March 29, 2021

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 112

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

India beat Eng by 7 runs to win ODI series 2-1 sports, Page 8

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COVID-19 cases skyrocket in India Why second wave could be much worse

62,714 test +ve, highest 1-day jump in five months Single day death cross 300 for first time this year NEW DELHI, MAR 28 (PTI/AGENCIES): India on Sunday broke all records of 2021 with the highest 62,714 coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours in five months, while the day’s deaths hit the year’s peak at 312 and the active cases also touched a fresh high of 4.86 lakh, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,19,71,624, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

Registering a steady increase for the 18th day in row, the active cases have increased to 4,86,310 comprising 4.06% of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 94.58%, the data stated.

Eight states and UTs have a weekly positivity rate of coronavirus infection higher than the national average of 5.04 percent, with Maharashtra recording the highest rate at 22.78 percent, the Union Health

Heavy rain, floodlike situation likely over NE, says IMD

NEW DELHI, MAR 28 (AGENCIES): North East may experience very heavy rain leading to flood-like situations during a likely extreme wet spell forecast between March 29 and April 3. Met department (IMD) has warned of severe thunderstorm, lightning, hail and gusty winds (between 40 and 50 kmph) during this period.

This severe weather is expected on March 30 and 31 over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. “An anticyclone is expected to shift and lay over the East and NE...

With wind and moisture convergence directly over W.Bengal and NE, it will cause very heavy rain and even flood-like situations from March 29 to April 3,” said R K Jenamani, senior weather forecaster at NWFC. The Met department has warned of possible mudslides and landslides, localised waterlogging and flooding, inundation of lowlying areas along with drop in visibility. Some damage to standing crops, horticulture, livestock left out in the open and vulnerable buildings and structures is also expected.

This is it!

“Well, looks like development has arrived at our doorstep.”

K Y M C

ministry said on Sunday.

Apart from Maharashtra, the other seven states and UTs with higher positivity rate than national average are Chandigarh (11.85% positivity rate), Punjab (8.45%), Goa (7.03%), Puducherry (6.85%), Chhattisgarh (6.79%), Madhya Pradesh (6.65%) and Haryana (5.41%).

The daily death toll of 312 is the highest since De-

cember 25, 2020 when 336 new deaths were reported.

Over 5.94 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered till now in the country, the Union Health Ministry said.

The ministry said of the total 5,94,92,824 doses, 81,26,776 healthcare workers were given the first dose and 51,62,679 HCWs were given the second dose.

IndiGo introduces 2 new flights from Dimapur

IndiGo flight welcomed with traditional water cannon salute.

DIMAPUR, MAR 28 (NPN): IndiGo Airlines introduced two new flights connecting Dibrugarh and Delhi via Kolkata to Dimapur, Nagaland’s only airport here on Sunday.

Earlier during the day, the two flights– ATR 72600 from Dibrugarh and A320-271N from Delhi via Kolkata – were given a water salute upon touchdown.

Previously, Dimapur used to be connected to only two cities in the Northeast -Guwahati and Imphal- by Alliance Air. With the introduction of the two flights, Nagaland’s commercial

hub Dimapur will now be connected to a total of five cities in the country – Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Imphal.

It is expected that the introduction of the two flights will provide further boost to air connectivity as increased frequency of flights to and from Dimapur will help travellers from Nagaland and nearby Karbi Anglong.

It may be recalled that the first direct DimapurNew Delhi flight– Indigo 6E 2433 –took off on December 26, 2020 at Dimapur airport.

Coronavirus disease cases in India are rising at a rate not seen since May last year, and the daily infections in two states have already hit record highs, indicating that the country’s second wave may be worse than the first wave despite the ongoing vaccination drive.

The most striking feature of India’s second wave of infections has been the speed at which the numbers have been growing. On Friday, more than 62,000 positive cases were detected in the country. Just ten days ago, this daily count of cases was less than 30,000.

Last time, it had taken 23 days for India to move from 30,000 cases a day to 60,000. And, at that time, in July and August last year, there were far greater number of susceptible people who could have been infected.

Five months of continuous decline in coronavirus numbers, after the peak achieved in middle of September, had given rise to hopes that the critical infection level in the community had already been reached.

And, though the possibility of a fresh waves was never ruled out, it was expected that these would only be short-lived with lower and

1 new COVID-19 case in Dimapur DIMAPUR, MAR 28 (NPN): Nagaland on Sunday reported one new COVID-19 positive case from Dimapur, taking the total caseload to 12230.

With this the active cases in the State rose to five, while a total of 11980 patients have recovered from the infection till date.

Further, the distribution across various categories include 4692 cases from the armed forces/police, 1874 returnees, 5091 traced contacts and 573 frontline workers.

lower peaks compared to that achieved in September.

However, at the rate at which new infections are getting detected, there seems to be a real threat of the September peak getting surpassed.

States like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have just begun to show the surge. Apart from Maharashtra and Kerala, the two states that have reported more than 10,000 cases in a day, are Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The other remarkable feature of the second wave is the high concentration of cases in a few states. Maharashtra has been contributing more than 60 per cent of the cases every day.

As of now, there is no indication that this second wave is coming to an end anytime soon. It could again happen all of a sudden, like last time, when the numbers, rather inexplicably, had begun to come down after reaching 98,000 cases a day. With more and more people getting vaccinated, and a large proportion having already been infected, the expectation is that the second wave would last for a shorter period of time than the first.

Mamata derides Shah’s prediction for 1st phase national, Page 6

Troops fire at funeral as Myanmar mourns bloodiest day since coup YANGON, MAR 28 (REUTERS): Myanmar security forces opened fire on Sunday, witnesses said, at people gathered for the funeral of one of the 114 people killed the previous day, the bloodiest day of protests since the military coup on February 1.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the firing on the funeral in the town of Bago, near the commercial capital Yangon, according to three people who spoke to Reuters.

“While we are singing the revolution song for him, security forces just arrived and shot at us,” said a woman called Aye, who was at the service for Thae Maung Maung, a 20-yearold student who was shot on Saturday. “People, including us, run away as they opened fire.”

Two people were killed in firing on protests on Sunday in separate incidents elsewhere, witnesses and news reports said. One person was killed when troops opened fire overnight on a group of protesters near the capital Naypyitaw, Myanmar Now news reported.

So far on Sunday there were no reports of largescale protests in Yangon or in the country’s second

People mourn as they attend the funeral of Kyaw Win Maung, who was killed during a protest on Saturday. (Reuters)

city, Mandalay, which bore the brunt of the casualties on Saturday, Myanmar’s Armed Forces Day. Funerals were held in many places. At least six children between the ages of 10 and 16 were among those killed on Saturday, according to news reports and witnesses.

The bloodshed drew renewed Western condemnation. The UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar said the army was carrying out “mass murder” and called on the world to isolate the junta and halt its access to weapons.

Foreign criticism and sanctions imposed by some Western nations have failed so far to sway the military leaders, as have almost daily protests around the country

since the junta took power and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “We salute our heroes who sacrificed lives during this revolution and We Must Win This REVOLUTION,” one of the main protest groups, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities (GSCN), posted on Facebook.

Military jets had killed at least three people in a raid on a village controlled by an armed group from the Karen minority, a civil society group said on Sunday, after the Karen National Union faction earlier said it had overrun an army post near the Thai border, killing 10 people. The air strikes sent villagers fleeing into the jungle.

20 injured in Indonesia Church suicide bombing JAKARTA, MAR 28 (AP): Two attackers blew themselves up outside a packed Roman Catholic cathedral during a Palm Sunday Mass on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, wounding at least 20 people, police said.

A video obtained

by The Associated Press showed body parts scattered near a burning motorbike at the gates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province.

Rev. Wilhelmus Tulak, a priest at the church, said he

ers was walking out of the church and another group was coming in.

He said security guards at the church were suspicious of two men on a motorcycle who wanted to enter the building and when they went to confront them, one of the men detonated his explosives. Police later said both attackers were killed instantly and evidence collected at the scene indicated Police team examine the site after the explosion, Sunday. one of the two was a woman. had just finished celebrating gregation. He said the blast The wounded included four Palm Sunday Mass when a went off at about 10.30 a.m. guards and several churchloud bang shocked his con- as a first batch of churchgo- goers, police said.

Kronu to take up Tizu-Zungki river Gov, CM extend Holi greetings inland waterways project with IWAI KOHIMA, MAR 28 (NPN): Minister for planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu Kronu has assured to take up the Tizu-Zungki river inland waterways project with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) chairperson Amita Prasad.

During his visit to the area with public leaders,

Kronu expressed regret that the project, which was initiated in 2014, had so far not been sanctioned even though a team had come from New Delhi three times and a detailed project report (DPR) submitted to the Centre.

He said that the project was very important for the people of Nagaland under “Act East Policy”, especially for trade with Myanmar.

Kronu said the hydrographic survey of Tizu river was done earlier and this waterway was declared as 101 National Waterways of India in 2016 by then IWAI chairman Amitabh Verma.

He stressed that developing the waterway would also boost the economy of Phek and Kiphire districts, as waterway was the cheapest mode of transportation.

DIMAPUR, MAR 28 (NPN): Nagaland Governor, chief minister and others have extended Holi greetings to the people of Nagaland.

Governor R.N. Ravi said Holi festival, with its vibrant colours, accentuates positivity and the triumph of good over evil. “Let us keep in mind the fundamental purpose of the Holi festival which is to unite the people together forgetting all differences, and to have love and respect for one another,” said Ravi. He further urged all to responsibly celebrate observing Covid-19 protocols.

CM: State chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, in his greetings, hoped that the festival of colours bring joy and goodwill among all sections of people and victory over evil.

He also urged all to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and prescribed guidelines and SOPs while cel(Cont’d on p-6) ebrating the festival.

Preservative in popular foods may harm immune system Congress opts out of 51 Noksen A/C by-poll NEW YORK, MAR 28 (IANS): A food preservative used to prolong the shelf life of Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, Cheez-Its and almost 1,250 other popular processed foods may harm the immune system, a new study suggests. The findings showed that the preservative tert-butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, has been found to harm the immune system both in both animal tests and in non-animal tests known as high-throughput in vitro toxicology testing.

TBHQ is a preservative that is pervasive in processed foods. It has been used in foods for many decades and

(Representational image)

serves no function besides increasing a product’s shelf life. Using new non-animal test results, the team found that TBHQ affected immune cell proteins at doses similar to those that cause harm in traditional studies.

“The pandemic has

focused public and scientific attention on environmental factors that can impact the immune system,” said researcher Olga Naidenko from US-based Environmental Working Group.

“Before the pandemic, chemicals that may harm the

immune system’s defense against infection or cancer did not receive sufficient attention from public health agencies. To protect public health, this must change,” Naidenko added.

For the study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the researchers used data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxicity Forecaster, or ToxCast, to assess the health hazards of the most common chemicals added to food, as well as the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, which can migrate to food from packaging.

DIMAPUR, MAR 28 (NPN): Congress party in Nagaland has decided to not field a candidate for the forthcoming by-election to the 51 Noksen assembly constituency, citing an earlier “bitter experience” during by-election to the 60 Kiphire-Pungro assembly constituency last November.

Stating this in a statement, NPCC president K Therie explained that the Congress understood that people do not stand for issues and principles they talk about and want and instead, vote against their own faith for money and power.

Therie claimed that Congress among all other parties best adhered to expenditure limit fixed by Election Commission of India (ECI). He said party candidates were not expected to spend even a rupee from their own account.

Therie said this was to enable elected as well as the defeated to be candidates to be free from any liabilities after election.

Therie said funds for elections were meant for campaigning to make the people understand the party’s visions for their welfare.

He said Congress does not provide funds to buy votes as

it was a crime and unlawful not only before the law of the land but before God. Further, Therie said even when the ruling PDA government was opposing implementation of a political solution even after talks had concluded and also opposing stakeholders (14 tribal hohos, ANGBF and civil society groups and Congress party), he feared that people would vote for money.

He expressed shock that all intending candidates were seeking NDPP ticket as there was no one who could stand on issues and prin(Cont’d on p-6) ciples.

K Y M C

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state

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Is there need for another Lockdown to stop the rapid spread of COVID19 in the country?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

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BVBC celebrates centennial jubilee

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A

B

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

C

56% 43% 1%

Next poll

Q: S h o u l d

district administrations do more to monitor price of commodities?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST march 29

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hot; a strong p.m. t-storm

38 21

Aizawl

An afternoon thunderstorm

31 15

Guwahati Hazy sunshine and very warm 35 18 Imphal

Mostly sunny

Itanagar Sunshine and hot

32 13 33 17

Shillong

Hazy sun with a stray t-storm 24 12

Kohima

Variably cloudy, p.m. showers 27 14

Dimapur A t-storm around in the a.m.

35 19

Hazy sunshine

29 14

Tuensang Not as warm with hazy sun

21 10

Mkg

Mostly sunny

29 18

Zunheboto Hazy sunshine

26 13

Wokha

Rev. R. P. Murry speaking at centenary jubilee celebration of BVBC.

DIMAPUR: Bhandari Village Baptist Church (BVBC) celebrated centenary jubilee on March 27 and 28 at Bhandari village.

The programme was attended by thousands of native villagers and neighbouring villages.

Pastor Yikhum Baptist Church, Zaben Kithan invoked prayers of jubilee blessings to the congregation.

During the evening service, theme speaker, Rev. R. P. Murry, Dimapur called upon the members of Bhandari Village Baptist

Church to be more responsible for they have attended a remarkable 100 years.

He told them to continue to remain humble and faithful to seek God. He said that as a mature church, the Bhandari Village Baptist Church must now remain as an icon, a role model to various churches too.

Pastor Changpang Baptist Church, Mhanchan Odyuo said the invocation.

Earlier, in the morning service, pastor Pyangsa Baptist Church, A. Lisumo Ovüng pronounced the in-

vocation and pastor Lotha Baptist Church Dimapur, Rev. Zanao Mozhüi was the theme speaker.

C. Jungithung Yanthan PS to Mmhonlumo Kikon advisor for IT, Science and Technology and NRE and N. Jacob Yanthan joint director Agri Kohima delivered words of greetings at the morning and evening services.

Centenar y jubilee culmination prayer was said by treasurer and finance secretary, Lotha Baptist Church Association (LBCA), Rev. M. C. Kithan.

ANTA holds annual meet at Doyang

Assessment camp for CWSN DIMAPUR: Nagaland Education Mission Society (NEMS) Samagra Shiksha, Nagaland, has informed that it would be organizing assessment camp for children with special needs (CWSN) for both school going and home bound in the age group of 6-18 years at DEO Conference hall, Kohima on March 29, 10 a.m. onwards.

In a press release, District Education Officercum-district project coordinator, DMA, SS Kohima, Neizetuonuo requested all EBRC officials and IE resource persons under DMA, SS Kohima to disseminate information to all schools both private and government in their own respective villages, colonies, wards etc. to bring the following category of children for the said assessment.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

NASU conference concludes it belonged to the people.

In this regard, he urged the Angamis to unite and voice out as one irrespective of geographical differences.

He also urged the elders of the tribe to seriously deliberate on its stand on the issue for the welfare of the upcoming generation.

He encouraged the youngsters to not only endorse what the elders say but also participate in the discussions for the right of the people.

He also appealed the Northern Angami Public Organization (NAPO) to not remain a silent spectator but it being the apex tribal body and stakeholders should also join hands in discussion about the issue for the general welfare of the people.

To t h e s t u d e n t s , Yhokha said that it was time to change the perspective in the society. He encouraged the students to take up various career opportunities at the same time also appealed to the parents to support students in their talents and help them excel.

Correspondent

Kohima, Mar 28 (NPN): The three-day Northern Angami Students’ Union (NASU) 46th biennial general conference which was hosted and held at Botsa concluded on Sunday.

Speaking as the special guest during the valedictory programme, 4th NAP Medo Yhokha Thizama, Kohima, commandant, Teosovise Metha trophy and Nerhema Village urged the student body to Students’ Union emerged as positively contribute their the runner-up. services for the good of the In the women Volleycommunity. ball category, Seiyhama He advised the stu- Village Students’ Union dents intending to compete emerged as winners folfor public services to have lowed by Zhadima Students self-confidence, be able to Union as runner-up. sacrifice, and to have deterLiterary competitions mination and dedication. including debate and exHe further encouraged tempore speech were also the students to support one conducted. Earlier, the inanother and to lift each augural session on March other up even in the days 27 was graced by adviser for to come.

Technical Education & ElecMeanwhile, the late tion, Medo Yhokha.

Suolahie volleyball memoIn his speech, he urged rial trophy was conducted all the Angamis to unite on Saturday and Sunday. in the Naga political issue In the men’s volleyball cat- stating that Naga political egory, Meriema Village Stu- issue was not about an indiDIMAPUR: Under the dents’ Union clinched the vidual or a group, but that aegis of Village Education Committee (VEC) Chozuba, a day-long teachers’ workshop on “discovering one’s potential as a teacher” was held at Village Council Hall, Chozuba on March 27. A press released

by VEC chairman Chozuba, Veta Keyho stated that retd. joint director, School Education, Nuvotsolu and lecturer, Eastern Bible College, Dimapur, Thujolu Demo were the resource persons while Mudotsülü Principal Secretary to government of Nagaland, Himato Zhimomi, inaugurating Keyho, Khrieno Lohe and the Kaka Sumi boutique, at Hotel Grand Tizu, Notun Bsati, Dimapur, on March 27.

Verhülü Ringa moderated The boutique was dedicated by pastor, East Dimapur Sumi Baptist Church, Purana the sessions.

Bazaar, Nivukhu V Jimo. (NP)

Workshop for teachers

industry were two inseparable entities and urged upon the gathering to explore new opportunities in the tourism sector. He added that the venue- Doyang dam, was chosen in line with ANTA Wokha Unit’s vision to promote local tourism which, he said, will ultimately benefit the transport industry and the locals.

ANTA HQ president, Dziesevituo Solo chaired the programme while general secretary, Meyieho Hibo moderated the discussion.

Participants also took part in sightseeing, boat rides, fishing and water Participants during the annual meet at Doyang on March 26. (NP) sports. Simultaneously, Correspondent 25 and 26, wherein ANTA drivers were deliberated ANTA Wokha Unit celeofficials from across the and resolutions were subse- brated its raising day during WOKHA, MAR 28 (NPN): state participated. quently adopted during the the meet as 2020 raising day All Nagaland Taxi AssocciaVarious agendas in- two-day meet-cum-retreat. couldn’t be conducted due to tion (ANTA) HQ Kohima, cluding centralization of P r e s i d e n t A N T A the COVID pandemic.

Meanwhile, ANTA held its 4th annual execu- ticket counters, government Wokha, Hayithung Odyuo, tive meet hosted by ANTA rules, seating capacity and in his welcome address re- officials have informed that Participants and others at the training programme in Wokha.

Wokha Unit at Etlingera other issues concerning the iterated that the tourism the next annual meet would DIMAPUR: Soft skill He said that the viIn this regard, she rePatch, Doyang, on March welfare of taxi owners and industry and transportation be held at Zunheboto. training programme for ST sion of the department quested all interested arartisans sponsored by de- was to self empowered tisans and SHG to enroll velopment commissioner artisan in handicraft sec- their names at the DIC, (handicraft) under ministry tor, especially focussing on Wokha. of Textiles, government Nagaland and entire North Further, production DIMAPUR: Department of Mul- prizes for winning quiz and photog- MMC Dr. Dakter Esse welcomed the of India, Delhi was held East region. manager, directorate of timedia Mass Communication raphy competition conducted by the resource persons. at district planning and He informed on the Industries & Commerce, (MMC), Patkai Christian College teacher-in-charge, Asst Professor, Film director Lancha Ningth- machinery conference hall, new marketing policies Kohima, Hokeshe K. Zhi(Autonomous) (PCC), organised Rojen Wahengbam. ouja spoke at length on importance Wokha on March 27. and possession of artisan momi, in his speech highwebinar under the theme “Theatre, In quiz competition; Yanphantsu of memories in film making.

The programme was ID card. lighted the benefits of posCinema and Culture of Peace” on Kikon and Zachano Lotha received Riken Ngomle speaking on chal- organised by directorate of Meanwhile, executive sessing artisan card, adding the occasion of World Theatre Day first prizes while Chipemshon Kham- lenges theatre artist face recalled how Industries and Commerce, engineer, directorate of that anyone who possessed on March 27. rang and Tsuknungsenla received he felt lost when he came back to his Nagaland.

Industries and Commerce, the card can avail a loan of A press release by PCC, stated second and third prize respectively. state Arunachal Pradesh after graduA press release by Kohima, Er. Asenla Wall- Rs. 50,000 from the bank that the webinar session was attended In photography competition; ating from NSD. Coming from a the- functional manager, DIC, ing urged the artisans to with less interest. by assistant professor, National Omnyei Konyak received the first atre background he stated, “Theatre Wokha, Mhachan Kikon, avail the benefits by regisAPO, Lalit Babu and School of Drama, New Delhi Riken prize while Chonsorin Shimray and is an intricate part of human history stated that programme tering their names for the designer, Amit Yadav, Ngomle, film maker from Manipur Chipemshon Khamrang received the and before cinema it was the theatre manager, development artisans ID cards. both from development Lancha Ningthouja, and film maker second and third prizes respectively. that connected people with the day to commissioner (handicraft) She also launched the commissioner (handicraft) from Arunachal Pradesh Gungte Tai Vice principal, PCC, Angel day issues and experiences of life”. under Ministry of Textiles, integrated design and tech- under the Ministry of Texas resource persons.

Sonari acknowledged the department Noted filmmaker from Arunachal Dinesh Kr Pal elaborated nical development work- tiles, government of India On the occasion, students of for organizing talks and workshops Pradesh, Gungte Tai shared his film on the department’s objec- shop under design and up- also spoke during the profirst year MMC were awarded cash on important occasions, while HOD making journey. tives. gradation scheme craft. gramme.

ST artisans trained on soft skill

Webinar on World Theatre Day at PCC

DIMAPUR: As part of Poshan Pakhwada, anemia camps for adolescent girls were organised in Mon and Zunheboto to generate awareness among adolescent girls and women who have limited access to information about the health concerns of Anemia.

Mon: Social Welfare Department Mon in collaboration with convergent departments organised an anemia camp for women and adolescent girls at Konyak union conference hall, Mon on March 22.

In a press release, DPO (ICDC) Mon, Tauhong Ngonyen stated that through the camp, lifelong lessons would be gained and urged upon the participants to disseminate K Y M C

Officials of Social Welfare Department and others at the anemia camp in Mon.

such valuable information to others.

Resource person, MO Shangnyu PHC, Dr. Penjei Konyak enlightened the participants on anemia, its various causes, symptoms

and cure.

He stated that since anemia was more prone among women, anemia camps were mainly targeted at adolescent girls and pregnant women.

He stated that anemia was easily controlled through supplements, proper diet and medicine.

Dr. Penjei Konyak also highlighted the various iron rich food items that are lo-

cally available.

School health programme coordinator, Mon district, Mewang Konyak highlighted the camp about national deworming day which was observed twice a year with a target group of 1-19 years of age.

Altogether 125 participants were screened for anemia.

Zunheboto: Social welfare department (SWD) of Tokiye block, Zunheboto organised anemia camp and cooking competition for adolescent girls on March 23.

A press release by SWD Tokiye block stated that CDPO Tokiye block, Vizheto Shohe in his keynote address lauded Anganwadi workers and help-

ers for their diligent work and added that he would transfer money if the centre sanctions it.

Meanwhile, staff nurse Tokiye PHC, Kaniho spoke on identification of adolescent and nutrition.

Kaniho stated that adolescent stage between 11-19 years was a period of discovery and inquisition and maintained that mothers should provide them with a balance diet and detect the health of their child through their face, nails and lips.

E a r l i e r, t h e p r o gramme was chaired by T block coordinator, Kakishe, invocation by Anganwadi worker Tohoni and vote of thanks was pronounced by Kakishe T.

DIMAPUR: Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD), Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum (DDCF) and Sangtamlarü Thsingmüjang Dimapur (Sangtam women organisation) (STD) have vehemently condemned the alleged rape of a 5 -yearold minor girl allegedly by Kikua Marian.

NWHD information and publicity secretary expressed shock and anguish by the heinous crime, which it said has left an innocent girl traumatized for the rest of her life. The women hoho demanded justice and urged the authority to award befitting punishment to the culprit so that such crime against women and children was not repeated.

DDCF media cell stated that a person with such a mentality has no place in the society and should be punished befittingly.

The forum appealed to the concerned authority to book the culprit and punish befittingly as per the provisions of the law. Expressing anguished on the incident, STD demanded befitting and exemplary punishment from the competent authority/authorities upon the accused.

NSCN (R) informs on taxation

DIMAPUR: NSCN-(R) has informed all business establishments, government departments and other individuals not to entertain any kind of taxation without the consent of its chaplee kilonser.

In a statement, ministry of chaplee affairs stated that any contribution made without authentication and without assignment from chaplee kilonser (Khekhato Kinny) shall be dealt with stern action accordingly to the article mentioned in the “Yehzabo”. For further queries and better understanding one may contact 6909865756/ 6009235158 chaplee/finance kilonser.

2ND DEATH ANNIVERSARY MR. INITO S. CHISHI 29.03.2019

Not a single moment goes by without you in our thoughts.

DP-1671

Adolescent girls screened for anemia in Mon, Zunheboto

Various bodies condemn alleged rape of minor

Missing you.

From Mom and Brother K Y M C

3

Northeast/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Assam Cong seeks FIRs against Nadda, Sonowal Assam polls a struggle to save people Urges EC to register FIRs for ads predicting poll outcome New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI): With the BJP advertising claims of winning all seats in upper Assam, the Congress on Sunday said it is in violation of the Representation of the People Act and urged the Election Commission to register FIRs against BJP chief J P Nadda and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

In a complaint to the Election Commission (EC), Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik sought directions and action against top BJP leaders for giving advertisements in newspapers claiming victory in all upper Assam seats. They said such advertisements are in clear violation of the directions given by the EC that no one can make predictions of the results during the prohibited period.

“We pray to the EC to

and in order to “defraud the voters of Assam”, Sonowal, Nadda, Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and other BJP members and functionaries “willfully and

Cong seeks action against six newspapers

File photo of JP Nadda with Sarbananda Sonowal. take all such actions as may be necessary and required in law, including direction for registration of offences against Sarbananda Sonowal, J P Nadda and Ranjit Kumar Dass for the blatant violation of Model Code of Conduct and the RP Act, 1951,” the Congress stated.

The party also demanded action against the media publishing such advertisements.Assam goes to polls

Assam BJP expels 7 Assam leaders for contesting as independent candidates Guwahati, Mar 28 (PTI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam on Sunday said that it has expelled seven leaders from the primary membership of the party for six years for contesting as independent candidates in the assembly election after being denied tickets.

“The state party president Ranjeet Kumar Dass has expelled the seven persons for six years with immediate effect for contesting as independents against the party’s nominated candidates,” Assam Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Rajdeep Roy said in a statement.

Earlier on March 18,

knowingly have today issued advertisements camouflaged as political predictions as headlines on front page, in various newspapers throughout Assam”.

the Assam Bharatiya Janata Party had expelled 15 leaders, including former deputy speaker Dilip Kumar Paul, from the party for six years for joining the assembly poll fray as Independents after being denied tickets.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting in 92 of the 126 assembly constituencies, leaving the rest to its allies - the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).

The first phase of the Assam assembly election was held on Saturday. The state will have polling in two more phases on April 1 and 6.

in three phases and the first phase of polling was held on March 27.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after realising that their defeat is inevitable, has resorted to desperate illegal and unconstitutional methods to influence voters across the state,” the Congress said in a memorandum to the poll body. The Congress leaders alleged that in a “pre-planned conspiracy”

Congress on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Election Commission here seeking action against BJP and six newspapers of Assam for publishing an advertisement in a news report format claiming that the saffron party is winning all the constituencies in the Upper Assam. The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee alleged that the “advertisement with the BJP symbol” has been published in the six newspapers in a news report format to influence voters in the remaining two phases of voting.

“The publication of the advertisement in the news report format is violation of the Election Commission guidelines. “The advertisement was published in newspapers with headlines like ‘BJP to win all constituencies of Upper Assam’, ‘BJP’s well wishers and workers are delighted’, ‘BJP ensures victory in all constituencies of Upper Assam’ to influence voters and deceive them in the remaining two phases of polls,” APCC legal group chairman Niran Borah told reporters.

The six newspapers named in the memorandum areThe Assam Tribune, Asomiya Pratidin, Aamar Asom, Dainik Asom, Niyomia Barta and Asomiya Khabar.

from BJP’s misrule: Sachin Pilot

S i l char / K arim ganj, Mar 28 (PTI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday claimed that the assembly election in Assam is a struggle to save the people of the state from the “misrule” of the BJP. The BJP government never stood by the people during the hour of crisis, Pilot alleged while addressing two election meetings at Silchar and Karimganj in Barak Valley region.

“We are not fighting to come to power, but to save the people of Assam from the misrule of the BJP,” he said. The BJP is dividing people on religious lines and they need to remain united in Assam and India, the former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan said.

“When people were in crisis during the demonetisation, GST and lockdown, the BJP government was nowhere to be seen. So,

Forest fire rages in famed Shirui peak in Ukhrul, Manipur Correspondent IMPHAL, Mar 28: A major forest fire destroyed Shirui peak, the only home to world fame Shirui Lily in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, local reports said on Sunday.

The fast expanding forest fire that broke out from a nearby mountain range razed through the Shirui peak in the wee hours of Sunday.

Soon after they saw the fire, villagers of nearby villages sought the help of the concerned authorities in dousing the fire. They even sought the help of the state chief minister by conveying the news through social media networks.

Soon after the forest fire incident was brought to his notice and after taking stock of the situation, chief minister N Biren Singh today sought the help of the Central government in dousing the fire.

The state chief secretary has also written a letter to the additional secretary of Union ministry of home affairs seeking Centre’s help in putting the fire under control. The chief minister tweeted that he has spoken to the additional secretary of Union home ministry urging the ministry to extend all possible help from NDRF to douse the fire.

“Very unfortunate to see the fire spreading at Shirui Peak, Ukhrul Dis-

NDRF to douse the fire,” the chief minister tweeted.

However, while waiting for the help, a major portion of the peak had already been destroyed by the rampaging forest fire, local reports said on Sunday.

They said that officials of the state forest department from Imphal along with fire fighters armed with fire fighting equipment did arrive at the spot to assist the local police, forest officials in the district and villagers.

However, the yet to be doused rampaging fire has Wildifre that destroyed famous Shirui peak in Ukhrul destroyed most part of the peak where the Shirui Lily District, Manipur. (NP) grows, the local reports trict, Manipur. Spoken to Additional Secretary to ex- worried. the Union Home Ministry tend all possible help from The most popularly

Manipur CM seeks Centre’s help

State

Christians observe Palm Sunday across Nagaland

Palm Sunday celebration at MGOS.

Procession being carried out at Thokhwezu village.

DIMAPUR: Palm Sunday was observed by Christians across the state to commemorate Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem before he was arrested and crucified.

Zunheboto Town Sumi Baptist Church (ZTSBC) SBAK-Aizuto also observed the day with the theme “The day the King came to town” at the Church Devotional

Palm Sunday message to the mass. She exhorted the mass not to refuse Christ on any ground and accept him by doing things that will make Christ bless us and spread his love and words everywhere.

Earlier, special song was presented by ZTSBC Youth Choir led by Kughalu Chishi Home Evangelist

tinued till 11:30 am.

Fr. Dr. P. S. Varghese was the chief celebrant at MGOS Church Midland while Fr. Sajin Thomas led the service at Kerala Christian Church, Kohima.

Meanwhile, starting Sunday evening onwards Passion Week special prayers will be conducted in both the churches.

and the programme was chaired by Xuheto Awomi Ex Convenor.

MGOS Church: Mar Gregorios Orthodox Syrian (MGOS) Church, Midland, Dimapur and Kerala Christian Church, Kohima and celebrated Palm Sunday by carrying out procession an blessings on palm leaves while special prayers con-

Awareness on nature conservation at NZP

Forest officials, students and others at NZP.

DIMAPUR: Kiphire Wildlife Division (KWD), department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change organized several awareness programmes from March 18 to 26 at Nature Learning Centre, Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Dimapur.

The programmes were part of National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), implemented by ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, government of India.

A press release by KWD stated that 30 stu-

dents from Government Middle School, Aoyimti, took part in the program on March 12; 64 from GMS, Darogajanon on March 18; 81 students from GMS Purana Baazar ‘A’ on March 19; 68 from GMS, Sarbura, on March 25; while 105 students

from GMS Dimapur on March 26.

Range forest officer, NZP, Watisungla Amer, briefed participants about zoo and its beauty. An awareness programme by KWD on the theme “Nature Conservation” was also conducted.

Wildlife quiz-cum-interactive awareness session was further conducted by Eco Warriors, a volunteer group of youth graduates under KWD. Students were further allowed to experience interactive smart info screens in NLC which showcased flora and fauna from across the state. The interactive session was led by wildlife photographer, NZP, Onenjungshi.

A total of 423 participants were part of the programme which included school students, staff from office of the Chief Wildlife Warden, staff of NZP, Eco Warriors and KWD.

known 2835 m high from the sea level ShiruiKashung Peak is 18 km from Ukhrul district headquarters and 97 km from Imphal. It is the only home of world famous Shirui (Siroy) Lily (Lilium Mackliniae).

The forest fire at Shirui peak is the second major incident of such kind reported in less than three months after the Dzuko Valley at Nagaland-Manipur borders which was doused after two weeks of battle.

Further, the forest fire at Shirui peak took place barely two days after the state forest department sought help from the public in controlling the forest fires, in a statement issued on March 26.

CMO Kohima conducts medical camp at Kigwema

The programme in progress at ZTSBC.

Hall, by following COVID19 SOPs. The programme started with a song and prayer. Special offertory prayer was led by pastor ZTSBC, Rev Dr. Daniel Chishi, while Inito Y Chishi read out the Bible verse from the book of Luke 19; 36-38.

Women leader ZTSBC, Anatoli Aye, delivered the

Sachin Pilot

it is time that we remove the party from power,” he added. The Congress will form the next government in Assam, Pilot asserted.

“In five years, the BJP gave CAA, NRC, autocracy, inflation and communalism, but not jobs. The biggest challenge today in front of the country and Assam is unemployment. The Congress has guaranteed that it will give five lakh government jobs (in five years),” he said.

The Congress, once

voted to power, will also implement 50 per cent reservation for women in all government jobs, Pilot said.

In an apparent reference to rumours of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acting as rival power centres in the outgoing government, he said, “In Assam, nobody knows who is the CM. Is he the person who took the oath or the one who wants to be the CM?” The BJP has not announced its chief ministerial candidate before the polls and said that a decision in this regard will be taken by its Parliamentary Board at the time of forming the next government.

Pilot along with All India Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev also led a procession in Karimganj town in support of Congress candidates.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church: St Francis Xavier Catholic Church under Diocese of Kohima also observed Palm Sunday by carrying out procession with palm leaves from Thokhwezu village view to Church.

The main celebrant was parish priest, Rev. Fr. Siby John.

KOHIMA: Under the initiative of advisor, Technical Education & Election, Medo Yhokha, a medical camp sponsored by CMO Kohima was was conducted at Kigwema village Council hall on March 27.

According to media officer CMO Kohima, Kungcham Dailiam a short function was held where MO, Kimipfuphe PHC, Dr. Lozino Peseyie chaired the programme. Former director, Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Neiketou was the special guest at the camp in the presence of ADC, Shaying Sheu.

CMO, Dr. Vezokholu Theyo urged the gathering to avail all the services and also part take in various group discussion for a healthy life style and to

practice better health seeking behavior.

She expresses her gratitude for huge turn-out of the targeted group.

She also informed the gathering that IMR & MMR has drastically reduced due to awareness. She further said that health camps were the platform for people to avail the service provided by the department of Health & Family Welfare.

She also spoke on the need for community participation for bringing about sustainable health care services through active participation and contribution. Lab test were provided with free medicines & distribution of IEC materials.

Altogether, 230 people turnout to avail health services at the Health camp.

Longleng observes girl child week DIMAPUR: District administration along with Mahila Shakti Kendra Longleng organised a girl child week celebration under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) on the theme “empowering girl’s for a brighter tomorrow” at Yingli College, Longleng on March 27.

According to DPRO Longleng, resource person PBCA Longleng youth secretary, Phakmei Phom spoke on the different values between men and women. He also encouraged girls to be ambitious and to learn from other great women personalities while reminding them that they were all unique and special.

Earlier, introduction was given

by EAC Hq Longleng, Rohbi sangtam and EAC Longleng, Pichano Kikon encouraged the girls to take such platform as an opportunity to learn and know their rights.

Various co-curricular activities and presentations were also displayed during the second session whereby “Girl power” was adjudged the winner of the group games category. The programme was chaired by Women welfare officer MSK Longleng.

In continuation of the cleanliness campaign, Keep Our City Clean (KOCC) Kohima undertook a social work from Phoolbari till TCP gate on March 27.

The social work was joined by youth of Kohima Ao Baptist Church, the Yorubami Students’ Union Kohima, Kevi Children Home and well wishers.

Dr. Chotisüh Sazo MLA also joined the cleanliness drive.

Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) celebrated Holi festival at Ekranipathar Village Dimapur by distributing clothes and blankets to needy people.

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 112 Dimapur, MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Water war scenario

W

ater is become more scarce around the world and this has become serious even though the world continues to ignore the potential danger. Water scarcity is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand.

It is estimated that about two-third of the world’s population may suffer from fresh water shortage by 2025. The main causes of water scarcity in are physical and economic scarcity, rapid population growth, and climate change. Although Sub-Saharan Africa has a plentiful supply of rainwater, it is seasonal and unevenly distributed, leading to frequent floods and droughts. Given the current water availability situation and future projections, the UN has confirmed that there are some 300 areas across the world where a conflict over water is foreseen by 2025. Overexploitation of groundwater and intensive irrigation in major canal commands has posed serious problems for groundwater managers in India. Depletion of water tables, saltwater encroachment, drying of aquifers, groundwater pollution, water logging and salinity, etc. are major consequences of overexploitation and intensive irrigation. India’s north-western region is widely considered to be the country’s granary, with states such as Punjab and Haryana accounting for a large share of the country’s agricultural output and farm incomes. However, farming in both these regions is increasingly becoming unsustainable, owing to depleting groundwater levels. The situation is equally precarious in the south-eastern parts of the country. Both these regions account for most of India’s groundwater-stressed blocks. Assam and some parts of eastern India seem to be losing the usable groundwater storage at the highest rate, within the study period, as per the study. Many of these states are now intermittently getting affected by the “groundwater drought” in recent summers.

The study suggests that these summer groundwater droughts would intensify in future, to become severe to very severe by 2050, with the possibility of spreading over all seasons. The rapid depletion in usable groundwater storage would accelerate the decline in food production and the availability of drinking water, two of the prime goals of achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Parts of the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra basin mostly show reducing groundwater levels, whereas parts of western and southern India show increasing trends.

More than four metre groundwater decline have been observed during the last decade in the Indian states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal. A report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) paints a disturbing picture of a nearby future where people are fighting over access to water. These post-apocalyptic-sounding “water wars” could rise as a result of climate change and population growth and could become real soon enough if we don’t take steps to prevent them. This can lead to regional instability and social unrest. In 2025, water shortages will be more prevalent among poorer countries where resources are limited and population growth is rapid, such as the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia. By 2025, large urban and peri-urban areas will require new infrastructure to provide safe water and adequate sanitation. This could lead to growing conflicts with agricultural water users, who currently consume the majority of the water used by humans.

DailyDevotion Isn’t There Some Misunderstanding?

“Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “…are You going there again?” —John 11:7-8 Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says. That is a dangerous view, and it is never right to think that my obedience to God’s directive will bring dishonor to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honor ahead of what He is plainly guiding me to do is never right, even though it may come from a real desire to prevent Him from being put to an open shame. I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence. But when I begin to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate enter into my mind, I am bringing in an element that is not of God. This will only result in my concluding that His instructions to me were not right. Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself? Faithfulness to Jesus means that I must step out even when and where I can’t see anything (see Matthew 14:29). But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead.

Are you debating whether you should take a step of faith in Jesus, or whether you should wait until you can clearly see how to do what He has asked? Simply obey Him with unrestrained joy. When He tells you something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a misunderstanding of what honors Him and what doesn’t. Are you faithful to Jesus, or faithful to your ideas about Him? Are you faithful to what He says, or are you trying to compromise His words with thoughts that never came from Him? “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5).

Quotes

Of all possessions a friend is the most precious. ~ Herodotus

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

‘Know-all’ system heaps on tragedies

he human tragedies refuse to die. The triple tragedy of the economy – note ban, convoluted multiple tax system and the panicky lockdown and to add it a penalizing system being built into the system is adding to the tragedies, deepening of poverty and an unprecedented policy crisis.

The state and central governments are in debt trap.

The people are being forced to manage in a cash crunch economy with high doses of multiple taxes, tolls, cess, user fees, penalties, wage-job losses and severe inflation.

The state system is becoming usurious. And after a year of lockdown marked by trekking of at least 10 crore people with their kids crisscrossing highways and expressway across India is being forgotten in the din of election promises. Some of them like Berjon Pahadia walked for seven months to cover 1200 km from Delhi to back to Jharkhand. Most of them till today do not have a job. A few are sustaining on MGNREGA or food doles.

The working class is not only treated with contempt and apathy. About 68 percent of the workers, CMIE

says, had a fall in income between December 2019 and August 2020. Women were worst hit, particularly in the lower strata, and 56 percent of them remained jobless at least till December 2020. Earnings had reduced to half and a large number of people have cut food consumption. No wonder India ranks 94 among 107 countries in Global hunger index 2020 and is in serious category with 27.2 points.

In the melee of an artificially sponsored pandemic children and youth are the worst sufferers as their life has come to a standstill because their online schools, colleges and universities are if not dysfunctional, not functional either. The private budget schools, over 20,000 or more in UP alone, have put down shutters causing loss to about five lakh low-paid teachers and other because of lockdown and the students do not have capacity to pay the fees.

It does not stop there.

Most MSMEs are still gasping and majority of them are yet to be operational. It has becoming electoral issue in Tamilnadu, where nine lakh MSMEs had been shut during lockdown. Many are hit because the migrant labour

force is yet to return and falling but domestic petrol raw material, fuel prices and prices are being hiked. transportation costs have So are many metspurted. als including steel prices, Those who feel that which are being continuonline education is a suc- ously increased by private cess live in utopia. Except producers. The industry and in some elite schools in individuals are into trouble metros it has not succeeded as the moratorium granted because the students do not on loans were not being have smart phone or share honoured till a few days ago one phone among three to the Supreme Court clears four siblings, if at all there the uncertainty over loan is internet connectivity in moratorium and bad loan the rural hinterlands. The classification. rising data cost is yet another Even the rupee is weakdeterrent. ening and stock market is in Online is the biggest distress as the benchmark issue because net connec- sensex plunges and broadtivity is more er market illusion than Shivaji Sarkar i s f a l l i n g reality in amid fears three-fourths of the coun- of fresh lockdown in India try. A digital system forced and across the globe and during the lockdown is not delay in economic recovery. helping India but giving Globally stocks are in bear rise phenomenally to cyber hug as supposed covid19 phone frauds and costs on cases are stated to be inthe families. creasing. It speaks of poor The farmer is piqued industrial and finance secby rising cost of DAP fertil- tor recovery. The gold and izer by Rs 300 a bag even as silver are losing their shin overall costs of farm inputs every day. Since January are increasing along with high of Rs 50,350, gold has operational cost of diesel plummeted to Rs 44,350 and pump sets or other equip- silver to Rs 64,607. ment due to continuous India needs a caring rise in petro prices causing society, a humane governa chain reaction on prices ment and a system that can of all commodities. It is an sustain all. But instead the irony that crude prices are system has become oppres-

sive with forced introduction of schemes like fastag, doubling the charges on nonfastag vehicles, unnecessary HSRP car plates through an official diktat, severe hike in rail fares and reduction of train services for no rhyme or reason. These are becoming inflationary for goods, food items, edible oils and even car makers have increased the prices as their transportation costs rise.

Off and on irrational localized or regional lockdowns, penalties for not wearing masks and harassment by the administration for e-passes or sudden checks for corona or similar whimsical methods have brought the economy and society under severe strain as rent-seeking becomes a norm.

Forcing new labour code amid a distressed economic system, a 12-hour shift, changing wage rules and conditions without a discussion have accentuated the problems. Penalising people has become a passion. The latest is to announce nullifying of PAN card if it is not linked to Aadhar as also a penalty of Rs 1000 and increased income tax action on some ten-year-old violations.

Also is introduced a vehicle scrapping policy causing severe distress to individuals, who spend a lifetime of their investments and truck operators. The oppressive methods to harass citizens already hassled by an illusory disease add to the woes.

While some industries like pharmaceuticals, vaccine and IT are thriving, overall the entire society is crumbling due to rules and orders issued at the whims and fancies of the administration as also fresh lockdowns, say Nomura and Axis bank economists.

The situation is critical and the remedies are eluding. A distressed government is in a quandary.

Each of its methods is stuck in poor finances, poorer vision and quagmire of rules.

Unless the system takes a practical and humane view, turns the NITI Ayog into a functional planning body and parliamentarians raise the right issues the country may get into deeper crisis.

Yes, institutions have become less functional and must be revived through a vibrant discussion that now is shunned. The arrogance of a ‘know-all’ system has to come to an end.

Post-mortem

A

Mutating virus and vaccines

ll viruses – including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 – evolve over time. When a virus replicates or makes copies of itself, it sometimes changes a little bit, which is normal for a virus.

These changes are called “mutations”. A virus with one or more new mutations is referred to as a “variant” of the original virus.

What causes a virus to change to a new variant?

When a virus is widely circulating in a population and causing many infections, the likelihood of the virus mutating increases. The more opportunities a virus has to spread, the more it replicates – and the more opportunities it has to undergo changes.

Most viral mutations have little to no impact on the virus’s ability to cause infections and disease. But depending on where the changes are located in the virus’s genetic material, they may affect a virus’s properties, such as transmission (for example, it may spread more or less easily) or severity (for example, it may cause more or less severe disease).

What impact do the new variants of the COVID-19 virus have on vaccines?

The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently in development or have been approved are expected to provide at least some protection against new virus variants because these vaccines elicit a broad immune response involving a range of antibodies and cells. Therefore, changes or mutations in the virus should not make vaccines completely ineffective. In the event that any of these vaccines prove to

be less effective against one or more variants, it will be possible to change the composition of the vaccines to protect against these variants.

Data continues to be collected and analysed on new variants of the COVID-19 virus. WHO is working with researchers, health officials and scientists to understand how these variants affect the virus’s behaviour, including their impact on the effectiveness of vaccines, if any. See WHO’s Disease Outbreak News to get up-to-date information on the impact of COVID-19 virus variants on the effectiveness of the different vaccines. This is an area where the evidence remains preliminary and is developing quickly.

While we are learning more, we need to do everything possible to stop the spread of the virus in order to prevent mutations that may reduce the efficacy of existing vaccines. In addition, manufacturers and the programmes using the vaccines may have to adjust to the evolution of the COVID-19 virus: for example, vaccines may need to incorporate more than one strain when in development, booster shots may be required, and other vaccine changes may be needed.

Trials must also be designed and maintained to allow any changes in efficacy to be assessed, and must be of sufficient scale and diversity to enable clear interpretation of results. Studies of the impact of vaccines as they are deployed are also essential in order to understand their impact.

What is WHO doing to monitor and understand the

impact of virus variants on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines?

WHO has been tracking mutations and variants since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Our global SARSCoV-2 laboratory network includes a dedicated Virus Evolution Working Group, which aims to detect new changes quickly and assess their possible impact.

Research groups have carried out genomic sequencing of the COVID-19 virus and shared these sequences on public databases, including GISAID. This global collaboration allows scientists to better track how the virus is changing. WHO recommends that all countries increase the sequencing of the COVID19 virus where possible and share data to help one another monitor and respond to the evolving pandemic.

WHO has also established a SARS-CoV-2 Risk Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to identify, monitor and assess variants of concern. It will involve components like surveillance, research on variants of concern, and evaluation of the impact on diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

The framework will serve as a guide for manufacturers and countries on changes that may be needed for COVID-19 vaccines.

How can we prevent future new variants of the COVID-19 virus?

Stopping the spread at the source remains key. Current measures to reduce transmission – including frequent hand washing, wearing a mask, physical distancing, good ventilation and avoid-

ing crowded places or closed settings – continue to work against new variants by reducing the amount of viral transmission and therefore also reducing opportunities for the virus to mutate.

S c a l i n g u p va c c i n e manufacturing and rolling out vaccines as quickly and widely as possible will also be critical ways of protecting people before they are exposed to the virus and the risk of new variants. Priority should be given to vaccinating high-risk groups everywhere to maximize global protection against new variants and minimize the risk of transmission. Moreover, ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is more critical than ever to address the evolving pandemic. As more people get vaccinated, we expect virus circulation to decrease, which will then lead to fewer mutations.

Why is it important to get vaccinated even if there are new variants of the virus?

Vaccines are a critical tool in the battle against COVID-19, and there are clear public health and lifesaving benefits to using the tools we already have. We must not put off getting vaccinated because of our concerns about new variants, and we must proceed with vaccination even if the vaccines may be somewhat less effective against some of the COVID-19 virus variants.

We need to use the tools we have in hand even while we continue to improve those tools. We are all safe only if everyone is safe.

(WHO’s Vaccines Explained series.)

Cancer drug lessens toxicity of protein from SARS-COV-2

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team of researchers has identified the most toxic proteins made by SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 and then used an FDA-approved cancer drug to blunt the viral protein’s detrimental effects.

In their experiments in fruit flies and human cell lines, the team discovered the cell process that the virus hijacks, illuminating new potential candidate drugs that could be tested for treating severe Covid-19 disease patients.

“Our work suggests there is a way to prevent SARS-COV-2 from injuring the body’s tissues and doing extensive damage,” said researcher Zhe “Zion” Han from the University of Maryland.

The researcher notes that the most effective drug against Covid19, remdesivir, only prevents the

virus from making more copies of itself, but it does not protect already infected cells from damage caused by the viral proteins.

SARS-COV-2 infects cells and hijacks them into making proteins from each of its 27 genes.

For the study, published in the journal in Cell & Bioscience, the team introduced each of these 27 SARS-CoV-2 genes in human cells and examined their toxicity. They also generated 12 fruit fly lines to express SARS-CoV-2 proteins likely to cause toxicity based on their structure and predicted function.

The researchers found that a viral protein, known as Orf6, was the most toxic killing about half of the human cells.

For the remaining experiments, the researchers focused on just the most toxic viral protein, so they could

figure out what cell process the virus hijacks during infection.

The team found that the virus’ toxic Orf6 protein sticks to multiple human proteins that have the job of moving materials out of the cell’s nucleus -- the place in the cell that holds the genome, or the instructions for life.

They then discovered that one of these human moving proteins, targeted by the virus, gets blocked by the cancer drug selinexor. The researchers tested selinexor on human cells and fruit flies making the toxic viral protein to see if the drug could help reverse the damage.

Selinexor, like many cancer drugs is itself toxic. However, after accounting for its toxic effects, the drug improved human cell survival by about 12 per cent.

(IANS feature) Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this

Diphtheria May Become Resistant to Antibiotics and Vaccines

D

iphtheria could once again become a major global health problem due to vaccine and antibiotic resistance, researchers warn.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious -- and potentially deadly -- infection that can affect the nose and throat, as well as the skin.

It is caused primarily by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which make a toxin, or poison, that can cause people to get sick. It’s mainly spread by coughing, sneezing or close contact with an infected person. People can also get sick from touching infected sores, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In wealthy nations like the United States, babies are vaccinated against diphtheria, but low- and middle-income countries still have sporadic cases.

The disease has been on the rise in recent years. In 2018, over 16,600 global cases of diphtheria were reported, more than double the yearly average of 8,105 between 1996 and 2017.

In a new study, researchers used genomics to map diphtheria infections, including a subset from India, which had more than half of the reported cases worldwide in 2018.

They found 18 variants of the poisonproducing gene, including several that had the potential to change the structure of the toxin.

The findings were published March 8 in the journal Nature Communications.

“The diphtheria vaccine is designed to neutralize the toxin, so any genetic variants that change the toxin’s structure could have an impact on how effective the vaccine is,” said study author Gordon Dougan, of the Cambridge University Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease in England.

“While our data doesn’t suggest the currently used vaccine will be ineffective, the fact that we are seeing an ever-increasing diversity [of toxin variants] suggests that the vaccine, and treatments that target the toxin, need to be appraised on a regular basis,” he added in a university news release.

Diphtheria infections can usually be treated with antibiotics. But this study found that the average number of diphtheria genes with resistance to antibiotics is on the rise.

(Source: University of Cambridge, news release)

Reader’s Post

Sir,

Power department needs to wake up

Loadshedding in Dimapur has been causing a lot of problems in every household lately. With the temperature increasing day by day in Dimapur, it has become unbearable to sit or do anything without electricity. After every half an hour or an hour there are electricity blackouts and for regular bill payers, this becomes a nuisance. There are many cases of electricity thefts in the state however; the power departments seem to being doing next to nothing to curb such issues.

Not only that, HSLC and HSSLCE examinations are approaching. Is the power department expecting the students to study with no current? The Power Department needs to wake up and address these issues without any further delay.

Mhabemo, Dimapur newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

5

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Delhi adds 200 containment Lockdown imminent in Maharashtra zones in two days, total 1,506

Mumbai, Mar 28 (PTI): In view of the rise in fresh COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday asked officials to prepare a plan for implementation of a lockdown which will have a minimum impact on the economy on the recommendation of the state COVID19 task force, an official release said.

In a meeting held with the chief minster, Health Minister Rajesh Tope and other officials, principal secretary to state health department Dr Pradeep Vyas said there will be a “tremendous stress” on the availability of beds, oxygen supply, and ventilators, which could fall short if the cases continue to go up.

The members of the task force also expressed apprehension that the state might report 40,000 fresh cases in the next 24 hours.

During the meeting, the CM reviewed health

The task force recommended implement measures like a stricter lockdown to stem the rise in COVID cases. (File image)

infrastructure including availability of beds, oxygen, medicines etc. in the state to treat COVID-19 patients.

The task force then recommended that the state government implement measures like a stricter lockdown to stem the rise in coronavirus positive cases.

The chief minister has asked officials to prepare a detailed plan for implementation of a lockdown which will have a minimum impact on the economy of the state,

the release said.

“There should not be any kind of confusion among the people once a lockdown is announced,” the CM is quoted as saying.

Maharashtra has seen a huge rise in coronavirus positive cases over the last week. As many as one lakh new infections were added to the state’s tally in such short period.

“24,619 cases had been reported on a single day in September, 2020. However,

on March 27 this year, the state reported 35,726 new cases in a day. This number could touch 40,000 in the next 24 hours,” the release said quoting the members of the task force. Dr Vyas made a presentation on the current status of beds, ventilators, availability of oxygen during the meeting.

“There are 3.57 lakh isolation beds in the state of which 1.07 lakh are already filled. The remaining beds are getting filled at a higher speed,” Dr Vyas said, adding that out of the 60,349 oxygen beds, 12,701 beds are already occupied by COVID-19 patients.

“Out of the 19,930 beds, 8,342 beds are already occupied with mild symptomatic patients. 1,881 of the 9,030 ventilators also remain occupied,” he said.

Dr Vyas said some districts in the state do not have vacant beds at all, which is an indication of the health system falling short

(to tackle the rising cases).

The health department has blamed the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases to the delayed response by citizens. “People are not testing in time. They are not following COVID-appropriate behaviour. At the same time, private establishments are not following the 50 per cent attendance norms. There seems a casual approach towards home isolation.

These all factors could be some of the reasons behind the spike in the cases,” the department said.

The CM then directed officials to ensure sufficient supply of foodgrains, medicines and all types of medical services to address the challenge of the pandemic.

“The industry should produce 80 per cent of oxygen for medical reasons and remaining for other purposes,” he said. Tope said the cases are rising at a rate of 10 per cent every day in the state.

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS): Delhi has been seeing a sharp increase in new coronavirus cases in the last two weeks, especially since March 23 when the daily tally crossed the 1,000 mark for the first time this year, and the number of containment zones is also seeing a rapid upward trend, with 800 added in less than a week.

While 1,558 cases -- the highest so far in 2021 -- were reported on Saturday, 200 zones were also added in two days till then.

The national capital city had reported 1,101 cases on Tuesday, 1,254 on Wednesday, 1,515 on Thursday, and 1,534 on Friday, as per Delhi Health Department data.

The positivity rate, since the first week of March, has been the highest in the northwest, the southeast and south districts, while

The districts with the maximum containment zones are south (416), north (189) and west (181).

east, central and northeast districts have not seen a significant rise. The northwest district recorded the highest - 3 per cent up from 0.69 per cent, while the southeast district was at 2.41 per cent, up from 0.9 per cent.

With increasing number of Covid-19 cases, the city has seen the number of containment zones, rise to 1,506, out of which around 800 have been added in last one week, and 200 in Friday

and Saturday, the Health Department said.

The districts with the maximum containment zones are south (416), north (189) and west (181).

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has also increased testing, with around 90,000 being conducted daily since the last two days.

As per a government report, 91,703 new tests were conducted in last 24 hours as on Saturday.

NIA recovers DVR, number plates Modernisation need of hour in agriculture sector: PM Modi from river in presence of Waze

BJP workers take part in a protest against Punjab Government over Saturday’s attack on BJP MLA Arun Narang. ( PTI)

Chandigarh, Mar 28 (PTI): Several Punjab BJP leaders staged a sit-in outside the official residence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Sunday to protest the attack on a party MLA in Muktsar district.

BJP MLA from Abohar in Fazilka district Arun Narang was allegedly thrashed and his clothes ripped off by a group of protesting farmers in Muktsar’s Malout on Saturday.

The BJP leader had gone to Malout to address a press conference.

After meeting Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore over the incident this morning, BJP leaders led by state party unit chief Ashwani Sharma headed to the chief minister’s residence.

A few BJP leaders even took off their shirts as a mark of protest.

The protesters raised slogans against the Congress-led Punjab government, alleging that law and order has completely broken down in the state.

“Does the opposition party (BJP) have no right to

put forth its views?” Sharma asked while condemning the attack on Narang.

“The voice of the BJP cannot be suppressed. We have never seen democracy being shamed this way,” he said. “What was the fault of (Arun) Narang? He had gone there to highlight the failures of the state government,” said Sharma.

BJP leader and former minister Tikshan Sood demanded Singh’s resignation.

“BJP leaders are being targeted. There is no sign of democracy in the state. We came here to tell him (the CM) that he is not capable of running the state and should resign,” said Sood.

Singh had on Saturday strongly condemned the attack on Narang and also warned of strict action against anyone trying to disturb peace in the state.

Later, addressing a press conference, Sharma said, “The incident has exposed the tall claims of the state government regarding the law and order situation.”

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Farmers hold meet at Holla Mohalla festival in Punjab Ana ndp u r S a h i b (Punjab), Mar 28 (PTI): The Samyukta Kisan Morcha which has been spearheading an agitation against the Centre’s new farm laws held a public meeting at the Holla Mohalla festival here on Sunday.

A large number of farmers attended the ‘Kisana da Mahakumbh’ (grand assembly of farmers) which was addressed by senior farmer union leaders.

The speakers demanded repeal of the three agri laws and cautioned the central government against ignoring their demands.

They said that farmers have been holding their agitation for the last over four months but the BJP-led central government was yet to meet their demands.

Farmer leader Ruldu Singh said that three farm laws would affect every section of the society, including small traders.

He said that they were fighting “for the cause of the nation”. Singh said that every village shall form committees and pick new leadership to take forward the agitation.

Multiple rounds of talks between the government and leaders of farmers have failed to break the impasse. The government has said the laws will benefit the farmers.

Meanwhile, this year the number of devotees visiting the historic Holla Mohalla festival was less than previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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nessed this during the white revolution and bee farming is also emerging as one such alternative, he said.

The prime minister’s call for embracing modern practices in agriculture comes at a time when hundreds of farmers have been camping at Delhi’s border points at Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri since November last year demanding that the Centre repeal the three contentious farm laws.

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found outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month and subsequent murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran, the purported owner of that vehicle.

During the search with the help of divers, the NIA also recovered routers, computer cartridges and other materials from the river, the official said.

The DVR was allegedly

sector, modernisation is the need of the hour. It has been delayed and we have already lost a lot of time,” the prime minister said in his 75th episode of Mann Ki Baat.

“To create new employment opportunities in agriculture, to increase farmers’ income, it is equally important to adopt new alternatives and innovations along with traditional agricultural practices,” he said.

The country has wit-

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Mumbai, Mar 28 (PTI): The NIA on Sunday took suspended Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze to the Mithi river here and recovered a digital video recorder (DVR), CPUs, a laptop and two number plates with the help of divers, a police official said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the cases of the recovery of an explosives-laden SUV

sures). He hailed the ‘taalithaali’ campaign and lighting of diyas last year, saying it had touched the hearts of ‘corona warriors’.

“That is the very reason they resolutely held on the whole year, without tiring, without halting. Steadfastly, they endured to save the life of each and every citizen of the country,” Modi said.

Narendra Modi Asserting that adopting modern practices in the agri- life, newness and moderniculture sector is imperative, sation are essential. he said in every aspect of “In India’s agriculture

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The NIA team took Waze to the spot in Bandra Kurla Complex around 3 pm.

removed from the housing society in Thane where Waze lives.

The NIA team took Waze to the spot in Bandra Kurla Complex around 3 PM, the official said, adding that the search is still underway.

“The NIA is taking the help of professional as well as local divers who know the Mithi river well. More evidences are likely to be recovered,” he said.

It is suspected that Assistant Police Inspector Riyazuddin Kaazi had told the NIA during his interrogation that these evidences were thrown into the Mithi river. Kaazi, who is close to Waze, was questioned by the NIA multiple times in recent past.

It was Kaazi who allegedly took away the DVR from Waze’s housing society on the latter’s instructions.

The body of Hiran, a resident of Thane, was found in Mumbra creek on March 5.

New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI): Modernisation in the agriculture sector is the need of the hour as already a lot of time has been lost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, Modi also hailed the world’s largest vaccination programme being carried out in India against the COVID-19 and stressed on “dawai bhi, kadai bhi” (medicines as well as strict preventive mea-

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Therie however said all was not lost as the nation was tired of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lies, and people no longer took him seriously as before. He said Modi has lost his charm as he was overshadowed by lies and failures.

Therie claimed that Congress had built the nation’s economy while Modi was now selling off

the created assets. He also claimed that people were realising that Congress’ days were the most peaceful.

He also maintained that people were equally tired of regional parties and BJP in Nagaland as they have exposed themselves of being against stakeholders for securing a political solution even after talks had concluded.

He said both parties were also known for corruption

which was against the ethics of “our religion and customs”.

In the given situation, Therie asserted that Congress was the only alternative for the nation and Nagaland. He said a day would soon come when every Congressman and woman will gather again to rebuild the past glory of the people to secure a peaceful solution which, he hoped, would be sooner than expected.

Gov, CM extend Holi greetings (From p-1) NPP: National People’s Party (NPP) has extended Holi greetings to the people of the State.

NPP president, Dr. Andrew Ahoto said Holi is a time to reach out with the colours of joy, a time to love and forgive

Crossword

Su doku

KAKURO

and a time to express the happiness of being loved and to be loved through colours. It’s time to celebrate the different colours of our beautiful relationship, NPP added.

NPP wished all a safe and a happy Holi with all the bright hues of life, to the mark of victory of good over evil.

exercise in Indian Ocean region

New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI): India and the US on Sunday kicked off a twoday naval exercise in the eastern Indian Ocean Region, reflecting the growing congruence in their defence and military partnership.

The Indian Navy deployed its warship Shivalik and long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I in the ‘PASSEX’ exercise while the US Navy was represented by the USS Theodore Rosevelt carrier strike group, officials said. A carrier battle group or carrier strike group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number of destroyers, frigates and other ships.

“In a first, enhancing jointmanship, Indian Air Force fighters were also

included in the exercise affording the IAF an opportunity to practice air interception and air defence with the US Navy,” a spokesperson of the Indian Navy said. The exercise came over a week after US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin flew into India as part of his three-nation first overseas tour that signalled the Joe Biden administration’s strong commitment to its relations with its close allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the visit, both sides resolved to further consolidate their robust defence cooperation through deeper military-to-military engagement with Austin describing the partnership as a “stronghold” of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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Canning (WB), Mar 28 (PTI): A large number of crude bombs and several country-made firearms were seized in different poll-bound areas in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, police said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, police personnel seized 48 crude bombs near a water body in Kathipota village in Narendrapur police station area on Sunday, an officer said.

The crude bombs were defused and further investigation is underway, he said.

An arms factory was also busted in Merigunj village in Kultali police station area late on Saturday night, another officer said.

The owner of the house, where the illegal arms manufacturing unit was functioning, was arrested, he said.

Four country-made firearms and an unfinished gun have been seized, the officer added.

These areas will go to polls in the third phase on April 6.

Tamil Nadu CM ‘trapped’ as he is ‘corrupt,’ alleges Rahul

Rahul Gandhi

Chennai, Ma r 28 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday lashed out at AIADMK top leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami alleging he is trapped due to graft and he bowed in front of Union Home Minister Amit Shah as he had indulged in corruption.

Addressing a public meeting here for the April 6 Assembly polls, Gandhi said when he saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘controlling’ the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and making him “touch his

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feet silently I am not ready to accept it.” A ‘leader’ in Uttar Pradesh was forced to bow in front of Shah as he was corrupt and this person lost his freedom due to graft and Palaniswami too faced a similar situation, he claimed. The former Congress party chief did not specify the name of the UP leader.

“The tragedy is, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu does not want to bow in front of Amit Shah and no Tamil person will want to do that.” However, Palaniswami is forced to bow in front of Shah because of the “corruption he has done,” Gandhi alleged.

“Ironically, because of the money he has stolen from the people of Tamil Nadu, he is now trapped,” the Congress MP alleged.

The Congress leader said he was angered to ‘see’ that Palaniswami, belonging to the great Tamil civilisation, touched the feet of Modi and Shah and bowed in front of them.

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claimed that women voted in favour of his party.

“People in West Bengal voted against politics of appeasement, infiltration, corruption and misgovernance,” he said. He also noted that for first time on Saturday, West Bengal witnessed violence-free polls.

“After many years, no incidents of violence was reported. No bomb was hurled or bullets were fired in West Bengal. I thank the Election Commission of India for conducting peaceful elections,” Shah said.

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Crude bombs, firearms seized in poll-bound Bengal

first phase of the Assembly polls. “Based on discussions and feedback received from booth level workers and leaders, I can confidently say that the we are winning 26 of the 30 seats which went in for polling in the first phase in West Bengal.”

“People in West Bengal are unhappy with the (Mamata Banerjee) government.

They voted for change in 2011 but nothing changed.

The BJP has under the leadership of Prime Minister is committed to ‘Sonar Bangla’,” he said. Shah also

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Congress opts out of 51 Noksen A/C by-poll India, US begin two-day naval

Amit Shah addressing a press conference at his residence, in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI)

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“Try your seat prediction stunts at the Gujarat Gymkhana. This is Bengal. #KhelaHobe,” O’Brien, the senior TMC leader at all India level, posted on the microblogging site.

The post, which also referred to the `khela hobe’ (the game will be played) campaign of the TMC, has the hash tag of #TMCSweepsPhase1. Shah on Sunday told reporters the high voting percentage in first phase indicated the party has already garnered

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday questioned who ordered the tapping of phones of BJP leaders in West Bengal, after the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress released a phone conversation between BJP leaders Mukul Roy and Shishir Bajoria.

Addressing a press conference at his residence here, he said: “What our leaders talked about was submitted to the Election Commission in writing. But the question is who did it (tapping)?

Who gave permission for the tapping?” Shah noted that when the Model Code of Conduct is in place, any tapping should be done with the permission of the poll panel. “Was the permission taken from the Election Commission? Tapping was done without permission of the Election Commission,” he said. The Minister also said that the BJP would win 26 of the 30 seats in West Bengal and 37 of the 47 in Assam where polling was held on Saturday in the

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Nandigram, from where she is contesting. Asserting that she will not predict anything, Banerjee said that it is the people’s verdict which will be evident after counting.

“Since 84 per cent votes were polled, I can surmise that people have voted for us,” she said. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien also said in a tweet shortly after Shah’s press meet in Delhi, “Mind games won’t work, Mo-Sha” (a referrence to Modi-Shah).”

“I would not have said such things elsewhere, but here we are faced with traitors,” she said. The TMC supremo has often referred to the Adhikari family, without naming them, as “traitors” after party heavyweights Suvendu, his father Sisir and another brother Soumendu left the party to join the saffron party fold.

Banerjee also claimed that a leader from Hyderabad has come to divide the minority votes in Bengal, Banerjee wanted to know his whereabouts during communal riots in Delhi and Gujarat. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who had earlier talked of a possible tie-up with Islamic cleric Abbas Siddique of Furfura Sharif, hasspoken of fielding candidates from some seats in the assembly elections in West Bengal.

Siddique has formed his own outfit ISF and has entered into an alliance with the Left Front and the Congress to fight the eightphased assembly elections.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during election campaign, in Nandigram, Sunday. (PTI)

most of the votes in the 30 assembly constituencies.

Asking people to forget who the TMC nominee is in a seat, the party supremo said that it is she who is the candidate of the party in every constituency.

Facing up to the starstudded BJP campaign where the party has fielded the prime minister, home and defence ministers besides the Uttar Pradesh chief minister among others, Mamata has been carefully cultivating an image of being the `lone fighter’ in a battle between Delhi and Bengal.

With Nandigram going to the polls in the second phase on April 1, along with 29 other seats, Banerjee asked TMC polling agents not to leave the polling booths at any cost. Banerjee said that she will have her eyes on her party’s polling agents, warning them that she would know in case anyone works against the party or accepts bribes from the opposition.

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Chandipur/Kolkata, Mar 28 (PTI): Deriding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion that the BJP will win 26 of the 30 seats for which polling was held in the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said that “the people’s verdict will be evident after votes are counted.”

Without naming Shah, who made the assertion at a BJP press conference in New Delhi earlier in the day, Banerjee questioned how such a claim could be made just a day after the elections were held. The counting of votes for all eight phases of the election is slated to be taken up on May 2.

“A leader today said that the BJP will win 26 of 30 seats, why did he not claim all 30, did he leave the rest for Congress and CPI(M)?” Banerjee quipped, addressing a rally here in the Chandipur constituency, adjacent to

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Shah had claimed that BJP would win 26 of 30 seats in first phase

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US, Canada slam China for tit-for-tat sanctions

Antony Blinken

Justin Trudeau

WASHINGTON, MAR 28 (IANS): The US and Canada have criticized China for retaliatory sanctions imposed by Beijing in an ongoing row over human rights.

In a coordinated move, the US, the EM, Britain and Canada on March 22 slapped sanctions on Chinese officials and entities for abuses against the mostly Muslim Uighur people, reports dpa news agency.

In a retaliatory move on Saturday, Beijing sanctioned Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Gayle Manchin; Vice Chair of the USCIRF Tony Perkins; Canadian MP Michael Chong; and the Subcommittee on In-

ternational Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of Canada, citing Washington and Ottawa’s sanctions that it said were “based on rumours and misinformation”.

The individuals will not be able to travel to China’s mainland, Hong Kong or Macao and Chinese businesses and institutions are barred from doing business with them or holding exchanges with the Canadian committee.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the move. “Beijing’s attempts to intimidate and silence those speaking out for human rights and fundamental freedoms only

contribute to the growing international scrutiny of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang,” Blinken said in a statement. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the sanctions were “unacceptable actions”.

“China’s sanctions are an attack on transparency and freedom of expression - values at the heart of our democracy,” Trudeau tweeted late Saturday night.

China had already retaliated against the UK and the EU with tit-for-tat sanctions last week.

In the last few years, hundreds of Uighurs, Kazakhs and Huis have testified that they were held in internment camps in Xinjiang as part of what observers say is a government campaign to forcibly assimilate the minorities.

There have been reports of torture and sexual abuse.

The Chinese government says the camps - estimated to have held more than 1 million people since 2017 - are “vocational education centres” to eradicate extremism and terrorism.

7

international

Bangladesh militants Defence chiefs from twelve set fire to central library nations slam Myanmar violence

DHAKA, MAR 28 (IANS): Hefazat militants on Sunday set fire to the central public library in Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district, the birthplace of legendary Indian sarod player and multi-instrumentalist Allauddin Khan, during a dawn-to-dusk nationwide strike.

The strike by Hefazat-e-Islam is underway in Dhaka, Norshingdi, Narayanganj, Brahmanbaria, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and other districts.

No long-route buses were plying on the roads, but movement of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws was normal.

Narayanganj Madaninagar madrasa students put up a barricade on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway by burning tires, disrupting the capital city’s road communications with Chittagong and Sylhet.

In Sylhet, Jamaat-eIslam activists behind the banner of Hefazat-e-Islam brought out processions in different parts of the city including the Court point after the Friday morning prayers.

The militants set two stationary buses of state owned Bangladesh Road

Transport and Corporation (BRTC) on fire at Rajshahi Truck Terminal in the city’s Amchattar area on Sunday.

Saiful Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Shah Makhdum Police Station, said police are investigating the incident.

The fire fighters rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.

No casualties have been reported so far.

Hefazat-e-Islam leaders announced the day-long nationwide strike at a press briefing at Purana Paltan in the capital on Friday night.

A clash involving Hefazat supporters and police left four people dead and at least 50 others injured at Hathazari in Chittagong on Friday.

In Dhaka, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between radical force supporters and police in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area on Friday afternoon.

Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after the noon prayers on Friday protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A man stands behind a barricade during a protest against the military coup. (Reuters)

NAY PYI TAW, MAR 28 (IANS): Defence chiefs from 12 countries condemned the Myanmar military’s violence against peaceful protesters in a joint statement issued on Sunday.

T h e U S, t h e U K , Germany, Italy, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan issued the statement a day after dozens of people of people were killed in the deadliest day of protests in Myanmar since the February 1 military coup, reports dpa news agency.

“We condemn the use

of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services,” the statement read.

The military chiefs urged Myanmar’s armed forces to cease violence and work to “restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions”.

“A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting - not harming - the people it serves.” Myanmar’s military celebrated Armed Forces Day with parades

and speeches on Saturday, despite the growing toll and threats amid protests, demanding that the democratically-elected government of former de facto leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi be returned to power.

The Army has had her under house arrest since February 1.

Besides being accused of a variety of crimes, the Army recently alleged tampering in the November 8, 2020, vote that saw her National League for Democracy (NLD) return to power, but has provided no proof.

NASA rules out asteroid Apophis hitting Earth in 2068 NEW YORK, MAR 28 (IANS): In a big relief, NASA has ruled out the possibility of asteroid Apophis impacting Earth in 2068, saying that our planet is safe from this notorious space rock for at least a century.

The results from a new radar observation campaign combined with precise orbit analysis have helped astronomers conclude that there is no risk of Apophis impacting our planet for the next 100 years

at least, NASA said.

Discovered in 2004, asteroid Apophis, estimated to be about 340 metres across, quickly gained notoriety as an asteroid that could pose a serious threat to Earth when astronomers predicted that it would come uncomfortably close in 2029.

Thanks to additional observations of the near-Earth object (NEO), the risk of an impact in 2029

170 detained in Belarus anti-government protests

MINSK, MAR 28 (IANS): Security forces in Belarus launched a crackdown on fresh protests against longtime President Alexander Lukashenko, detaining more than 170 people and reportedly using force. Images and video footage posted online showed police using violent tactics against the protesters on Saturday, reports dpa news agency. Officers clad in black could be seen pushing a man to the ground while women rushed to the scene to separate them.

The human rights centre Viasna said more than 170 people were detained during the protests in Minsk, which according to media reports were mostly smaller decentralised rallies rather than a big mass demonstration. Security forces reportedly detained random people at bus stops, including several media rep-

was later ruled out, as was the potential impact risk posed by another close approach in 2036. Until this month, however, a small chance of impact in 2068 still remained.

When Apophis made a distant flyby of Earth around March 5, astronomers took the opportunity to use powerful radar observations to refine the estimate of its orbit around the Sun with extreme precision, enabling them to confidently

rule out any impact risk in 2068 and long after.

“A 2068 impact is not in the realm of possibility anymore, and our calculations don’t show any impact risk for at least the next 100 years,” Davide Farnocchia of NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), which is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said in a statement.

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resentatives, according to a journalist association.

Nicholas Connolly, a correspondent for Deutsche Welle, was held for around five hours, the German broadcaster said late Saturday. Meanwhile, exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called for negotiations with the authoritarian leadership under international mediation in order to find a “peaceful way out of the crisis in Belarus”.

She said more than 750,000 people had voted in favour of such negotiations on online voting platforms.

There have not been any larger anti-government protests in Belarus since security forces brutally cracked down on mass protests last year following the election on August 9, 2020, in which Lukashenko claimed victory despite allegations the vote was rigged.

OFFICE OF THE

LONGKONG VILLAGE COUNCIL MEDEMSANGER PUTU

CLARIFICATION

On behalf of the Longkong Village Council, the fire incident that occurred at Longkong on 25th March 2021 which was published on 26th March in some newspapers, the Village Council Chairman would like to clarify the information in the newspapers, i.e while the villagers were trying to douse the fire, the fire brigade reached the spot and helped in putting down the fire and stopped from further spreading.

Sd/- M. Lepden, Chairman Longkong Village Council MKC-97

Moameren Jamir Secretary, IECC

K Y M C

Arang Pongen Chairman, IECC

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The Industrial Estate Colony Council Dimapur lauded the tremendous work by Shri.

T. Imli Imchen, proprietor M/S Jenty Steels in repairing the stretch of National Highway 36 falling under the jurisdiction of Industrial Estate Colony which was in a very sorry state and setting an exemplary gesture in public service among the community. The council and the citizens of the Colony appreciates his philanthropic work and further wishes him to March ahead with the same zeal and passion to serve the community in the days to come.

Thanking you.

DC-305

APPRECIATION

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8

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Orleans Masters: Garaga, India beat Eng by 7 runs to win ODI series 2-1 Panjala lose hard-fought final

Indian team poses after winning the ODI series against England, at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, Sunday. (PTI)

PUNE, MAR 28 (PTI): India held their nerve in face of Sam Curran’s resolve to beat England by seven runs in a dramatic third and final ODI to clinch the series 2-1 here on Sunday.

Put in to bat, India were all out for 329 in 48.2 overs with Shikhar Dhawan (67), Rishabh Pant (78) and

Hardik Pandya (64) hitting half centuries.

Curran (95 not out off 83 balls) India singlehandedly kept England in the hunt as he shepherded number 10 Mark Wood (14) for a 60-run stand for the ninth wicket but in the end could not score 13 runs needed in the final over.

England ended at 322 for 9 in 50 overs.

India dropped at least four catches, including that of Curran, at crucial junctures as they were kept frustrated till the end.

The Indian innings was built on two big partnerships -- 103 for the opening wicket between Rohit

Sharma (37) and Dhawan and 99 for the fifth wicket between Pant and Pandya.

Pant’s sparkling knock came off 62 balls while Pandya needed 44 for his blistering innings but India lost their last four wickets for a mere eight runs.

Pant, during his career-best knock, plundered

Ngannou knocks out Miocic to capture heavyweight title in UFC

Sekrenyi Open Air Rifle Shooting today

DIMAPUR, (NPN): The 4th Sekrenyi Open Air Rifle Shooting competition 2021 will be held on March 29 at D. Khel Ground, Kohima village under the aegis of Kohima Air Rifle Club. The inaugural function will take place at 10 a.m.. Kohima village D. Khel council, chairman Pele Khezhie and managing director KOHIMAS Hospital, Dr. Tseilhoutuo (Ato), will grace the event as the special guest for inaugural and closing function respectively.

The competition will be conducted under two categories - Break Barrel Air Gun and PCP (Both categories without telescope).

Meanwhile, the organizer informed those who are yet to submit the entry form to Francis Ngannou lands a punch against Stipe Miocic during the UFC heavyweight do the same latest by 9 a.m. title match in Las Vegas. on March 29.

LAS VEGAS, MAR 28 (AGENCIES): Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou showcased his devastating punch power as he knocked out Stipe Miocic in the second round to capture the undisputed UFC heavyweight title in Las Vegas at UFC 260.

The bout was a rematch of their 2018 meeting at UFC 220, where American Miocic dominated Ngannou over five rounds for a landslide unanimous decision victory in Boston.

On Saturday, Ngannou, 34, showed the improvements made since their first meeting as he exhibited composure and patience before eventually knocking out Miocic, 38, with a short left hook 52 seconds into round two to defeat the man widely considered to be the greatest

heavyweight champion in UFC history.

The win also marked the completion of a lifelong quest for Ngannou, who left Cameroon as a refugee and lived on the streets of Paris before eventually finding a gym with hopes of becoming a champion boxer.

He was convinced by former coach Fernand Lopez to switch focus to mixed martial arts and eventually earned his chance in the UFC, where his thunderous punch-power marked him out as a dangerous contender.

After six straight stoppage victories, his first title shot against Miocic in 2018 fell short as his relative lack of MMA experience counted against him. But, in the rematch, Ngannou came of age as he flattened Miocic to become

only the third Africa-born champion in UFC history, joining welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who was in Ngannou’s corner on fight night, and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

After his victor y, Ngannou said he was willing to face the man considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, Jon Jones, who is expected to move up to heavyweight to challenge for the title later this year.

“For my opinion, Jon Jones is the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts.

Him moving up is going to be a good thing,” he said.

“He’s a challenge I will take and it will be a very good thing on the resume. But this time he is the challenger. I am the champ. He’s coming up, looking for me.

four maximums and five boundaries, while pandya smashed five fours and four sixes.

For England, Mark Wood was the most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 34 while Adil Rashid took two wickets.

Chasing the target, England lost wickets at regular intervals and could not stitch any substantial partnership on a flat pitch before Curran’s heroic effort.

Shardul Thakur returned with figures of 4/67 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar got three.

India had won the preceding four-match Test series 3-1 and the fivematch T20 International contest 3-2.

Brief Scores: India: 329 all out in 48.2 overs (Rishabh Pant 78, Shikhar Dhawan 67, Hardik Pandya 64; Mark Wood 3/34).

England: 322 for 9 in 50 overs (Sam Curran 95 not out; Shardul Thakur 4/67, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/42).

and Vaphizo Rutsa were placed in the second and third positions respectively.

T h e w i n n e r s we r e awarded certificates along with cash prize of Rs. 10,000/-, Rs. 7,000/- and Rs. 5,000/- respectively for

to a 7-2 lead in the first game but Lane and Vendy chipped away at the deficit to reduce it to one point at 17-18. Garaga and Panjala, however, held their nerve and saw themselves through to a win in the first game. The English pair then turned the tables in the second game, staying well ahead of their opponents for much of it and winning it 21-14 in the end.

The two sides went

toe-to-toe in the final game.

While Lane and Vendy went into the interval with a 11-8 lead, Garaga and Panjala won four consecutive points before the Englishmen took a point back to make it 12-12.

The two teams kept exchanging leads but after Garaga and Panjala took a 19-18 lead, Lane and Vendy won three consecutive points and ended the match.

NEW DELHI, MAR 28 (IANS): India won gold in both the men’s and women’s trap events at the shooting World Cup here on Sunday. Rajeshwari Kumari, Manisha Keer and Shreyasi Singh won the women’s title while Kynan Chenai, Prithviraj Tondaiman and Lakshay won the men’s gold.

Shreyasi, Rajeshwari and Manisha beat Kazakhstan’s Sarsenkul Rysbekova, Aizhan Dosmagambetova and Mariya Dmitriyenko 6-0 in the women’s final.

Later in the day, Chenai, Tondaiman and Lakshay beat Slovakia’s Michal Slamka, Adrian Drobny and Filip Marinov 6-4.

Meanwhile, India’s Vijayveer Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh and Adarsh Singh had to settle for silver in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event. The Indians lost 10-2 to US’ Keith Sanderson, Jack Hobson Leverett III, and Henry Turner Leverett.

The double win for the trap team takes India’s tally of gold medals to 15 in the shooting World Cup. The hosts have been dominant in the competition, winning a total of 30 medals, which also (L-R)- Shreyasi Singh, Manisha Keer, Rajeshwari Kumari show their gold medals during the presentation ceremony in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI) includes nine silver and six bronze.

Workshop on Naga wrestling at 5th mile model village, Dimapur Correspondent

DIMAPUR, (NPN): A one day workshop on Naga wrestling organised by youth body of model village, 5th Mile on March 27.

In the workshop tournament, Keneisetuo Kire from Tenyiphe-1 emerged as the champion with Keseto Thakro from Model Village 5th mile as the first runnersup. Emmanuel Pucho from Tenyiphe-1 and Rokükhol Kin from Model Village 5th mile took the second and third runners-up positions respectively.

The workshop was held on pilot project basis to create interest and

promote Naga wrestling among young people in Dimapur district area.

During the workshop various techniques including basic stance, grappling, tossing and how to warmup before a bout were taught and demonstrated.

Trainers during the workshop included former Northern Angami Sports Association ( NA S A ) c h a m p i o n Khrievotuo Sekhose and Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) wrestling secretary and junior team coach, Visakuotuo Dzüvichü.

The workshop was attended by youths from various colonies in an Winners of Naga wrestling workshop with trainer Khrievotuo at Model village, 5th mile. around Dimapur.

DSO Kohima, Dziesebeinuo Vizo, other officials along with winners and participants of Kohima District Level Indigenous Games Competition held at IG Stadium, Kohima on March 27. (DIPR)

respectively. In Bamboo Stilt race, Wangkhan was declared as the winner and Hinglokpo won the second place.

In cock fight, Ruyonu Thelou was declared as the winner while Medosatuo

ORLEANS (FRANCE), MAR 28 (IANS): India’s Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnu Vardhan Goud Panjala lost to England fourth seeds Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in a hardfought men’s doubles final at the Orleans Masters Super 100 badminton tournament on Sunday.

Garaga and Panjala lost 21-19, 14-21, 19-21 in a match that lasted 56 minutes. The Indians raced

Shooting WC: India win gold in men’s, women’s trap

Kohima holds district level indigenous games

DIMAPUR (NPN): Kohima district level indigenous games competition was held at IG Stadium, Kohima on March 27.

According to DIPR report, district sports officer Kohima, Dziesebeinuo Vizo informed that the competition was conducted in three disciplines with around hundred participants.

In the discipline of tug of war (men), Bout Lords (Bull) bagged the first position, Champion Team bagged the second place and Bout Lords (Lighting) bagged the third place.

In tug of war (women), United Sisters was declared as winner while Black Warriors and St. Luke bagged the 2nd and 3rd positions

Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnu Vardhan Goud Panjala.

1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in Tug of War for both men and women category. Cash prize of Rs. 3,000/-, Rs. 2,000 /- and Rs. 1,000/- for 1st, 2nd and 3rd position holders in Bamboo stilt race and cock fight were awarded

to the winners. DSO also informed that the winners will be representing Kohima district in the forthcoming state level indigenous games competition to be held at IG Stadium, Kohima on April 8 and 9.

Miami Open: Petra Kvitova beats Johanna Konta beaten in third round

MIAMI, MAR 28 (AGENCIES): Britain’s Johanna Konta was overwhelmed

by Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova in the third round of the Miami Open. Konta, seeded 17th, lost 6-1 6-2 in just 58 minutes to two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova.

Kvitova did not face a break point against British number one Konta, who won the Miami title in 2017. She will face fifth seed Elina Svitolina for a place in the quarter-finals after the Ukrainian beat

Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 with world number one and former doubles partner (7-1) 6-4.

Victoria Azarenka Ashleigh Barty.

Defending champion Barty, who will retain the top ranking if she reaches the final, beat Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 6-2. Third seed Simona Halep withdrew from her match against Anastasija Sevastova with a shoulder injury.

b e a t Angelique Kerber 7-5 6-2 to set up a fourth-round meeting

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