Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00
www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 172
DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2018 Pages 16 ` 5.00
Sterlite Copper closure order is legally valid, says Palaniswami
World Cup 2018: Brazil seek redemption
Italy in turmoil as caretaker prime minister assembles team
national, Page 11
sports, Page 16
international, Page 13
Re-poll at Kubza PS today
had checked each complaint during the scrutiny and did KOHIMA, MAY 29 (NPN): not find any discrepancies, Election Commission of In- and hence did not recommend dia (ECI) has ordered re-poll re-poll. at polling station (PS) no. 13 Re-poll in 122 PSs in Kubza under 26 Aonglenden Assembly segment in Mokokc- UP and Maharashtra hung district on Wednesday. The Election Commission Voting will commence from 7 has also ordered re-poll in 122 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. polling stations across the two The re-poll was neces- parliamentary constituencies of sitated after a group of people Kairana (UP) and Bhandarabarged into the polling station Gondiya (Maharashtra), apart and damaged the ballot unit from transferring the Gondiya (BU) and controlling unit (CU) collector in the wake of the of electronic voting machine high rate of VVPAT malfuncwhen the polling process was tion there. on May 28 for the Lok Sabha The Commission, based on by-election. recommendations of its observSubsequently Mokokc- ers for the said constituencies, hung deputy commissioner decided to hold fresh polling in (DC) and assistant returning 73 polling booths of Kairana officer (ARO) recommended and 49 in Bhandara-Gondiya. re-poll at the polling station. The re-polls in Kairana and The commission has also Bhandara-Gondiya were neruled out re-poll at 10 other cessitated due to disruption of polling stations where presid- polling as many faulty VVPATs ing officers did not clear CU had to be replaced with ‘reserve’ the votes cast. ECI said as voter machines. verifiable paper audit trails A senior Commission of(VVPAT) were available, votes ficial said the EC’s observers, can be counted on the basis of who studied the reasons and these. impact of the malfunction of Meanwhile, on complaints VVPATs, sought to blame a and demands for re-poll made combination of factors for the by various political parties, ad- fault. ditional chief electoral officer “The fact that the VVPATs Moa Aier said respective DCs were new machines, inadequate and ARO, along with observers, training of the polling staff and Correspondent
2-day nation wide bank strike from today
factors like light and heat may have together contributed to the malfunction, they felt. The observers took stock of the impact of VVPAT replacements on the polling pattern and accordingly recommended re-poll in some polling booths. EC has accepted their recommendation,” said an EC functionary. As many as 413 VVPATs (nearly 21% of the total machines deployed) had to be replaced in Bhandara-Gondiya after they developed a glitch, while the number of VVPATs replaced in Kairana was 355 (19%). The EC on Tuesday afternoon also ordered the transfer of Gondiya collector and brought in his replacement ahead of the re-poll, which will be held between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday. While EC chose not to give out the reason for shunting out the officer, sources attributed it to “dereliction of duty”. The Commission, incidentally, suspects that failure to ensure proper training of the polling staff may have led to poor handling of the VVPATs, causing them to malfunction. As per the EC’s instructions, wide publicity may be given to the re-poll by the beat of drums in the polling areas concerned.
This is it!
“When we were in power, we built too many roads that we couldn’t take care of them.” K Y M C
NEW DELHI, MAY 29 (AGENCIES): Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Gauhati High Court order directing a Nagaland government employee to surrender in a case of collecting “tax” on behalf of NSCN (K), a Deccan Herald report stated. The apex court also expressed concern over the menace of collection of tax going on in the North Eastern region for underground organisations. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Mohan M Shantanagoudar issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a special leave petition filed by Kekhriesatuo Tep, superintendent of the Fisheries department. He challenged the Gauhati High Court order of May 8 directing him and others to surrender before the National Investigation Agency, Dimapur, within three weeks. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner Tep, contended that the high court has not correctly appreciated the situation and overturned the special judge’s order to grant bail to the accused. After a brief hearing, the court sought a response from the NIA to the petition. On an appeal filed by the NIA, the high court had set aside the order of granting bail to Tep and others by the special judge on October 17. The high court has said that the trial court was not justified in passing its order, as the records revealed that they had been paying money to different “underground” organisations for which even receipts had been issued. In October 2017, NIA apprehended three senior state government officials including Tep and a retired official on charges of alleged extortions and illegal tax collections on behalf of the NSCN (K).
Defence minister arrives Nagaland
Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 29 (NPN): Banking services are likely to be hit as the employees of various state-run banks under the banner of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, would go on a two-day (May 30 and 31) strike on Wednesday to press for wage revision. Over 10 lakh bank employees in the government and private sectors would take part in the strike across the country. Banks in Nagaland would also join the strike against Indian Banks Association (IBA)’s delay in resolving charter of demand. National Confederation of Bank Employees Nagaland state general secretary & UFBU Nagaland convenor, A Lolly Moses, has requested all banks staff and officers at Kohima town to report at SBI Kohima branch for the strike protest demonstration at 10am. The strike call was given in the wake of the government’s casual approach to wage revision for bank employees/officers; IBA’s meagre offer of 2% hike in wage bill towards wage increase and IBA’s delay in resolving charter of demands.
‘Tax’ issue: SC relief for Suspected measles outbreak in Nagaland govt staff Nagaland; samples sent to Delhi
Nirmala Sitharaman at Army’s 3 Corps headquarters.
D I M A P U R , M AY 2 9 (NPN): A little over a week after her visit was cancelled, the Union Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, arrived Dimapur Tuesday. She is on her maiden visit to the Army’s Spear Corps in Nagaland. According to PRO (defence), GOC 3 Corps, Lt. Gen. Gopal R briefed the minister on the progress of
operations of the Corps, which include counter terrorist and border management operations along the Indo-Myanmar border. The minister is scheduled to visit the forward areas of Nagaland along the Indo-Myanmar border on Wednesday. Sitharaman will also interact with officers and troops of the Assam Rifles operating along
the border so as to make a firsthand assessment of the security situation there, PRO said. The minister will also interact with the local populace at those locations, RPO added. After the visit to the forward areas, the minister will leave for Delhi on Wednesday evening. Centre planning to lay optical fibre cables in border areas: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre is planning to lay optical fibre cables in all border areas to mitigate the connectivity problems faced by defence personnel and the civilian population. “We will soon start work on the extension of optical fibre cables in border areas. The Union cabinet had discussed the issue and sanctioned the additional fund only 10 days ago,” the minister said during her visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.
NU undergraduate results declared D I M A P U R , M AY 2 9 (NPN): Nagaland University Tuesday declared the provisional result of BA, B.Com, B.Sc and BBA three years undergraduate course semester examinations held in April 2018. Result details can be seen at the NU website www.nagalanduniversity.ac.in In a notification, NU controller of examinations, Dr. Abemo, stated that result of BCA course was withheld due to non submission of marks tabulation. The university has informed the respective college principal/authorized personnel to collect marksheets at NU Lumami during office hours on June 7, 8 and 11, 2018. Marksheets would be issued only to the staff of the concerned colleges. No other person would be allowed to collect on behalf of the college, it stated.
Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 29 (NPN): Following the suspected outbreak of measles in Zunheboto district and in some other parts of the State, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department has sent blood, urine and throat swab samples collected from patients to New Delhi for laboratory tests. According to a data provided by Zunheboto DPO (RCH and UIP) Dr Alemwabang Aier, 50 measles cases had been reported from Aghunato town, Shevishe and Lukikhe as on May 28. Relevant blood and urine samples, besides throat swabs, have been collected from the affected and sent to the national capital for laboratory testing, it said. When contacted by Nagaland Post, H&FW director Dr Vizolie Suokhrie confirmed that the department had received reports about suspected measles outbreak in Zunheboto and other districts. It is an old case and it has been two weeks since the samples were collected and sent for
MEASLES fever rash inflammation of the upper respiratory tract
investigation, he added. Suokhrie said the investigation reports will be shared with World Health Organisation (WHO) for further confirmation. Measles is a highly infectious and deadly disease among children, which is easily preventable by vaccination. However, the immunization coverage has remained below 50% in the district. Health department, with the help of district administration, is running an immunisation drive under special Intensive Mission Indradhanush and also making efforts to improve Routine Immunisation Coverage
KOHIMA, MAY 29 (NPN): Judge of Gauhati High Court, Justice L.S. Jamir Tuesday asserted that panel lawyers under the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) are the hope for the underprivileged group. He called upon the panel lawyers to understand the problems of the needy so as to make strong submission before the court for deliverance of justice. Addressing the twoday refreshers training for panel lawyers under NSLSA at Administrative Training Institute, Kohima, Justice L.S. Jamir, who is also the executive chairman of NSLSA, emphasized on the roles and responsibilities of panel lawyers and urged them to work hard while preparing cases. He further called upon the panel lawyers not to accept any gift for their ser-
vices rendered to the legally needy people and advised them to resolve issues amicably. “Panel lawyers play an indispensable role in carrying out the activities of the legal services authority and they act as catalyst between the people and the law,” he added. Delivering the keynote address, member secretary NSLSA, Mezivolu T. Therieh stated that the refreshers training has been organised to increase the capacity of the panel lawyers in order to render complete and quality legal services. She said that panel lawyers play an indispensable role in carrying out the activities of the legal services authority as they act a catalyst between the people and the law. She further reminded that the Legal Services institution have a challenging task ahead with the programmes of Legal Services Camps,
Legal Literacy Clubs, Artificial intelligence, Victim Compensation schemes, issues of human trafficking, Rights of Women and Children, Lok Adalats, jails and other related programmes focusing from legal awareness towards legal empowerment. In the second session, resource persons-- legal aid counsel-cum-trainer NSLSA and in charge of legal services camp Limasenla spoke on “legal service camp”, panel lawyer KDLSA & in charge of legal literacy club Temsu Walling on “legal literacy clubs”, assistant in charge of legal literacy club Kethovelu also spoke on “legal literacy clubs”, panel lawyer NSLSA and in charge of jail Neite-o Koza on “jail of Nagaland and victim compensation”. In the third session, project officer department of labour T. Chubayanger spoke on “reality of child
labour in our state –vis-à-vis human trafficking”, legal Aid counsel-cum trainer N S L S A Yi m t s u s a n g l a Chang on “ legal implications relating to workers in unorganized sector with emphasis on the NALSA schemes 2015”, legal Aid counsel –cum-trainer NSLSA Esther K Aye Jamir on “ legal implications relating to children with emphasis on the NALSA schemes 2015” and panel lawyer NSLSA Khriesinuo Kire on “ legal implications relating to human trafficking with emphasis on the NALSA schemes 2015”. Earlier, the programme was chaired by Neite-o Koza.The gathering was enthralled through special number “Sob Ke Insaf Dibo” by Kohima District Legal Services Authority. Panel Lawyers from all the district of Nagaland were present at the training.
for pregnant women and children below five years of age. Meanwhile, Zunheboto district administration, through press release, has appealed to all citizens concerned to give full support to the immunisation campaign and ensure that no child is left behind from the life-saving vaccine. On the other hand, Dr. Suokhrie said advisory has been issued through the media on Nipah virus, adding that the H&FW department was on its toes taking updates on daily basis. He claimed that till date there has been no report of the virus attack in Nagaland.
MHRD approves 2 colleges for state DIMAPUR, MAY 29 (NPN): Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has reportedly approved New Model Degree College and Professional College to Nagaland State under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Phase II. According to PRO Nagaland House New Delhi, Nagaland Minister of Higher Education & Technical Education, Temjen Imna Along, who on Tuesday called upon Union HRD Minister, Prakash Javedkar, at his office in New Delhi, expressed gratitude for the approval. RUSA phase-II aims at creation of 70 new model degree colleges and eight new professional colleges; enhancing quality and excellence in 10 select State universities and 70 autonomous colleges, providing infrastructural support to
Temjen Imna Along with Prakash Javedkar in Delhi.
50 universities and 750 colleges etc. Imna Along also apprised the union minister on the poor condition of institutions in the Higher education sector in the state. He emphasized on the urgent need to develop the existing colleges by upgrading the colleges into model degree colleges and also on the need to create
Panel lawyers are the hope for the needy: Justice Jamir Malaysia ends four-year Correspondent
THE MEASLES VIRUS
hunt for missing MH370
KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 29 (IANS): Malaysia on Tuesday ended a four-year hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after searching more than 80,000 square kilometres without finding any traces of the aircraft. The plane disappeared on March 8, 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. For mer Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who left office after losing the elections earlier this month, had signed a contract in January with the US company ‘Ocean Infinity’ to track the area of the Indian Ocean where experts believe the plane crashed. According to the agreement, Malaysia would have paid a reward of up to $70 million if the company had found the wreckage. But it found nothing and the
Malaysian government said it has no plans to begin any new searches after the deadline for the search expired on Tuesday. Grace Nathan, whose mother was on MH370, told the Guardian newspaper that she was opposed to ending the hunt. According to the official investigation, flight MH370 disappeared from the radar about 40 minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, after someone turned off the communication systems and turned the aircraft around. So far, 27 fragments of the plane have been recovered at beaches in Reunion, Mozambique, Mauritius, South Africa and Pemba Island (Zanzibar), after they followed the currents of the Indian Ocean, according to the official hypothesis of the disaster.
new professional colleges in the State to cater to the needs of the younger generation. To this end, the union minister assured to provide special package for Nagaland and other North Eastern States, where the needs of institutions under Higher Education would be accommodated under RUSA Phase II.
IndiGo hikes air fares, others may follow suit NEW DELHI, MAY 29 (AGENCIES): Despite being one of the leading low cost private carrier, IndiGo has decided to reintroduce fuel surcharges from Wednesday in the wake of a sharp uptick in the price of oil and the cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). IndiGo will hike fares of short distance flights (less than 1,000 km) by Rs 200 and longer flights within the country by Rs 400 from Wednesday. However, people who have booked IndiGo’s tickets in advance will not need to pay the extra amount. This will be applicable only for new bookings for travel from and after Wednesday. While most other airlines did not comment, higher jet fuel prices have impacted all of them and they are likely to do the same. K Y M C