August 29, 2020

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXX No. 264

DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Shinzo Abe resigns as Japan PM international, Page 7

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State’s 3rd BSL lab in Tuensang

Correspondent

KO H I M A , AU G 2 8 (NPN): Nagaland got its third Bio Safety Laboratory (BSL)-- integrated molecular diagnostic and research laboratory (BSL-2 Lab) at Tuensang, which was inaugurated by Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) minister S Pangnyu Phom on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Pangnyu expressed happiness at the successful setting up of the laboratory after the BSL-3 laboratory at Kohima and BSL-2 laboratory at Dimapur. Urging people to own responsibility of public property, he remarked that it was now up to the citizens how they make best use of the facility. Congratulating the people of Tuensang and all those involved on successful completion of the setting up of Nagaland’s second BSL-2 laboratory, Phom said in spite of all the hurdles like the lockdown and remoteness of the area, construction of the laboratory could finally be completed. He acknowledged the Health department, citizens of Tuensang, chief medical officer (CMO) Dr I Moatemjen and Thermo

Chauhan’s tenure as CFMG chief ends D I M A P U R , AU G 2 8 (NPN): Lt. Gen. (retd) Shokin Chauhan, who officially took charge as the chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) on August 29, 2018, has completed his tenure. Lt. Gen. Chauhan, former director general (DG) Assam Rifles, took over from D.K. Pathak, IPS (retd) whose tenure ended on August 9, 2018. According to reports, the Home ministry was looking for Chauhan’s replacement. CFMG chairman is tasked to ensure the implementation of the agreed ceasefire ground rules.

JEE, NEET: Review petition filed in SC

NEW DELHI, AUG 28 (AGENCIES): A review petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against the August 17 order dismissing the petition to postpone NEET-JEE Main 2020 exams. The review petition was filed in individual capacity by the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Punjab & Chattisgarh. Advocate Sunil Fernandes has filed the petition. The petition urges the Supreme court to reconsider its order. It further adds that in a situation when classroom teaching has been suspended, conducting such a large scale exam shows ‘non application of mind’.

This is it!

“How are we supposed to control traffic when we can’t blow the whistle with this mask on?” K Y M C

S. Pangnyu Phom with his colleagues and others after inaugurating the BSL-2 lab in Tuensang, Friday. (Twitter)

Fisher Scientific Inc and its executive Hiranya Thakuria, for having successfully put up a state-of-the-art facility in a remote comer of Nagaland. He also appreciated the State government, High Powered Committee headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio for their unceasing support during the process of setting up the laboratory. According to him, the BSL-2 laboratory at Tuensang will not only cater to the entire district, but also other neighbouring districts like Longleng, Mon, Kiphire and Noklak, even as he expressed confidence that the people of Tuensang along

with the district hospital authorities and CMO would do justice to the project. Describing the State’s ongoing battle against COVID-I9, the minister said it has so far been a learning experience as new things about the virus are being learnt each new day. He elaborated on how the State government has developed standard operating procedure (SOP) to contain spread of the virus. Mentioning that one of the strategies to combat the virus was increasing the testing capacity, he said the BSL-2 laboratory was meant not only for testing samples

for COVID-19 but could also be used to diagnose other diseases like TB, HIV and Hepatitis B & C, all of which have a very high prevalence in the region. He admitted that rapid spread of COVID-19 has put normal life out of gear, but clarified that its mortality rate was low as compared to other diseases. He also claimed that compared with rest of India, Nagaland was doing relatively better in containing the virus. With the facilities now in place, Phom hoped that viral load of various diseases could be studied within the State, instead of sending samples outside for the purpose. He also lauded the frontline workers for putting up a good fight to ensure that the citizens are safe. He recalled the difficulties faced in setting up BSL-2 laboratory at Tuensang as this required comprehensive and detailed outline of the scientific framework with pre-requite manpower, space and funding, even as one of the important prerequisites was specifying the need for engineering control to accomplish the desired task within the timeframe.

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 8 (NPN): Naga People’s Front president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, in a notification, informed that the party has constituted a 14-member Political Affairs Mission (PAM) to facilitate the Naga peace process. PAM shall work on mission mode in its assignment, NPF said. PAM will be headed by T.R. Zeliang, MLA & Leader of Opposition as convenor; Thenucho, working president (Pol. Affairs); Apong Pongener, senior working president and MLAs-- Imkong L Imchen, Yitachu, Y. Vikheho Swu, Dr. Chotisuh Sazo, Dr. Chumben Murry, Khriehu Liezietsu, Er. Picto Shohe, Azheto Zhimomi, Y.M. Yollow, Moatoshi Longkumer and Muthingnyuba Sangtam as members The committee has also been empowered to choose co-opt member/members whenever necessary. NPF Working Com-

mittee during its meeting on August 26 decided to constitute PAM following withdrawal of its legislators from the Joint Legislators’ Forum on Naga political issue.

PAM will function independently: LoP Leader of Opposition Party (LoP), T.R Zeliang Friday said that the recently constituted Political Affairs Mission (PAM), which comprises NPF officials and NPF Legislature Party (NPFLP), would function independently. Talking to Nagaland Post, convenor of the newly formed Political Affairs Mission, TR Zeliang, said the main objective of PAM was to persuade NSCN (I-M) and Working Committee (WC), Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) to arrive at mutual understanding and continue the dialogue with

nagalandpostofficial

SSR case: Follow norms of coverage, PCI advises media

New Delhi, Aug 28 (AGENCIES): Concerned over excessive coverage given by media on the Sushant Singh Rajput case, media watchdog Press Council of India (PCI) issued an advisory Friday that took a dim view of the media coverage. PCI said the media should observe the norms of journalistic conduct drafted by the PCI. Further the PCI advised media to not conduct their own parallel trial or foretell the decision to avoid pressure during investigation and trial. “The council has noted with distress that coverage of the alleged suicide by a film actor by many media outlets is in violation of the norms of journalistic conduct and, therefore, advises the media to adhere to the norms…” the advisory said. The PCI was constituted in 1966 to serve as a watchdog for newspapers and news agencies of the country, with powers to censure outlets for violations. It however does not have any jurisdiction over television news channels, which have been covering the case on (Cont’d on p-6) almost 24x7 basis .

NPF forms 14-member PAM on Naga issue the Government of India for “final inking”. The former chief minister further said that PAM would continue to carry out the mission as facilitator. He said that since NPF was no longer “part and parcel” of JLF, the newly formed PAM would function independently. Zeliang said that the JLF was defunct without the opposition party. Zeliang pointed out that during “opposition-less” government the forum was known as Nagaland Legislators Forum (NLF). However, with opposition and the ruling party together, he said the forum was known as JLF. “There is no more JLF because without the lone opposition party how can they use the name JLF. Ruling PDA alone cannot use the name JLF, they should call it the PDA Legislators Committee or PAC created in 2018,” said Zeliang. (Staff Reporter)

COVID strikes Indian Premier League

nagalandpostofficial

Aug 21 case: Inquiry committee submits report to state govt Staff Reporter

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 8 (NPN): The 3-member panel constituted by the state government to probe into the August 21 alleged assault on a doctor in Dimapur by IRB personnel, has submitted its report/findings to the state government. Confirming this to Nagaland Post, principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha said that the government had received the panel’s report and the same will be examined. Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association had asserted that they will stand by the 3-point charter of demands put forth by its Dimapur unit. Earlier, NIDA president, Dr. Ritu Thurr said that the association would decide its next course of action only after getting to know the report of the inquiry committee.

sports, Page 8

Centre concerned over slow progress of JJM in Nagaland State allocated `56.49 cr for the period 2019-20 Allocation increased to `114.09 cr for 2020-21 Spl. Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG 28 (NPN): Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who held a video conference with the chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio on Thursday, expressed his concern over the slow progress of progress of Jal Jeevan mission (JMM) in the State and poor fund utilization and urged the State to fasttrack the implementation. Shekhawat joined the video conference from the hospital as recently he was tested COVID positive. According to an official statement, Nagaland was allocated a budget of Rs. 56.49 crore for the year 2019-20, but the State could not utilize the full amount. Under the State share, State could spend only Rs.4.67 crore against the mandatory matching State share of Rs.5.65 crore. The al-

location for Nagaland has been increased to Rs. 114.09 crore in 2020-21 and with opening balance of Rs. 32.95 crore. Nagaland has an assured availability of Rs. 147.04 crore of Central funds for JJM. With matching State share, the State will have Rs 163 crore during 2020-21 for implementation of JJM. So far this year, only 2,950 households have been provided tap connections against a target of 1.47 lakh. At Thursday’s video conference, various aspects of the mission in the State were discussed at length. Rio assured to provide household tap connections to rural households of the State in an expeditious manner. Under 15th Finance Commission Grants to rural local bodies, Nagaland has been allocated Rs.125 crore; 50% of this amount is mandatorily to be utilized on drinking water supply and sanitation. The union minister urged the State for planning to be done at village level and Village Action Plan (VAP) of every village is to be prepared by

State active COVID cases drop to 929 COVID-19 STATUS AS ON august 28, 2020 District

Asymptomatic

Dimapur Kiphire Kohima Longleng Mokokchung Mon Peren Phek Tuensang Wokha Zunheboto Total

433 1 392 1 4 40 3 0 9 7 31 921

ACTIVE CASES RecovMiTotal Symptomatic Death ered grated Cases Mild Moderate 7 1 1424 1877 9* 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 742 1137 0 3 0 0 3 5 0 1 0 0 18 22 0 0 0 0 232 274 0 2 0 0 265 268 0 0 0 0 31 31 0 0 0 0 45 54 0 0 0 0 17 24 0 0 0 0 81 112 0 0 7 1 2858 3805 9 9

*1 death is Covid-19 positive but not due to Covid-19

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 8 (NPN): COVID-19 active cases in Nagaland dropped to 929 cases on Friday with 2858 recoveries made so far from the dreaded virus. On Friday, 21 fresh cases were reported from across the state, taking the tally to 3805 cases till August 28 with 929 active cases, 2585 recovered, 9 deaths and 9 migrated.

According to Health minister, S. Pangnyu Phom 10 new cases were detected in Kohima, 7 in Dimapur, 2 in Zunheboto and 1 each in Wokha and Mon. The state also reported 115 recoveries as on August 28-- 110 in Dimapur and 5 in Kohima. Further, out of the 3,805 cases, the distribution across various categories of people include 1,623 cases

Khango-led NSCN (K) refutes kidnapping charges NGBF reacts to NSCN (I-M) D I M A P U R , AU G 2 8 (NPN): Khango-led NSCN (K) has refuted the allegation of the arrest of its two cadres by Dimapur police on charges of kidnapping an employee of SymBios Creations Pvt. Ltd., Dimapur on August 26, 2020 and sought to provide “actual sequence of events” for “public consumption and in the interest of justice.” Khango-led NSCN (K) through its MIP stated that one Mughaka Sumi on August 25, 2020 had lodged complaint with the “NSCN authority in connection to duping/cheating case related to purchase of Motorcycle.” Accordingly, MIP said “an investigation was initiated and the culprit Rohit Choudhary was found at Mid-land colony” on August 26 and taken to “working office for further inquiry and thorough clarity.” MIP said its cadres were

“completely ignorant” of Rohit’s employment in the SymBios. It said that a lady manager of SymBios also personally had gone to West Police Station to withdraw the FIR “citing the incident as mere misunderstanding and mis-information”. MIP said that while the problem was being sorted out, the “Dimapur Ao youths came to the Police station in mob, took away the lady manager without allowing her to complete the formalities and forcibly registered the FIR as kidnapping offence.” MIP maintained that Rohit was found to be guilty of selling the motorcycle with fake/forged documents and not innocent or a victim of kidnapping” working for SymBios. It therefore, urged DAYO, BAN and ALT to “ascertain the facts before rushing to the media accusing the organisation of criminal conduct.”

ASTD and ACAUT condemn

Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) and ACAUT Nagaland have condemned the alleged kidnapping of an employee of SymBios Creation Pvt. Ltd, Dimapur by the cadres of Khango-led NSCN (K) on August 26. In a press note, ASTD president L Wati Jamir and general secretary K Mar Lemtur said that when Nagas were “prayerfully yearning for a fruitful solution” such “callous and dastardly act by NSCN-K (Khango) have totally curtailed the sentimental faith and emotional aspirations of the people of Nagaland in general and the Ao community in particular”. ASTD said such “barbaric and cowardice act” of any such group/organisation had no room in a civilised society and must be totally condemned by all.

Further, ASTD reaffirmed earlier resolution by all Dimapur-based Ao civil society groups that “in the event of any untoward incidents or wrongful or fallacious eventualities that might happen to any of our Ao bonafide citizen/ members, it shall leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators into justice”. ASTD urged the law enforcing authority to thoroughly investigate into incident and award befitting punishment to those accused. The union has expressed appreciations to the personnel of west police station Dimapur led by ASI Vikishe Chophy for apprehending the perpetrators. It also acknowledged Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO) for lodging FIR. (Cont’d on p-6)

dovetailing all available resources by convergence of different programmes viz. MGNREGS, SBM, 15th Finance Commission Grants, CAMPA funds, Local Area Development Funds, etc. In Nagaland, out of 1,502 villages, 1,351 villages have PWS schemes, but out of 3.68 lakh households only 18,826 HH (5.1 %) have tap connection. The Union Minister urged to take up the work a campaign mode so that around 3.5 lakh households belonging to poor and marginalized sections of the society could be provided with tap connections in next 4-6 months. Nagaland has one Aspirational district i.e. Kiphire and the State was asked to expedite the works in the district to ensure tap connections to all households. Assuring the Nagaland chief minister of his full support to make the state a ‘100% FHTCs State’, Union Minister requested him to launch a campaign ‘Har Ghar Jal’ to make “every village” provided with 100% tap connections and achieve the goal much ahead of 2024.

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 8 (NPN): Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF) has said that there is a tendency within NSCN (I-M) leadership to brand Naga leaders, tribes, organisations and other civil society groups as “anti Nagas and traitors” for not towing their political ideology which it said was a “mockery of Nagaland for Christ.” NGBF president Shalem Konyak, general secretary Shikuto Zalipu and media secretary Akhu Naga termed such statements from NSCN (I-M) as contradictory to their frequent fasting programmes and prayer requests seeking cooperation from Nagas. NGBF said God-fearing leaders should not insist that their words and actions were final in the Naga context. It also reasserted that people’s voices and will are final and declared that

NGBF is opposed to dictates that stifled people’s sentiment. NGBF said Nagas did not oppose British occupation and Indian occupation only to finally be treated like “expendable humans at the hands of fellow Nagas.” NGBF also said that issuing statements such as “... any organization falling in line with RN Ravi is anti Naga ...” summed up the inconsistencies in the last 23 years of political talks between Government of India and NSCN (I-M). Recalling the killings post the Shillong Accord of 1975 and the split in NSCN in 1988 in which politicians, bureaucrats and civil society leaders were targeted, besides the fratricidal killings, NGBF pointed out that the wiping out of a generation of young local entrepreneurs was still very fresh in the memory of “our people”. (Full text on p-4)

from the Armed Forces, 1224 returnees, 264 frontline workers and 694 traced contacts.

India’s COVID tally climbs to 33,87,500

PTI adds: A record single-day spike of 77,266 COVID-19 cases pushed India’s virus tally to 33,87,500, while the recoveries surged to 25,83,948 on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The death toll climbed to 61,529 with 1,057 people succumbing to the diseases in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. The recovery rate was recorded at 76.28 per cent while the COVID-19 case fatality rate has further declined to 1.82 per cent. There are 7,42,023 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 21.90 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

Petrol price up for second day D I M A P U R , AU G 2 8 (NPN): State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) Friday increased petrol price for the second consecutive day across four metros by 10-11 paise while diesel prices continued to remain unchanged. According to IOCL website, price of petrol in Delhi was increased to Rs 81.94. After today’s rate revision, petrol price in Dimapur rose to Rs. 87.23 per litre while price of petrol in the state capital Kohima stood at Rs. 88.13 per litre. OMCs review rates of petrol and diesel on a daily basis and any changes are implemented at fuel stations with effect from 6 am. Currently, fuel prices vary in different parts of the country due to factors such as price of crude oil, foreign exchange rate and local taxes. K Y M C


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August 29, 2020 by Nagaland Post - Issuu