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– cases have been registered. 20% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– However, no fine was im10% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– posed and no vehicle was 0% A B C seized. Also, no law and order incidents have been 67% A Yes. reported. 33% B No. On the supply of es0% C Can’t Say. sential goods, shops for grains and groceries Next poll food were open in all the disQ: Has the lockdown been tricts except for Dimapur effective? and in Kiphire, shops open on alternate days. Shops  Yes. for milk were open in all  No. the districts except for  Can’t Say. Longleng, Kiphire, Peren and Dimapur. WEATHER Medicinal shops reFORECAST main open in all the districts. No shortage of food April 4 grains, groceries, milk (Temperature in ºC) Max Min and medicines have been reported in any part of Agartala Hazy sunshine and hot 35 23 the state. Aizawl Hazy sun 29 16 On essential services, Guwahati Very warm with hazy sun 34 17 manufacturing, distribuImphal Hazy sun; breezy in the p.m. 30 15 tion and e-commerce, no Itanagar Hazy sun; a t-storm in spots 27 15 restriction was imposed the Shillong Hazy sun 24 11 on movement of commerKohima Hazy sun 25 13 cial vehicles for distribuDimapur Hazy sunshine 32 17 tion of essential commodities and service providers Mkg 26 14 Hazy sun like electricity, telecommuTuensang Hazy sun 18 10 nication, fuels etc. Also, Wokha Hazy sun 25 17 there was no restriction on Zunheboto Hazy sun 23 13 the movement of person-

DIMAPUR/KOHIMA, APR 3 (NPN): Government agencies and various non-gover nmental organisations have step forward in assisting the poor, stranded passengers, labourers, daily wage earners and needy people by distributing food items across the state in view of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. MTBC opens community mess centre for needy people In an effort to assist the people in need irrespective of religion, locals or non locals during the lockdown period, Mokokchung Town Baptist Church has opened a community mess centre for those migrant labourers, daily wage earners or anybody who are in need of food in Mokokchung Town. Speaking to Nagaland Post Pastor MTBC Rev. Ponen Longchar said the

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nel/workers in manufacturing units of essential commodities. According to the report, the restriction on the movement of e-commerce agents continued in Dimapur. The Dimapur administration established a Community Kitchen and food was distributed with the help of various NGOs. Further, in Dimapur, permits were issued to commercial vehicles transporting essential commodities and all the shops other than pharmacies will remain close till April 4. Phek District Task Force and admin The Phek district administration Meluri sub-division along with COVID-19 Task Force undertook distribution of free food grain to all citizens of Meluri-town and daily wage labours on April 2. A press release from ADC Meluri, Chubatemjen stated that the administration also distributed food grains to all nonlocals who were dependent on daily wages and also stranded labourers from outside the state. Altogether, 95 local poorest of the poor, daily wage earners and 55 nonlocals engaged on day-today earnings/labour have been provided free rice. It is also decided to provide basic sustenance to all eligible local poorer section, migrant labourers and all economically weaker local and non-local section of people in the future. Assam Rifles distribute ration Tizit battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) distributed rice and sanitation products to residents of Nokjang and Nokyan village on April 1 to facilitate necessary relief amid the lockdown. According to PRO, apart from the assistance provided, residents were also made aware about the various preventive measures that were needed to be practiced as part of their daily routine activity in order to combat and prevent the virus. The local population appreciated the initiative undertaken by the battalion in facilitating a much needed relief. Meeting to tackle COVID19 held in Dimapur Dimapur: To work

out logistics on matters concer ning COVID-19 pandemic, members of the special committee constituted by the State government for Dimapur, district administration, police, Naga Council Dimapur, Village council, GBs, DMC, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce held a meeting in the conference Hall of DC Dimapur on April 3. According to DIPR report, Commissioner & Secretary, Kikheto Sema, during the meeting, reminded the members present that the government was focussing more in Dimapur district as the whole Nagaland would fail if Dimapur fails. “We need the support of God and the village council as far as Dimapur is concerned, said Kikheto and therefore appealed to the village council NGOs for their continued support for the wellness of the people. IGP Training and Border, Liremo Lotha, dubbed Dimapur as a cosmopolitan city where people from all parts of the country resides and therefore reminded about the directive given by government of India to the State government not to discriminate people on religious grounds connected to the present COVID 19 issue. Towards this, he urged upon the GBs, council members and administration to see that people are not ill- treated. Should there be any issue, Lotha advised the concer ned authorities to get in touch with the Commissioner of Police and District administration. DC Dimapur Anoop Kinchi IAS, re-iterated on maintaining social distance and also reminded the public not to move unnecessarily during lockdown. While urging the public not to panic about essential commodities, the DC informed that supply of essential commodities are coming continuously with the district. Commissioner of Police Rothihu Tetseo, informed that 144 Cr.Pc will not be relaxed and said that restriction of movement of persons and vehicles except those under exemption would continue till the end of nationwide lockdown. While informing that 40

locations and check gates were being manned by police in Dimapur, Tetseo assured that police would do their best and sought the cooperation of all. In the meeting, administrator DMC, Albert Ezung informed that spraying of disinfectants of all incoming vehicles would start by April 3 evening with the help of Fire and Emergency Services. During the meeting it was also finalised that all markets in the main town will continue to remain closed but shops dealing with essential commodities and pharmacies in colonies/ villages would be allowed to cater to public needs. Wholesale market will be permitted to open from 3 am to 8 am at GS Road from Monday, however buying from the area will be permitted only with written permission from the concern administrative officer/GB/Village Council. It also agreed to let the retail shops in colonies/wards/villages be permitted to open from 9 am to 2 pm starting Monday. Additional allocation of rice for beneficiaries under PHH & AAY Director Food & Civil Supplies Asangla Imti has instructed all the ADSs on implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) in the districts during COVID-19 pandemic. According to DIPR report, Asangla Imti said that additional allocation of rice will be distributed to all the beneficiaries under PHH & AAY in the state under Targeted Public Distribution System free of cost for a period of three months (April, May and June). Conditions to be fulfilled are: The allocation is over and above the regular monthly allocation quota of NFSA and it has to be ensured that distribution is “free of cost” in all FPS (Urban & Rural); Action Plan for distribution of free food grains under NFSA as submitted to the Ministry of Food &Public Distribution need to be strictly followed; Wide publicity and awareness on the relief measure undertaken by Central and State Government to the call of Economic Response during this crucial time

Hotel Vivor, Kohima providing packed lunch to Kohima District Administration and DDMA involved in relief activities at Local Ground, Kohima on April 3. (DIPR)

has to be disseminated at all level. If any FPS (Rural & Urban is found selling/ diversion/misusing the allocation meant for “free distribution” should be penalized by immediately reporting for cancellation of License and action to be taken as laid down in Essential Commodities Act 1955; Distribution has to be done using the ePoS device by the dealer as directed and manual record to be maintained separately (with counter signature of ADS and district administration) for this scheme and submit record as soon as distribution of food grain is completed; Co-ordinate with respective transporter(s) and ensure that food grains of the said scheme reach the designated district(s)/ PDC(s) in time as per the Action Plan enclosed; Any laxity on the part of district officer(s)/official(s) will be viewed seriously. The director further instructed all to follow the order in strict compliance. Tuensang district administration initiates fund drive Many organizations and individuals have come forward to contribute towards the fund drive effort that was initiated by district administration, Tuensang to provide immediate relief to the families that were most affected by the total lockdown. The target groups being destitute, daily wage earners, or phans, stranded students, stranded migrant workers etc. Among the organisations, those who have made notable contributions are Eleutheros Christian Society, Business Commu-

nity, Muslim Community, Chang Gazetted Officers Association, Mothers Welfare Society, ENPO, TTBL, various Churches and Tuensang Village Citizens Union (TVCU). M a n y i n d iv i d u a l s have also come forward to contribute both in cash and kind. The money so raised has been utilized to pay for relief package, containing seven essential items of daily need (each costing Rs, 453), which have been handed out to over 1000 families as on April 2. So far a total of Rs, 5,23,910 has been received from donors including the both organisations and individuals. Besides, apex tribal bodies like CKS, YTC, KTC and USLP have been actively supporting the District Task Force (DTF) in every possible ways. The student bodies led by Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU) are making public announcements urging the public to stay indoors and doing volunteering work in the wards of Tuensang Town. Tuensang Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TCCI) and Tuensang Town All Wards Union

(TTAWU) are assisting district administration in keeping a strict vigil on possible black marketing activities and ensuring smooth inflow of essential supplies to Tuensang district. Distribution of relief ration underway at Kohima relief distribution centre The district administration and DDMA Kohima has so far distributed relief ration to a total number of 7,398 daily wage earners, stranded students and travellers at Kohima Relief Distribution Center as on April 20. The relief rations were also distributed to elderly persons, orphanage, homes, hostels and institutions under Kohima district. ADC Kohima, Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa informed that relief rations were distributed to all the wards and colonies for distribution by the ward/ colony chairmen in order to reach out the targeted group in their respective wards and colonies. She also informed that the relief rations were also dispatched to all area administrative officers under Kohima district for distribution in the subdivisions.

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4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXx NO. 118 Dimapur, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

Post-lockdown scenario

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s India approaches the end of the current 21-day lockdown by April 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that there are no plans to extend it beyond April 14,2020 and instead asked states to be prepared for a post-lockdown period. The lockdown is the world’s biggest in the largest democracy of 1.3 billion people. There is no debate about the necessity of the lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus pandemic. However, what should have been considered, is to forewarn the entire nation about the impending lockdown so that people are prepared. This was not done and like the controversial November 8,2016 demonetisation that was undertaken like a surgical strike(against black money) but ended up hurting the economy and not the enemy.Be that as it may, when it comes to taking bold(and sometimes arbitrary) decisions, the prime minister cannot be faulted. The lockdown was needed and it had to be done and that was what he announced.However, it would have spared so much problems had he communicated this to the nation. Now, that the lockdown is not likely to be extended, the states will be left grappling with the post-lockdown situation. First of all, the very objective of the short duration of 21 days is not the final solution. According to Cambridge academicians Rajesh Singh and Ronojoy Adhikari, the virus still poses grave threat even during the lockdown. The Cambridge academicians used a mathematical model to indicate that the factors of specific age and social contact could outlast the lockdown. The duo worked out how quickly the outbreak grows without social distancing - an umbrella term for a broad toolkit of measures, including lockdowns, that reduce contact between people - and how fast it shrinks when such restrictions are effectively enforced. They observed that the growth rate was faster than the rate of shrinkage. For instance, if the virus could continues its rate of growth for, say ten days, then it will need another ten days to push it back to the earlier level. Then there is the factor which shows that 20-50 per cent of infected people do not exhibit clear symptoms and that is what makes life difficult. Virologists have said that Coronaviruses, like all viruses, can mutate, which leads to changes in their internal generic code. According to the experts, the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has mutated, albeit slowly. This could further put the anticipated anti-COVID-19 vaccine, expected by this year’s end back by at least another year. Once the lockdown is lifted, the states would not be able to handle the situation. People would believe that the worst is over and so try to get back to business as usual. This is a dangerous situation because the virus is still lurking around. So far a meagre number of around 50,000 blood samples have been done in India as on April 1. On the other hand, more tests could also lead to more confirmed cases. Lifting of lockdown should not mean easing the grip but instead remaining more vigilant. A second wave of the virus could be worse and potentially more dangerous especially if COVID19 mutates into another strain.

DailyDevotion “If You Had Known!”

If you had known…in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. —Luke 19:42 Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly and the city was stirred to its very foundations, but a strange god was there– the pride of the Pharisees. It was a god that seemed religious and upright, but Jesus compared it to “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). What is it that blinds you to the peace of God “in this your day”? Do you have a strange god– not a disgusting monster but perhaps an unholy nature that controls your life? More than once God has brought me face to face with a strange god in my life, and I knew that I should have given it up, but I didn’t do it. I got through the crisis “by the skin of my teeth,” only to find myself still under the control of that strange god. I am blind to the very things that make for my own peace. It is a shocking thing that we can be in the exact place where the Spirit of God should be having His completely unhindered way with us, and yet we only make matters worse, increasing our blame in God’s eyes. “If you had known….” God’s words here cut directly to the heart, with the tears of Jesus behind them. These words imply responsibility for our own faults. God holds us accountable for what we refuse to see or are unable to see because of our sin. And “now they are hidden from your eyes” because you have never completely yielded your nature to Him. Oh, the deep, unending sadness for what might have been! God never again opens the doors that have been closed. He opens other doors, but He reminds us that there are doors which we have shut– doors which had no need to be shut. Never be afraid when God brings back your past. Let your memory have its way with you. It is a minister of God bringing its rebuke and sorrow to you. God will turn what might have been into a wonderful lesson of growth for the future.

Quotes There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect. ~ Ronald Reagan

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

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Surviving in the time of COVID-19

oronavirus which emerged from the city of Wuhan the Hubai provinces of china has been named by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as COVID-19 the global pandemic became one of the most tragic global health crises in the history of mankind after world war-II. The pandemic has spread worldwide bringing the entire globe into confusion, chaos and suffering. Almost every nation has been affected by this pandemic causing the loss of many innocent lives affecting the entire global economy. The outbreak of the deadly global health crisis led many countries to go for complete lockdown to avoid further spread of the deadly virus. No doubt sudden lockdown due to the COVID-19 has brought many lives of the people specially the daily wage earners left without job, money and food; made homeless compelled to migrate as health workers, doctors’, nurses have been risking their own lives to save people from this deadly virus. Therefore, considering the gravity of the pandemic every individual also needs to play an equally important role with utmost responsibility to combat this deadly virus from further spreading.

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However recent emergence of panic buying in the state where people were seeing gathered in a crowd without maintaining the social distance prompted us to question as to how people are so irresponsible. As the COVID-19 being considered as a virus transmitted from human to human contact, such type of absolutely careless and irresponsible behavior raises the risk of explosion of the virus in the state. A single person’s irresponsible actions may bring the lives of the entire community into the danger. It is very surprising to note that highly educated people with high status in society, even socalled ‘Holy’ people, seem to have been ignoring the government instructions and orders. The guidelines that have been provided by WHO such as maintaining social distance, avoiding mass gathering should be strictly being put into practice. When the entire community is strictly adhering to government order of 21 days lockdown of the country by quarantining themselves in the home; such practices going on in the state where people were seeing violating the precautionary measures. Rampant gathering in the market, panic buying the essential commodities is

An Appeal

very dangerous and harmful to society. We as an individual must take serious concern over the ongoing outbreak by following the lockdown called by the government. Good amount of evidence of violations of the precautionary measures of the COVID -19 by people made us wonder about their childish behavior. Prevention is better than cure. As before the situation goes out of the hands and turns absolutely hostile we must wake up from deep slumber. Nizamuddin in Delhi has now become a hotspot of COVID-19 infection. 2000 people were gathered at one Islamic congregation organized at the Markaaz or the international headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat (an Islamic organization) without having any concern about their own safety and the safety of others. It is learned that those who were part of that convention were highly educated people however, the number of participants in gathering has become what many call a ‘Super Spreader’, leaving a trail of infection and death from Kashmir to the Andamans. As a result of that gathering hundreds of Covid-19 infected people have suddenly cropped up which not only threatened

government machinery which has been working day and night to battle the corona pandemic but also the common people of India who are also fighting an epic battle against virus from their homes. Such people who brought health, safety and life of the entire country in the danger zone must be dealt with the harshest possible way within the legal system of India. Social distance as a non-pharmaceutical infection prevention and control intervention to avoid contact between those who are infected with a disease causing pathogen and those who are not, so as to stop or slow down the rate and extent of disease transmission in a community. Proper practice of this directive will help to reduce further spread of the virus. It is better to stop our irresponsible acts to combat the deadly virus than to see the thousands of lives fall from this outbreak. Many of us are under complete lockdown, quarantining ourselves in the home yet such mindless, cruel, inhuman actions of some people and communities which has already nicely facilitated spread of pandemic compel us to worry about what it might mean for ourselves and our loved

ones. A campaign, ‘Together At Home’ should be sincerely called for action to support the fight against COVID-19. Current outbreak of the pandemic is a serious issue in the world today. Many governments, organizations, Non-governmental organisations and concerned citizens have been courageously stepping out bravely to fight to contain the virus from further spreading. Individuals at the same time must also play a vital role by adhering the directives of lockdown called by the government. As many normal lives have been affected by this outbreak, especially the daily wage earners, poor people, homeless people, beggars have been the first and direct victims of it. We cannot ignore them thinking that they are habitual to such situations. No it is not true. Poverty is something different and the inhuman situation in which they have been trapped due to ‘lockdown’ where they have no access to foodwater-shelter and sanitation facilities is different. I and you are sheltering ourselves comfortably within the walls of our houses. Many of us are having airconditioners in our houses with kitchens full of food, snacks and drinks and who

knows- cupboards full of Bundle of currency notes. We are safe and secured. Hundreds of daily laborers in Dimapur who contributed a lot to make our lives better and comfortable are on streets now, if we are not going to help them then who will? By following government instructions and orders, by following & respecting 144 CrPc, by protecting ourselves properly with glasses, masks, hand gloves, cap and full sleeve shirt and trousers we can still help those poor, destitute, stranded people suffering in inhuman conditions at Dimapur railway station, adjacent areas, stadium and other parts of Dimapur through proper government channels. Our helpless friends on the streets need food, not money, my friends. They need water,not money, my friends. They need care, compassion and a bit of love, not money my friends. It is time for You and I to work for humanity by sharing our love to the needy people who can’t afford to survive. Happiness is found in helping others. Service to the needy is worship to God. Do not let helpless people die. They need life, NOT money my friends. Thsikichum Sangtam, Tetso College, Dimapur, Nagaland

21-days of lockdown is not a punishment

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hough many people around still not aware of all these happen- did not suppressed us from movhere does the Church hospital, the Church is also stand during this a hospital for spiritually sick the country felt so annoyed ing in our country? You should be ing around, vehicular movements, Covid-19 pandemic people. The pastors and the at the complete lockdown of ashamed of these, I tell you. railways and the airways across outbreak? With due respect church staff are, in a way, like the country, it is still a lesson for all This Covid-19 have people put the country, our country would be and honor I support the Gov- doctors and the nurses. Just like of us. The country has been lock- to dead more than a thousand and flooded with this deadly disease ernment’s decision and order the hospitals are open to treat down in order to prevent the spread many are being infected. Scientists and would have killed people in for total lockdown and I have the patients, the Church should of the pandemic covid-19. But still are trying to discover vaccine for no objection to the imposition also be available for those who some people are really disturbed by Covid-19. Doctors are giving best a huge number. But because of of article 144 CrPC. But as a need spiritual or emotional this act of the govt. But don’t we efforts to cure the infected ones. our restrained movements, our pastor and a spiritual leader, I treatment during this very dis- have a second thought about this Governments are making decision country is still at the lowest on the do have concern for the pre- turbing and perplexing times. lockdown. May be well get some for the country to curb Covid-19. list amongst the affected countries. Our families are still safe, we are vailing situation and I am not A few days back during this ignorant about the risk of social lockdown, I went to visit a ideas, may be we’ll realize why this Police are restricting people’s still happy as before. So we better gathering and how important patient in the hospital. We has been done, may be we’ll be able movements and all the vehicular stop complaining about this locksanitized first, had to go to understand the value of staying movements to save this world. it is for social distancing. But a were down just for 21 days and start through the security guard and few things have started to prick one medical staff came forward at home, spending time our own And you are at home simply sit- spending time with the family my conscience during these few and asked for the purpose of families. Are you still not aware ting and complaining about this members. So, do relinquish your why the police are restricting your 21-days lockdown. It really is a days of lockdown. the visit, which I felt were all past negative thoughts about this Church - is it Essential rightly done for the safety of movements? Why they are keeping shame for people like you with lockdown and start learning someor Non-Essential? everyone. I am sure the Church the barricades on the streets? Why cheap mentality. Learn to live by people’s deci- thing during this lockdown. Stay I definitely feel that the can also follow the same pro- they are sending you back at home? Church is an essential, and cedure. Yes, if the doctors and Why they disperse the crowd? Are sion sometimes. It is still a lesson Safe, Stay Strong. not non-essential, institution. nurses can sacrifice, even up to you still not alerted by the news of for us. But it’s not a punishment. Shiampai K, St. Joseph’s ColDuring the lockdown, if the the point of death, I am sure the dead by the covid-19? Are you Just imagine that if the government lege, Jakhama Government can permit es- there will be pastors and other sential commodity shops to be church staff who will be willing open during specific timings, to sacrifice till the end. why can’t the Church also do The Earthly Government the same? If the Govt can take and The Heavenly Governthe risk of public crowding into ment: The Bible teaches us in the shop to buy stuff and trust 1 Peter 2:13-17 and Romans the shopkeepers to maintain 13:1-3 to submit, obey and social distancing and take honor the Govt that is instiproper precautions, then why tuted on earth. By no means, Sir, can’t the Govt trust the Church what I am writing is not to go Graphically, the trend is increasing globally everyday and further spreading beyound boundaries which to do the same? Just like the against the Govt orders but just have become not just a public health crisis; it is a crisis that is likely to touch every sector. It is true that no shops/groceries provide physi- a request to the Govt to see the individual can stop Coronavirus from spreading but we all can make crucial changes whether big or small cal food, the Church, too, Church from another angle, to prevent and help the people around us. As our Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi provide spiritual food and take just as the way you see the who had addressed to the nation on 19th March 2020 at 8:00 p.m. suggested some preventive measures to care of its members’ spiritual police department, hospitals, or protect, prevent and also help others in fighting against the the spread of Coronavirus and out of which I any other department for that well-being. appreciate - the Janata Curfew which involves individual responsibility to understand and practice and to The Police and The Pas- matter. Just because the Church adhere on 22nd March 2020 from 7 am to 9 pm. which is indeed a laudable step. No doubt, more or less, is not supported or salaried by tor: Really appreciate and Govt, it does not mean it is we all are following government’s directives about do’s and don’ts, however, as I have mentioned that every salute what the police depart- the just a local or public fellowship individual is also responsible to understand about the virus and its nature of spreading and prevention ment is doing by risking their place. The Church, too, follows lives for the safety of all. If the a Govt - the Heaven’s Govt. We and educate our people in simple language which can be a small step but can be very effective. Through Govt can use the help of the do have law and a system. We media, I have read about installation of containers filled with water provided with soaps to use as hand police to fight this pandemic, do have authority that does not sanitizers in suitable locations. I sincerely appreciate those people for such exemplary works and with this why not, or is it not possible come from the earthly Govt I also would like to request and appeal villages, wards, colonies, hospitals, organisations, religious places that the Govt also use the help but from the Heavenly Govt.; and others to install such water filled containers mixed with dettol in their respective locations for handthat can be rendered by the through Jesus Christ. The pur- wash as a precautionary measure to fight against the spread of virus. If we all consciously reason out and pastors in different capacity by pose of writing this appeal is practice without ignorance, we can defeat Coronavirus. I am no one to advice or suggest but I wrote what making fruitful use of the pulpit not for any other purpose but to I feel undestanding the grave crisis the entire world is experiencing today with the outbreak of this killing by feeding the people with the request the Government to join virus and believe that my writeup would at least convey a small message at this moment of time. Let us Word of God and standing in forces together to fight against all act on time before it is too late. the gap through prayer, wor- this pandemic COVID-19. Prakash Chetri, Chümoukedima Town ship and intercession; at least My Appeal: Respected Sir/Madam, those who are in online, if not in person? If the Govt can trust the position of decision-making, police department, I also hum- this is my humble appeal to bly request the Govt to also you to kindly give the churches’ Sir, As you might be aware of the fact that the COVID-19 has spread in a large number, across the states trust the pastors and the full pastoral team and the staff the time staff of the church as permission to go into their of the country, through the people who had attended the recently held religious congregation, Tablighi soldiers of Christ and to allow church buildings; not for public Jamaat Markaz, in Delhi’s Nizamuddin West. The people, who attended the religious congregation, hailed from the different parts of the different them to gather so that they will gathering but in order to serve do their best to reach out to the people for such a time as states of the country. At the minimum, 400 people, who attended this congregation, have been found people through different social this by scheduling online wor- COVID-19 positive. Even in the different parts of Assam, several people have been found COVID-19 media platforms. The Church ship service and preaching positive. They all had attended the religious congregation in Delhi.Considering the above fact, there is no and The Hospital: The doctors, to encourage and give hope doubt that there could be many people from Dimapur, as well as from other districts of Nagaland, who nurses and medical personnel to the people, and not let the could have participated in the religious congregation in Delhi, and now have become a potential risk to the are deployed to fight this situa- lockdown affect the Church of- society, in general. In view of the looming risk, it is requested to the authority concerned in Kohima, and Help us serve our people, tion and the hospitals are open fice. like the grocery store, like the the Civil Administration and the Police Administration at Dimapur, to find out and locate the presence of to treat the patients. The heroes police department and like the such people, who are likely to be Novel Corona virus positive, and put them under isolation/quarantine, at of the present generation are hospital. In Him, war footing, without wasting time. The authorities concerned may seek the help of the NGOs and/or the these people fighting up front organisations, to find out the people who might have attended the religious congregation in Delhi recently. Wabang Longchari, Lead and many have also lost their A popular adage, “A stitch in time saves nine,” fits right in the prevailing situation! Pastor The Lighthouse lives while on the mission to Church Dimapur D. Raaj Pangeni, Nepali Gaon, Dimapur fight this virus. Just like the Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

Reader’s Post

Coronavirus : Why we must act now

Appeal to civil administration and police Dimapur district

national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

647 confirmed corona cases linked to Jamaat

back to their countries, the ministry is in the process of blacklisting them as well,” said Srivastava, adding “all DGP and commissioner of Police have been instructed to take strict actions as per Disaster Management Act and Foreigner Act against all visa violations”. A cluster transmission of COVID-19 was reported as a religious congregation ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ was recently organised at Markaz Nizamuddin in the capital, after which a number of coronavirus cases, including casualties, allegedly shot up 647 confirmed cases in 14 states in the country have found links with Tablighi in the country in the last Jamaat. few days.

Foreigners from 41 countries joined Tablighi meet in Delhi

nationwide to break the chain of novel coronavirus pandemic. As per government data, most foreigners who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation were from Indonesia (379), Bangladesh (110), Kyrgyzstan (77), Malaysia (75), Thailand (65), Myanmar (63) and Sri Lanka (33), Iran (24), Kazakhstan (14), Vietnam (12) and the Philippines (10). Nine foreigners each from the United Kingdom (9); eight from Tanzania; seven from Algeria; six from China; five from Djibouti; four each from the US and Sudan; three each from Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Madagaskar, Qatar and Trinidad and Tobago took part in the congregation. Besides, two each from Tunisia and Ukraine, Congo, Mali; and one each from Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Jordan, Kenya, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sweden and Togo participated in the Islamic meet. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday announced to blacklist them and cancel their visa amid its ongoing efforts to identify the contacts of over 9,000 identified Tabligi Jamaat workers who have been to the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area, prompting authorities to intensify efforts

to trace them since they may be carrying the virus and potentially infecting others. Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a Tweet on Thursday had also confirmed that these 960 foreigners were blacklisted and their Indian visas were canceled as the Ministry of Home Affairs found their involvement in Tablighi activities here on tourist visas. The Home Ministry also directed the Director Generals of Police of all concerned states and Union Territories (UTs) and Delhi Commissioner of Police to take necessary legal action against all such violators, on priority, under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Disaster Management Act, 2005. The 960 foreigners are among those 1,306 who came from different countries here on tourist visas and took part in the congregation, organised by the Tablighi Jamaat at the Nizamuddin Markaz last month, which led to a sudden spike in coronavirus cases in different parts of the country. In a frantic search for hundreds of people who participated in the congregation, the government on Wednesday directed the states and Union Territories (UTs) to complete their contact tracing on a “war footing” to contain the spread of Covid-19.

5 COVID-19: 4 men slapped with NSA for attacking health workers

Images of medical workers attacked.

BHOPAL/INDORE, APR 3 (PTI): The Indore district administration on Friday invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in Taatpatti Bakhal area of the city. This is first such action related to COVID-19 pandemic in Madhya Pradesh, an official said. A five-member team from the health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal on Wednesday to quarantine relatives and acquaintances of a COVID19 patient, when an unruly mob attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors. The police had arrested seven persons for the alleged attack on Thursday and the district administration has

slapped the NSA on four of them, the official said. The Indore police on Friday detained six more men in connection with the incident. Six more men are being questioned about their involvement in the incident, Indore’s Chhatripura police station in-charge Karan Singh Shaktawat said. Meanwhile, additional superintendent of police Crime Branch (Indore), Rajesh Dandotia said, four persons were booked under the relevant provisions of the IPC and Information Technology Act for spreading a rumours and inflammatory messages about coronavirus on social media. Arif Khan (26) has been arrested in this case, while search is on for three other absconding accused, he said.

country have found links with Tablighi Jamaat.” The states from which these cases of linkage with Tablighi Jamaat congregation have been reported are Andaman and Nicobar, Assam, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, said the Health Ministry. The Joint Health Secretary said the cases had spiked recently due to a particular reason, indicating the Tablighi Jamaat episode. “Otherwise, our efforts to promote lockdown and social isolation were result-

ing in less number of cases,” he said. The Home Ministry Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava who was also present, told the media that incidents related to the security of the health care and frontline workers have happened therefore the Home Ministry has directed the states to take stringent actions in such matters and ensure the security of the medical fraternity. “The Home Ministry has blacklisted at least 960 Tablighi Jamaat related foreign nationals who were in India on tourist visas. At least 360 people who participated in Tablighi Jamat activity but have gone

Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are among 41 top countries from where over 960 foreigners visited India and participated in Tablighi Jamaat activities organised at Islamic headquarters in Nizamuddin amid COVID19 pandemic, according to government data. They are among those 960 foreigners who were on Thursday blacklisted by India for their involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities. Their tourist visas were also cancelled by the government for violating the lockdown measures imposed

COVID-19: Delhi tests 259 positive cases from Markaz

TN reports 102 more COVID-19 cases; total 411

Union Health Minister boosts COVID-19: Indore cops adopt morale of ‘corona warriors’ ‘ghost’ drive to keep people home

New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) : There are at least 647 confirmed cases of coronavirus found to have links with Tablighi Jamaat in the last two days, the government said on Friday. Speaking to the media at a press conference here, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Lav Agarwal said: “There are a total 2,301 coronavirus cases reported so far in India and 56 deaths have been reported from the country, of which 12 deaths have been reported since yesterday. “As many as 157 patients have recovered. In the last two days, 647 confirmed cases in 14 states in the

A patient on a wheelchair is escorted by family members to a hospital amid a nationwide lockdown. Friday (PTI)

New Delhi, April 3 (IANS): With a total of 259 people testing positive from Nizamuddin Markaz, the coronavirus tally of Delhi reached 384 on Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. “One more from death has been reported in Delhi. So far five deaths have been reported. The one death in the last 24 hours is also from the Markaz.” Kejriwal said the patient tally on Thursday was 293. “In the last 24 hours, 91 new cases have been

reported. The number may look worrisome. But coronavirus is not spreading locally.” He said among the patients, 58 patients have foreign travel history and 38 have contact history, and are family of those travelling from abroad. “On the other hand, 259 from Markaz have tested positive. Only two patients are on ventilator while others are stable, he said. “We are well prepared to deal with the increase in numbers.”

Residents flout lockdown in Kohima

(From p-1) He appealed to the citizens to adhere to the government orders for safety by staying home unless necessary. Meanwhile, Kohima deputy commissioner Gregory Thejawelie said the district administration would review the situation in the State Capital and take further steps on the lapses. He said it was unfortunate that people did not cooperate with the measures taken by the government, despite knowing that these were meant for their safety. He said it was impossible for the government to impose one police per person. Thejawelie assured that that district administration was trying its best to ensure that it comes up with measures to ensure that junk of the people did not move around in the town. He claimed that the district administration had provided free ration to more than 7,000 people, included migrant workers, daily wage earners and stranded students, till April 2. He said ration was given for 10 days so that they did not come out to collect their daily ration. He also appealed to the car passes holders not to misuse the passes.

Chennai, Apr 3 (PTI): As many as 102 people on Friday tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu, taking the total number of cases in the state to 411, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said. Of the 3,684 samples sent for testing so far, 411 have tested positive for the deadly virus while 2,789 were negative he said in a tweet. This is the third straight day the state has witnessed a surge in the number of positive cases. On Wednesday it had reported 110 positive cases and on Thursday 75 with all but one being returnees from a recent Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin West, the country’s biggest hotspot of the pandemic. It is, however, not immediately known if the latest cases include people who had came back to the state from the Delhi meet.

Dr Harsh Vardhan

NEW DELHI, APRIL 3 (IANS): Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, on Friday visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital in Delhi to take stock of the preparedness against the coronavirus pandemic in India. “Our public health experts, including advisors in the Health Ministry and ICMR collectively worked as a team since the very first case was reported in China. That’s why we are in a position to control this COVID19 disease in India which has taken many countries in the world by storm,” said

Fruits, vegetables perish in Dimapur due to lockdown (From p-1) “There will be losses, but we cannot do anything about it. Most of the vendors are daily wage earners and they have suffered huge losses. May be the State government should extend some help,” he remarked. Asked about availability of cold storage facility to preserve perishable food items, Akashe said at present Dimapur did not have any such facilities, apart from a privately-owned cold storage facility (Kuda Cold Storage) at 7th Mile here. He, however, pointed out that the cold storage at 7th Mile was not utilised by the vegetable vendors or wholesalers. “Farmers, wholesalers and retailers have all suffered due to the lockdown because the food items have perished and are now unfit for human consumption,” he lamented. Akashe explained that though transportation of vegetables and fruits (which came under essential commodities) was exempted from the total lockdown, he said the same could not be sold

as markets had been shut down. He said transportation and sale of vegetables and fruits would resume if and when the total lockdown was lifted. He maintained that transportation of essential commodities was not hampered due to the lockdown. The DCCI president assured this reporter that the district had enough dry rations (non-perishable) to last for at least a month. Meanwhile, as the COVID-19 scare spread, the Dimapur district administration officials were seen scrambling to manage unruly shoppers who continued to defy the recommended precautionary measures and thronged markets across the district. After the infamous March 30 commotion at the markets here, the district administration ordered total restriction, except for essential services. It remains to be seen whether the authorities will come up with a concrete plan to control the situation when the market reopens as a large number of anxious shoppers thronging the market cannot be ruled out.

Step up border vigil, CNTC tells govt

(From p-1) CNTC, while supporting the lockdown, also expressed concern over various malpractices that have been going about in the market like price escalation and artificial shortages by “greedy businessmen”. It therefore urged police punish the defaulters. Further, CNTC appealed to the authorities concern to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and implementation of Food Security for marginal sections of the society.

Harsh Vardhan. “The country will always be proud of your sacrifices. We will always remember your contribution in fighting against this pandemic,” Harsh Vardhan told the healthcare workers there. He said that it was a great opportunity to prove one’s mettle. “Only in circumstances like these can we prove our calibre and worth. You have got an opportunity to be corona warriors. Take it as a blessing in disguise,” said the Health Minister. “It was 7 Januar y when China had confirmed to WHO that a new strain of coronavirus had affected people there. On January 8, the Health Ministry had its first meeting of the group of technical experts in India. We started planning. On 17 January we had provided a detailed health advisory to all states. Later the travel advisories were expanded,” the minister said.

Cops dressed as ghosts in UP

Indore, Apr 3 (PTI): The police in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city on Friday adopted a unique approach to stop people from violating the COVID-19 lockdown, by using “ghosts” to scare them into staying indoors. The Vijay Nagar police enlisted the help of some social workers, who donned black masks and attires with images of lungs, and walked around slums and crowded

colonies to frighten residents into staying home, an official said. The police filmed the “ghost” drive and posted videos of it on social media. “We have formed a special group of six social workers, who are reaching out to people living in slums and educating them about COVID-19,” the official said. Volunteers disguised as ghosts scare those who loiter

on roads during the curfew to warn them that if they step out, coronavirus will possess them, he said. At least 89 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Indore, of which five have succumbed to the infection. A curfew has been in place in Indore since March 25, and the state’s business capital, which teemed with people 15 days ago, now resembles a ghost town.

WSH, WSYF demand AYO to regulate public movement... and organisations involved border sealing (FromThep-1)youth body insisted upon als in trying to prevent COVID-19 (From p-1) commodities to all the areas and localities for the public as well as the daily wage earners in collaboration with the respective colonies and village councils so that no one should suffer any hardship. Meanwhile, demanding stringent action against “those greedy and unscrupulous traders” indulging in price rise and hoarding, WSH cautioned that failure to act would compel the hoho to “take its own punitive action which will not be pleasant.” WSYF: Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) has also appealed to the Dimapur district administration to immediately seal borders at Aghunaqa area, Dimapur, saying there was danger lurking in Aghunaqa area owing to absence of security forces or health workers. In a representation addressed to the deputy commissioner (DC Dimapur, the WSYF president Mughavi Awomi and general secretary Bohoi K Yepthomi informed that 38 village authorities under Aghunaqa area have enforced lockdown, but borders with Assam were yet to be sealed. Meanwhile, WSYF also stated that there was absence of health workers and police security, which it maintained was “the most important requirement” for the public at the moment. “In the absence of proper mechanism in place by the authorities in the wake of this pandemic, the risk lies not only with people of Aghunaqa area but the entire district and state of Nagaland as well,” it stated. In the light of the above, WSYF has urged the DC to intervene at the earliest before “any major catastrophe happens.”

all citizens, including people from different parts of the country residing in Kohima, to strictly adhere to the directives issued by the Kohima district administration and the health department. Claiming that it had information that people coming from outside, especially non-locals, were not adhering to the directive on quarantine and roaming freely, the organisation said it had taken note of this and decided that they would be strictly dealt with. It also requested the government to provide proper protection gears to police personnel operating at check gates. Meanwhile, as Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) has been converted into a COVID-19 Hospital, AYO said people of Kohima district requiring medical treatment were facing great difficulty as it was the only government hospital in Kohima, adding now they were left with no option but to approach private hospitals for any kind of treatment. “We understand the State government has to take impromptu measures to prepare for combating the deadly virus. However, we will appreciate if the government can urgently arrange an alternative private hospital that can accommodate patients from the district, especially those who can’t afford to visit private hospitals,” the organisation appealed. It also appreciated individu-

virus from entering “our land” for rendering their invaluable services. Also appreciating villages and colonies for doing what was required on their part, it requested them to instruct their volunteers to attend to their duties by using proper protection gears. On the other hand, the Angami youth body expressed its concern at the presence of an increasing number of foreigners in the State despite the imposition of nationwide lockdown since the midnight of March 24. It quoted the daily updates on COVID-19 provided by the health & family welfare department to show that the number of tourists had been increasing over the last few days – on March 30, the number of tourists in the State stood at five, which increased to 10 on April 1 and climbed to 20 on April 2. Recalling that the State government had issued a blanket ban on entry of both domestic and foreign tourists from March 16, AYO said the entry of tourists at a time when there was panic among the public following the outbreak of COVID-19 was very disturbing. It questioned chief secretary Temjen Toy and the home commissioner why the authorities failed to prevent the entry of tourists. The organisation wanted to know why the tourists were permitted at this time in total violation of the blanket ban.

6

international

Global virus cases top one million

Washington, Apr 3 (AFP): The number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has soared past one million and fatalities have topped 50,000 as the United States reported the highest daily death toll of any country so far. Despite more than half the planet living in some form of lockdown, the virus is continuing to spread rapidly, and to claim lives at an alarming pace, with the US, Spain and Britain all seeing their worst days yet. The economic cost of the pandemic is getting starker by the day, with new figures showing that an extra 6.65 million Americans signed on for unemployment benefit last week, taking to 10 million the number of people in the US who lost their jobs in the last two weeks of March. And economists warned it was going to get worse. “No words for this,” said Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics. “Total layoffs between the March and April payroll surveys look destined to reach perhaps 16 to 20 million, consistent with the unemployment rate leaping to 13 to 16 percent. In one month.” Financial ratings

City workers fumigate a street to help contain the spread of COVID-19, in La Paz, Bolivia on Thursday. (AP/PTI)

agency Fitch on Thursday predicted that the US and eurozone economies would shrink this quarter by up to 30 percent as struggling businesses slash investment and unemployment dampens consumer spending. The Asian Development Bank warned Friday the global economy could take a $4.1 trillion hit from the virus - equivalent to five percent of worldwide output. World leaders have announced huge financial aid packages to deal with the crisis and the World Bank on Thursday approved a

plan to roll out $160 billion in emergency cash over 15 months. The United States now accounts for around a quarter of all known infections around the globe, and its death toll is rocketing up. About 6,000 people have died in the US outbreak, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, more than 1,100 of them in the last day. White House experts say between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could ultimately die from the disease. Europe has been at the center of the crisis for weeks,

but there have been signs that the epidemic could be approaching its peak there. Spain and Britain saw record numbers of new deaths in a 24-hour period -- 950 and 569 respectively. Italy and Spain together account for almost half of the global death toll, but experts say the number of new infections in both countries is continuing to slow. “The data show the curve has stabilized” and the epidemic has entered a “slowdown” phase, Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa said. The virus

has chiefly affected the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions, but recent cases of deaths among teenagers and even of a six-week-old baby have highlighted the dangers for people of all ages. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to “massively increase testing” as his health minister said the aim was 100,000 tests a day within weeks. Johnson, who has himself tested positive for COVID-19, has been criticised for his government’s failure to provide widespread screening, particularly for frontline health workers. Britain was also rushing to build field hospitals, with the government saying Friday it would erect two new facilities to cope with 1,500 extra patients. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin extended paid non-working days until the end of April as the number of confirmed cases jumped by more than a quarter to 3,500. Most of the Russian population is on lockdown, while Thailand became the latest country to impose strict measures with the introduction of a curfew from Friday.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

Afghan govt, Taliban prisoners swap postponed for third time Kabul, Apr 3 (IANS): Exchange of prisoners between the Afghan government and Taliban militants has been postponed for the third time, local media said in a report. “Taliban prisoners release process planned for Thursday has postponed and the course may kick off on Saturday,” Xinhua news agency quoted the TOLO News as saying in the report on thursday. The report said that after the arrival of a threemember Taliban technical delegation in Kabul on Tuesday, negotiations on the prisoners swap continued on Thursday, the

third consecutive day, but no detail was immediately available on the outcome of the talks. The US and Taliban inked a peace deal in the Gulf state of Qatar on February 29 and the agreement required the Afghan government to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners. In exchange, the Taliban agreed for direct peace talks with the government besides releasing 1,000 Afghan security forces prisoners. On March 11, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a decree to gradually release 5,000 Taliban inmates on

parole. The first batch of Taliban prisoners were expected to be released on March 14 in consideration of age, medical condition, and the remaining time of sentenced imprisonment, but their release was postponed. On Wednesday, Afghan officials said 100 Taliban inmates would be released on Thursday and Taliban will also free 20 Afghan soldiers. All Taliban prisoners, who will be released in accordance with the decree, must make a written commitment to guarantee they would not return to the battlefield.

Over 10,000 arrested in SL for violating curfew

Colombo, Apr 3 (IANS): Police in Sri Lanka on Friday said over 10,000 people had been arrested from across the country for violating an island-wide curfew which has been in place since March 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the police said this included over 500 people being arrested within the past 24 hours alone for loitering on the roads, gathering and consuming alcohol at public grounds, travelling by vehicle on the roads, keeping restaurants open, behaving in an unruly manner on the roads and engaging in trading, defying curfew

rules, reports Xinhua news agency. Over 2,087 vehicles were also seized and all those arrested will be produced before local courts in the coming days. Sri Lanka imposed the curfew on March 20, which was lifted for a few hours last week in separate districts for people to re-stock on essential items. Sri Lanka has detected 151 COVID-19 infected patients, out of which 22 have recovered and been discharged, while 125 are under observation in designated hospitals. The death toll currently stands at four. Over 10,000 are under isolation in their homes and at quarantine centres.

China wet markets ‘real problem’: Aus PM Wrong to blame religious minorities for virus spread: US

Melbourne, Apr 3 (Agencies): Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday urged the WHO and the UN to act against China’s wet markets, like the one where the deadly coronavirus is thought to have originated, as they pose “great risks” to the health and wellbeing of the rest of the world. A wet market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan is believed to be the source of the coronavirus pandemic that began in December last year, crossing from animals to humans. The number of cases from the virus has reached one million worldwide and more than 51,000 deaths have been reported across

Scott Morrison (File) more than 175 countries and territories, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Stating that Chinabased “Wet markets were a very real and significant problem wherever they exist,” Scott Morrison in an interview to a news channel on Thursday, said “this virus started in China and went

Crossword

round the world. And that’s how it started.” “We all know that. And these wet markets can be a real problem when it comes to what can occur in those markets. And I think from a world health point of view, this is something the World Health Organisation should do something about. I mean, all this money that comes out of the UN and the World Health Organisation,” Scott Morrison said. A wet market sells fresh meat, fish, produce, and other perishable goods as distinguished from “dry markets”. It gets its name from the floors being constantly wet from the spraying of fresh produce and cleaning of meat and seafood stalls.

Washington, Apr 3 (PTI): The US has described it “wrong” to blame religious minorities for the spread of coronavirus, asserting that the “blame game” over the origin of COVID-19 should be aggressively pushed back by the governments across the world. US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback urged religious groups to practice social distancing and sought the release of peaceful religious prisoners across the world, particularly in countries like Iran and China. “My take of it is that religious groups should practice social distancing. That’s what we need to do,” Brownback told reporters

during a conference call on COVID-19 impact on religious minorities. Responding to a question, Brownback said that the US was tracking the blaming of religious minorities for COVID-19 virus. “Unfortunately, it is happening in various places. This is wrong by governments to do this. The governments really should put this down and state very clearly that this is not the source of the coronavirus. It’s not the religious minority communities,” he said. “They should go out there in open messaging and say no, this is not what happened. We know where this virus originated. We know it’s a pandemic the whole

No. 9543 Yesterday’s solution No. 9542

Su doku

No. 4162 Yesterday’s solution No. 4161

KAKURO

No. 3188 Yesterday’s solution No. 3187

K Y M C

Across 1. Fact (5) 6. Pierces with horns (5) 9. Nine-sided figure (7) 10. Well done! (5) 11. Because of (3,2) 12. Counterfeit (5) 13. Flatfish (7 ) 15. Blokes (3) 17. Object of worship (4) 18. Secret plot (6) 19. Laziness (5) 20. Equable (6) 22. Gratis (4) 24. Lubricate (3) 25. Rescuer (7) 26. Boy’s name (5) 27. Backless seat (5) 28. Multiplied by (5) 29. Diapers (7) 30. Command (5) 31. In front (5) Down 2. Overseas (6) 3. Divulge, reveal (6) 4. Cow’s cry (3) 5. Wooden shoe (5) 6. Share expenses equally (2,5) 7. Burden (4) 8. High regard (6) 12. Put up (5) 13. Large animal (5) 14. Faithful (5) 15. Paris underground (5) 16. At no time (5) 18. Homeless dog (5) 19. Like, resembling (7) 21. Untidy refuse (6) 22. End (6) 23. Exclamation of discovery (6) 25. Slant (5) 26. Skeleton part (4) 28. Beverage (3)

world is being subjected to and it’s not something from religious minorities. But unfortunately, we are seeing the sort of blame game getting started up in different places around the world, and we hope it gets pushed back aggressively by those host governments,” he said. Brownback called on governments to work with their religious minorities during these tough times and ensure they are getting

the needed resources and aid. Brownback also appealed to gover nments across the world to release religious prisoners, saying it was not for those who are engaged in terrorist activities. “If the person is practising their faith and they’re doing it by being a jihadist and attacking and trying to blow up buildings, I think governments have every right to lock them up. And we do that ourselves in

the US, and I have had that happen in my state when I was governor of Kansas,” he said. “I’m not going to get in a dispute with people there. I’m talking about individuals that are peacefully practising their faith and are arrested because they are advocates for their faith and are peaceful about it. Now, I’m not going to get in a debate about whether somebody is in another category,” he said.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteausness.” (2 Timothy 4.7,8).

We find words so inadequate to express our hearts and gratitudes to all the friends and well wishers, who spent their precious time with us during the demise of Late I.Pangernüngsang, IPoS, Postmaster General, Shillong on 01.04.2020. We deeply regret our inability to acknowledge each individual for your support morally, personally and financially. However we would like to express our profound gratitude to following for their immeasurable contributions: 1. Shri. Pradipta Kumar Bisoi, Secretary, Deptt Of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government Of India 2. Shri Amitabh Kharkwal, IPoS, Chief Postmaster General, N.E Circle, Shillong 3. Shri C L Lalfakzuala,IPoS, Director Postal Services (HQ), Shillong 4. Bipasha Singla,IPoS, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Meghalaya Division 5. Hemajit Singh, Inspector 6. Bharata Kumar Patro, Assistant Director Technology 7. Kusheshswsr Pandit, AD 8. Susanta Kumar Misra, AO 9. Simon Peters Dolhing, PRI Meghalaya Division 10. R. Kama PRI Meghalaya Division 11. A J Talukdar, Senior Postmaster Shillong GPO 12. Nanda Kishore Panda, AO, DAP, Shillong 13. S.N Tariang, Ex.DAP 14. Shri Gaurav Singla, IPoS (IPPB) 15. Chinta Mary, ASP estt 16. The whole postal staffs of Meghalaya Divison and all Group officers of N.E Circle and Assam Circle 17. Shri Som Kamei,IPoS, Postmaster General, Dibrugarh 18. Nagaland Postal Division, Kohima 19. All India Postal Employees Union, Kohima 20. Shri B. Selvakumar, Chief Postmaster General, Tamil Nadu Circle 21. Shri Govindraj, Retired Superintendent of Post, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 22. Shri Komal Kumar, Superintendent of Post, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 23. Ao Baptist Arogo, Shillong 24. Ao Senso Telungjem, Shillong 25. Doctor & Nurses, Civil Hospital, Shillong 26. Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Naidu 27. Mr. Lipok, Chaplain Nagamese Fellowship, CMC Vellore 28. Shri Temjen Toy IAS, Chief Secretary, Kohima, Nagaland 29. Shri Lungriading IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Assam 30. Shri Imnalensa IPS, SP Mon 31. Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur 32. Commissioner of Police, Dimapur 33. Signal Nagagaon Council, Dimapur 34. Mopungchuket Senso Telungjem, Kohima 35. Mopungchket Union Dimapur 36. Mopungchuket Village Council 37. Mopungchuket Ait Laisher Telungjem 38. Mopungchuket Baptist Arogo 39. DABA, Signal Fellowship 40. 3rd Buba Mejengsanger Zunga, Dimapur 41. Rev.Kari Longchar 42. Rev. Thridong,Pastor,Sangtam Baptist Chruch Dimapur Beloved wife, Children and relatives. DC-367 K Y M C

northeast

6 NE states seal borders with Assam

G u wa h at i / Ag a r tala, Apr 3 (IANS): After Assam reported 16 positive COVID-19 cases, all the attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin, six Northeastern states sealed the interstate borders and barred the general entry from Assam, ministers and officials said on Friday. Assam shares 2,743 km inter-state boundaries with Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Bengal. Of the 20 positive coronavirus cases in four of the seven Northeastern states, 18 took part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi while a Manipuri girl and a Mizoram man had tested positive last month after they returned from the UK and the Netherlands, respectively. According to Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, swab samples of 16 people, residents of Assam and all attendees of the Tablighi event held last month have tested positive for coronavirus. “Test reports of several hundred Tablighi Jamaat attendees are awaited,” Sarma said in Guwahati. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who holds both

Security personnel urge a commuter to wear masks as they stop traffic for questioning during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, at Ganeshguri in Guwahati, Friday. (PTI)

the Health and Home Departments, while holding a meeting to review the preparedness to deal with the COVID-19 issues, strongly asked the officials to maintain a highest vigil along the inter-state borders with Assam and Mizoram “Except the goods laden trucks and freight trains, nothing should be allowed to enter Tripura from the neighbouring states and across the Bangladesh borders,” Deb told the media. “We must be extra careful against the spread

of the novel coronavirus as positive cases were found in Assam, Mizoram and Bangladesh. Tripura is so far free from the positive cases,” Deb stated. In Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the interdistrict movements have been stopped by the union Home Ministry, there was no question of allowing any movement within the state and from other states. “The state government has asked district officials in the border areas to en-

sure that all the norms to fight against COVID-19 are strictly followed. Only in case of extreme medical emergency, the authorities are not allowing inter-state movement to take place,” Sangma said. However, except travelling by train, people from Guwahati and other parts of Assam have to pass through Meghalaya’s Shillong, Jowai and Khliehriat to go to southern Assam, comprising five districts. In Kohima, the Nagaland government has

COVID-19: M’laya stockpiles Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin state have around 300 beds, adding that there are 64 ventilators and 7000 personal protection equipment (PPE). “More PPE are in the pipeline and the process for production of locallymade masks in the state is already underway,” the health official informed. Kumar said more than 400 medical volunteers are monitoring their condition on a daily basis. Expressing relief that Meghalaya was still free from the COVID-19, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong however added that there was no room for complacency and asserted that the fight against the virus would continue. “The credit for keeping the state free from COVID19 goes to all government functionaries and community-based functionaries, who have been working sleeplessly. We are also getting cooperation from all

localities and the traditional heads,” he said. He however appealed to the people to be more vigilant completely stop inter-state movement as the contagious diseases has surged in neighbouring Assam. Observing that there was no fencing between Meghalaya and Assam and that the India-Bangladesh border fencing was yet to be completed, the Deputy Chief Minister appealed to all local authorities to be proactive to stop all those who might try to enter the state. “We have another 11 days to go (lockdown expires on April 14). I am telling you, if we can cross this bridge, I am sure we will be saved that is why it is so crucial to all of us. I kindly request all stakeholders that we need to be more vigilant on the issue of COVID-19,” Tynsong said.

Burdwan blast accused was behind Barpeta JMB module: NIA

31 co-passengers of Mnp’s 2nd positive case asked to report

Dispur, Apr 3 (IANS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday revealed that Burdwan blast accused Sahanur Alom was behind the Jamaat-ulMujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) module busted in Barpet district of Assam in December-end last year. The anti-terror agency shared the information with a special court in Guwahati while filing the first supplementary chargesheet in Barpeta JMB case earlier in the day. The JMB is a proscribed terrorist organization in India and Bangladesh. In the chargesheet, the NIA named two accused -- Hafizur Rahman and Azaharuddin Ahmed -under charges of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The case was re-registered by the NIA on December 21 last year, which had arisen out of the First Information Report (FIR) registered by Assam Police in Barpeta district on July 30 last year. On July 29 last year, acting on a source information about the presence of one trained JMB suspect, Barpeta Police conducted a search the next day at the house of Hafizur Rahman, a resident of Karagarigaon in Barpeta. During the search, one countrymade revolver, four

Imphal, Apr 3 (PTI): The Manipur government has asked 31 people who had travelled in a flight from Delhi to Imphal on March 11 along with the states second COVID-19 case has been asked to report to the Control Room set up to deal with coronavirus cases. The 31, including 14 women, are considered as “high risk” as they were in close proximity with the 65-year-old man, an official release said here. He attended a congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin West last month, which has been blamed for the recent spurt in COVID-19 cases across the country, and reached Imphal on March in a flight. It also came to the fore that the elderly man had undergone treatment in a private hospital in Imphal East district before his condition was known to the authorities. Fifteen employees of the healthcare unit have been tested as well, officials said. The man, a resident of Lilong area of Thoubal district, is now undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here. Meanwhile, the Thoubal district administration has sealed the geographical area of Lilong, banning entry and exit of people and vehicles, as a preventive measure against the spread of novel coronavirus.

Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 3: The Meghalaya government has stockpiled Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin tablets for patients, who test positive for contagious COVID-19, a health department official said on Friday. Commissioner and Secretary Health and Family Welfare department, P. Sampath Kumar said that the government had stockpiled around one lakh Azithromycin tablets and another 60,000 Hydroxychloroquine if there is any eventuality. So far, tests for 66 samples carried out for COVID19 infection in Meghalaya have all yielded negative results and over 7000 persons are on self quarantine. “We have constituted a medical expert group. We are taking the guidance from them. We are going through what is happening all over

the world, what is working and we are actually making those arrangements,” Kumar told journalists. French immunology specialist Didier Raoult claimed malaria dr ugs Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin can help in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Even as the state government has mounted vigil along the inter-state border with positive cases surging in neighbouring Assam, Kumar said the state government has requested the Union government to facilitate setting up of a COVID19 testing centre at Tura, West Garo Hills. At present, the only testing centre in the state is in the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) at Mawdiangdiang. He informed that Corona Care Centres in the

Accused Sahanur Alom escorted by the police.

rounds of live ammunition and Jehadi literature were recovered from Rahman’s possession. Accordingly, a case was registered at Barpeta police station against Rahman. On the disclosure of Rahman, other trained cadres of JMB, Yakub Ali, Sariful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Md. Hafiz Safikul Islam and Azaharuddin Ahmed, were subsequently arrested. The NIA had already filed charge-sheet against the five accused -- Hafizur Rahman, Yakub Ali, Sariful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Md. Hafiz Safikul Islam-- on January 24 in the case. “Investigation has revealed that accused persons are trained members of JMB. They were recruited by one Sahanur Alom alias Sahanur Alam alias Doc-

tor of Barpeta. Alom was earlier arrested by NIA in Burdwan blast case on October 10, 2014,” the NIA said. As per the agency, Alom has already been convicted and sentenced to eight years of imprisonment in Burdwan blast case on charges of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in India and recruiting and training other members of JMB. The accused in the case had undergone training as JMB cadres in Barpeta at the house of Alom and some of the accused were also trained at Simulia Madrasa in West Bengal, the NIA said. “They procured weapons and ammunition in a conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in pursuance of Jehadi Ideology of JMB”, said the agency.

sealed the state’s borders with Assam along Wokha district (western Nagaland) with immediate effect, in the wake of increasing positive COVID-19 cases in Assam. Deputy commissioner of Wokha district said that in the interest of public health and in consideration with the reports of positive cases in Assam and to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the border district, the order was made under the Epidemic diseases Act, 1897. “The DC’s notification directed the sealing of all inter-state entry points of Assam except for movement of security forces and emergency medical services. It also ordered the supply of all essential commodities to be routed through Dimapur district. Any violators would be booked under under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” an official said in Kohima referring the DC’s order. In Mizoram, the state government has further tightened the security along its inter-state borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura following the spike in coronavirus positive cases in neighbouring states. Mizoram Deputy Inspector General (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said

that security has been further tightened along the state borders with neighbouring states to check movement of people across the border. “All the check posts along the inter-state borders, especially, in Vairengte and Bairabi on the Mizoram-Assam border and Mamit district along the state border with Tripura have been further alerted,” the police official said. He also said that additional security forces have also been deployed along the inter-state borders. In Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu during a review meeting on Thursday asked the police department to keep vigil of the porous border with Assam besides strict monitoring of all 22 official entry gates to prevent any suspicious access. From other parts of the country, Assam is the gateway for the six other Northeastern states sharing 2,616 km borders with Nagaland (512.1 km), Arunachal Pradesh (804.1 km), Manipur (204.1 km), Mizoram (164.6 km), Tripura (46.3 km) and Meghalaya (884.9 km). Three northeastern states -- Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura -are yet to report any positive coronavirus case.

7 Arunachal quarantines 24 Tablighi Jamaat returnees ITANAGAR, APR 3 (PTI): The Capital Complex administration has quarantined 24 persons, who attended the congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, after a returnee of the Tablighi Jamaat event tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, an official said on Friday. The 24 persons and their family members have been quarantined, Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner Komkar Dulom said. A red alert has been sounded across the state after a person, a resident of Medo village in Lohit district, who had attended the Jamaat event tested COVID-19 positive. However, six others of nearby Namsai district were found negative. Dulom said that efforts are on to trace more people who attended the congregation at Nizamuddin and they would also be put on quarantine. The state government had so far collected 80 samples from the state and sent them to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Regional Medical Research

GHADC member seeks payment of salaries to contribute to COVID-19 fund Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 3: Lone woman member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Meghalaya on Friday sought partial payment of her salaries, pending for two years to enable her to contribute to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to combat COVID-19. “As an elected representative, it is also my responsibility to donate for mitigating the problem. I can only do so if I get my salary which has been pending for 24 months,” Sadhiarani M. Sangma, a Congress member representing the Dengnakpara constituency of GHADC, said. In her letter to GHADC’s Chief Executive Member Dipul R. Marak , Sangma said, “The worth of 10 months’ salary out of the 24 moths pending salary may be released immediately so that I can contribute to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as sought by the Chief Minister to fight against the dreaded virus collectively.” Stating that there was no uniformity in the pay structure of MDCs, Sangma

said, “Those in the opposition used to get paid Rs. 23,500 each per month, those in the ruling coalition headed by the National People’s Party made Rs. 45,000-47,000.” GHADC officials said the council hardly has any fund to pay its MDCs but has assured Sangma’s request to release at least a month’s salary to them. Earlier, the Meghalaya BJP has appealed to the National People’s Party-led Executive Committee of the GHADC for the release of pending salaries of the employees of the Council in view of the current lockdown BJP spokesperson Bernard Marak said the NPP-led EC had sought a loan from the NITI Aayog of Rs 24 crores to clear at least 6 months pending salaries of the GHADC employees. “The nationwide lockdown has brought normal life to a standstill and no major work has been taken up by the GHADC at the moment. It would be a positive gesture on the part of NPP and BJP to clear atleast 6 months’ salary to the employees,” Marak said.

Centre (RMRC) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at Dibrugarh in Assam for coronavirus test. Sixty-one of the 80 samples were found negative, while one tested positive and results of 18 more are awaited, Health department sources said. As of now, over a hundred people are staying in quarantine facilities, while 85 have completed the 14day quarantine period. M e a n w h i l e, A r unachal Pradesh Health Minister Alo Libang said Assam government has given its consent to treat critical patients from the eastern parts of Arunachal Pradesh at Assam Medical College (AMC) at Dibrugarh. “The matter of treating serious cases of COVID-19 from the state in Dibrugarh or Guwahati was discussed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu with his Assam counterpart. The hospital of our neighbouring state will, however, only look after the serious cases, not the normal cases,” Libang said here on Friday.

M’laya govt sanctions Rs 26.38crore to procure foodgrains Shillong, Apr 3 (PTI): The Meghalaya government has sanctioned Rs 26.38 crore for procuring 1.17 lakh quintals of foodgrains to address shortage issues in the market during the ongoing lockdown, a state minister said. Food and Civil Supplies minister James P K Sangma said that one of the biggest challenges was the disruption to the supply of essential food items under targeted public distribution system (TPDS) amid the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus. Sangma said, deputy commissioners were given the freedom to issue authorisation letters and curfew passes to retail shop owners to stock their foodgrains and other items from Assam. This will help addressing the shortage in the open market to a large extent, the minister said. That is why the state government has accorded Rs 26.38 crore for a quantity of 1.17 lakh quintals for 2 months under the open market sales (domestic) scheme to be procured from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), he said.

Three free gas cylinders for PMUAY beneficiaries DIMAPUR, APR 3: Indian Oil has informed that its petrol pumps and LPG distributorships are also functioning normally under the advisory of the state governments and local administration for maintaining essential services of petroleum products to the public. It assured consumers that the LPG supply chain is well prepared for the lockdown period and there is “plenty of LPG to go around for everyone.” A press release by DNO of Longleng and Mokokchung, Utpal Talukdat informed consumers that online bookings are encouraged along with digital payments wherever possible to avoid unnecessary handling of currency notes in view of COVID-19. It advised customers to book LPG refills from the comfort of their homes through SMS/IVRS, WhatsApp (75888-88824) or online (Indian OilOne mobile app or https://cx.indianoil.in) or @Paytm for delivery of LPG refill cylinders at their doorsteps. The press release stated that over 8 crore Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana ( PMUAY) beneficiaries will be entitled to a total of three 14.2-kg LPG cylinders for free between April to June (one cylinder each month) to deal with the economic impact of the lockdown imposed to curb spread of the coronavirus. Ex-Gratia to the frontline warriors: As a goodwill gesture and in recognition

of the services rendered in these difficult times, IOL has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5,00,000/(Rs. Five lakhs only) in case of death of any abovementioned personnel due to COVID-19. The amount will be paid to the spouse of such personnel. In case the spouse is not there, then payment is to be made to next of kin of the deceased. Insurance Coverage: Indian Oil will also cover all these frontline fighters with a comprehensive medical insurance policy of upto Rs. 1 lakh for a year which will also include any COVID-19 related ailments. Over three lakh people (3,23,000) who are a part of the extended Indian Oil family will be covered under this scheme which will also include the families of the insured personnel, limited to spouse and two dependent children up to the age of 25. The Corporation will bear a cost of Rs. 22.68 crore towards procuring these medical insurance policies. IndianOil stated that along with other state oil companies, it has contributed Rs 1031 crores to the PM CARES fund to fight the spread of Coronavirus. Additionally, Indian Oil employees along with colleagues of other oil PSUS have contributed 2 days of their salary amounting to nearly 61 cr. for the PM CARE fund. Indian Oil also stated that it has opened up relief centres in many petrol pumps where any transport

crew or migrant worker can walk in for help. if any driver is stuck anywhere, they can walk into any Indian Oil petrol pump and ask for help. If the particular petrol pump is not a designated relief centre, then they will be directed to the nearest relief centre. OIL further stated that Annadhan is being carried out for transport crew

and migrant workers, be it by our operating locations, petrol pump dealers or our LPG distributors. It further informed the public that Indian Oil officers who are working in the field are also always available for help and their phone numbers can be found displayed in each and every petrol pump.

K-458

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

APPRECIATION

District Task Force Wokha would like to express our gratitude to Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Y. Patton for donating Rupees Two Lakhs to District Task Force fund and providing much needed masks and hand sanitizers for the district. We would also like to show our appreciation to Hon’ble Advisor for Horti and Border Affairs, Shri. Mathung Yanthan for providing masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to Sanis block as part of Covid-19 preparedness. District Task Force COVID-19, Wokha DP-2218

8

sports

Everyone is keen for IPL to go ahead: Cummins

Sydney, Apr 3 (PTI): The costliest foreign player in Indian Premier League, Pat Cummins says everyone, including his team Kolkata Knight Riders, is still hopeful of the 13th edition of the T20 event to go ahead sometime later. The Australian, however, conceded that the priority now is to minimise the risk of spreading the coronavirus. The IPL was originally scheduled to start on March 29 in Mumbai but it was postponed to April 15 due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic which has killed more than 53,000 people worldwide. “Everyone is still really keen for it (IPL) to go ahead, but the priority is to minimise risk of it spreading,” Cummins was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press. India is currently under a nation-wide lockdown until April 14, which has cast serious doubts over the future of the cash-rich event’s 13th edition. The 26-year-old Australian has been in constant contact with the Kolkata Knight Riders team which bought him for a whopping Rs 15.5 crore last

P A T C u m m i n s look very different to what we’ve seen before ... there are so many scenarios. Unless things improve, I can’t really see many tournaments going on anywhere in the world for a little while.” The deadly coronavirus has infected over a million people worldwide. Australia has reported more than 5,000 cases including 26 deaths. European nations like Italy, Spain, Germany and

the United Kingdom alongside the United States of America have become the hotspots of the outbreak, which started from the Chinese city of Wuhan. “It’s awful seeing things like - Italy and Spain, but now America and the UK in recent days - it’s just crazy how quickly it’s developed. Obviously got a lot of family over in England at the moment and speaking to them regularly,” Cummins said.

IOC announces new deadline for Olympic qualification period

European leagues planning for July restart

to reflect, where possible, the allocation method/pathway of the original qualification systems for each sport. This principle encourages IFs to follow a like-for-like approach by replacing those lost opportunities that were allocating quota with the same number of events,” it said. Importantly, the IOC said that in case of sports that have age group-based limits, it is willing to extend the criteria in the case of those athletes who had qualified for the 2020 Olympics. “The only exception will be if the IF establishes that the one-year relaxation of the upper age limit represents a safety and/or medical risk for athletes. Regarding the eligibility criteria for the lower age limit, if any, the IOC recognises the full authority of IFs to assess the eligibility of those athletes who are not eligible in July 2020 but meet the lower age limit in 2021,” said the IOC.

Paris, Apr 3 (IANS): Although the European football has been currently shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, the governing body UEFA is aiming to resume the leagues in July and August. In a joint letter sent by UEFA, the European Club Association and the European Leagues to their members on Thursday, the leagues were told not to abandon their competitions yet and stopping the leagues should “really be the last resort.” The letter was sent hours after the Belgian league recommend to end the season with current standings. The league said Club Brugge, who are 15 points clear of the table, would be awarded the title if the advice is confirmed at a general assembly meeting on April 15. The joint letter said that two working groups set up by UEFA were working on ways of extending the current season beyond the official June 30 deadline.

New Delhi, Apr 3 (IANS): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday that the new deadline for the qualification period for the postponed Tokyo Olympics has been set to June 29, 2021. It further stated that International Federations (IF) of each sport retain full discretion for defining their own respective deadlines and pathways. The Olympics was originally scheduled to be held from July 24 to August 9 this year. However the fallout from the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic led to the IOC

December at the auction, as everyone waits for the league’s fate. “It’s a holding pattern ... the last I spoke to them, they were still really confident and hopeful it’ll be on at some stage,” he said. Australia were forced to cancel their home limited-overs series against New Zealand after just one match and their Test tour to Bangladesh in June also looks uncertain at present. “This year’s going to

eventually announcing that the Tokyo Games will now be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. “The new qualification period deadline is June 29, 2021 and IFs can define their own qualification period deadlines should the deadline be prior to this date,” said the IOC in a letter addressed to the National Olympic Committees (NOC). The IOC said that it aims to finalise the qualification systems “by midApril” with details on specific events to follow when available. “The priority remains

“Speaking to a few close mates who play county cricket over there, they’ve gone through the whole pre-season and geared up for the start of their summer. They’re now staring down the barrel of potentially their whole summer of cricket being over ... the health risk is a big one, but those guys basically have to put their careers on hold.” Earlier this week Test skipper Tim Paine said the nation’s cricketers were aware that the delay to their central contract for next season may lead to pay cuts, and they are willing to do their bit to preserve the game amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cummins reiterated the view of his skipper saying players were ready to “take some of that pain”. The sporting fraternity has been forced to a standstill as governments all across the globe called for social-distancing. To keep themselves fit, the players as well as Australia coach Justin Langer are turning to home workouts. “JL sends through the odd video message just gloating about the 16km run he’s done that day,” Cummins said.

Johannesburg, Apr 3 (PTI): All the South African players, who returned from their incomplete One Day International (ODI) tour of India, were found to be symptom-free of coronavirus and those who underwent tests returned negative, according to the team’s chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra. The Proteas, who returned from India on March 18, completed a 14day period of self-isolation on Thursday, but will remain in lockdown for the next two weeks just like the rest of the country. “All the players were symptom-free and those who opted to perform the tests returned negative results,” Manjra was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNCricinfo’. The first match in Dharamsala on March 12 was washed out while the second and third games to be played in Lucknow and Kolkata -- on March 15 and 18 respectively -- were called off indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pan-

Atletico slash

Jerome Boateng

Munich, Apr 3 (IANS): German champions Bayern Munich said on Thursday that they have fined defender Jerome Boateng for leaving Munich without the club’s permission, thus transgressing their guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Bayern defender Jerome Boateng left Munich yesterday without permission from the club. Boateng has transgressed the guidelines issued by the club by being too far away from his home,” the club said in a statement. “These guidelines govern the behaviour of the FC Bayern players in the current situation in line with the Bavarian state government’s directives on restrictions on movement and the recommendations of the health authorities. “FC Bayern believes the club has a responsibility to be a role model.

As a consequence of this transgression, the club has decided to impose a fine on Boateng. The club will donate the money to Munich hospitals.” Boateng, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, later told German newspaper Bild that he had left so as to meet his son who was ill. “I know that it was certainly a mistake not to inform the club about my trip, but in the moment I only had my son in mind,” he said. “He was not in good health. When a son calls his father, of course I will still go, no matter what time. For him I accept any punishment; after all, he is my son.” “I want to see the father who does not go in such a moment to be with his four-year-old son. If there is a punishment for it, then I respect it. I find it sad.”

New Delhi, Apr 3 (IANS): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has contributed a sum of Rs 71, 14,002 towards Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) set up in fight against coronavirus pandemic in the country. The IOA also expressed gratitude to all the National Sports Federations, State Olympic Associations and other federations/bodies for “extending their support and humble contributions towards the cause of our nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic”. “In these challenging times, the coming together of the Olympic family to support the nation’s need once again reinforces our belief that we shall always

Mascots for Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games unveiled

Hangzhou, Apr 3 (IANS): Three spor ty robots representing the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hangzhou in eastern China were on Friday unveiled as the official mascots of the 2022 Asian Games. With social distancing measures still in place due to coronavirus outbreak, mascots Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen were introduced to the public in an online launch ceremony, designed to showcase the technical prowess of Hangzhou and Zhejiang

Province. The robot Congcong represents the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. It derives its name from the Cong jade pendant – the quintessential relic unearthed from the ruins dating back 5,000 years. It takes yellow, the colour of earth and bumper harvest, as the main tone. Lianlian represents the West Lake and the name signifies a lake full of lush lotus leaves. Green stands for life and nature. The third mascot is Chenchen, which repre-

sents the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It takes its name from the Gongchen Bridge - a landmark structure in the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal. Blue represents science and technology. The OCA’s 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou from September 10-25, 2022 and will be the third Asian Games to be hosted by China following Beijing 1990 and Guangzhou 2010, with the participation of 45 NOCs of Asia in 42 sports.

SA cricketers test negative of COVID-19

Bayern fine players, staff IOA contributes Rs 71 Boateng for salaries by 70% lakh to PM CARES Fund Apr 3 (IANS): violating Madrid, Former Spanish league Atletico Madrid guidelines champions has cut 70 per cent of the salaries of its players and coaching staff. The club said that this agreement will help them supplement the salaries of 430 employees who will be temporarily suspended amid the coronavirus outbreak in Spain. The country has declared a national emergency and a company can under Spanish law greatly reduce its labour costs by having its employees stay at home with a guarantee that they will retain their positions once they can go back to working. “From the first moment, the objective of the club when studying the possible measures to tackle this delicate situation has been to minimise as much as possible the effect of said measures on the salaries of its employees. The agreement reached with the first team will also allow the club to supplement the salaries of 430 employees affected by the ERTE, from which only players and coaches of professional teams are excluded,” said the club in its statement.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

come out stronger to serve sports and make the nation proud,” IOA said in a statement. Besides, the Hockey India and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) have pledged to donate Rs 25 lakh. BCCI has also made a contribution of Rs 51 crores towards the fight against coronavir us pandemic while various other sports personalities and other organisations have also pledged to donate. So far, over 2,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in India while 53 lives have been lost. Across the world, over one million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus while more than 50,000 people have lost their lives.

South Africa’s tour of India was postponed due to Covid-19 outbreak.

demic. South Africa is in the midst of a 21-day nationwide lockdown, which prohibits leaving home except to buy food or medicine and does not allow for any outdoor exercise. CSA’s focus now is on maintaining the players’ fitness and trainer Tumi Masekela has sent all the players their training pro-

grammes. “We’ve got time now to work with players in terms of addressing the small niggles that they may have. They have got time to rest and also to do the strength work,” he said. “But the one big thing is the running volume, the aerobic capacity base, which I am going to try

and build up in the next two weeks, so that means lot of running, or a lot of cardio work, cycling or swimming.” The South African team doesn’t have any international match lined up until June. South Africa has more than 1,400 COVID19 infected people with five deaths.

No one knows when football will resume, says FIFA president

A s u n c i o n, A p r 3 (IANS): Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has admitted “no one around the world knows” when the football will resume. In his address to the 72nd Ordinary CONMEBOL Congress from Switzerland, Infantino stressed that no football match is worth a life and health remains the top priority, but that football needs to take its own responsibility to ensure the sport “survives and moves forward” amid the ongoing crisis. “Football is not the most important thing, health comes first and should remain our priority until this sickness has been defeated,” he said. “The world is facing new challenges and we have to stay together and work as a team. This is the lesson that football can give: to work as a team.” “Tomor row we all would like to see football again, but we don’t know when we will be able to resume playing and no one around the world knows when we will be able to play like before,” he added. Spor ting activities across the world have come

Gianni Infantino

to a grinding halt due to COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed more than 50,000 lives so far. “It is very important that football follows the instructions of the health authorities and governments, and it is very important that football gives a good example, because it’s clear that no match is more important than a human life. This we need to clearly have in our minds, while at the same time…working with confidence and thinking positively towards the future.” “We have to look ahead and can’t remain passive as (the coronavirus) will affect us,” he added. While mentioning that FIFA has acted immediate-

ly, both to postpone matches and to support WHO in various messaging campaigns as the coronavirus broke, the FIFA President also outlined that extensive consultation is currently taking place in order for football to be prepared for the key challenges that lie ahead. “On the international match calendar, we have to look for global solutions to tackle these global problems in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity,” Infantino said. “Everyone has different interests, but we must talk and put on the table topics that we perhaps didn’t discuss in the past. I am convinced that we will find solutions for the international match calendar.”

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