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Vol XXX No. 169

DIMAPUR, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Domestic flight services resume after 2 months

national, Page 5

nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial

Muted Eid celebration in NE amid COVID outbreak northeast, Page 7

3 returnees test COVID-19 positive; Dimapur-2, Kohima-1

All PATIENTS SHIFTED TO DESIGNATED COVID-19 HOSPITALS 378 stranded citizens return from Haryana

Staff Reporter/Correspondent

DIMAPUR/ KOHIMA, MAY 25 (NPN): It was like a bombshell waiting to happen after it was officially announced on Monday that three returnees who came from Chennai on May 22 were tested positive for COVID-19. In Dimapur, minister of health and family welfare S. Pangnyu Phom, during a briefing at Hotel Saramati, informed that the three cases were detected at BSL-3 lab, NHAK (inaugurated on May 21). Pangnyu said of the three, two were male and one female. While two were currently at Dimapur COVID-19 hospital, one was at Chedema COVID19 hospital under Kohima district, he added. In Kohima state chief minister Nephiu Rio held an emergency meeting with ministers, senior officials and “Nagaland Covid-19 War Room” team to take stock of the situation. The three were among the 1463 returnees who left Chennai by Special Shramik

India’s COVID-19 tally crosses 1.4L NEW DELHI, MAY 25 (PTI): The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases crossed 1.4 lakh on Monday after a record number of nearly 7,000 people tested positive for the deadly virus infection during the day. The count has quadrupled since May 1 when special trains began ferrying migrants back to their native places, followed within a week by special flights to bring back Indians and expatriates from abroad. I nd ia ’s C OV I D - 19 death toll has also crossed the 4,000-mark, marking an over three-fold increase since May 1.

Earthquakes jolt NE

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 5 (NPN): A moderate earthquake struck the North East Monday at around 8.15 p.m. Parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram felt the tremor. According to the National Centre for Seismology, two back to back earthquakes struck Manipur, within 13 minutes of each other. The first one, measuring 5.5, took place around 13 kilometres south-west of Moirang town in Bishnupur district at 8.12 pm. It was followed by another tremor, measuring 2.6, that happened around 20 kilometres west-south-west of the same town.

This is it!

“Imagine what will happen if we are to maintain social distancing.” K Y M C

Train on May 19 . The news was like a shock wave and also raised fears of possible spike in COVID-19 cases among thousands begin arriving from various states, especially Red Zones. Pangnyu disclosed that on arrival at Agri Expo, the 23-year-old female had shown symptoms of the virus during medical screening and then immediately sent to isolation ward of COVID-19 Hospital. On confirming positive for COVID-19, he said the female was shifted to COVID ward of Dimapur hospital. He said the other 20-year old male had no symptom on arrival at AgriExpo, and was sent to a quarantine centre. However,

after symptoms appeared, the person was shifted to isolation ward at COVID 19 Hospital for sample collection and was later tested positive for COVID-19. The other 26-year old male who travelled to Kohima directly from Dimapur railway station, was tested positive for COVID-19 in Kohima. It came about after the district surveillance team of Dimapur learnt that he was sitting adjacent at the coach with the first male from Dimapur who was tested positive for COVID-19. Pangnyu said the 26year old was admitted at COVID-19 Hospital, Kohima. All the three patients are undergoing treatment

State govt to come up with new SOP:CS Correspondent KOHIMA, MAY 25 (NPN): With three persons test-

ing positive for COVID-19, the State government is working on a new standard operating procedure (SOP) and is expected to be released soon. Speaking to Nagaland Post and NE8, chief secretary Temjen Toy said SOP was already in place, however with the rush of people arriving by special trains and buses, there was a need to relook and review the SOP and the government was working on it. He assured that the new SOP would be brought out very soon. On the decision of testing all returnees as the State had only one BSL-3 lab, which can only perform a limited number of tests (70) on a single day, Toy said though currently there was only one lab, which was made functional few days back, the State government would continue to send samples to labs in Assam and Manipur. And as the State had a single BSL lab now, he said the government had decided to go for pool testing, which would increase the scope of tests and would therefore be more effective in tracking the virus. For central and southern districts, Toy said the samples would be tested at Kohima while for districts like Mon it would be more convenient to test in Dibrugarh. And since COVID-19 was here to stay and had no season, he called upon Nagas to learn to live with it by taking all precautionary measures.

and stable, he added. Pangnyu also disclosed that following discovery of the three positive cases, the H&FW department and district surveillance units of Dimapur and Kohima had intensified surveillance and contact tracing. He also announced that all passengers arriving by Special Shramik trains would henceforth be tested as per risk assessment. He also appealed to the society not to stigmatise the patients and also support the health workers. He also said adequate counselling was being provided to the three COVID19 cases. Meanwhile, according to the “epidemiological link” report , it was stated that one of the patients had distributed snacks to passengers in the compartment during the journey. It further stated that the patient, who had also tested positive on Monday, had come in contact with this person in the same compartment during the journey. The third person was in the other compartment.

Send returnees only after testing: ENPO D I M A P U R , M AY 2 5 (NPN): Pointing out that Eastern Nagaland lacked adequate health infrastructures coupled with poor road communication, Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) has appealed to the state government to ensure that Eastern Nagaland returnees must be sent to their respective districts only after undergoing two “compulsive” swab tests. ENPO president Kekongchim and general secretary Manlang Phom urged all returnees to cooperate with the state authorities and village council. ENPO expressed gratitude to the district administrations and frontline workers of Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire for their valiant efforts in checking the spread of coronavirus in the state. It also lauded media persons for working overtime and bringing to the citizens in-depth coverage.

Further, APC and incharge of Dimapur district for COVID-19 activities, Y. Kikheto Sema appealed to all to not panic, and felt that Nagas would have to learn to live with COVID-19. Speaking to DPRO Dimapur, he reminded all to maintain social distancing, hygiene, avoid unnecessary movement and to wear masks as a preventive measure to contain the virus.

Real challenge now: CS

Meanwhile in Kohima, addressing a hurriedlyconvened press conference at conference hall of civil secretariat here, chief secretary Temjen Toy expressed regrets that Nagaland was no longer under green zone after the three COVID-19 cases but said the real challenge had only begun. Toy said though there was not much to worry about, he was apprehensive as to how Nagas in general would react . He therefore, called for respecting the privacy of patients since it could be “anyone of us.” (Cont’d on p-6)

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 5 (NPN): A batch of 378 stranded citizens of Nagaland reached Dimapur from Gurugram, Haryana on May 25, 2020 at around 10 a.m. According to DIPR, 288 persons-- 146 male and 142 female, who are from Dimapur, Mon and Peren districts, were screened taken to the Agri Expo Returnees from Haryana at Dimapur railway station, Monday (NP) site quarantine centre in 16 buses. The other 90 from other districts, were transported to Kohima in four buses. APC and Dimapur in charge for COVID-19 related activities, Y. Kikheto Sema, DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi, Commissioner of Police, Rothihu Tetseo and CMO Dimapur Dr. Tiasunep received the returnees at railway station Dimapur, COVID Room Empowered Group, Dimapur a DIPR report stated.

COVID-19 sample testing: Results of 285 awaited DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): Out of 1331 COVID-19 suspected samples sent for testing as of 3 p.m. May 25, the results of 1046 samples received were negative while three tested positive and the results for 285 samples were awaited,

KVC, AMK ask govt to send returnees to their districts DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): Both Kohima Village Council (KVC) and Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho (AMK), in letters addressed to the state chief minister and principal secretary H&FW department respectively, have urged upon them to ensure that all stranded citizens of Nagaland returning from various states be sent off to their respective eight districts instead of being quarantined in Kohima. KVC: In a letter to the chief minister, KVC president Dr.Neiphi Kire and secretary Zeneizo Rutsa, while placing on record the council’s “unreserved sympathy” for the three returnees tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, pointed out that KVC had written to the chief secretary on May 22,2020 to send all returnees to their respective districts without halting for days in Kohima. KVC reminded the chief minister of the implications of increased risks of spread of the virus to residents of Kohima if

returnees coming from high risk zones were all kept together at quarantine centres in Kohima. KVC said accommodating returnees from eight districts has added stress and workload on frontline workers especially after another batch of 84 returnees arrived Kohima on May 25. KVC said more returnees would arrive Kohima through different modes of transport in the coming days, if the current strategy of accommodating continued. It said the new arrivals would saturate present available quarantine facilities and place additional risk on those who have completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. In this regard, KVC said it took strong exception to the government’s decision to dump all transit passengers of other seven districts at the quarantine centres in Kohima when other quarantine centres in the other seven districts were already funded and set up by the respective district (Cont’d on p-6) authorities.

Coronavirus does not spread easily on surfaces: CDC GPRN/NSCN reacts NEW YORK, MAY 25 (AGENCIES): Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention making the rounds this week on the internet are clarifying what we know about the transmission of the coronavirus, a New York Times report stated. The virus does not spread easily via contaminated surfaces, according to the C.D.C. For those who were worried about wiping down grocery bags or disinfecting mailed packages, the news headlines highlighting this guidance in recent days might have brought some relief. But this information is not new: The C.D.C. has been using similar language for months. If anything, the headlines have pulled into sharper focus what we already know about the virus. The coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from one person to another, typically through droplets when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks at close range — even if that person is not showing symptoms. “The virus that causes Covid19 is spreading very easily and sustainably between people,” the C.D.C.

says on its website. “Information from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic suggest that this virus is spreading more efficiently than influenza, but not as efficiently as measles, which is highly contagious.” The website also says that people can become infected by “touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.” But those are “not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.” According to cached versions of the website that are available online, this language has remained largely unchanged since at least late March. The format of the C.D.C. website was slightly altered this month, but the language about surfaces remained the same. It appears to have been placed under a new subheading — “The virus does not spread easily in other ways” — on May 11, and more information about the difficulty of catching the virus from animals was added. Kristen Nordlund, a spokeswoman for the agency, told The

Washington Post that the revisions followed an internal review and were the product of “usability testing.” “Our transmission language has not changed,” Nordlund said. “Covid-19 spreads mainly through close contact from person to person.” Experts at the C.D.C. and elsewhere are still learning about the new coronavirus. There are questions about how the density of virus particles could affect transmission rates. Researchers don’t yet know whether all speech, cough and sneeze droplets carrying the particles are equally infectious, or if a specific amount of virus needs to be transmitted for a person to get sick by breathing it in. A study last week found that talking alone can launch thousands of droplets into the air, and that they can remain suspended for eight to 14 minutes. It seems that the virus spreads most easily when people are in close contact with one another — in a conversation, for example — or gathered in poorly ventilated spaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol scientist at (Cont’d on p-6) Virginia Tech.

to tax demand charge

DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): GPRN/NSCN has reacted to what it described as “undesired and assumptive allegation” from some quarters of civil bodies concerning “harassment and forced taxation demand” served on the proprietor of Progressive Motors, Darogapathar allegedly by its cadres. GPRN/NSCN through its MIP regretted the “unfortunate development befalling upon the proprietor of M/s Progressive Motors.” GPRN/NSCN stated it has decided to constitute a committee for appropriate and befitting enquiry and investigation of the matter “in line with maintaining our commitment for cordial and ideal relationship with the Naga people in every endeavour.” GPRN/NSCN has, therefore, urged the civil societies “to hold on from making unduly interpretations of the issue until then.”

minister planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs Neiba Kronu stated. Further, 1783 persons have been screened and 2831 persons currently under facility quarantine, he said.

Y. Patton appeals for calm DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): Nagaland deputy chief minister, Y Patton, has appealed to the people of the state to maintain calm amidst coronavirus scare. According to DCM media cell, Patton maintained that the “virus is here to stay, and the only way to stay safe is adhering to self discipline and cooperating with the frontline warriors”. He said that the biggest challenge would be to do away with the stigmatization associated with the disease. Calling upon the people to come forward and avail treatment if they experienced coronavirus-like symptoms, Patton said that early detection could break the chain of spreading and early recovery of those infected.

Deceased passenger laid to rest

DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): The body of Nchineileu Disuang, who passed away onboard the Special train from Gurugram, Haryana to Dimapur on May 22, was laid to rest at her native village Beisumpuikam under Peren district Monday. The deceased had passed away on board the train from Gurugram to Dimapur. On arrival at Kanpur, the body was deboarded by UP police and after required formalities, transported by road in an ambulance with the help of Uttar Pradesh government.Zeme Youth Organisation (ZYO) Nagaland volunteers led by R John Zeliang received the body at Dillai gate and proceeded to Beisumpuikam. (Staff Reporter)

Temporary traffic restriction in Dmu

DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): In view of the operation of Special Shramik Trains to Dimapur carrying stranded persons from other States, Dimapur police Monday informed that, henceforth, all vehicular traffic would be regulated one hour prior and three hours post arrival of such trains along the designated route from Dimapur Railway Station to Agri Expo, 4th Mile (via Traffic Control, Zone-I - Hotel Theja Fort (through under the Flyover)– Burma Camp JnVeterinary Jn-Old Dhansiri Bridge-Purana Bazar Jn-T.K. Service, 2 ½ Mile to Agri Expo, 4th Mile). The police have, therefore, appealed to all responsible to extend necessary cooperation in the general interest of public safety.

No pre-monsoon meeting

DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): State government has informed that annual meeting to review preparedness measure before the onset of south west monsoon was not feasible in view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic and pre-occupation of field officers and lockdown measures. All the technical departments maintaining community assets have, however, been requested to send in the status report of public utilities to NSDMA on or before May 31, 2020 email: sdma.nagaland@gmail.com Further, all responsible technical departments have been requested to undertake necessary preparedness measures restorative works in order to reduce the risk of any eventualities and disaster in a wake of monsoon, 2020.

First floor of SJU sealed

DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): The deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur and chairman district disaster management (DDMA) has ordered the sealing of First Floor of St. Joseph University (SJU) building in Dimapur—a designated quarantine centre—with immediate effect till further order. In an order, DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi cautioned that any person violating the containment measures would be liable to be proceeded as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section-188 of the 1PC. K Y M C

state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

COVID-19: Meetings, preventive protocols and appeals

DIMAPUR: With the arrival of more stranded persons into the state as of Monday, the state government and its agencies have stepped up its precautionary protocols to ensure that COVID-19 pandemic is contained in the state. Civil organisations have also appealed to the returnees to maintain precautionary measures while in quarantine for their own safety as well as others. Meetings are also being held to coordinate activities in the quarantine centres not only in Kohima but in other districts as well. District administrations continue to issue directives for public to adhere since the state is no longer green zone. Public are urged to continue to maintain social distancing, wear mask and use sanitiser as a way of life.

Dimapur district

DGP Longkumer along with his team of officers inspecting Ganesh Nagar quarantine centre on May 25.

Police given the task of setting up Ganesh Nagar quarantine centre DGP Nagaland, T J Longkumer inspected the ongoing work in Ganesh Nagar to transform it into a quarantine centre on Monday. This abandoned industrial complex is now a hub of activity with the Police department racing to make this the largest quarantine

centre in Nagaland. Chief minister had directed the Police department to manage the complex from A to Z, whereby department agreed to accept the challenge. DGP stated that the Police department was gearing up to meet the huge responsibility, and as

directed by him, the DIG Border, Aotemsu along with a team of officers were working hard to meet the deadline. Longkumer added that he has given them all resources available within his power and was coordinating with the em-

powered committee, who were very supportive and encouraging. He also said that “my officers want to welcome our returning brothers and sisters with welcoming arms and to make their stay here as comfortable as we possibly can make it.”

Tuensang district

Tuensang district returnees update

Total number of returnees to Tuensang as on May 25 has totaled to 83. According to DIPR report, the total returnees are segregated and placed at three quarantine centres as per zones

and region wise. Total of 12 individuals have been stationed at JNV Chare institutional quarantine center (IQC) who are returnees from Assam and Meghalaya. At Sedem Govt. Polytech-

nic IQC there are 69 returnees from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim while one each from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal at Sao Chang Govt College IQC.

DSGBU and DPON appeal returnees to follow guidelines Dhansiripar Sub-Division GB union (DSGBU) and Dimasa Public Organisation Nagaland (DPON) has appealed to all returnees to follow guidelines strictly for their own good and community members. In a joint press release by DSGBU president Dohoi and DPON president K. Naben maintained that sub health centres and PHC/CHC in the sub-division should be provided with masks and sanitiser sufficiently in order to meet the challenges, likely to posed by the inmates of the quarantined centres coming up nearby the subdivisional headquarter. DSGBU and DPON also stated that “local organisations should have been taken into account while deciding to house quarantined people in the identified locations for understanding and local support which might be needed”. Further, DSGBU and DPON thanked the state government for facilitating return of those working outside the state and studying outside back to Nagaland and keeping them quarantined according to the guidelines.

peren district

ZOAN officials along with district administration and Medical department at ADC office Jalukie on May 23. (DIPR)

Government officials meeting with ZOAN at Peren

District administration & Medical department of Peren held a meeting with Zeliang Officer’s Association Nagaland (ZOAN) on May 23 at Customary Court, ADC office Jalukie, under the chairmanship of ZOAN president, Hiazu Meru. According to DIPR report, deputy CMO Peren, Dr. Supongmenla Walling, DSO, Dr. Kevi Meyase and SMO CHC Jalukie, Dr. Yetovi Tuccu highlighted on the action plan and preparedness status of quarantine centres & COVID Hospital. Medical department officials also briefed the ZOAN office bearers on the inadequate infrastructure, shortage of PPEs as well as lack of manpower at designated COVID Hospital, CHC Jalukie. ZOAN president, Hiazu Meru stated the purpose of the meeting was to ascertain the preparedness of Peren DTF in the fight against the global pandemic as well as to extend solidarity to all the frontline workers for their selfless services rendered. He encouraged them to continue to work selflessly with equal zeal and also assured that, ZOAN will assist the district administration and Medical department in all ways possible. The visiting officials donated an amount of Rs.1 Lakh to DC Peren to utilise in the management of quarantine centres. They also inspected Peren district designated COVID Hospital, CHC Jalukie to assess the preparedness and also to take stock of the resources available. The team later headed to Jalukie town local Baptist church, conference hall for an interaction with joint action committee (JAC) on COVID-19, wherein an amount of Rs. 30,000 and a total of 50 face masks were donated to K Y M C

JAC which was received by JAC convenor, Dr. Tumda Newme. While interacting, ZOAN president urged the JACs to work collectively with utmost sincerity and further spoke on the need to organise sensitisation programme even in village level on the importance of social distancing, proper use of face masks and use of hand sanitizers. Facility quarantine centres nodal officer, SDO (C), Kemciyile apprised the visiting officials that plantain or banana leaf being biodegradable product, it will be used as an alternative for packing food items for serving the inmates in quarantine centres. ZOAN officials along with facility quarantine centres nodal officer also inspected identified facility quarantine centre at JNV School and St. Xavier College, auditorium.

Kohima quarantine centres management committee (QCMC) held its first meeting under the chairmanship of DC Kohima & convenor of the committee, Gregory Thejawelie in his office chamber on May 25. According to DIPR report, the meeting deliberated on various issues highlighted by different committees faced at the ground work in managing the system at the centres. Committee decided to follow the present system, which has been put in place

and to address the gaps wherever required. It was also decided that proper guidelines for assigned officers to oversee the activities at the quarantine centres will be work out by the District Task Force, to ensure better functioning of the centres. As per the directive of the government through the empowered group, the Kohima QCMC has been constituted to oversee the day to day management of the quarantine centres located under the district with DC Kohima as the

convenor and members included ADC Kohima Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa; SDO (C) Sadar, Longasen Lotha; Sr. SP Kohima, Kevithuto Sophie; CMO Kohima, Dr. Vezokholu; KMC administrator, Kovi Meyase; EAC (Sadar), I. Changsang; DIO NIC, J. G Lorin with GM DIC, A. Temjen Jamir as member & overall in-charge of Meriema & ATI Quarantine Centre and EE R&B South Div Er. Vizotuo Seletsu as member & overall incharge of K. Badze.

According to the daily report on law & order and facilitation of essential goods & services for May 25, no violation of the lockdown and law & order incidents have been reported in any part of the state. According to DIPR report, Abhijit Sinha, principal secretary, Home while issuing the report added that all essential commodity shops and medical shops were open in

all the districts. No shortage of food grains, groceries milk or medicines have been reported in any part of the state. As per the report, no restriction was imposed on the movement of commercial vehicles for distribution of essential commodities and service providers. The report added that suitable arrangements and measures have been made for providing food and shelter

to migrant workers affected by the various COVID-19 restrictions. Accordingly, there are 2 (two) active relief/shelter camps where 57 (fifty seven) persons are housed. Further, there are 2 (two) active food camps where 375 (three hundred and seventy five) daily wagers and needy people were provided food and dry ration by the government and various NGOs.

State roundup on COVID-19 lockdown

NDRF sanitises NLA premises

In preparation for the series of various assembly committee meetings scheduled from May 27, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) sanitised the entire Nagaland legislative assembly (NLA) premises on May 25. A press release from secretary, Dr. P.J Anthony stated that the precautionary exercise would continue as and when any important function in the assembly secretariat is organised. Assembly secretariat lauded NDRF team and Health & Family Welfare department for extending service to the secretariat in containing COVID-19.

mon district

DC Mon issues order on total lockdown except on medical emer-

Deputy commissioner Mon, Thavaseelan K, notified that in view of the arrival of the stranded persons from different parts of the country, a total lockdown will be enforced on May 26 at Tizit sub-division and May 27 in Mon sub-division. According to DIPR report, the lockdown will be enforced with the following conditions: Movement of public is strictly prohibited

gencies; All shops except Pharmacies will remain closed; Movement of private vehicles is strictly prohibited.The total lockdown is enforced with a view to facilitate transportation of people to different quarantine centres of the district. Any person found violating will be penalised under relevant provisions of the law. In another order and in view of several

quarantine centres being set up in different parts of the district, DC Mon has ordered that all domestic animals especially dogs be kept chained (not let out of their respective homes) at all times with immediate effect until further notice. DIPR reported that, this measure has been initiated to reduce any possibility of

transmission of infection through the domestic animals while rummaging the garbage disposal areas at the designated quarantine centres. The owner shall be held responsible and is liable to be punished under Disaster Management Act, 2005 in the event of noncompliance of this order.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Born: 11.11.1947 – Died: 16.05.2020

Lt. I. Chuchu Jamir (Changtongya) We, the bereaved family extend our heartfelt gratitude to all individuals, relatives, neighbours, friends, well wishers and church who stood and supported us physically, ﬁnancially, materially and spiritually during the hard times and sorrow our family went through. May our Almighty God bless each and every one abundantly. DP-2424

1 Death Anniversary of our beloved Father Late Akho Humtsoe, 26th May 2020

A Year ago on this day, you left to be with the Lord. Yet every single day you are in our thoughts and your presence is sadly missed. Your kindness, love and smile shall always be an inspiration to us. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still; In our hearts you hold a place, no one could ever fill. Your Loved Ones.

The family members of Late Nikheho Y Kiba would like to offer our thanks to the many people who showed great kindness and support at his sudden demise on 16th of May 2020. May God bless you all. DP-2423

Lt. IMDAKMEREN 22/03/1923 – 16/05/2020 For the love, support and prayers shown to us at the time of our beloved husband/father’s demise, we acknowledge you all immensely. May God’s grace be upon you all. With Gratitude. (Wife and Family Members) K-934

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY LATE N. K. KOZA (N. KEMVÜ KOZA)

Loving Parents, Brothers, Sisters, In-laws and Loved Ones.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

~ From loving wife, children and family members.

DP-2409

kohima district Kohima QCMC meeting held

We, the family of Late H Khehoi Yeptho would like to convey our sincere appreciation to: 1) Shri. V. Kashiho Sangtam, Minister for S&WC, G&M, NSMDC. 2) Shri. Moasunep Sangtam, EAC Seyochung. 3) Shri. Hokheto Yepthomi, Language Officer. 4) Shri. Toshiho Yeptho, Supt. of Excise. 5) Shri. Kakuto Chophy, ARCS Cooperation. 6) BDO Sitimi Block. 7) Longmatra Town Sumi Baptist Late H Khehoi Yeptho Head GB of Honito Village Church. for 71 years (1949 – 2020). 8) GBs Union Sitimi Area. He left behind 21 children 9) Honito Baptist Church. and 94 grand children 10) Longmatra Village Council. Born on: 01.10.1933 Died on: 18.05.2020 11) Honito Village Students Union. 12) Honito Village Council. We regret our inability to mention each and every one of you individually and we pray that our Almighty God bless all those who stood by us abundantly. DP-2421

Loving Wife, Children, Grandchildren and Relatives.

05.12.1937 to 26.05.2019

Seems like only yesterday since you have been gone, yet nothing could replace the space you left behind. Your legacy of good deeds, love, wisdom and guidance is deeply imprinted in our lives, and we treasure and hold dear every memory we shared together. You will ever be in our hearts until that day we meet again in the Lord’s presence. K-925

Loving wife, children, in-laws & grandchildren K Y M C

State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

nagalandpost.com Poll Q . : S h o u l d Na g a l a n d reopen its inter-state borders for travellers? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

COVID-19 hygiene kits distribution programme

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

30% 60% 10%

Next poll

Q: Is China willing to

escalate tension with India in Ladakh?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST May 26

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Clouds and sun; breezy, nice

34 26

Aizawl

Partly sunny and pleasant

29 19

Guwahati Some rain and a thunderstorm 28 23 Imphal

A couple of morning showers

29 19

Itanagar Heavy rain and a thunderstorm 22 20 Shillong

A thunderstorm in spots

22 18

Kohima

A p.m. t-storm in spots

23 18

Dimapur

A strong afternoon t-storm

30 22

Mkg

Rain and a t-storm; cooler

22 18

Tuensang A thunderstorm in spots

18 14

A thunderstorm in spots

21 20

Wokha

Zunheboto An afternoon thunderstorm

20 16

SDO (C), Sadar, Mokokchung, Thungchanbemo Tungoe with department officials during the programme.

DIMAPUR: Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Mokokchung, under Agriculture department initiated the distribution programme of COVID-19 hygiene kits, launched by SDO (C), Sadar, Mokokchung, Thungchanbemo Tungoe on May 25 at DAO office Mokokchung. A press release

by deputy PD, ATMA Mokokchung, Rongsennungla Imchen stated that, Tungoe while addressing the importance of sharing COVID-19 advisories to the farmers by the department, further stressed on the importance to develop possible action plans in case of any possible attack of locusts and other pests on crop plants along

with weather forecast advisories to be disseminated to the farmers. He said that the programme was held for farmers as the primary agents of food supply chain, wherein due attention have to be given to ensure their well being and safety. While appreciating the efforts made by the department in assisting the farmers especially dur-

ing the ongoing economic crisis, he urged the department in particular and allied departments in general to remain dedicated and vigilant in addressing emergency situations. Around 5000 numbers each of face masks and soaps along with COVID19 advisory pamphlets were handed over to all the nine (9) ATMA farm information and advisory centres to be distributed to the farmers. Dr. Lanunochetla, deputy DAO, T. Mayang Ao, agriculture officer, Renbomo Ngullie, ACTO, Samuel Sangtam, ACTO, KVK, Yisemyong along with ATMA team were present at the launch of the programme. Meanwhile, other agencies like Naga Navy veterans and Assam Rifles have also been extending support towards combating COVID-19 pandemic through various programmes. Naga navy veterans: Indian Navy veterans from Nagaland donated 2500 face masks to the office of commissioner of Police, Dimapur as solidarity to keep the policemen safe as they are one of the most

exposed frontline workers. Navy veterans from Nagaland have served the country in different fields of the Indian Navy for 15 years or more. Kiphire Battalion: Kiphire Battalion of Assam Rifles provided 45 foldable beds for setting up of the quarantine facility at Loyola School, Kiphire town on May 25. According to PRO HQ IGAR (N), as part of the District Task Force and COVID core committee, the battalion is participating in all endeavour of the civil administration to deal with the pandemic in Kiphire. Phek Battalion: Assam Rifles units deployed in Phek district expressed solidarity with widows by distributing medical kits and ration in village Ziphu on May 24. Meal was also organised for them at the company operating base. Information about the need to continue taking necessary precautions to keep from contacting the virus was imparted. Jalukie Battalion: Jalukie Battalion of Assam Rifles distributed face masks in Songhlou village, Athibung division.

3 BAVU urges government to lift border sealing DIMAPUR: Borlengri Area Villagers’ Union ( BAV U ) , c o m p r i s i n g of nine villages, has requested the government of Nagaland to lift border sealing along the Borlengri area. In a press release, the union stated that it had written a letter to the home commissioner on May 16, 2020 citing problems faced by the residents due to border sealing and sought the government to address the issue at an earliest. Also, on May 19, BAVU said a joint meeting was held between Borlengri area leaders and deputy commissioner (DC) Di-

mapur at Dillai gate on the relaxation of border sealing under Borlengri area. At the meeting, the union said the DC assured the leaders to look into the issue and open the border at least for medical emergency. The union said that its chairman also met DC on May 21. However, despite all the efforts made by leaders of Borlengri area villagers, union said the administration has not been able solve the issue. Therefore, the union has requested to the responsible authority to intervene and lift border sealing.

CJNK condemns tax demand

DIMAPUR: Chakhro Jotsoma Nuolhou Krotho (CJNK) Dimapur has condemned the alleged “tax” demand and closure notice served to M/s Progressive Motors by some cadres of NNPGs. A condemnation by CJNK chairman Dovikho Nagi and secretary R. Nakhro expressed “the opinion that the group might be having some other motives apart from extorting money from the proprietor.” CJNK also informed the general public that the proprietor of M/s Progressive Motors was a respectable member of CJNK adhering to all business ethics and fairness in all his dealings. CJNK also acknowledged all the individuals and social organizations for condemning the action of the group.

DDGBA extends support to Demonstration on biofertilisers at Hozukhe village NGBF fact findings on delay of BSL-3 DIMAPUR: Dimapur District GBs Association (DDGBA) has extended support to Nagaland GBs Federation (NGBF) fact findings on delay of Bio Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) in Dimapur, considering the threat that is being caused by the COVID-19 and also Dimapur being the only commercial hub of the state and gateway to other neighbouring states. A press release from DDGBA president Khehovi V. Chophi and general secretary L. Ponghok Phom

expressed apprehension that people were being exposed to imminent danger because of “delay and lackadaisical attitude, we never know how much the threats going undetected and are let loose.” While asserting the government need to address the issue at the earliest, the DDGBU also expressed dissatisfaction at the government’s handling of stranded citizens outside due to “poor functioning of the apps and website created for the stranded people, many are still un-

aware or unable to avail the financial assistance.” While lauding those who decided to stay back, the DDGBA appealed the state government to take extra care of them and “initiate more exigency programmes for further assistance and aid, and also address their grievances in the coming days too.” DDGBA also appealed to all those returning home to follow the protocols and criterion to go through mandatory quarantine period and also for further instructions.

DIMAPUR: Demonstration on application of biofertilisers in maize was conducted by ATMA Dimapur, Niuland block at Hozukhe village on May 22. A press release from Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Niuland ATMA Dimapur, Nzamo Kikon stated that, with focus turning towards organic agriculture in the state, Roben Singh, ACTO Agronomy, KVK Dimapur, demonstrated the seed treatment of maize with phosphorus solubilising bacteria and azotobacter. He also highlighted the critical period of weed control in maize for optimum production of the crop. In the programme, adequate physical distancing was maintained and COVID-19 safety kits along with pamphlets containing precautionary methods were also provided to the farmers. ATMA officials with farmers at Hozukhe village during the demonstration on May 22.

northeast Domestic flight ops to remain work and the other for those stranded who are yet to halted in Tripura register themselves with the

1 more tests positive of COVID-19 in Meghalaya Correspondent Shillong, May 25: Another returnee from Tamil Nadu tested positive of COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total number of active cases to two in Meghalaya, even as the test results of 1100 are awaited. The 29-year-old woman, a Chennai returnee, came along with the 14th positive patient by Sharmik Special train on May 18 after the lockdown restrictions were partially eased. Both the patients were from the same institute in Erode district of Tamil Nadu. The woman was under quarantine all this while at Resubelpara, the district headquarters of North Garo Hills. “Another person who

had travelled from Chennai along with the 14th case has turned out to be COVID-19 positive,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma tweeted. Sangma also informed that the person was in isolation since the day of arrival. “Person is presently in Resubelpara under institutional isolation and medical observation,” the Chief Minister added. With the detection of this case, the State has recorded 15 COVID-19 cases out of which 12 have recovered, one succumbed to the virus and two are active cases. On the other hand, till date, out of the 6353 samples tested, 5238 were negative, while the results of 1100 are awaited, State Health and Family Welfare

Minister Alexander Laloo Hek informed. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that over 9500 people have so far returned to Meghalaya. He said on Tuesday evening, a special train from Rajasthan, carrying 225 passengers and another train from Andhra Pradesh, carrying 215 persons will leave for Guwahati, while on Wednesday a train from Delhi, carrying 500 persons and another from Kerala, carrying 510 persons will head towards Guwahati. Informing that the State gover nment has constituted two dedicated teams for residents who are stranded outside the State, Tynsong said, “One for those having to go out of the State for important

State government to return to the State.” He said those stranded outside the state can contact Assistant Commissioner Transport (7005629354), De puty General Manager, Meghalaya Transport Corporation, Tura (8974254116) and another officer on 9436103308. Those desiring to travel out of the state can contact DTO Shillong (8787561584), DTO Tura (7005531765), Motor Vehicle Inspector, Shillong (8787776147), Motor Vehicle Inspector, Tura (9774706399) for booking of transport. “The transportation will be available on payment basis,” Tynsong added.

Assam breaches 500-mark in COVID cases

Guwahati, May 25 (PTI): Assam recorded its highest single-day spike of 122 cases on Monday, taking the total past the 500-mark, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. With these fresh cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections has gone up to 514 in the state, of which 445 are active cases, Sarma said in a tweet. “Alert ~ 48 new cases of #COVID19+. 16 Karimganj, 8 Lakhimpur, 8 Ghy Qrnt, 5 Cachar, 4 Hailakandi, 3 South Salmara, 2 Nalbari, 1 each Morigaon/Goalpara,” he tweeted. In a series of tweets earlier during the day, Sarma said samples of 74 people from across different districts tested positive for the virus. Of these, 53 are from Golaghat, six from Kokrajhar, five from Karimganj, four from Dhemaji, two each from Tin-

sukia and Sivasagar, and one each from Nagaon and Jorhat districts, he added. On the other hand, five patients recovered and were discharged from different hospitals in the state, the minister said. “Five patients have been discharged today after testing negative for #COVID19 twice. Three from Guwahati and two from Jorhat medical college. Best wishes,” he tweeted. Sarma said mostly returnees have tested positive for coronavirus. “It is clarified that all swabs are collected from people soon after they arrive from outstation. Subsequently they are transferred to the quarantine centres. Therefore, most of the positive cases in Assam are imported and not home- grown!” he said in a tweet. Of the total 514 cases, four patients have died due to the deadly disease, while 62 have

been cured, Sarma said. Besides, three patients have migrated to other states, the minister said. After inter-state movement through road and rail networks was allowed during the lockdown period, Assam saw a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. With domestic flight operations resuming from Monday, the health officials are expecting this spike to be even sharper in coming days. To screen all the people coming from outside the state by road and rail network, the government has set up five zonal screening camps besides those already existing at the district headquarters and local levels. Kokrajhar has the zonal screening camp for Lower Assam districts, Tezpur for North Assam districts, Jorhat for Upper Assam districts, Guwahati for Central Assam districts and Silchar for Barak Valley districts.

Agartala, May 25 (Agencies): Domestic air operations will not resume in Tripura from Monday as all flights operating to and from Agartala stand cancelled, according to Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport’s officials. Services were halted as all the flights are connected to Kolkata and the Kolkata airport is not available till May 27, in view of cyclone Amphan. Director, Biju Patnaik International Airport, VV Rao, in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar said that at least two flights may be cancelled due to some issues at Kolkata, Mumbai and other places. All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India since March 25.

Suspected cattle thief beaten to death in Tripura Agartala, May 25 (Agencies): A Bangladeshi youth, who is suspected to be a cattle smuggler, has been beaten to death in West Tripura along the Indo-Bangla border. Sources said, “A young man was found seriously injured near the Gopal Nagar tea garden in the West Tripura district on Sunday.” “Police took him to Mohanpur Hospital from where he was sent to the GBP Hospital in Agartala. But the doctors declared him brought dead,” said sources. According to security sources, in the morning on Sunday, the Sidhai police station received information that a man was lying in the forest near the Gopalnagar tea garden. The police brought him to the hospital. When asked, the youth introduced himself to the police as Rukman Ali, a resident of Habiganj district in Bangladesh.

4 flights with 448 passengers land in Imphal Correspondent IMPHAL, May 25: Four flights with 448 passengers including two minors landed at Imphal airport on Monday, the first day of resumption of the domestic flights amid the increasing COVID-19 positive cases in Manipur. Four new positive cases were reported in the state in the last 24-hour taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 36. All four news cases including a 21year-old girl recently returned to the state and are staying at community quarantine centres in their respective districts. The new confirmed cases were reported from Churachandpur, Noney and Kangpokpi districts. Of the total positive cases, 18 including one confirmed on Monday were from Churachandpur district. All of them recently came back from Chennai. Meanwhile, amid the rising positive cases among the returnees, four flights (two Indigo flights, one each of Air Asia and Air India) with 448 passengers including two minors on board landed at Imphal airport on Monday. All domestic flights remained suspended since March 25 after the Centre announced nationwide lockdown

to slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Of the four flights, three were from Delhi while one, a link flight (Indigo) originating from Chennai that also picked up passengers from Bangaluru, official source said. On arrival at the Imphal airport, all the passengers were subjected to body thermal scanning and were transported to an institutional quarantine centre opened at two private schools in Imphal West district. Meanwhile, the change in the SOP on Sunday has surprised returnees as well as relatives who arrived at airport to pick them. Among others, as per the SOP issued by state home department, all passengers who are asymptotic will be allowed to go home for quarantine. However, ahead of arrival of the flights, the state home department issued a modified SOP stating that all asymptomatic passengers will be put at institutional or community quarantine centre. Any symptomatic passengers or suspected passengers will be separated immediately and sent to isolation ward/ Covid treatment ward by medical team.

‘Deposit NEHUTA’s fund to M’laya CMRF’ Correspondent Shillong, May 25: The North Eastern Hill University Teachers Association (NEHUTA) on Monday again hit out at Vice Chancellor Prof. S.K.Srivastava for his “nonchalant” and “unmoved” at their humanitarian appeal to deposit two years of earmarked funds of the association to PM CARES. On the other hand, the association has urged the Vice Chancellor to deposit earmarked funds of NEHUTA to the Meghalaya Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. “If the Vice Chancellor has any problem with PM CARES, he can kindly deposit NEHUTA’s earmarked funds to Meghalaya Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. If he has any problem with

Prime Minister Modi or the central government, as his second term is under wraps, it would no less be a service to humanitarian cause,” the NEHUTA stated. In a press communiqué, NEHUTA president, Prof. Xavier P. Mao and general secretary, Dr. Marbhador M. Khymdeit said the inaction speaks volume about his “arrogance” and “incompetence” of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor in disregarding NEHUTA’s public call to support the cause of the nation in this grave hour of humanitarian crisis. “Joining the call for supporting national relief work under COVID and other humanitarian disasters, one day salary of the members of NEHU fraternity have already been deposited to PM CARES,” they said,

expressing surprised on Prof. Srivastava playing deaf to their appeal to contribute two years of NEHUTA grant to deposit in PM CARE. “As the Vice Chancellor is arbitrarily sitting over the earmarked funds, which could best be utilized by giving to PM CARES,” the NEHUTA once again appealed to Prof. Srivastava, ‘better late than never’. The VC has forgotten that before becoming VC, he was a teacher and as a teacher it is his duty to support fight against COVID by depositing Teachers’ Association’s earmarked funds to the cause of the nation, stated NEHUTA. Seemingly, he has forgotten his role as a teacher after becoming an administrator as he plays deaf to humanitarian cause, added the association.

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXx NO. 169 Dimapur, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

Quarantine issue

ecent news reports in the local media have raised the issue of availability of sufficient facilities for use as quarantine centres in the state. According to official reports, a little over 18,255 people from Nagaland who are stranded in various states, have registered with the state government portal iamstranded.nagaland.gov.in and so far around 3938 have returned till May 25. How many more are to return is not known, but as per the details issued by the COVID-19 Empowered Group, some 15,000 more were expected to make the journey back to Nagaland in the coming days. Out of the 18,350 stranded citizens expected to return to the state from several parts of the country, at least 12, 536 would be arriving from Red Zone(68.32%), 3239 from Orange Zone(17.65%) and 2575 from Green Zone(14.03%). As per the report, Dimapur would be receiving a total of 8657 returnees- 6328 from Red Zone, 1262 from Orange Zone and 1067 from Green Zone. Kohima(1694) will be receiving 322 from Green Zone, 290 from Orange Zone and 1082 from Red Zone. Peren(1531) will be receiving 181 from Green Zone, 261 from Orange Zone and 1089 from Red Zone. Mon(1944) will be receiving 907 from Red Zone, 749 from Orange Zone and 288 from Green Zone. According to official sources, the tally may differ from time to time. On an average, each district will be receiving around 1600 returnees in the respective districts. Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Y. Kikheto Sema IAS, who is the overall in charge of Dimapur district for all COVID-19 related activities, in an exclusive interview with NE8/Nagaland Post, admitted that it would be a very big challenge for the state government to handle the situation. Sema informed that currently there were nearly 60 quarantine observation centres in Dimapur. He said that about 60-70 hotels have also been kept reserved for isolation centres with a total capacity of around 3500. Kikheto said people coming from green zone and orange zone areas would be kept at quarantine observation centres for three days and mandatory home isolation for 14 days while people coming from red zone areas or those who crossed red zone areas would be kept at institutional quarantine for 14 days and mandatory home isolation for 14 more days. From the given data, it indicates that around 12,536 returnees coming from various Red Zones are to be housed in quarantine centres under 11 districts. For instance, Dimapur will require quarantine facilities to accommodate around 6328 returnees coming from Red Zones. As per the state government decision, returnees from Dimapur, Mon and Peren are to be placed in quarantine centres in Dimapur. It is not known as to whether that much facilities to house a total of 8324 returnees are available in Dimapur city. Kohima city will house the remaining returnees of eight districts and that itself is going to be a big and almost impossible task. The state government has too much work to do and the first thing that it needs to do is to reassess its plans in a realistic way. The challenge of housing so many returnees and especially providing food is way beyond imagination. The state government has to take a very serious note of this impending challenge since thousands would be arriving the state in the coming days.

DailyDevotion The Good or The Best?

If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left. —Genesis 13:9

As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and physically gratifying possibilities will open up before you. These things are yours by right, but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God make your choice for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the appropriate thing to consider, if you were not living the life of faith. But if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and allow God to make your choice for you. This is the discipline God uses to transform the natural into the spiritual through obedience to His voice. Whenever our right becomes the guiding factor of our lives, it dulls our spiritual insight. The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. In this passage, it would seem that the wisest thing in the world for Abram to do would be to choose. It was his right, and the people around him would consider him to be a fool for not choosing. Many of us do not continue to grow spiritually because we prefer to choose on the basis of our rights, instead of relying on God to make the choice for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eyes focused on God. And God says to us, as He did to Abram, “…walk before Me…” (Genesis 17:1).

Quotes

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. ~ Napoleon Hill

id you know that hens sing when they are happy ? In the entire lockdown period when I was completely alone for almost two months, I made friends with a crow. The secret is persistence and exact timing. I would come out from a wretched day of solving problems and rescuing animals at 5.30 in the evening and bring two glucose biscuits with me. Then I would start calling: Kaku Kaku and he would appear, sometimes alone or with a friend. I would break the biscuits, put them in a high place – the pillar near the gate – and would leave them there with a bowl of water. He would come, eat a small part after dipping it into water. If the squirrel came to help himself, Kaku would call his friend who would scare away the squirrel and then both of them would help themselves and fly away. I would turn my back after he finished, twice he came and bumped me before flying away. I felt like a girl

with her first beau ! On the days he ignored me and the biscuits, I would scold and rant like a jilted lover and put other food out till he came reluctantly, still pretending I was not there. Oh, the sorrow of it ! Nothing can make you happier than seeing the pure joy of a happy animal. Those that have never experienced it have never reached their soul – the place where happiness is earthshaking and universal. And hens, if treated properly, give you immediate happiness. Here is an excerpt from someone who keeps hens in her farm - “They like playing. In fact, that is all they ever do, apart from eating, which they also seem to do nonstop. They enjoy everything, sing happy little songs and just have fun. These include pecking their way through all the barns, over all the bales of hay ending up ranged along the top of the wall outside the kitchen window sunbathing or dustbathing under

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

If they think you are listening one of the bushes. In the winter the Land Rover is loaded up with hay and the hens try their hardest to cadge a lift. They know they are not supposed to, so they peck round the wheels nonchalantly and wait for an opportunity when our backs are turned. One will usually manage to jump in and sing triumphantly, giving herself away even while hidden amongst the hay. Hens love human company and our hens hate to be left out of apparently interesting conversations. On one occasion we had a group of agricultural students and they had gathered in a ring to learn about crop rotation. The hens felt

deliberately excluded and pushed to the centre of the melee. They stretched up to make themselves as tall and noticeable as possible and tried to take part in the conversation the only way they know, by singing loudly.” (The Secret Life of Cows). If a hen is crippled, her close friends will look after her, adjust their pace to match hers, groom her and see that she feeds first. If she dies, they will stop laying eggs for a few days and go to her favourite places to just stand there. If that is not mourning, what is ? Mothers chop food for their children the same way as your mother cuts it

up for you. If children are annoying they get scolded, but if they need reassurance mother hens have a special voice. In fact, hens have many speaking voices. They make friends quickly, bully newcomers to their social circle so that they know their place, form hierarchies. I once snatched a chick from a child in Bareilly who was in the process of using her as a tennis ball. I brought her home and this little one day old grew up in front of me, slept in my room, crawled up using her teeth and the bedcover, followed me and sat on a bucket while I bathed, looked at the mirror and played hide and seek with it. She explored every part of the house, looking into utensils in case they hid something of interest. She loved to be carried, hated to be ignored, and if I read a book, she would crawl between me and the book and cheep winningly, looking into my eyes. Who can resist the ways of a child ?

Hens respond to kindness with affection and will talk to you with purpose and intelligence – if they think you are listening. These are the same hens we keep locked in cages, unhappy, pumped full of hormones and foul food, with broken bones and scarred bodies. Their feathers dull when they are unhappy, their heads droop and they moan softly with pain all the time till they are killed for you to eat. Hens suffer very badly from fear and shock and they go into depression very quickly. From the minute they are born and have their beaks cut off without anaesthesia, they don’t stand a chance of happiness. And we kill more than one billion a year in a never ending Hitlerian genocide. Do you think that a species like humans can ever be happy when they cause so much misery around them ? To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in, www.peopleforanimalsindia.org

Post-mortem

Finding solace in one’s homeland

Education business in Assam

oday’s world is a “Chaos in must not forget that when tracthe Cosmos” where there tors and other agricultural tools is cut-throat competition in and implements are brought to the state, it should go to the real every sphere of life. Everybody farmers and not those so called seems to chase achievements at “progressive” farmers with any cost. Being a professional acres of land in town areas. from the education sector I feel This must be done if farmers that I have a responsibility to in the rural areas are to really share my experiences with the concentrate on farming with readers in general and the manthe right tools and implements. agement of the private institutions Meanwhile, government should in particular. There is a rat-race also concentrate on starting up for admission of students every small scale industries (under academic session. government sector) to produce When we pursued our eduessentials like masks, sanitiser, cation from fairly good schools PPE and other products for and colleges in Guwahati, three Nagaland public to purchase decades back there were very few instead of importing these from schools and colleges in this part outside all the time. The cur- of NE India in the private sector rent situation has proved that and we only saw the advertiseif proper industries are set up, ments in the form of admission Naga people can do the labour notice, that too in black and white as they are talented in many in the newspapers for information ways. Let us stop promoting purpose solely and not an adveruseless activities that drain the state coffer, but rather start tisement in any form, and only the replenishing and multiplying “date of admission” and “form the exchequer. Jobs must also distribution dates” were pubbe given to the most deserving lished. Now what is the scenario, and suited to the task (in the I think, I don’t need to elaborate industries which the Nagaland on that, every institution beating government will set up shortly) their own drum of success and rather than through political achievements and giving a clarion call to the student fraternity for backing at all times. UN chief Antonio Gu- admission in their colleges. As terres said that despite great if, if you admit your ward in that scientific and technological institution you can be rest assured advances in recent decades, that your ward will come out with a virus had brought us to our a flying career. But it is not so in knees is completely true. The most of the cases. Had it been so, students pandemic is a wake-up call for our state and the government passing out B.Tech in civil enas it has the potential to cause gineering would not have ended untold damage and loss, while up working in a multi-national on a positive note it can serve micro-finance company as an for greater good if the govern- Area Manager. I am saying this ment and people wake up from quoting an instance where one self-induced slumber. of my friends who passed-out The pandemic has crossed his B.Tech in Civil Engineering borders and cultures indis- from NERIST at Naharlagun criminately, affecting people’s is presently working in a multilives regardless of their race or national micro-finance company religion and while the global as an Area Manager in Kolkata. crisis has caused anxiety and He is doing good but his degree suffering, it has also inspired of engineering hardly has any moments of interfaith unity relevance with his job-profile. – with believers, from world The credit for this goes to his leaders to medical workers, hard-work, endurance, perseverconnecting across religious ance and his undaunted ambition divides in a sign of solidarity. to achieve something in life. Now With the three declared the reason I gave this example positive cases of COVID-19 in of my friend because that was Nagaland, let us come together the scenario I am referring to to support those who need three decades back. So you can empathy at this time and not well imagine what would be the post inflammatory messages online with the primary intent scenario now. As the admission season of provoking people. We must comes every year, newspaper get serious and use our time to do some actual good, one of pages are filled with advertisements of educational instituwhich is praying. Let us keep praying for the tions comprising local institutes, health and safety of our loved institutions from other states of ones as well as your personal India as well as abroad. Every wellbeing, protection and resil- institution claiming to be the ience for the frontline workers best among the lot and almost all caring for people infected with institutions guaranteeing a flying the virus, divine guidance and career for your ward after passing wisdom for our leaders as they out. Examples are not wanting to lead us through this challenging establish the fact that practically time. Let us not forget those the scenario is not as rosy as the that are quarantined as we can institutions portray, in their orimagine the anxiety they must namental advertisements. Guardhave now that cases have been ians spending lakhs of rupees for getting their wards’ a degree reported in our state. in engineering or MBA from a Benthunglo K Lotha, private institute , they become Kohima Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the

n the evening of May 22, as I watched the live streaming of the special train carrying the stranded persons pulled in at Dimapur railway station, my heart ached and went out to those who were inside the train and eagerly waiting to touch upon Nagaland soil. The second train from Gurugram, Haryana carrying the stranded returnees touched on Nagaland soil on May 25. Many more will be returning home and not just students but those who have lost their jobs and homeless as they can no longer pay house rent in the metro cities. Perhaps in the minds of the returnees they must be filled with hope to find solace in their own homeland. One cannot help but think of the mental trauma and physical stress they must have endured during the days, where some of them had no place to stay but to live on the streets for a few days. It is very unfortunate that innocent children were also among the returnees, least aware of COVID-19 or even the stress that the parents must have gone through. When COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe and when Modi announced the nationwide lockdown, our state was still lacking in the basic medical infrastructures. Very hurriedly the state has acquired the BSL-3 labs at Dimapur and Kohima and of course, some of the ventilators along with other equipments. However, our hospitals (especially in other districts apart from Kohima and Dimapur) really need to be revamped and capacitated with hi-tech medical equipments. The government need to infuse the flow of necessary funds continuously and visibly and not only when challenged by desperate circumstances. It must show its commitment in providing healthcare to its citizens not just during a crisis but every day. It needs to have the moral duty to ensure that healthcare is available and accessible to every citizen. The current pandemic is proof that there is no substitute for publicly provided healthcare. This is a real nightmare happening and the government must start utilising the various departmental funds provided by central government for the real purpose. Had there not been a pandemic, God knows when the government would have revamped district hospitals. In the past, the funds have not been utilised properly for building up Nagaland as it would turn into personal largesse and mansions. Apart from health and education sectors, the farming sector also needs to be properly monitored. It is true that efforts are being made during the COVID-19 scare to encourage farmers to till the land for sustaining the state economy. One

professionals but , more often than not , many out of the lot, fail to retain their jobs, even if they are able enough because of the hectic work schedule and the chaotic rat-race in every organization . Thereby these disgruntled lot returns back to their home-towns and start some new ventures’ on their own. So as a guardian it is the moral duty to judge the pros and cons while admitting your wards as well as choosing a course and the institution. Institutions which are doing really good so far as their placements and faculty members as well as infrastructure is concerned, such institutions hardly give repeated advertisements in the newspapers, beating their own drums. The good name of such institutes spread from word to mouth. Such institutions simply give an admission notification that too in black and white. But the institutions which give repeated block-buster advertisements in the print and electronic media need to ponder on the maxim , the great poet, Rabindranath Tagore said, I am quoting, “The diamond that is fake claims about its large size which is why its purity and authenticity becomes skeptical and doubtful” . My humble request or suggestion would be, before selecting an institution, please check the following points – Background of Management & Board of Directors, Permanent infrastructure, Credibility of faculty members and Placement Track Record. These are the vital points that needs to be taken into consideration and not the colorful advertisements highlighting the names of the big multi-national companies where they have placed their students with ornamental packages to attract the students and parents, which are, more often than not, far from reality. There are new institutions as well as new innovative courses now mushrooming in the cities of NE India like the once-flourishing wine-shop and PCO business. Because for the business tycoons or the punjipattis, it is the best way to route the unaccounted money or the black-money accumulated by evading taxes, by registering a trust, by buying and showing that piece of land and

functioning the institution in a rented premises in the heart of the city and starting an institution overnight with a temporary affiliation from the gullible universities. The Universities are also equally liable for granting such temporary affiliations to colleges being run from rented premises, just for the sake of earning the affiliation money. Now these institutions growing overnight, without any professional market survey, start courses, seeing other established institutions minting money from those courses. But these institutions fail to foresee the future of such courses, forget about placements tie-ups or recruitment of deserving and experienced faculty members. The result is that these institutions have to run from pillar to post seeking admission for those unrealistic and lessdemanding courses, where the employment scenario with such degrees in North East India is grim or already saturated. Under such circumstances, the college management should do a realistic and professional market survey by experienced professionals before introducing any new course and the same responsibility goes to the University also to foresee the employment scenario for such courses or degrees in their respective states and region before according affiliation to such courses, degrees and colleges. Also the state-wise students bodies of NE India has a pro-active role to play under the given scenario, without me, elaborating further on this topic. Universities should stop giving affiliation indiscriminately to anyone who has enough money to own a piece of land, registering a trust, appoint Board of Directors , recruit faculty and the working capital to start the institute in a rented premise in the heart of any city of NE Indian states. The all mighty Dept of Education of the respective states needs to wake-up from its slumber and take pragmatic steps to stop such Commercialization of Education, of course if the department can spare some time from organizing the acrimonious governmental flagship programmes of this department. Manas Chakraverty, Guwahati

Reader’s Post Sir,

Let us not disown them

Owing to the fact that three of our brothers and sisters tested positive to COVID-19, let us not fall prey to disowning them, like we did to one of Jain brother. Let us be supportive and encouraging to them. God knows what they are going through. Let us not add more salt to its wounds. Moreover, this is also a time where we need to show our love and support towards the frontline workers who would be taking care of them. Enough of the criticisms. Let us do away with it. I only wish and pray that the doctors and nurses are aware of palliative care, which will morally and mentally boost them. Sentilong Amri, Dimapur. view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

Domestic flight services resume after 2 months Swarms of locusts ravage north India

NEW DELHI, MAY 25 (PTI): After a gap of two months, domestic passenger flight operations resumed on Monday amid reluctance by various states to open up their airports in view of rising cases of the novel coronavirus. The first flight took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna and it departed at 6.45 am. Large numbers of flights were cancelled on Monday across the country. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling cases of the coronavirus infection in their states. The West Bengal government did not relent to a request by the civil aviation ministry to allow flight services. It was decided on Sunday that the state will gradually permit domestic flights from May 28 under strict guidelines. Andhra Pradesh too did not allow any flights on Monday. The government last week announced the resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines like a cap on ticket pricing, wearing of face masks by passengers, no food served on board planes and making available details of medi-

A SpiceJet plane takes-off from Chennai airport for domestic travel, after flights resumed during the ongoing nationwide lockdown, in Chennai, Monday. (PTI)

cal conditions by travellers through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up of a selfdeclaration form. The app gives colourcoded designation to users as per their health status and travel history. It helps

the users know if they are near anyone who has tested COVID-19 positive. The government’s decision came as the aviation sector was reeling under severe stress triggered by the coronavirus lockdown that

began on March 25. An IndiGo spokesperson said 20,000 passengers will travel on Monday through the airline’s flights. In a press release, SpiceJet said its first flight on Monday took off from

SC allows AI to operate with occupied middle seats till June 6 The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Air India to keep the middle seats occupied while operating its non-scheduled flights to bring back Indians stranded abroad up to June 6 while observing that the government should be more worried about the health of citizens rather than the health of commercial airlines. The top court said that after June 6, Air India will operate its non-scheduled flights in accordance with the interim order to be passed by the Bombay High

Court. The Centre and Air India had moved the apex court challenging the interim order of the High Court by which it had asked the national carrier to operate its non-scheduled flights by keeping the middle seats vacant. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopana and Hrishikesh Roy, which took up the appeals filed urgently through video conferencing despite the holiday for Eid, remanded the matter back to the High Court with a

request to pass an effective interim order after hearing all concerned on the date fixed by it, i.e. June 2, 2020, or soon thereafter. “We are of the considered view that the petitioner - Air India should be allowed to operate the non-scheduled flights with the middle seats booking up to June 6, 2020. However, after that the Air India will operate non-scheduled flights in accordance with the interim order to be passed by the Bombay High Court thereafter,” it said.

Ahmedabad at 6.05 am and reached Delhi at 7.10 am. Many states have expressed serious reservations about the Centre’s decision to start flight services. K a r n a t a k a , Ta m i l Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, among others, have announced their respective quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports. Some states have decided to put passengers in mandatory institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them under home quarantine. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday had questioned the need for quarantine if a passenger shows green status on the Aarogya Setu app. The green status signifies that a passenger is safe. The airports in Mumbai in Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Telangana will handle 50 and 30 flights respectively everyday from Monday, they said. The Maharashtra government had requested the Centre on Sunday to keep air services in the state at a minimum possible level. Mumbai is the country’s second busiest airport. Puri also tweeted to say that maximum 25 flights per day can arrive in Chennai from Monday and there will be no limit on the number of departures. For other airports in Tamil Nadu, flights will operate as in other parts of the country.

COVID-19 hits Zee Media headquarters in Noida; building sealed Zee Media Corporation Limited. The building was sealed following a letter issued from Gautam Budh Nagar District Surveillance officer. “Based on findings of new positive case in different floor of the building, the possibility of spread of the disease (coronavirus or COVID-19) in other parts of the building the entire building has been sealed/ closed for sanitization and

containment of the disease as per the Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulation, 2020,” an official release from the administration said. The closure process was undertaken in the presence of Chief Medical Officer Gautam Budh Nagar and police officials. The entire building will be sanitized and entry of employees has been stopped till the building is sanitized and is free from COVID-19

AIIMS sanitation chief dies of COVID NEW DELHI, MAY 25 (AGENCIES): Senior sanitation supervisor at AIIMS, New Delhi, Heera Lal never missed a day on duty—until COVID-19 struck him last Tuesday and took him away on Monday morning. An ever-smiling professional, whose job required him to be in constant touch with disinfection staff, cleaners, and ward boys, Lal developed early disease symptoms on Tuesday and was gone in a week off. Speaking to The Tribune, Kuldip Singh, General Secretary of AIIMS New Delhi SC, ST Association lamented that the Institute only conducted a blood test on Heera Lal when he initially fell ill. “He was asked to go

Heatwave likely to abate after May 28 NEW DELHI, MAY 25 (PTI): Dust and thunder storms are likely in several parts of north India on May 29-30, bringing the muchneeded relief from the intense heatwave, according to the (IMD). The IMD had on Sunday issued a red colourcoded alert for north India for May 25-26 when the prevailing heatwave conditions are expected to peak. Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and parts of UP have been experiencing blistering heat for days with temperatures soaring over 45OC in some places. The highest day temperature in Rajasthan on Monday was recorded in Churu at 47.5 degrees Celsius, while Allahabad was the hottest place in Uttar Pradesh at 46.3 OC. The maximum temperature was 44OC in the national capital.

home and rest and come back if symptoms progress. His condition suddenly worsened two days ago and he was rushed to the emergency where he was put on ventilator support. It was too late by then. It was also only when he was brought to the emergency that his COVID 19 test was done. We are distraught,” Singh told The Tribune today. He also said Heera Lal, who handled the entire sanitation effort at AIIMS, did not have protective gear. Heera Lal himself has been on duty ever since the COVID pandemic struck. Senior doctors at AIIMS remember him for his smiling face and enthusiastic spirit.

infection, the release reads. “After due sanitization and following the protocol the health team will issue a premises fitness certificate after which the building shall be allowed to resume its operation.” A worker in Zee Media, who is resident of Delhi, was tested for COVID-19 on May 15. A total 51 samples were collected and sent for testing, of these 28 ‘positive’ patients were found.

Out of this, 15 patients were residents of G.B. Nagar while the rest were residents of Delhi and Ghaziabad. They were all admitted in GIMS Greater Noida. For the last three days, a health camp for screening of all 400 employees of this company was undertaken to find close contacts of positive patients. The entire building has been sanitized repeatedly daily since May 15 to prevent spread of the infection.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

KOHIMA : NAGALAND

The swarms later headed towards Dausa district. The swarms are travelling farther and damaging trees as there are no standing crops for them to feed on, an official said. The scourge of locusts has been haunting farmers in parts of northern India for some days. The cropdestroying insects from the grasshopper family, entered Madhya Pradesh earlier this week, in the most vicious attack in nearly three decades. They have the potential to put in jeopardy India’s food security, experts say. In Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, the administration has kept firemen ready to hose them down with chemicals. The Uttar Pradesh government has declared a state-wide alert after a massive army of locusts invaded farms in several

districts, The Times of India reported on Monday. Uttar Pradesh is the third state after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to have been affected by these cropeating pests. Authorities fear that the pests have affected crops in 17 districts of the state including Agra, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Etah, Kanpur and Mathura. “The swarm of locusts, which is moving, is small in size,” said Deputy Director Agriculture Kamal Katiyar. The deser t locust, widely regarded as the most destructive migratory pest in the world, is the scourge of the farmer. Some estimate that a swarm that covers just a single square kilometer could include upwards of 80 million locusts, with the higher end of the range reaching as much as 150 million.

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DIRECTORATE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION No.ED/AEI-18/2020

JAIPUR, BHOPAL, LUCKNOW, MAY 25 (AGENCIES): Three of India’s northern states, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, have been overrun by an army of locusts in the last few days that, by some accounts, have spanned a 2.5 to 3km track. Swarms were previously reported in multiple districts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and had reached Uttar Pradesh by the weekend. There have also been earlier reports from April where locust swarms had made their way into Rajasthan from Pakistan. Swarms of locusts entered some residential areas of the city on Monday, presenting the local people with an unusual sight. Locusts normally affect districts in western Rajasthan but this time the swarms have travelled as far as Jaipur city.

PRANABANANDA WOMEN'S COLLEGE

Kohima, the 23rd May 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians, Does the lockdown closure of schools make you feel that children paused training their minds? Don’t worry….We will take them to the next level of digital learning!!! Tele/Radio Education – Online Students Evaluation Programme ! Instructions for Students:  Class wise evaluation schedule will be made available in DoSE’s Facebook Page ‘School Education, Nagaland’. ‘Like’ the page so that you will get notified of all updates.  Login into our online evaluation portal ‘https://dosenl.in’ from any Mobile/Laptop/PC on the specified date and time of evaluation.  You will find Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions in the portal. Click the correct choice for each question. Enter your Name, Class, Name of School, District and Mobile Number in the given space. Click the SUBMIT Button.  Ten students securing highest aggregate marks in all the subjects in each class will be rewarded.  Best performing schools will be honoured with certificates of appreciation.  Preparation of rank list from students securing same aggregate marks will be done by computerized random selection method. ** Login into the portal only at the exact time schedule notified. Answer the questions within the given time limit. The page will become inactive after the scheduled time. Get Ready……Start Viewing the video lessons already broadcasted again from our Youtube Channel ‘DoSE Nagaland’ and Facebook Page ‘School Education, Nagaland’ and wait for the Evaluation Schedule. With regards, Yours sincerely, (SHANAVAS C) IAS Principal Director DC-442

(Arts & Commerce) Lhomithi Colony, Dimapur NAAC Accredited Grade 'B' Phone : 03862-244551 e-mail : pranabananda_wc@yahoo.com Website : pwcdimapur.com

OFFLINE & ONLINE Admission 2020 Prospectus & Forms for XI and XII (Arts & Com.) & 1st Semester BA & B.Com classes are available at the college from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. For offline admission students can directly contact college office counter. For online admission students may refer to "MY NORTH EAST APP" from Google Playstore Admission will be given after declaration of HSLC and HSSLC result on first come first serve basis.

DC-441

Principal Pranabananda Women's College Dimapur : Nagaland

DP-2420

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS): Zee Media, which has been reeling under the COVID-19 crisis since May 15, has been sealed after six fresh cases were reported on Sunday. The five-story building was sealed between 11 pm and 11:30 pm on Sunday after the evening shift ended and night shift was to be started, said an employee working in the Noida Sector-16 based office of

Swarms of locust in the walled city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Monday. (PTI)

DP-2425

international/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur Tuesday, MAY 26, 2020

Japan lifts Tokyo’s state of emergency All returnees should undergo COVID-19 test: NMA

Shinzo Abe Japan has faced some problems with its response and promised a review once the outbreak was over. But he also praised the “Japan model”, in which it brought the outbreak under control in six weeks without strict lockdowns imposed in other countries. However, he warned that, “in the worst case scenario, there may be the unfortunate possibility of reimposing the state of emergency if the speed of infections rises again,” adding that he would like to avoid asking people to stay indoors.

(From p-1) He stressed that it was the time for solidarity and determination to fight the pandemic together as “the pandemic is here to stay and we have to live with it”. According to Toy, the people’s “initial reaction” would go a long way in addressing the pandemic adding it was time for Nagaland to set an example and rise up, show goodness and to cooperate. He also lamented that when the first COVID-19 case was detected in Guwahati, the public reaction was not pleasant and stigmatisation occurred. Hoping that this would not recur, Toy also appealed to people not to panic or overact, but empathise and show solidarity to those affected by COVID-19. H&FW principal secretary Menukhol John, who was also present, disclosed that the two males were asymptomatic while the female showed symptoms. Addressing a joint press conference with the chief secretary Temjen Toy Menokhol said health workers were doing their best to contain COVID-19 . He said everyone returning from outside Nagaland would be on the radar of health workers, who were actively doing contact tracing and doing their best to contain the disease.

Crossword

by adopting all necessary steps...we will underpin corporate financing of Japan firms by mobilising an overwhelming amount of funds in an ‘all Japan’ fashion,” said Abe. The combined stimulus would bring the total spending in response to the pandemic to about 40% of Japan’s gross domestic product. The new package would include 60 trillion yen to expand loan programmes that state-affiliated and private financial institutions offer to firms hit by the virus, the Nikkei said. Another 27 trillion yen would be set aside for other aid including capital injections for ailing firms, the paper said. The government is expected to approve the budget, which will also include subsidies to help companies pay rent and wages, at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Ja p a n’s e c o n o my slipped into recession in the last quarter, and analysts expect another 22% contraction in April-June.

KVC, AMK ask govt to send returnees to their districts Coronavirus does not spread easily on surfaces: CDC

(From p-1) KVC informed the chief minister that it regretted that after having “succinctly” stated its sentiments to the chief secretary, there has been no consideration to its plight. AMK: While expressing appreciation of the state government’s efforts to bring back children (students) from various parts of the country, especially from Red Zones or crossing such cities, Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho (AMK) has urged upon the principal secretary health and family welfare to take necessary measures to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread to colonies or villages of Nagaland in the event the virus entered the state through returnees coming from Red Zones. In a joint statement AMK president Kevinourheno Seyie and Shürhivino Nakhro maintained that 80% of COVID-19 affected are generally asymptomatic and

unless testing was done, they can transmit the virus through contact and spreading into community transmission. AMK reminded that WHO’s maximum emphasis for safety was to advise to ‘Test, Test and Test.’ It said countries and states that had followed such policy had fared better in containing the virus. Therefore, if any asymptomatic COVID-19 was allowed to go to the respective village or colony, without testing,AMK said it would result in community spread and result in huge cost in terms of manpower, financial and even loss of life. According to AMK, states such as Meghalaya and Manipur have made it mandatory for all their returnees coming from Red Zones , to undertake testing which it said, was a laudable exercise towards safety of their citizens and states as a whole. However, it said in the Na-

No. 9574 Yesterday’s solution No. 9573

galand context, both Dimapur and Kohima were casually and carelessly made as ‘portal of entry and stay’ for huge numbers of returnees of all other districts even those coming from COVID-19 Hot Spots. AMK said this attitude provided high chances of transmitting COVID-19 and therefore, demanded that the portal of entry from the two points should be cancelled. AMK opined that all returnees should be directly and immediately transported directly to their respective districts on arrival and tested for COVID-19 in their respective District Covid Hospitals. AMK asked the state government and in particular the H&FW department to take all necessary steps to test all returnees districtwise for asymptomatic cases and also ban using Dimapur and Kohima as the main entry portals to safeguard the lives of the people of Nagaland.

Across 1. Pushed (6) 7. Complete (8) 8. Multitude (4) 10. Garden shrub (6) 11. Mysterious (6) 14. Contend (3) 16. Musical sounds (5) 17. Paradise (4) 19. Hoodwinked (5) 21. Raid, inroad (5) 22. Filleted (5) 23. Better than good (4) 26. Tag (5) 28. Unit of weight (3) 29. Primary source (6) 30. Fairies, elves (6) 31. Corrosive substance (4) 32. Shinto, for example (8) 33. Pantihose (6) Down

Su doku

KAKURO

the returnees to maintain strict discipline for their own safety and security while crossing unknown regions. Mentioning that some lives too had been lost during this crisis outside, the representation said the government should help in bringing back their bodies to the State. NMA demanded that all health centres – district hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres and subcentres – should be well equipped to combat the pandemic. It said it was also disturbed by reports of inadequate and inferior quality PPEs being made available by the government. Acknowledging with gratitude the spontaneous response and generosity of various churches and organisations in sponsoring quarantine centres and food, the association urged the State government not to ignore its bounden responsibility of providing clean and hygienic centres with adequate nutritious food to all those being kept in institutional quarantine centres.

No. 4193 Yesterday’s solution No. 4192

No. 3218 Yesterday’s solution No. 3217

1. Comfort (6) 2. Stringed instrument (6) 3. Info (4) 4. Voyage (7) 5. Former gold coin (5) 6. Yields (5) 8. Possess (4) 9.Observe (3) 12. Fish (3) 13. Approaches (5) 15. Heals (5) 18. Exclude (5) 19. Put on (3) 20. Residence, informally (3) 21. Leaves of a plant (7) 22. Beseech (3) 23. Pugilism (6) 24. Girl’s name (4) 25. Chucks (6) 26. Truck (5) 27. Holy book (5) 28. Facial twitch (3) 30. Gasp (4)

(From p-1) She said that in order for a person to catch the virus from a surface, it would seem that a few things would have to happen. First, the virus would have to be transmitted to the surface in large enough amounts. Then, it would have to survive on that surface until it was touched by someone else. And even if it was eventually transferred to, say, a person’s finger, it would then have to survive on the skin until that person happened to touch an eye or mouth. “There’s just a lot more conditions that have to be met for transmission to happen via touching these objects,” Dr. Marr said. A lot of what we know about how long the virus lives on surfaces comes from a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in March. The study found that the virus can survive, under ideal conditions, up to three days on hard metal surfaces and plastic and up to 24 hours on cardboard. And since catching the coronavirus from a contaminated surface is still considered a possibility, people who prefer to wipe down bags, boxes or park benches can still do so. The C.D.C. recommends washing your hands often and regularly cleaning or disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

ANCSU appeals govt to improve internet connectivity

DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has appealed to the state government to improve internet connectivity in the state, saying poor internet connectivity has adversely affected the student community. In a representation addressed to the advisor science & technology, NRE and IT&C, ANCSU pointed out that the poor

network facility was “evidently an impediment” to many of the online activities for the students. ANCSU has, therefore, appealed to the advisor to intervene and facilitate upcoming online educational activities.

Exam centres for NSEE

ANCSU has also appealed to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) to set up exam centres in every district for

Nagaland State Entrance Examination (NSEE). In a letter addressed to NBSE chairman, the union suggested that the candidates be given preference to choose their exam centres as per their residence so no student was deprived of appearing the exam. It stated that such exams centres be identified at the earliest and necessary preparations should be kept ready.

UK schools will open June 1: Boris L O N D O N , M AY 2 5 (IANS): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed primary schools will open on June 1 and secondary schools will “provide some contact” from June 15 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Reception (first year of primary school in the UK), Year One and Year Six will be the first to return, Johnson said during the daily coronavirus press conference at Downing Street on Sunday, the Metro newspaper reported. “I do believe we will be in a position to move to Step Two of our plan. As part of Step Two we set out plans for a phased reopening of schools because the education of our children is crucial for their welfare, their health, for their longterm future and for social justice. “And so in line with the approach being taken in many other countries, we want to start getting our children back into the classroom in a way that is as manageable and as safe as possible,” he added. The Prime Minister confirmed some secondary school pupils would also have contact with schools

prepare for exams next year with up to a quarter of these students in at any point. “By opening schools to more pupils in this limited way we are taking a deliberately cautious approach.” He said the decision to reopen schools on June 1 came after a “constructive period of consultation with Boris Johnson schools, teachers and unions led by the Education Secrefrom next month. “From tary Gavin Williamson”. June 15, for secondary schools to provide some FOR SALE contact for Year 10 and Year 12 students to help them Stationery cum Computer Shop

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3 returnees test COVID-19 positive; Dimapur-2, Kohima-1

The world’s third-largest economy has escaped an explosive outbreak with more than 16,600 infections and 839 deaths so far, according to NHK public broadcaster; however, the epidemic has tipped it into a recession and plunged Abe’s popularity to multiyear lows. An Asahi newspaper poll conducted at the weekend showed Abe’s support rate at 29% - the lowest since he returned to power in late 2012 - and disapproval at 52%. The results mirrored a Mainichi newspaper survey published on Saturday.

To k y o G o v e r n o r Yuriko Koike has previously said the capital would move into “stage one” of loosening restrictions, once the state of emergency was removed. That would allow libraries and museums to reopen, and restaurants to stay open until later in the evening. Subsequent stages would see theatres, cinemas and fairgrounds reopen. Tokyo reported 8 new infections on Monday, media said. To support an economy on track for its deepest slump in postwar history, the government is considering fresh stimulus worth 100 trillion yen ($930 billion), mostly comprising financial aid for companies, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday. The package, to be funded by a second supplementary budget, would follow a record 117 trillion yen spending plan deployed last month. “The government and the Bank of Japan will continue to work as one to resolve the situation

adding the State should not to fail in fulfilling its duty in bearing all expenses of their return. It also asked the government to take into confidence student leaders in different cities for reaching out to those who bravely chose to stay back during this crisis. The association also condemned the attack on a Shramik Special train with Nagas on board in Bihar on Sunday by a mob, adding that another train faced a similar fate in the same State on Monday. It sought a probe into incidents of violence in Bihar, reasons for unscheduled stoppages on the routes of these trains and fixing of accountability for inability of the local police to control the mobs. Alleging that, as per videos available, these special trains being sent to the Northeast were not hygienic and did not have water, the representation demanded that the State Government should coordinate in ensuring that proper train coaches were provided in bringing back the stranded citizens of Nagaland. It also urged

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T O K YO, M AY 2 5 (AGENCIES): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas on Monday after the number of infections fell across the country, but warned that it could be reimposed if the virus started spreading again. The move meant that the whole country would now have the social distancing curbs loosened, after an initial lifting of restrictions for most areas on May 14. Abe said that the total amount of stimulus from two economic packages would exceed 200 trillion yen ($1.86 trillion) but it would still take considerable time to get back to normal life while controlling infection risks. “Today we are taking a firm step towards the next stage following the removal of the state of emergency,” the visibly relaxed prime minister told reporters gathered in Tokyo. Abe acknowledged

DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (NPN): Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has sought mandatory tests for COVID-19 on all those returning to the State for their own safety and their communities. In a representation to governor RN Ravi seeking his intervention on the matter, association president Abeiu Meru and adviser Dr Rosemary Dzuvichu demanded construction of proper shack for the medical team at Khuzama due to the rainy season. They said thermal screening and ambulances should also be kept ready, along with medical team, at the inter-State border to check incoming travellers, adding neighbouring Manipur had a well-constructed shed with washrooms and running water for both police and medical personnel at Mao border and kept two ambulances on standby 24x7. Asking the State government to take full responsibility and make arrangements for bringing back stranded Nagas willing to return home, NMA said many did not have money to return on their own,

northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

Muted Eid celebration in NE amid COVID outbreak

Correspondent/PTI

Shillong/Guwahati/Agartala/Itanagar, May 25: Eid-ulFitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was on Monday observed across Meghalaya not with traditional festivity as the State fights to curb the spread of Novel Coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of Muslims faithful prayed for people suffering and dying from the contagious COVID-19 across the world. They also offered prayers for the doctors, nurses, para-medical staff and administrations of all the hospitals around the world that Allah to keep them safe in carrying out their services for the ailing people. The Eidgah of India’s first glass mosque, the Madina Masjid in Shillong, which usually witness large congregations during Eid-ulFitr wore a deserted look. Likewise, Eidgahs and Mosques in other parts of the State also wore a deserted look as the State restricted assembly of people as pre-emptive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the State. “It never happened in the past when people could

Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers at a residence, during the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, in Guwahati on Monday. (PTI) COVID-19 positive cases in Assam. Assam State Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president and Lok Sabha member Badruddin Ajmal had requested people to follow the government norms to contain the spread of COVID-19 and asked all to offer namaz from their homes. With Eid excitement running low due to COVID19 pandemic and ongoing lockdown, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi had appealed to the people not to come out for gatherings but offer namaz from their

homes. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal too had urged the people of Muslim community to follow social distancing norms and appealed them to pray for mankind in this critical time. In Tripura, nearly four lakh Muslims celebrated Eid-Ul-Fitr by maintaining social distancing norms, the president of Tripura State Jamiat Ulama (Hind) said. There was no big assembly of people to offer namaz on the occasion of Eid, he said. Most of the masjids

2 held after escaping from quarantine centre

Academic session to resume in Tripura

Hailakandi, May 25 (PTI): Two persons who escaped from a quarantine centre at Silchar in south Assam were apprehended by police at Algapur Railway Station, a senior officer said on Monday. Superintendent of Police, Hailakandi, Pabindra Kumar Nath said that at around 5 pm on Sunday the two persons escaped from the Don Bosco School quarantine centre at Ramnagar in Silchar. Based on inputs received from the Cachar district police that they were reportedly proceeding towards Hailakandi

not congregate in mosques or eidgahs to pray together. Nonetheless, all Muslim brothers and sisters are offering namaz in their own homes to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan,” Shillong Muslim Union General Secretary, Sayeedullah Nongrum said. In Assam, a muted Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated because of the lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Very few people had visited the markets for Eid shopping in the last few days due to a huge spike in

district, the SP said the two persons were apprehended by the Officer-in-Charge of Algapur Police Station in Algapur Railway Station at around 12 midnight. “On getting an alert from the Cachar district police that two persons had fled from a quarantine centre in Silchar, the Hailakandi district police launched a search operation and traced the two persons at the Algapur Railway Station,” Nath said. “On being interrogated, they confessed that they had jumped quarantine. Later, they were handed over to the Additional SP

(Hq), Cachar”, he added. Following this incident, the SP warned that police would register nonbailable case against those defying home- quarantine and institutional quarantine protocols prescribed for incoming persons for a stipulated period of 14 days. Urging people to keep a close watch on the persons and their family members put under home quarantine, the district police chief also asked them to report immediately to the nearest police station or health centre if they found anyone venturing out of their homes.

ITA estimates Rs 2,100 cr revenue loss in Assam, WB KOLKATA, May 25 (PTI): The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has pegged a revenue loss of Rs 2,100 crore for the industry in Assam and West Bengal during March, April and May. The association said that in these two states, the total loss of production during the three months will likely be 140 million kg. Based on last year’s auction prices, the estimated revenue loss will be Rs 2,100 crore, ITA said. “The lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the financial stress of the tea industry,” an ITA official said. He while input costs have been rising for the last five years, there has been no

concomitant rise in prices. Owing to the lockdown, ITA estimates production in Assam and West Bengal to have declined by 65 per cent during March and April, and around 50 per cent in May. The apex body of tea planters has urged the commerce ministry and the state governments of Assam and West Bengal to extend a financial package, which includes interest subvention, hike in working capital limits and relief in payments of electricity charges and PF dues. On the export front, ITA said there is strong demand for Assam second flush tea with queries pouring in from Iran, Russia, UAE and Europe.

Agartala, May 25 (PTI): Tripura Education minister Ratan Lal Nath said the state government was planning resume academic sessions in schools from June 15. He said all schools would be properly sanitized before classes resume. “We are planning to open schools from June 1 and resume classes from June 15. Before we start academic sessions all schools would be sanitized properly and supply of drinking water would be ensured. We would also announce their results before resuming the classes,” Nath told reporters. Evaluations of the answerscripts of Madhyamik (class 10) and Higher Secondary (class 12) papers which were held before lockdown had already started, Nath said. Nath said, altogether Rs 1.35 crore would be spent to sanitize the schools. He said government has also instructed all school authorities to arrange for sanitizers, gloves and masks for the cooks of the Mid Day meal and soaps and sanitizers for students.

allowed only five people at a time to offer namaz. “Eid is being celebrated in the country in lockdown situation. It is a festival joy, but the lockdown has dampened the festive spirit. But, we had ourselves assured the state government that social distancing would be maintained during celebration of Eid. There was no big assembly of people and we adhered to social distancing norms”, the Ulama president, Mufti Tayebur Rahaman told reporters. The Eid-ul-Fitr celebration in Arunachal Pradesh remained a low key affair as people offered namaz at home with mosques remaining closed for congregational prayers in the wake of the lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak. Abdul Hamid, a resident of Niti Vihar area here said that his family members stayed indoors in the interest of society amid the “coronavirus scare”. “This morning I joined my elder brother and his son for offering Eid prayer via teleconferencing. “My brother conducted the prayer from my home town,” said M Arif Siddiqui, an engineer from Changlang district.

Passengers wait at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport for domestic travel in Guwahati on Monday. (PTI) Guwahati, May 25 (PTI): Domestic air travel resumed in Assam on Monday along with several other states, as the first flight arrived at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here from Delhi in the morning, an official said. The first flight to Guwahati landed from Delhi this morning, carrying 77 passengers, who were immediately taken for screening and for collection of swabs at a hotel near the K Y M C

airport. Already, seven flight carrying 547 passengers arrived at Guwahati and another flight is expected to arrive later in the day with 139 people. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the airport and the hotel to oversee the entire operation and said the Health Department in association with other departments concerned were fully capable of handling the rush. “We are expect-

ing 600-700 people today and it will be around 1,000 tomorrow. We are prepared for this with the help of all other departments such as transport and police and the Airports Authority of India,” he told reporters here. He said 32 flights were permitted to operate to Assam, of which only eight were operational on Monday, and the number is likely to increase in the next few days. The minister said the state was going to face

Three fresh COVID-19 cases in Tripura Agartala, May 25 (PTI): Three more persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Tripura, taking the virus count in the state to 194, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has said. All the three new patients had recently returned to the state from Delhi by the Rajdhani Express, he said. Deb tweeted late on Sunday evening: “991 samples have been tested today in Tripura for COVID-19. Among them 3 persons found COVID19 positive. All of them have returned from Delhi by Rajdhani Express.” Of the 194 patients, 165 have recovered and were discharged from the state-run G B Pant Hospital here while 29 people are undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, senior minister and Cabinet spokesperson Ratan Lal Nath on Monday said, “We are testing the swabs of 4,863 people per 10 lakh population. The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the state is 86.39 per cent, the highest in the country.”

Mizoram govt issues SOP for people arriving at airport

A i z aw l , M a y 2 5 (Agencies): The Mizoram government has issued standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed by stranded state residents, who are arriving at the state’s lone Lengpui airport. According to the SOP, all stranded people, who are returning by flight, will have to intimate their air tickets to resident commissioner or deputy commissioners of Mizoram houses at cities where they are stranded. In the states where Mizoram House does not exist, such details should be reported through nearest Mizo Welfare Association. Any person, who is intending to return, should ob-

tain prior permission from the state government for movement. All the returnees will undergo mandatory screening for Covid-19 and Rapid Antibody Test on their arrival at the airport and those, who returned from red zones will have to undergo Real Time-PCR test after arrival at their respective quarantine facilities. Among others, all the passengers, who are arriving by flight, will have to proceed directly towards their respective quarantine facilities only by means of transportation arranged by the State Government and they will have to undergo mandatory 14 days quarantine.

Kuwait to deport 136 NE people Agartala, May 25 (IANS): The Kuwait government would deport 136 Indians belonging to Assam and Tripura and they would reach Guwahati by June 4, a Tripura Minister said on Sunday night. Tripura’s Law and Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath said that all the 136 Indians now in Kuwait jail for violation of law of that country. He said that the External Affairs Ministry has informed this to the Tripura government. Nath, spokesman of the Tripura government, said that 105 Indians, stranded in Bangladesh, would return to Tripura by bus on May 28. “After arrival of the people from Kuwait and Bangladesh, their swab samples would be tested. If they tested positive for COVID-19, all the people would remain in the institutional quarantine center,” the minister said.

30,700 people affected by flood in Assam Guwahati, May 25 (PTI): Over 30,700 people in five districts of Assam were affected by flood that displaced nearly 9,000 people in Goalpara district and damaged standing crops, according to an official report said on Monday. A total of 127 villages in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Darrang and Goalpara districts were submerged while 579 hectares of crop area is now under flood water, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin here. Members of the national and state disaster response forces have so far evacuated 400 flood victims in the worst- affected Goalpara district where around 22,600 people have been affected. Thir ty-three relief camps have been set up in Goalpara district, and 8,941 displaced people have taken shelter there, the bulletin said. It said the Jia Bharali river is flowing above the danger level at NH Road crossing in Sonitpur and Puthimari in Kamrup district.

Passenger flight service resumes in Assam “tough times” in the next 10 days with an inflow of thousands of people. Though Assam has six operational airports, only Guwahati has started functioning, while four more will operate from May 28 once commercial flights from West Bengal commence. Assam has imposed mandatory institutional quarantine for all air passengers, with some exceptions, and has been putting them up at different hotels across the state. On the first day, a total of eight flights would land at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati from Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Imphal, and an equal number will leave for the same places, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official told PTI. Considering arrivals and departures, Indigo will operate 10 flights, while Air Asia and SpiceJet will ply four and two flights respectively on Monday, he said. “We have information about 600 people arriving in Guwahati today. However, the exact number is shared an hour before the departure,” the official said. Sarma said around

8,000 persons are stuck at the moment in trains in different states due to cyclone ‘Amphan’ and they will arrive in the next few days. “So, the next one week to 10 days will be tough for us. We have set up around 70 quarantine centres in Guwahati for the people from the city. People from other places will be taken to their home districts for quarantine there,” he added. On the people coming from other districts, the minister appealed to all to arrive before June 10 so that the state machinery can concentrate on flood management and other works from July onwards. “We hope to close this chapter by June. We request all those, who are willing, to come to Assam by June 10. We will have 14 days of quarantine thereafter. We do not want to linger over this for a long time,” he added. The AAI official said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not cleared flight operations for Jorhat, while four more airports at Dibrugarh, Silchar, Tezpur and Lilabari will start functioning from May 28 once West Bengal allows air traffic.

Villagers use a country boat to shift from a flooded locality following heavy rainfall at Bolbola in Goalapra district of Assam on Monday. (PTI) Altogether 12,054 animals, including 500 poultry birds, were affected by the deluge, the bulletin said. The swirling waters

have also breached a road in Lakhimpur, overtopped a road from Jiadhal Chariali to Nalamukh and caused erosion of Tenigharya-

Sikkim students’ bodies against reopening schools

31 returnees test negative in Arunachal Pradesh

Gangtok, May 25 (Agencies): Different students’ organizations of Sikkim has requested the State Government to rollback its decision to restart educational institutes in the State from June 15. In a letter jointly signed by representatives of Sikkim University Students Association (SUSA), Students Representative Council of different government colleges, students of Sikkim State University and postgraduate students from Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College and private colleges of Sikkim to the education minister has requested to roll back the decision till the situation normalizes. Referring to the first positive case of COVID-19 in the State, the letter stated, “We anticipate that this lone incident will further escalate if we promote social gathering of any kind, schools and colleges being prominent among others.” “With intension to ensure zero infection of COVID, we request your good office to kindly roll back the decision to make any educational institute operational, till the situation normalize,” it also stated.

Itanagar, May 25 (PTI): Swab samples of 31 persons out of 60, who had travelled with a COVID-19 positive man from Delhi in buses, have tested negative in Arunachal Pradesh, a senior health official said on Monday. The result of 26 samples is awaited and samples of three more persons will be examined, the official said. Arunachal Pradesh, which was declared COVID-19 free over a month ago, reported a fresh case on Sunday as a 30- year-old student who returned with them from Delhi tested positive. The student, who used to live in West Patel Nagar area of Delhi, has been kept at a dedicated covid care centre (DCCC) as per standard operating procedure, Health secretary P Parthiban said. Sixty-one passengers had reached the state on May 18 from Delhi in two buses travelling through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. The 60 other passengers are not showing COVID-19 symptoms till date, State Nodal Officer for COVID-19 Lobsang Jampa said. As on Monday,

Gheyaro road in Dhemaji, besides breaching the Nadirpur-Rowmari Chapari road in Darrang district, the ASDMA report added.

as many as 5,428 swab samples were tested out of which 4,557 were found to be negative while results of 868 are awaited. Reacting to a report that three returnees from Maharashtra had tested positive for COVID-19, which went viral on social media, Jampa termed it as “fake news”. RT-PCR tests were conducted on the three persons and the results were negative. Jampa said, anyone found spreading such fake news is liable to face imprisonment of one year under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. “I request the people not to panic and avoid sharing such information with others,” Jampa said. The nodal officer further said that the health department has been issuing bulletins on a daily basis. “If anyone is found infected with the virus, the people will be duly informed,” he added. Of the 11,000 people who had registered online for returning to the northeastern state from across the country, 5,600 have reached Arunachal Pradesh. K Y M C

sports

RB Leipzig crush Mainz 5-0 in Bundesliga

Players of RB Leipzig celebrate after scoring a goal against Mainz at the Opel Arena.

B E R L I N, M ay 2 5 ( Ag en c i e s ) : T i m o Werner scored a hat-trick against Mainz for the second time this season as RB Leipzig reclaimed third spot in the Bundesliga with a resounding 5-0 victory at the Opel Arena on Sunday. Werner, who scored three goals in November’s 8-0 thrashing of Mainz, set Leipzig on their way inside 11 minutes, slotting home his 22nd league goal

of the season from Konrad Laimer’s brilliant cross. Captain Yussuf Poulsen marked his 250th appearance for the club with a towering header midway through the first half, before Marcel Sabitzer rounded off a scintillating counter to leave Leipzig in complete control before the break. Werner applied the finishing touch to a slick team move within three minutes of the restart and,

Australia suspends Olympic bid Sydney, May 25 (IANS): Australia’s Queensland has suspended its bid to host the 2032 Olympics recently as the state government focuses on economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the bid process had been paused, reports Xinhua news agency. “It’s just on hold. I wouldn’t read too much into that,” Palaszczuk told reporters last weekend. “We’re focused absolutely on the economic recovery at the moment.” The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said it fully supported the Queensland government’s position in placing the Brisbane 2032 candidature on hold. AOC President John Coates said in a recent statement that meetings of the Olympic Candidature

Leadership Group (OCLG) scheduled earlier this year were deferred, allowing governments to focus on dealing with COVID-19. Coates said he’d proposed to OCLG members that the meetings would not proceed while all three levels of governments dealt with the pandemic. He also told the AOC Annual General Meeting on May 9 that discussions with the IOC on the candidature would resume when appropriate. “We all understand there are pressing issues of public health and community wellbeing for governments to address,” Coates said. “The candidature will have its role to play in terms of jobs and growth in the Queensland economy once we have seen our way through the current crisis.”

after spurning a host of chances, eventually sealed the hat-trick with a lofted finish over Mainz goalkeeper Florian Muller with the 24th goal of his impressive Bundesliga campaign. The treble saw Werner hit the 30-goal mark in all competitions for Leipzig this term and reignited Julian Nagelsmann’s team’s challenge for Champions League qualification with a victory that left them seven points off leaders Bayern

Munich. It took just a little over 10 minutes for Leipzig to hit the front, full-back Laimer’s driving run left two Mainz defenders trailing in his wake and his inch-perfect cross was dispatched by Werner, who found the net for the first time since February. Leipzig’s superiority yielded a second on 23 minutes, with Poulsen powering Sabitzer’s cross through the defences of

Nagaland Online Chess tourney held Dimapur, May 25 (NPN): The 6th Nagaland Online Open Chess Tournament concluded on May 24. Altogether, 37 players took part in the tournament. The tournament was organised to motivate and give opportunity to young chess players of the state. The top 15 open category winners are Mughaho Awomi, Salhuto Nyekha, Khoveto Vero, Pikuto Chishi, Sourav Singh, Akhrietuo Kesiyie, S. Ekonthung Ezung, Shabnam Singh, S. Litingse Sangtam, Muluto Phesao, Vikiye Sheqi, Kitolu Achumi, Nipeto Hesso, Toikhu Awomi and Bovito Yeptho. The top 10 under 16 players are Pulonito Hesso, Pezavilie Kuotsu, Kunvuto Awomi, Uzholu Nyekha, Intovi Awomi, Manas Sharma, Jitihto Nyekha, Vidhan Sethi, Icicang Haikam and Mughakishe Awomi. In the female category, Lemsula Sangtam came in the first position while Tsesam bagged the second prize. The matches were held in 3+0 (Blitz) time format with duration of 90 minutes.

Muller in the Mainz goal. Werner went close with a header and Poulsen blazed a gilt-edged chance over before the returning Sabitzer then got in on the act himself on 36 minutes, the midfielder opening up his body to pick out the top corner of the Mainz goal at the end of a breath-taking Leipzig counter that had seen Muller thwart Christopher Nkunku on the goal line seconds earlier. Nkunku spurned a glorious chance at the end of the first half when he opted to shoot instead of squaring for the unmarked Werner and screwed a shot wide, but it wasn’t long before Leipzig stretched further ahead. Within seconds of the restart, Kevin Kampl instigated a sensational onetouch attack that ended with him driving into the box and squaring for Werner, who added hi second into the unguarded net. Werner squandered two glorious opportunities in the space of two minutes to complete his hat-trick, lashing a first-time effort from the impressive Dani Olmo’s pass wide before bundling the ball wide from

six yards from Nkunku’s teasing cross. But the Germany international was not to be denied much longer as he latched onto Poulsen’s exquisite through ball 15 minutes from time and hooked his third over the on-rushing Muller into the bottom corner, sealing RB Leipzig’s return to winning ways in style. After accusations of going off the boil since the turn of the year, the Germany international rekindled his goalscoring touch with a lethal attacking display. Involved in everything Leipzig did well, the 24year-old took his goals with consummate ease, notching yet another hat-trick which saw him hit the 30goal mark this season. The only criticism from an otherwise exemplary performance was that he didn’t score more, but Werner’s growing list of suitors would have seen enough to know what a valuable asset he would be. Mainz will now travel to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Wednesday while RB Leipzig will host Hertha Berlin.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

Hockey icon Balbir Singh Sr dies aged 96

Chandigarh, May 25 (PTI): One of India’s greatest hockey players, Balbir Singh Sr, died at a hospital here on Monday after battling multiple health issues for over two weeks. The legend was 96 and is survived by his daughter Sushbir and three sons Kanwalbir, Karanbir, and Gurbir. “He died at around 6:30 this morning,” Abhijit Singh, Director Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where he was admitted since May 8, told PTI. His maternal grandson Kabir later sent out a message stating, “Nanaji passed away this morning.” The three-time Olympic gold medallist was in a semi-comatose state since May 18 and had developed a blood clot in his brain after being first admitted to the hospital for bronchial pneumonia with high fever. He was hospitalised after experiencing high fever and suffered three cardiac arrests during the course of his treatment. One of the country’s most accomplished athletes, the iconic centreforward was the only Indian

Balbir Singh Sr

among 16 legends chosen by the International Olympic Committee across modern Olympic history. His world record for most goals scored by an individual in the men’s hockey final of the Olympics still remains unbeaten. He had scored five goals in India’s 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal match of the 1952 Helsinki Games. He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1957. Balbir Sr’s three Olympic gold medals came in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) as vice-captain, and Melbourne (1956) as captain. It was the fourth time in the past two years that the former captain and coach was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

Clijsters determined to press on with comeback Brussels, May 25 (Agencies): Kim Clijsters is looking forward to returning to the US Open even though the coronavirus pandemic means that since her second comeback from retirement she has spent more time with her family. “I’m still motivated,” the four-time Grand Slam winner told a Belgium newspaper on Sunday. “I hope we can still play this season. But even if we don’t, I intend to keep going,” the Belgian tennis star, who turns 37 in June, told Het Laatse Nieuws (HLN). Clijsters had spells at number one before and after her first retirement, from 2007-2009. She had her daughter in 2008. She won the US Open before that break and the Australian Open and two more US titles when she came back. She retired for a second time after the US Open in 2012. She has since had two sons. “I always felt I was ful-

Kim Clijsters

filled,” Clijsters said in an earlier interview with the Tennis Hall of Fame. “After I had our third baby, Blake, I started travelling to tournaments. I did commentary. But I still felt more like a player. A little itch started. Returning to the tour poses a challenge for a mother of three.” “I’m away a little bit, which turned out to be not so much in the last few months,” she said.

She began her second comeback in February in Dubai, where she lost to Garbine Muguruza in the first round. She then lost to Johanna Konta in her opening match in Monterrey, the last tournament before the women’s tour shut down at the start of March. She was in the United States when the tournament in Indian Wells, where she planned to play singles and partner Venus Wil-

liams in the doubles, was cancelled. The family stayed at their home in New Jersey, where they don’t have a tennis court and the public courts soon shut. “We made a court with kitchen chairs,” she said. Clijsters and her husband Brian Lynch completed Andy Murray’s 100 volleys couples challenge. “In the first few weeks when you’re in quarantine and all these challenges pop up...you’re trying everything,” she said. “After a few weeks it’s ‘another challenge? I’m done!’” The family returned to Belgium and quarantined for two weeks. Clijsters told HLN that the break had allowed her to rest her body and allow injuries in her knees to improve. “If the US Open can happen, I want to be ready,” she said in the Hall of Fame interview. “I would also be happy if I had to play on court 18. I don’t have to be out on Arthur Ashe.”

Liverpool-Atletico match linked to 41 virus deaths: report Elgar eyes South Africa test captaincy L o n d o n, M ay 2 5 (AFP): The decision to let Liverpool’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid go ahead may have “led to 41 additional deaths” due to the coronavirus, the Sunday Times reported. Jurgen Klopp’s side faced the Spanish club in a second-leg last 16 tie at Anfield on March 11 in front of a crowd of some 52,000, with 3,000 visiting supporters in attendance. The match was the last major football fixture played in England before the coronavirus lockdown. According to the Sunday Times, Edge Health, which analyses data for Britain’s National Health Service, estimated the match was “linked to 41 additional deaths” at nearby hospitals between 25 and 35 days later, compared with similar hospital trusts that were

Football fans during the Champions League match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid on March 11. (File)

used as a control. Imperial College London and Oxford University have estimated Spain had around 640,000 positive coronavirus cases at the time that the match went ahead compared to 100,000 in Britain at that stage. March also saw jump horse racing’s four-day Cheltenham Festival in south-

west England go ahead as scheduled, with officials citing British government guidance that it was safe to proceed with major sporting events. According to the Edge Health research estimates cited by the Sunday Times, that decision may have been linked to 37 additional deaths.

More than 250,000 people attended Cheltenham, with organisers insisting they had introduced special hygiene measures for the event, including extra hand-washing stations for spectators. But racing in Britain was suspended on March 17 in response to the pandemic after the British Horserac-

ing Authority was widely criticised for allowing the festival to go ahead. Last month one of the mayors for Liverpool called for an investigation into why the Atletico match was allowed to proceed as scheduled. “If people have contracted coronavirus as a direct result of a sporting event that we believe shouldn’t have taken place, well that is scandalous,” Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, told the BBC. “That needs to be investigated to find out whether some of those infections are due directly to the Atletico fans. There were coronavirus hot cities, and Madrid was one of those.” Atletico won the game 3-2 after extra-time to knock out the defending champions 4-2 on aggregate and reach the quarter-finals.

CAPE TOWN, May 25 (Agencies): Dean Elgar would be willing to become South Africa’s next test captain as speculation about who will replace Faf du Plessis gathers momentum. Elgar, who turns 33 next month, put his hand up in an interview with Cricket South Africa (CSA), released on Monday, and joins Aiden Markram on the list of players who have expressed interest in the job. Quinton de Kock was expected to take over from Du Plessis, having succeeded him as captain of South Africa’s limited-overs teams, but CSA said it did not want to overburden the wicketkeeper-batsman and ruled him out of the test captaincy. With CSA still trying to find a solution to playing their scheduled three-test series against the West Indies

Dean Elgar

in July, the appointment of a captain has become more pressing. “It’s definitely not an easy journey being a test captain but I think leadership is something that comes extremely naturally to me,” Elgar said. “I’ve captained teams in the past, right up from school level to provincial level and at franchise level. I enjoyed it extremely and if I was asked to take on

the captaincy it’s definitely something I would think long and hard about because it would mean a lot to me.” Du Plessis quit as captain after South Africa lost their home series to England at the start of the year. Elgar twice deputised for Du Plessis as captain, losing the 2017 Lords test to England and overseeing a victory over Pakistan in early 2019.

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