May 5 2021 by Nagaland Post

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 148

DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Karnataka oxygen tragedy: blame game between 2 DCs

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national, Page 7

Fauci says India situation ‘very desperate’

WASHINGTON, MAY 4 (PTI): Terming the situation in India “very desperate”, America’s top public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci has suggested the government marshal all its resources, including the armed forces, to immediately build makeshift field hospitals, and urged other countries to help with not only materials but also personnel. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Fauci, who is the chief medical adviser to US President Joe Biden, also called for a nationwide lockdown, not necessarily for six months but “for a few weeks” to break the “continuity and transmission of infection.” “Given the fact that India is under such terrible stress right now with the extent of the outbreak, the rest of the world should pitch in to help, similar to what the United States is doing,” he said. “The world can help by supplying India with materials, and perhaps even personnel, but certainly

Polls over, fuel prices hiked D I M A P U R , M AY 4 (NPN): On the expected lines, oil companies did not wait long post declaration of state election results to raise the price of auto fuels -- petrol and diesel across the country, reports IANS news agency. Accordingly, the petrol and diesel prices increased by 15 paise and 18 paise per litre to Rs 90.55 and Rs 80.91 per litre respectively on Tuesday in Delhi. Across the country as well the petrol and diesel prices increased on Tuesday but its quantum varied depending on the level of local levies in respective states. After Tuesday’s rate revision, petrol price in Dimapur rose to Rs.89.57 per litre while diesel price climbed to Rs.83.14 per litre. In the state capital Kohima, petrol price surged to Rs.90.52 per litre and diesel price increased to Rs.83.90 per litre. With global crude prices at over $ 67 a barrel mark, OMCs may revise fuel prices upwards again if there is any further firming up. OMCs benchmark retail fuel prices to a 15-day rolling average of global refined products’ prices and dollar exchange rate. OMCs align the rates of domestic fuel with the global crude oil prices by taking into account changes in the foreign exchange rates. The new changes in fuel prices are implemented with effect from 6 a.m. each day.

This is it!

“If you need oxygen, why not come over here? We enjoy free and fresh oxygen everyday.” K Y M C

Dr Anthony Fauci

materials that they need to adequately address it (the pandemic),” he said. The 80-year-old physician and immunologist on Monday also recommend mass vaccination to arrest the current spread of the deadly disease across India. “ R i g h t n ow, t h e y should start getting as many people vaccinated as they possibly can, with both the vaccines that they developed themselves in India as well as supplies of vaccines that they may be able to procure from other suppliers, be that the United States, be that Russia… whatever country is willing whenever companies are

willing to supply vaccine,” Fauci said. H o w e ve r, g e t t i n g someone “vaccinated now” does not solve today’s problem, he noted, adding that it helps prevent a problem several weeks from now. The more immediate problem is how to care for and treat the thousands who are thronging overflowing hospitals across the country every day, in desperate need of oxygen and basic treatment. “It is quite obvious to everyone that the situation in India is extremely serious,” said Fauci, who is considered one of the world’s top infectious disease specialists. Fauci said there are certain things that India can do immediately, mid-term and long-term basis. He recommended taking the help of the country’s armed forces to immediately build makeshift field hospitals. He also underlined the need for a countrywide lockdown for a few weeks to arrest the spread of the virus.

India may see 3rd wave, no point of night curfews, weekend lockdowns: AIIMS chief

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Guleria said on Tuesday that India may see a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic if the virus continues to evolve further and develops an immune escape mechanism. Dr. Guleria also rejected the night curfews and weekend lockdowns that some states have imposed to bring down the Covid-19 cases, saying they hardly work. Speaking with India Today TV, Dr. Guleria said, “Three things need to be looked at here. The first is improving the hospital infrastructure. The second is decreasing the number of cases in an aggressive way and the third, rolling out of vaccines. We have to break the chain of transmission. If we decrease the close contact between humans, there is a possibility that the cases will come down.” “We can call it a lockdown, a regional lockdown

Dr Randeep Guleria

based on a grated response like the UK did, depending upon the criteria you want -- state-level or larger level. It is something that policymakers need to decide because it’s an issue of organising everything in terms of lives and livelihood and that essential services are maintained and at the same time looking after those people who are daily wage workers. It [lockdown] has to be aggressive,” Randeep Guleria said. If the virus evolves further and it develops an immune escape mechanism then there is a chance that we may see a third wave of the pandemic, he added.

266 fresh Covid cases; 3 more deaths in Nagaland DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (NPN): Nagaland on Tuesday reported 266 fresh Covid-19 positive cases and three more fatalities. Of the fresh cases, Dimapur recorded 162 cases, Kohima- 71, Tuensang- 11, Mon- 8, four each in Peren and Mokokchung, three in Longleng and one each in Kihpire, Phek and Zunheboto, adding up to the total caseload to 14717. The state currently has 1,798 active COVID-19 cases while 12,357 patients have recuperated from the infection. Meanwhile, the death toll also rose to 118 (10 not Covid related) after three more patients succumbed to the virus. Further, the

since Covid testing began at the Dimapur airport for passengers on arrival, as many AsDeath MiympRecovunder Total as 449 people have tested District Death grattomInvestiered Cases Moded positive, according to state atic Mild erate gation Health department data. In its travel advisory isDimapur 1156 100 9 6460 84 0 340 8164 Kiphire 3 0 0 40 1 0 0 44 sued on Tuesday, the departKohima 381 6 3 4062 22 0 66 4544 ment disclosed an alarming Longleng 8 5 0 13 0 0 9 35 rise in Covid cases from Mokokchung 19 7 3 192 5 0 13 237 amongst travellers at DiMon 16 15 0 594 3 0 9 629 mapur airport. It said out Peren 7 1 0 506 0 0 1 511 of 833 passengers that were Phek 2 0 0 53 0 0 0 62 tested at the airport, between Tuensang 25 3 0 249 2 0 1 272 April 17-29, a total of 449 Wokha 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 1 0 2 43 passengers were found to be Zunheboto 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 139 0 0 3 147 positive with a positivity rate Total 1626 137 15 13 0 3 4 12357 118 0 444 14717 of 54%, the same was also *10 deaths not due to Covid-19 *0 deaths under investigation published on May 2. distribution across various ees, 6628 traced contacts As reported in Nacategories of people include and 594 frontline workers. galand Post, the testing of Positivity rate among passengers were carried out 4802 cases from the armed forces/police, 2693 return- air travellers high: Ever since April 13.

COVID-19 STATUS AS ON May 4, 2021 ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic Critical-ICU Se- With- With On vere out Oxy- VentiOxygen gen lator 12 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

IPL-2021 suspended indefinitely sports, Page 12

Dimapur night curfew 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.; Odd-even rule for vehicles from today DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (NPN): In partial modification of the earlier order, chairman of District Task Force and deputy commissioner Dimapur, R. Soundararajan, through an order on May 4, stated the timing for the night curfew in Dimapur shall be from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Containment measures: Meanwhile, DC Dimapur has also issued directives for strict compliance by all in areas notified as containment zones-- all 23 wards under the DMC, all colonies under the jurisdiction of Chumukedima Town Council and all colonies/ villages along the DimapurChumukedima 4-lane road. The order shall come to force with effect from 7 p.m. of May 5 for a period of seven days. All activities, including movement of persons will be prohibited in the areas under containment, except in case of the following permitted activities:Movement of goods vehicles including vehicles carrying oxygen/oxygen cylinders and other Medical equipment. Agri & Allied activities, vegetable, fish/meat vendors, milk booths, provisional stores, tyre repair shops, bakeries, local grocery stores, including animal feed shops for public purchase may remain open from 6 a.m. to 2 pm. Small, stand alone shops in colonies subject to regulation by respective ward/colony authority.

VEHICULAR MOVEMENT ODD - EVEN SYSTEM

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY

REGISTRATION NO. ENDING WITH 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9

TUESDAY - THURSDAY - SATURDAY REGISTRATION NO. ENDING WITH 2, 4, 6, 8 & 0

7 DAY PERIOD FROM 7 P.M 5th MAY 2021 till 7 P.M 12th MAY 2021

ommissioner of Police Dimapur, Rothihu Tetseo has ordered that movement of all vehicles in the declared containment zones under Dimapur district will be allowed to ply on Odd-Even system with effect from 7 p.m. of May 5, 2021 for a period seven days. Further, all those under exempted categories have been asked to carry their ID cards at all times issued by the respective heads. Meanwhile, Dimapur police in a tweet informed that a total of Rs. 1,19,700 was collected as penalty imposed on 1197 individuals for not wearing masks in public places. All health care facilities including animal healthcare, hospital clinics, nursing homes and movement of healthcare workers. All pharmacies including those selling veterinary medicines. All persons going for Covid-I9 vaccination, COVID testing and medical emergencies. All shops in market complexes and single brand malls, clothes/apparel/footwear stores shall remain closed. Multi Brand stores like Vishal Mart, Big Bazaar etc may remain open, provided they sell only essential

items and observe all necessary Covid-19 SOPs. Movement of all private passenger shall be allowed to ply on odd/even system with occupancy of 50% for the permitted activities. Public transport vehicles (both public and private) like buses, taxis, autos, two wheeler taxis etc shall be allowed to ply with occupancy of 50% with a maximum limit of 25% of such vehicles in the district. The necessary arrangements shall be done by the District Transport Officer, Dimapur. For full details visit www.nagalandpost.com

Night curfew in Kohima district from today

D I M A P U R , M AY 4 (NPN): In view of the rapid surge in Covid-19 positive cases and with a view to curtail the transmission of the disease, District Task Force Kohima has decided to impose night curfew in Kohima district on all days starting May 5 from 7 p.m.

to 6 a.m. till further order. This was decided at the meeting of the DTF Kohima held on May 4 Exempted: However, during the curfew hours medical, emergency and essential services, including pharmacies, movement of goods vehicles through

goods carriers/trucks will be permitted. Any person violating the order will be penalized as per the provision of the Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act 2005 beside legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, the order stated.

India’s Covid-19 tally crosses 2-cr mark Schools must reduce fees for online-only classes: SC NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (PTI): India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed the 2-crore mark with over 50 lakh infections being added in just 15 days. The total tally of coronavirus cases in the country mounted to 2,02,82,833 with 3,57,229 new infections being reported in a day, while the death toll increased to 2,22,408 with 3,449 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

India’s total COVID-19 infections had surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19 after which it took 107 days to reach 1.25 crore on April 5. However, it only took 15 days for the cases to cross the 1.50 mark. Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to 34,47,133 comprising 17 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 81.91 per cent, the data up-

dated at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,66,13,292, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.10 per cent, the data stated. According to the ICMR, 29,33,10,779 samples have been tested up to May 3 with 16,63,742 samples being tested on Monday. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (AGENCIES): As the Covid-19 pandemic forced closure of schools with a shift to online classes, the Supreme Court on Monday said educational institutions must reduce fees as their running costs have come down with various facilities provided on campus remaining closed. A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said the management of educational

institutions should be sensitive to the problems faced by people due to the pandemic and take steps to provide succour to students and their parents in these harsh times. It said insisting on payment for facilities not provided to students would amount to profiteering which must be avoided by the schools. The Supreme Court on Monday held that that a law can be framed to regulate fees in private unaided schools to stop profiteering

by the management and parents can also be made a part of the process to decide fees. “In law, the school management cannot be heard to collect fees in respect of activities and facilities which are, in fact, not provided to or availed of by its students due to circumstances beyond their control. Demanding fees even in respect of overheads on such activities would be nothing short of indulging in profiteering and

commercialisation. It is a well-known fact and judicial notice can also be taken that due to complete lockdown, schools were not allowed to open for substantially long period during the academic year 2020-21. Resultantly, the school management must have saved overheads and recurring cost on various items such as petrol/ diesel, electricity, maintenance cost, water charges, stationery charges, etc,” the bench said.

Centre notifies changes in motor vehicle rules ANCSU ultimatum over Over 7L people left for several NEW DELHI, MAY 4 THE NEW MV RULE (AGENCIES): The central government has amended MoRTH will enable people rules in the Motor Vehicle to declare nominees as Act in order to make the the successor of the process easier if a vehicle is vehicle needed to be transferred in the name of the nominee in An owner can provide the name of a nominee case of owner’s death. This decision will make at the time of his/her the owners to be able to pass vehicle registration on the vehicle in case of In case vehicle is already death. The Ministry of Road registered, owners can Transport and Highway add the name of the (MoRTH) has made some n o m i n e e a n d o t h e r amendments in the Central details by filling an online Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. application form Now, the vehicle owners can nominate a person as vehicle will be passed on to nominee in their vehicle the nominee. registration certificate. In The amendments made case of owner’s death, the and notified by MoRTH will

enable people to declare nominees as the successor of the vehicle, on the lines of the bank accounts and other finance-related accounts. According to the amended rules, an owner can provide the name of a nominee at the time of his/her vehicle registration. The vehicle owners can also add the name of nominee later through an online application but he/she has to submit identity proof of the nominee. In case vehicle is already registered, the owners can simply add the name of the nominee and other details by filling out an online application form which will

automatically transfer the ownership to the nominee when the death certificate of the vehicle owner is presented to the concerned authorities. R e p o r t e d l y, t h e MoRTH has made the amendments to help general public as they were facing hassles to transfer the registration of the vehicle to another person after death. Earlier (before the new amendment came into affect), the procedure of transferring the vehicle after owner’s death was very complex. The procedure listed out by different states and RTOs makes the process even more complicated.

delayed scholarship states amid new curbs: Rlys

DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (NPN): All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has served an ultimatum on the department of Higher Education to disburse State Merit Scholarship (Post Matric) 2021 within 14 days. In an ultimatum addressed to the director higher education, the ANCSU president Vimeyiekho Vitso and assistant general secretary Inagha Kinny alleged that it has been the “trend of the department to introduce new excuses year after year on delaying the disbursement of scholarship to the students”. ANCSU said it was anguished by yet another delay for disbursement of State Merit Scholarship 2021. Failure to disburse the scholarship within the stipulated period, ANCSU threatened to resort to “any befitting democratic protest of the day.”

NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (AGENCIES): Over seven lakh people have travelled by railways to states in the north, east and north east India from Mumbai and neighbouring districts in April as the state started implementing curbs, which gradually escalated into a de facto lockdown, to rein in the surge in Covid-19 cases, data shared by the Central and Western Railway has revealed, The Indian Express report stated. A significant fraction of the travellers is believed to have comprised migrant labourers, making their way back to their hometowns. The Central and Western Railway increased the number of special trains to these states in order to meet the increase in demand. The number is much higher than 2019, the last pre-pandemic year, when 4.9 lakh passengers travelled by trains in the same (Cont’d on p-8) month. K Y M C

state

3 machines installed at NSAMB complex

DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (NPN): Electric dryer, washer and slicer machines were installed here, on Tuesday, at Nagaland State Agricultural Marketing Board (NSAMB) complex, agri-expo site, 4th mile. The machine rooms were inaugurated by deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan. The DC shared that agri-market linkages were crucial since these services involved planning, organising, directing and handling of agricultural produce to assist farmers, intermediaries and consumers. NSAMB managing director G Ikuto Zhimomi informed that the machines would be used for ginger, turmeric, local chilli and king chilli besides fruits. He stated that the main objective of the marketing board was to market the organic produce and that from the month of January till May 1, 2021, the farmers

DC Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan unveiling the plaque on Tuesday. (NP)

produce comprised of 1.30 metric tonnes, in an average of 33 metric tonne of items (wild fruits and cultivated organic crops) per month. He said that 65 items were procured from different agri produce from 11 districts except Noklak district where the board was yet to establish a sub-office. Out of the items procured, maximum items were obtained from Zunheboto, Kohima, Tuensang and Mon as leading districts. With ginger making the maximum produce, he informed that so far, out of

the 65 procured items, 50 metric tonnes comprised of ginger from the 11 districts, of which 35 metric tonnes were marketed out through daily AC market as well as exporting them outside the state. He further informed that 15 metric tonnes of items that remained would be put for dry processing. The marketing board also has a cold storage of hundred metric tonne capacity, AC market, a thousand metric tonnes of dry storage, godowns and store. It may be mentioned that air condition (AC) mar-

news in Brief

ket was inaugurated in the month of December 2020, which would probably be the first of its kind in the whole of North East. The cold storage and AC market consumes three source of power supply solar, grid electricity and general which generates 24/7 power supply. Ikuto said that the cold storage facility and AC market ran on solar energy in the day. He informed that NSAMB was affiliated to the national board, confederation of state agriculture marketing board and was notified by the state government as nodal agency for agricultural export policy implementation on February, 2019. A committee constituted by the state government has recommended that the NSAMB should use the facility for air cargo services as well. In this regard, he informed that any entrepreneurs could make use of the facility on nominal rental payment.

DIMAPUR: DC Longleng has informed all that there would be a total restriction of all vehicular movements from Dikhu bridge to Chingtok junction in view of the ongoing ChangtongyaLongleng two lane construction and in order to facilitate the progress of the work. According to DIPR report, DC informed that the restrictions would be imposed on: May 4, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; May 5, 12 noon to 2 p.m. Further, public and pedestrians have been requested not to loiter around the blasting/construction sites. The restriction was necessitated to facilitate speedy completion of work and as a precautionary measure to prevent any injury, loss of life and damage of property. All have been informed to adhere and to take note of the same.

LRD Dimapur distributes machineries

Special guest along with DPO Dimapur, invitees and beneficiaries during the distribution programme. (DIPR)

DIMAPUR: Land Resources Department (LRD) Dimapur, distributed rubber roller machines to 65 beneficiaries and coffee pulping machine to 25 beneficiaries (100% subsidy) on May 4, in the presence of special guest, ADC Dimapur, Atokhe Aye and special invitees DHO Dimapur, Temsu and DPRO Dimapur, Lolano Patton. According to DIPR report, while addressing the gathering, ADC Dimapur, Atokhe Aye advised the beneficiaries to become successful by utilising the

machineries judiciously. He reminded the farmers that LRD was a department that invested for farmers and encouraged them to avail the facility and to make good record so that they avail the facilities and advantages in the future as well. Atokhe also impressed upon the gathering for creating awareness and educating the people in their locality/ villages on maintaining appropriate Covid behaviours. DPO Dimapur, I. Acato Chishi cautioned that GPS tracking for machines

installed would be undertaken and advised beneficiaries not to rent out the machineries provided by the government for promoting farmers. He further said that preference and priority would be accorded to the sincere and dedicated farmers in future. Highlights of the programme included demonstration of coffee pulper and rubber roller machine by Kimiyekato Shohe while vote of thanks was proposed by AI, Aoyanger.

Block level teachers trg at Chiephobozou

NSCN/GPRN (R) extends Miu greetings: NSCN/GPRN (R) through its MIP has conveyed warm Miu festival greetings to the Khiamniungan community. NSCN/ GPRN (R) hoped that prosperity, strength and good health prevail among its Khiamniungans brothers and sisters, so as to enable them to continue to strengthen the bond of oneness and love amongst Naga families. DMC informs: Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) administrator, Albert Ezung has informed owners of hand cart, cycle rickshaw, sugarcane, juicer, chat trolley, fast food trolley, ice-cream, bicycle and cycle rickshaw driving license holder that renewal of DMC registration certificates and license for the year 2012 has been extended till May 31. All concerned have been requested to renew their respective certificate/license within the stipulated period.

One of the resource persons speaking at the programme.

DIMAPUR: A two-day block level training on “foundational literacy and numeracy” was conducted at EBRC (Samagra Shiksha) Chiephobozou con-

ference hall on April 29 and 30. A press release from the trainees stated that in a short speech, Chiephobozou SDEO, Ket-

ousielie Keditsu said that foundational literacy and numeracy was the groundwork in the early part of the education system. He also said since Kohima was the mirror of Nagaland, a teacher in the capital must set good examples. Resource persons for the training were coordinator Kekhriengulie Rülho, Tirsha Thapa TOT and Vibeizolie Yashü TOT while two teachers presented the day’s topic each day. The inaugural function was chaired by coordinator, DMA Kohima, project assistant Peteneilhou Rüpreo offered the invocation and also delivered a keynote address. Altogether 32 schools participated in the training.

DP-2317

Staff Reporter

DC Longleng restricts vehicular movement

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life"

Rev. 2:10b

Under the aegis of Director General Border Roads (DGBR), Hq project SEWAK flagged off a motorcycle expedition by chief engineer (CE) R K Saha on “Azaadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav” and to create awareness on road safety and COVID-19. The expedition would be within project SEWAK area and would culminate on the raising day of BRO, May 7.

K-865

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

01/03/1954 – 01/05/2021 We the family members of Lt. Rongsenkaba Ozüküm (Waromung) would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to all individuals, friends, neighbours, churches and well-wishers from dear and far, who stood by us morally, financially, physically, and in prayers during his illness till his last journey. We are unable to thank everyone personally but we pray that Almighty God bless you all abundantly. DP-2308

Loving Wife, Children & Relatives

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY LT. AKOKLA JAMIR (05/05/2020)

K Y M C

From loving husband, children and relatives

A year has passed since you left for your Heavenly abode This day is remembered and quietly kept For those we love don’t go away They walk beside us every day Unseen and unheard, but always near We are grateful to God for having had you in our lives You are deeply loved and dearly missed. DP-2129

DP-2301

DP-2314

Late Rüleshülü Khamo 25th June, 1962 – 10th April 2021 We the bereaved family members would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all who stood by us and supported us physically, spiritually and financially during the illness and at the demise of our beloved Late Mrs. Rüleshülü Khamo (W/o Mr. Vecüta Khamo) on 10th April, 2021. We convey our sincere appreciation and special thanks to: 1. Rev. Dr. Chekrovei Cho-o 25. CWC, Youth Alive 2. Rev. Dr. Sülüveyi Rhakho 26. CBCD 'B': Woman Dept., Prayer Cell, Youth 3. Rev. Fr. Johnson V.U Dept. and Children Dept. 4. Rev. Pusazo Chüzho 27. CBC, Selouphe: Woman Dept. 5. Rev. Bonny Resu 28. Zani Village Council 6. Rev. Dr. Nüvocho Dzüdo 29. Chakhesang Community, Diphupar 'B' 7. Dr. Kevesiei Chakhesang 30. Chakhesang Woman Society, Diphupar 'B' 8. Pastors of various Churches 31. Phüsachodü Union, Dimapur 9. Dr. Chotisuh Sazo, Hon’ble MLA 32. Kami Union, Dimapur 10. Mr. Kezhieneyi Khalo, Hon’ble MLA 33. Hiesühmi Khel 11. Mr. Rothihü Tetseo, 34. Chakhesang Student's Union, Commissioner of Police, Dimapur Patkai Christian College 12. Er. Limanaro, Chief Engineer PWD (R&B) 35. DDM Hostel & Geo. Dept. and her colleagues Patkai Christian College 13. Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) 36. Carmel Hr. Sec. School's Teaching Staff 14. Phüsachodü Baptist Church and Students 15. Chakhesang Baptist Church, Diphupar 'B' 37. Kohima Science College, 16. Zani Baptist Church Botany Dept. (Batch: 2021) 17. Rükizu Baptist Church 38. Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering 18. Chakhesang Baptist Church, Selouphe (Batch: 2011 & 2014) 19. Ao Baptist Church, Diphupar 'B' 39. Acts 29: The Next Chapter 20. Kami Baptist Church 40. The Celestial Voices 21. NCRC, Diphupar 'B' 41. Khamotsomi 22. Christian Worship Centre 42. Doctors and Nurses of NEIGRIHMS, Referral 23. Living Hope Centre and Dimapur Hospital 24. Evangelical Union, Kohima Science College We deeply regret our inability to mention and thank each and every individual personally but it is our prayers that the Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Loving Husband, Son and Family Members K Y M C

State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Is vaccine and oxygen shortages in India due to govt’s wrong priorities? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

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

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

90% 8% 2%

Next poll

Q: Should India declare a

state of national health emergency to check the second covid wave?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST May 5

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala A stray afternoon t-storm

33 22

Aizawl

A strong morning thunderstorm 28 17

Guwahati A stray afternoon t-storm Imphal

A strong afternoon t-storm

Itanagar A thunderstorm in spots

27 20 30 16 26 20

Shillong

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

19 13

Kohima

A thunderstorm or two

21 14

Dimapur A t-storm around in the p.m

30 19

A morning thunderstorm

24 16

Tuensang A thunderstorm in spots

17 12

A thunderstorm in spots

24 17

Mkg Wokha

Zunheboto Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

21 14

Unions flay harassment of doctor DIMAPUR: Thuvopisumi Welfare Union Kohima (TWUK) and Thuvopisumi Youth Association Kohima (TYAK) have strongly condemned the incident meted out to one of its member, Dr. Nusazo Tetseo, a medical doctor at Bethel Hospital Kohima,. In a condemnation note, TWUK chairman Kuvesho Tetseo and TYAK president Kuthophuyi Tetseo claimed that on April 30 evening, a group led by one Binod Nepali, a local taxi driver illegally searched the private residence of the doctor on the “unfounded charge of thievery”. They further alleged that on May 1, the same group publicly harassed and humiliated the doctor within the confines of Bethel Hospital Kohima on the above stated unestablished charge of stealing his mobile phone. TWUK and TYAK accused Binod of instigating the whole episode in complete disregard to the privacy and dignity of the doctor. The unions said they were aggrieved by the humiliation meted out to its member and therefore urged the law enforcing authorities to deliver justice at the earliest, failing which they would not be held responsible for any untoward incident that might happen.

District level meetings held on COVID-19 preparedness DIMAPUR: With the surge of COVID-19 positive cases across in the state, the state government, its agencies and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been issuing directives, conducting meetings and taking preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus. DTF Mon: A combined meeting of COVID-19 District Task Force (DTF) and DTF for administration of COVID-19 vaccination was held on May 3 at DC’s conference hall Mon. During the meeting, a brief summary on the ongoing vaccination process in the district was delivered by DIO (UIP&RCH) Dr. Shasinle Tep. She said that the vaccination for the 18years & above would soon be activated as and when the vaccine arrived. The meeting also discussed the execution of vaccination plan and challenges faced by each block under the district in minute detail. DSO, Dr. Limatula Aier informed that there were 23 active cases and three deaths till date in the district. Following the feedbacks, DTF came up with a decision to strengthen the COVID-19 protocols by discussing on the preparation, enforcement and monitoring. In this regard, it was decided to reinforce the ward and village task force as they were instrumental in the pandemic management last year. The team informed that permission should be taken from DTF Mon for any kind of gatherings within the district. The meeting also discussed on preparedness of Covid hospital, Covid care centre (CCC), manpower issues, drugs, equipment’s and

DTF Mon meeting in progress, on Monday. dead body protocols. The meeting was chaired by DC), Mon Thavaseelan K and was also attended by CMO Mon, Dr. Kechongol Sophie. Other members present were superintendent of police, MS DH, depu t y C M O, A D C, S D O (c), District Surveillance Officer(IDSP), district immunization officer, WHO and other administrative officers. DTF Longleng: DTF Longleng convened an emergency meeting with all its members and stakeholders on May 3. The meeting was chaired by DC and chairman DTF Longleng M. Shayung Phom. According to DIPR report, the house discussed and passed various agendas. Random screening test would be carried by the responsible medical department for high risk group including shopkeepers, drivers/operators of bus/taxis, road construction worker, hotel/restaurant employees. Food expenditure for medical & police/VGs personnel assigned to CCC and COVID-19 hospital duties would be tentatively borne by DTF at Rs. 300 per person. To continue enforcing COVID-19 appropriate be-

SBI Kohima branch observes 56th anniversary

DIMAPUR: State Bank of India (SBI) Kohima branch observed its 56th anniversary on May 4. A press release by SBI Kohima branch stated that during the programme, the branch celebrated with cake cutting and release of brochure by senior customer Viu Angami. Speaking at the programme, assistant general manager (AGM) of the branch, Besii Bosco said that the branch underwent tremendous change from manual banking to technology driven core banking. He thanked the customers for adapting to the fast changing technology and requested them to make use of the brochure for onboarding to digital platform. One product which the bank recently launched and would come useful during

the pandemic is the “insta plus savings account” for opening new regular SB account digitally through YONO app without any branch visit. On the occasion, he also handed over insurance death claim settlement of Rs. 2 lakh to the nominee of late Prukhru Rhi under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) which was enrolled by SBI customer service point, Kezieke. He lauded CSP Neiketou Theyo for promoting the scheme PMJJBY which was a social security scheme of the government of India with life insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakh for death due to any reason for those having savings bank account in the age group of 18 to 50 years with annual premium of Rs. 330 only.

Cmmr & Secy RD launches CFP under MGNREGA

haviour in Longleng town, DBs and VGs would assist and coordinate with police personal for duty, the respective rosters would be prepared by the responsible department. Village guards would be activated to check and monitor the movement of unknown person in the villages and to immediately report the same to the authorities Any public events/ gathering/festivities have been prohibited in the district and for the purpose of conducting wedding ceremonies, prior approval (15 days advance) of the DTF would be required. Entry/check gate situated at Shetab & Yonglok under Tamlu circle would be looked after by the concerned respective administrative and police officers. Religious places/place of worship would be permitted outside the containment zone subject to a maximum limit of 30% of the total capacity of the hall/building of any point of time or 100 person whichever is lower, and with strict adherence to all the provisions of SOPs for preventing the spread of COVID-19. The new venue for the daily local market is now shifted to the public ground, Longleng town with immediate effect until further

notice. A fine of Rs. 200 would be imposed on the person not correctly wearing masks in the public places, work places and during transport. All the colony/ward president/chairmen have been directed to keep vigil and to promptly report to the authorities in the event of any COVID-19 related incidents. DC Kohima warns: DC & Chairman, DTF Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie has ordered the closure of all hostels, however, it was brought to the notice that some hostels were still operating despite the order. Therefore, the DC has warned any person found violating the order to be penalised as per the provision of the Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act 2005 beside legal action under IPC Section 188 and instructed all the concerned to comply with immediate effect. DC Mokokchung: DC Mokokchung has issued an order closing of all mass gathering in the district including religious places except for solemnisation of weddings with prior permission of the DC with limit up to 50 persons. In another order, the entry of public visitors to the office of the DC has been restricted with immediate effect except for cases relating to law and order and of essential nature. The order further stated that failure to comply with the aforementioned guidelines shall attract penalisation under relevant sections of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and the Disaster management act 2005. D C Wo k h a : D C Wokha, Orenthung Lotha has informed the general public that the entry of public visitors at the office

of the DC, Wokha would be restricted with immediate effect. Only cases which require immediate attention would be entertained. DC informed that the order would remain in force till further order. Meanwhile, DC Wokha has notified that all passenger vehicle/taxi plying to and fro from various points of Wokha district have been permitted movement under various conditions with effect from May 4 till further order. Drivers and attendant of the commercials taxi and passengers should compulsorily wear mask at all times, drivers/attendant should make mandatory provisions for hand sanitizers for use by the passengers, only passengers wearing masks be allowed to travel, the vehicle travelling for long distance should be mandatorily cleaned and disinfected before the start of every journey with new passengers, non-locals travelling to Wokha without proper ILP/Govt. official ID card should not be allowed to board the vehicle or pass any check gates, the rates of commercial taxi bound will be as pre-April revised rates, the number of passengers for all commercial vehicles should be a per the norms of social distancing-Sumo 5, Alto-3 and Ecco (6+1 seater)-4. These provisions for all commercial passenger vehicles would be monitored and enforced by a joint team comprising of district administration, police and DTO. DC Longleng: In view of detection of COVID-19 positive case at SBI, Longleng the building situated at high school ward has been declared as sealed area for a period of 48 hours with immediate effect in order

to control the spread of disease/infections and for necessary contact tracing. All movement of persons in the sealed area has been strictly prohibited and would remain under active surveillance with immediate effect until further notice. House sealed in Mon: In order to take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, SDO (C) Angjangyang, Yanithung N Ngullie ordered the sealing of rented house located between: EastSchool, West- H/No.10, North- main road and southjungle at Changphang Morung, Yakshu Village, Mon till further orders. Any person violating the containment measures would be liable to be proceeded against as per the provision of Sections 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act 2005 besides legal action under IPC section 188 and other legal provisions as applicable. LVC resolves to strictly adhere to COVID guidelines: Lengrijan Village Council (LVC) has resolved to strictly adhere COVID guidelines within the village which was adopted during the meeting held on May 4. LVC chairman T Anung Pongen and secretary Ayimsalang stated that the council has reiterated to fully support the consolidated guidelines issued by the government of Nagaland and the district task force Dimapur. The council also decided that it would not allow any inter-district and state travelers to enter the village till further notice. It also informed all shopkeeper mainly barber shops to strictly follow the COVID-19 SOPs by wearing masks, using sanitizers and maintaining social distance.

3 GPRN/NSCN directs DIMAPUR: GPRN/ NSCN ministry of kilo (home) affairs has directed one Carlos Kughato Zhimo, secretary, who defected to NSCN (Niki group) recently, with “government properties” to surrender and hand over all the “government properties” entitled to him within three days w.e.f May 4. GPRN/NCN through its MIP has warned that failure to do so, Carlos K. Zhimo alone would bear sole responsibility “if any unwanted consequences arises between GPRN/ NSCN and NSCN (Niki group) in near future.”

DSSU calls for banning tobacco products

DIMAPUR: Taking the health of people into consideration amid the pandemic, Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (DSSU) has urged district administration and public to integrate in order to temporarily suspend and to inspect sale, advertisement and billboard hoardings of tobacco products. In a press release, DSSU president L Kivipu Shohe and finance secretar y Holloto Yeptho claimed that a packet of Guthka that costs Rs. 8 and Rs. 18 respectively was being sold at Rs. 15-30 which it termed as “daylight robbery”. The union has urged the law enforcing agency to intervene and check the business establishments selling tobacco products beyond the fixed price. It also urged upon the general public to refrain from using tobacco and its products and stressed on how tobacco affected the health and weakened the immune system.

Phek DC issues notification on swine flu DIMAPUR: Following the outbreak of African swine flu (ASF) in Phek and Kiphire districts, Phek deputy commissioner (DC) has asked the general public to remain cautious and vigilant, and to report any unusual mortality of domestic and feral pigs to the chief veterinary officer’s office. To control and contain spread of the contagious disease, the DC in a notification asked village councils, public and pig farmers to report unusual pig deaths to the nearest veterinary health centres immediately. The DC notified the general public and pig farmers of the district that ASF was highly infectious and contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of pigs with 100% fatality rate with no treatment and vaccine. Hence, control, containment, surveillance and following of bio-security measures were the only way to eradicate the disease, the notification added. The notification further stated that the chief veterinary officer would monitor the situation and create awareness to contain spread of ASF. This was stated in a DIPR release.

WSBAK organises bible reading marathon

Neposo Theluo launching CFP under MGNREGA in Kohima on Tuesday. DIMAPUR: Commissioner & secretary, rural development department, Neposo Theluo launched Cluster Facilitation Project (CFP) under MGNREGA, to be implemented in aspirational district Kiphire at the web room of MGNREGA Commissionerate in Kohima. K Y M C

In his speech, Neposo thanked the senior officers of the department for taking active role in the successful launching of CFP programme in the state. Earlier, the virtual programme was chaired by director, rural development department, Liboni Humtsoe while a brief highlight

of CFP under MGNREGA was shared by Veduzo Sasu, RDO/SNO (CFP) The programme was attended by officials from ministry of rural development, thematic experts of both state & district and North East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA).

DIMAPUR: Western Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (WSBAK) flagged of “Bible reading marathon 2021” at Nagaland Coffee Shop, Dimapur on May 3. WSBAK along with its 170 member churches aims to read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation within six days (May 3-May 8). According to a press release, 60 to 70 participants would take part in the Bible reading everyday, 5 a.m. till 8 p.m., marking a total of 500 participants under WSBAK churches. It may be mentioned that the marathon is one of the many creative programmes of WSBAK with an aim to proclaim the word of God in the society. K Y M C

northeast

No decision yet on next Assam CM

Himanta Biswa Sarma with Sarbananda Sonowal Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was likely to reach Guwahati on Tuesday to hammer out a consensus regarding the top post but his trip was postponed, party sources said. BJP vice-president and the party in-charge of Assam, Baijayant Panda had met Sonowal and Sarma separately on Monday but did not tell waiting journalists what transpired. There were speculations before the poll that Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, will be the chief minister if the party wins the election. The party, however, it did not announce any

Cost for 42,000 COVID vaccines paid by Meghalaya Govt: CM Correspondent Shillong, May 4: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said that the State Government has paid the vaccination cost to the manufacturing company for 42,000 vaccines which will reach the state within few days time. Vaccination for 18-44 age group in Meghalaya is yet to begin. “Pleased to inform all citizens that the Government of Meghalaya has decided to give free of cost vaccination to each and every beneficiary,” Sangma tweeted after chairing a daily review meeting on the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic in the State. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said that they aren’t exactly sure when the vaccines would arrive, as there is a shortage of vaccines around the country. “We have made the payment to the manufacturing company and it’s expected the vaccines would be arriving soon,” Tynsong

said, adding that the State Government have paid Rs. 300 for each vaccine “We (gover nment) have not decided when the vaccination process would start for the 18 years and above group and how they would use the first batch of supply,” the Deputy Chief Minister informed. He, however, said the vaccines for the 18-44 category, would be provided at government hospitals. “We would be reviewing the situation on a daily basis and take a decision appropriately,” Tynsong said. Meanwhile, the State Government has assured the general public that there was no shortage of essential commodities in the State and therefore there was no reason for panic. “We have taken a review as far as the availability of essential commodities. I would like to inform all citizens of the state that we have enough stock of essential commodities. They need not panic as the government is monitoring the situation closely,” Tynsong said.

name unlike in 2016 when Sonowal was projected for the post. Asked if he will be the next chief minister, Sarma quipped “How can I answer if my name is being considered? One of us will be the CM. You ask a third person.” The government’s and his prime attention at this moment is to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and give service to the people, Sarma, who is the health minister in the outgoing Sonowal gover nment, said. “The final decision will be taken by the parliamentary board. Our national president has gone to

West Bengal. I hope there will be a decision in a day or two,” Sarma said. The Congress during the election campaign had mocked the BJP top leaders’ oft repeated assertions on “double- engine” government in Assam by saying that the state had two chief ministers apparently referring to rumours of Sarma and Sonowal acting as rival power centres. A BJP leader had said on Monday that the party is unlikely to change the guard at this moment and Sonowal is likely to head the next government. “There are many advantages in Sonowal’s favour – we won on the performance of the incumbent government headed by him, he is a tribal face, does not have any allegation on any irregularity against him and is accepted as a secular face. So, it is unlikely that he will be changed,” he said. BJP’s alliance partners - the AGP and UPPL said it is for the “big brother” to take a call on who will head the next NDA government in Assam.

nearest opponent Bitupan Saikia of Congress by a margin of 9,325 votes. Neog is the widow of former Congress leader Nagen Neog who was killed along with eight others by the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom in 1996. BJP candidate Suman Haripriya, 52, daughter of former Union Minister and BJP MP Bijaya Chakraborty, re-elected from Hajo beating Dulu Ahmed of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) by a margin of 14,368 votes. Another BJP nominee Nandita Garlosa, 43, in her maiden electoral fight won from Haflong (ST) defeating Congress candidate Nirmal Langthasa by a margin of 18,598 votes. BJP’s ally AGP’s Renupama Rajkhowa, 66, won from Teok seat by defeating another woman candidate Pallabi Gogoi of Congress by a margin of 1,350 votes. Congress candidates Nandita Das, 51,elected to the assembly from Boko (SC) seat while her party colleague and newcomer Sibamoni Bora, 60, daughter of former legislator Kiran Bora and daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Golap Borbora, won the prestigious Batadroba seat.

A photo of BJP workers and their family members taking shelter in Assam. Guwahati, May 4 (PTI): Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday claimed that 300400 BJP workers and their family members have fled their homes in West Bengal amid post-poll violence in the neighbouring state. He also urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to put a stop to “this ugly dance of demonocracy”. “In a sad development 300-400 @BJP4Bengal karyakartas and family members have crossed over to Dhubri in Assam after

confronted with brazen persecution & violence,” the Assam health and finance minister tweeted. “We’re giving shelter & food. @MamataOfficial Didi must stop this ugly dance of demonocracy! Bengal deserves better,” he added. West Bengal was in the throes of widespread violence on Monday that allegedly left several BJP workers dead and injured in clashes, and shops being looted, prompting the Union Home ministry to seek a factual report from

the state government on incidents of attack on opposition workers. On Monday, Sarma had asserted that not a single Congress worker was taunted, “forget about being attacked”, in Assam after the BJP won the assembly polls in the state for the second consecutive time. “Not too far in Bengal, Didi’s Dadas have unleashed a reign of terror, assaulting & murdering BJP workers. Can the ‘LIBERALS’ spot the difference?” he had said on Twitter.

198 new COVID cases in Mizoram Aizawl, May 4 (PTI): At least 198 people, including 24 security personnel, have tested positive for COVID19 in Mizoram, pushing the tally in the northeastern state to 6,556, an official said on Tuesday. Of the fresh cases, 148 were reported from Aizawl district, followed by Siaha at 31, Kolasib at nine, Lunglei at four, Serchhip and Saitual at two each, Mamit and Lawngtlai at one each. As many as 120 new cases were detected through Rapid Antigen Test, 76 through RT-PCR and two through TrueNat method, the official aid. Twenty-two Central Reserve Police Force personnel, two Border Security Force jawans and four health workers are among the new patients, he said Fo r t y - t h r e e f r e s h COVID-19 patients have travel history, and others were detected during contact tracing. Mizoram now has 1,427 active cases, while 5,112 people have recovered from the virus and 17 died. The state has so far conducted 3,13,575 sample tests, including 3,517 on Monday.

Night curfew in Assam from 6 pm to 5 am M’laya records highest single-

File photo of night curfew. Guwahati, May 4 (PTI): The Assam government on Tuesday advanced the night curfew to 6 pm from the current 8 pm with restrictions imposed on the movement of people at public places from Wednesday, to contain the surge of COVID-19 cases. Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah who is also the Chairperson of Assam State Disaster Authority issued the order after reviewing the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state. He directed that total restrictions from 6 pm to 5 am be imposed with District Magistrates and Commissioner of Police, Guwahati to issue orders under Cr.PC (Section 144) to the same

effect. The order will come into effect from Wednesday and remain in force till further orders. Night curfew was imposed on April 27 till May one and on April 30, it was further extended to May seven. All shops and commercial establishments shall shut down at 2 pm on all days and no meeting/gathering at any open or closed spaces shall be allowed. All offices both private and government shall shut down at 2 pm on all days and this will not be applicable for organizations rendering essential and emergency services, law enforcing services and

Women lawmakers declining in Assam Assembly

Guwahati, May 4 (IANS): The number of women legislators in the 126-member Assam Assembly has been declining from a high of 14 in 2011, eight in 2016 and only six this time. In all 74 women candidates (7.8 per cent) among the total of 946 aspirants contested the recently held three-phase Assam Assembly elections and only six of them entered into the Assembly -- three are of the ruling BJP, one of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and two of opposition Congress. In the previous Assam Assembly elections in 2016, 91 women candidates were in the fray with eight of them elected to the 126member House while in 2011, 85 women had tried their electoral fate and 14, highest so far in the House, secured the success. According to the Election Commission’s data, 7.82 per cent women candidates of the total 946 candidates fought the electoral battle but 4.76 per cent female lawmakers would represent the state in the 126-member House. Four-time MLA and former Congress minister Ajanta Neog, 57, who weeks before the election joined the BJP, retained her Golaghat seat defeating her

‘Around 300-400 BJP workers entered Assam from WB amid post-poll violence’

Das trounced AGP candidate Jyoti Prasad Das while Bora defeated actor-turnedpolitician Angoorlata Deka by a margin of 52, 466 votes and 32,820 votes respectively. In a major setback, Assam’s longest-serving woman legislator Pramila Rani Brahma of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) lost the Kokrajhar East seat by 20,095 votes. The 71-year-old, tribal woman leader was defeated by BJP’s new ally United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) candidate Lawrence Islary, 44.Brahma, who was minister both in BJP government headed by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Congress Government led by former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, had first won the Kokrajhar East seat in Western Assam in 1991. The Opposition Congress, which had formed a 10-party ‘Mahajot’ (Grand Alliance) to fight the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance, had put up nine women candidates in the polls. Its electoral partners, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF), have fielded one women candi-

date each. In the 2016 polls, the Congress had fielded 16 women candidates. The ruling BJP has nominated seven women candidates, one more than that during the 2016 polls, while its alliance partner AGP like that of previous elections has put up two female nominees.Besides, several female activists and women rights bodies, renowned Assam-based writers Tapati Baruah Kashyap and Ratna Bharali Talukdar have expressed strong resentment over the less number of women candidates and fewer numbers of elected legislators. Kashyap, a renowned Guwahati-based awardwinning writer and an advocate of women’s rights, said women have the capability to govern the society but they are not properly represented in politics and governance. “Because ours is a patriarchal society, men continue to dominate in every sphere of the society and government. This can be termed as neglect of women and the failure to recognise their ability. There are numerous instances where women have performed better than men in many areas, including education,” she told IANS.

election work. No meeting/gathering at any open or closed spaces shall be allowed, and for marriages, only the religious part will be allowed with a presence of maximum of 20 persons with no reception parties allowed before or after the marriage. At all religious places, congregation of not more than five persons shall be allowed at any time. Restaurants, dhabas and other eateries can entertain dine-in guests only up to 2 pm. Takeaway including home delivery of food is allowed till 6 pm after which only home delivery of food will be allowed. Restaurants operating within a hotel or resort can allow outside guests up to 2 pm only though in-house

guests may be allowed to dine-in up to the usual time of operation. Delivery of essential goods through e-commerce may continue with observance of COVID appropriate behaviour. Cold storages and warehouses may continue after 2 pm. However, sale counters, showrooms, etc, attached to these warehouses or cold storages shall not operate after 2 pm. District Magistrates will declare an area or a city or district or well defined parts thereof as containment zones if the test positivity of COVID-19 in such areas reaches 10 per cent or more in the last one week or bed occupancy either oxygen supported or ICU beds crosses 60 per cent.

Assam govt postpones Class 10 board exams amid rising COVID-19 cases

The Assam government has postponed the Class 10 board examinations in view of surging COVID-19 cases in the state. The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) issued an order to this effect on Tuesday. The revised schedule of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Assam High Madrassa (AHM) examinations shall be announced shortly after consultation with the state health department, it said. Assam reported 4,489 fresh COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths on Monday.

Arunachal reports record 220 new COVID-19 cases I ta nag a r , M ay 4 (PTI): The COVID-19 caseload of Arunachal Pradesh rose to 18,958 as the state reported its highest ever single-day spike of 220 new cases, a health department official said on Tuesday. The Capital Complex region recorded the maximum number of fresh cases at 88, followed by Lower Dibang Valley (22), West Kameng (20), East Siang (17), Lower Subansiri (13) and Papumpare (11), State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said. Of the fresh cases, 162 were detected through rapid antigen tests, 41 through RT-PCR and 17 through TrueNat method, he said, adding that 75 new patients have symptoms of the coronavirus infection. At least 90 people were cured of the

disease on Monday, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 17,363. T h e r e c ove r y r a t e among coronavirus patients stands at 91.59 per cent. The death toll remained at 59 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours. Ar unachal Pradesh now has 1,536 active cases, the SSO Said. The Capital Complex region - comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa areas - has the highest number of active cases at 440, followed by Lower Dibang Valley (308), West Kameng (133) and Papumpare (113). The administration in the state capital has imposed a night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am from May 1 to contain the spread of the disease.

AR seize arms & ammunition from near Indo-Myanmar border

Imphal, May 3 (PTI): Assam Rifles (AR) troops have seized arms and ammunition from Moreh town in Manipur near the Indo-Myanmar border, a press release issued by the paramilitary force said on Monday. In an operation in Manipur’s Tengnoupla district on Saturday the Assam Rifles troops seized one assault rifle with magazine, ammunition and two Chinese-made hand grenades from a house, the release said. The seized items were handed over to Moreh police station for appropriate legal action, the release added.

day spike in COVID-19 cases

Shillong, May 4: The surge in COVID-19 cases continued in Meghalaya with 339 new positive cases detected on Tuesday, the highest single-day spike so far, pushing the number of active cases up to 2,019. On the other hand, the State also registered 204 more recoveries from the viral disease on Tuesday, taking the number of recovered cases up to 15, 810. With the daily increases of new cases, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tysnong reiterated the government’s appeal to the citizens of the State to strictly adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour for prevention. “If we strictly follow the protocols, then only we can prevent the spread of this disease,” he said, adding that the government will be reviewing the health situation on a daily basis. Director Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War said the new COVID-19 cases detected on Tuesday included 233 in East Khasi Hills district, 40 in West Garo Hills district, 24 in Ri-Bhoi district , 14 in East Jaintia Hills district , 10 in West Khasi Hills district , six in West Jaintia Hills district , four in South West Garo Hills district,three each in North Garo Hills district and South Garo Hills district besides two cases in South West Khasi Hills district. Wi t h 1 , 2 9 8 a c t ive COVID-19 cases and 156 deaths, the East Khasi Hills district, that includes state capital Shillong is the most

affected district, followed by Ri-Bhoi district with 201 active cases, West Garo Hills district with 155 active cases, West Jaintia Hills with 97 active cases, East Jaintia Hills district with 85 active cases, West Khasi Hills with 69 active cases, East Garo Hills district with 30 active cases, South West Khasi Hills district with 25 active cases, South West Garo Hills district with 22 active cases, South Garo Hills district with 19 active cases, and North Garo Hills district with 18 active cases as on date. Meghalaya has so far registered 18, 014 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 185 fatalities with 1.03 per cent case fatality rate. Of the 4, 71,988 persons tested for COVID-19 in the State, 4, 53,974 persons tested negative for the virus till Tuesday, Dr. War said. On the other hand, 25,595 health care workers received the first dose of Covishield, 18,596 received the second dose, 46,441 frontline workers got the first shot of the vaccine, 24,885 got the second jab,

PUBLIC NOTICE

It is for general attention that anybody dealing with Mr. Dziivineito (Aba) Nagi, S/o Late Kepelhu Nagi of Kuda Village A Khel, Dimapur financially or in any land holding shall be doing at their own Individual risk and the family will not be held responsible to any party in dealings arranged with Mr.Dziivineito Nagi. K-925

Sd/- Vingulie Nagi and family members. OFFICE OF THE

EZONMONTSÜ-RÜI EKHUNG Ref. No…..…

H.Q. WOKHA : NAGALAND Dt. 01/05/2021

MEETING POSTPONEMENT CIRCULAR

The Ezonmontsü Rüi Ekhung General Conference which is to be held on 7th May 2021, at its H.Q. Wokha Town has been postponed due to overwhelming by Covid 19 Pandemic. This was resolved during an emergency meeting held on 01st April 2021 at the residence of its Ekhung Chairman. The date, time and venue for the next General Conference will be notified later through the media. Sd/(Arao Ngullie) (Limhathung Mozhui) Chairman General Secretary

WC-95

Guwahati, May 4 (PTI): A decision on the next chief minister in Assam is yet to be taken though two days have passed since the BJP-led alliance won the assembly election and the state chief of the saffron party said on Tuesday that either incumbent Sarbananda Sonowal or senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will head the next government. Assam BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass said the decision on the selection of the chief minister will be taken by the party’s central parliamentary board in Delhi. The party is sending an observer, who will give his feedback to the board on the next chief minister, he said. “ O n e o f t h e t wo (Sonowal or Sarma) will be the CM. Everyone knows that. I request our MLAs and workers to have some patience ... Although the parliamentary board has not contacted me yet, I believe the observer will reach Assam in a day or two,” Dass told reporters. Union Agriculture

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

BJP leader slams leadership BJP targets TMC for violence in West Bengal Bengal for giving tickets to film, TV actors

Kolkata/New Delhi, May 4 (PTI): BJP president J P Nadda drew a parallel between the postpoll result violence in West Bengal with the bloodshed during India’s Partition, while his colleagues compared the TMC with Nazis, as the saffron party’s leaders protested in different cities on Tuesday against attacks targeting its workers in the state. Nadda arrived in West Bengal to express solidarity with BJP workers amid several incidents of violence and arson in which, the party alleges, six of its members have been killed. The BJP has blamed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the violence, saying its workers and sympathisers are targeting rivals after its supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led it to a massive victory in the state assembly polls. Nadda, who is on a two-day visit to the state, said his party’s workers are facing violent attacks.

J P Nadda visits family members of Abhijit Sarkar, who allegedly died in post-poll violence, in Kolkata. (PTI)

“We are committed to democratically fight this ideological battle and the activities of the TMC, which is full of intolerance,” he told reporters at the NSC Bose International Airport in Kolkata. Nadda added, “I had heard of the immense atrocities committed during the Partition, but I have never seen such post-poll violence that is occurring in West Bengal after the declaration

of election results (on May 2).” He later met families of several BJP workers who were targeted in the violence. The BJP chief will also visit the homes of party workers who were allegedly killed in attacks in the South 24 Parganas district. “We want to give this message that crores of BJP workers across the country are with them,” he said, asking party workers in the

BJP leader moves SC on Help desks for post-poll violence in Bengal cows in every UP NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (IANS): BJP spokesperson and senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the episodes of violence which erupted in West Bengal after the declaration of Assembly election results on May 2 in which the ruling Trinamool Congress cruised to a landslide victory. The plea said: “The instant application has been preferred by the petitioner to bring to the notice of this court the brutal murders and commission of serious crimes like rape and molestation, blatant violence and the complete breakdown of the law and order machinery in the state of West Bengal, during and after the recently concluded Assembly elections.” Citing media reports, Bhatia alleged in his plea that the violence is directly sponsored by ruling party through its workers who are seeking revenge against the citizens of the state who exercised their democratic right to vote for a party other than the Trinamool. The BJP leader also cited the “murder” of one Avijit Sarkar in Kolkata, stating that it was

district: Yogi

Gaurav Bhatia

“proof enough to highlight as to how there is a great dance of democracy that is currently underway in West Bengal under the protection of Trinamool Congress”. “Sarkar in a video uploaded on Facebook moments before his death highlighted how the Trinamool workers not only ransacked his house and NGO, but also mercilessly killed voiceless puppies. Sarkar specifically blamed the Trinamool leaders for the attack and eventual death,” added the plea. The plea further argued that it is clear that the Trinamool has been exercising undue influence over the police and other law enforcement agencies inasmuch as no FIRs have been registered against any alleged party workers for their acts of crime.

Gurugram admin warns against price rise Gurugram, May 4 (IANS): The Gurugram district administration has warned shopkeepers selling essential products at a price higher than the Maximum Retail Price under the guise of lockdown. Action is being taken against shopkeepers who charge more than the MRP. The district administration team issued a challan to a food chain store under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, on Tuesday. According to the district administration spokesperson, Inspector Rakesh of the District Food and Supplies Controller’s department received information that goods were being sold at a price higher than the MRP in ‘More Hyper Mart’ located in Gurugram’s Sector-48. The complainant Pramod Kumar told the Inspector that he had purchased peanut oil from a food chain store at an MRP of Rs 220 but it was being sold by Mart for Rs 253. Following the complaint, the team of the District Food and Supplies Controller Department went to the spot to investigate and found the complaint to be true. Acting on the complaint, the food chain store was challaned under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

L u c kn ow, M ay 4 (IANS): Amid the prevailing pandemic, the Yogi Adityanath government is taking forward its cow protection agenda and has issued directives to set up help desks for protection of cows in every district. The state government has also issued instructions that all the cow shelters (gaushalas) must strictly follow the Covid-19 protocols, and has made the usage of masks and frequent thermal screening mandatory. The cow shelters will also be equipped with all the medical equipment’s such as oximeters and thermal scanners for cows and other animals as well. According to the government spokesman, destitute cows, in large numbers, are being provided shelter in the gaushalas. The government is also rapidly increasing the number of the existing cowsheds and cow shelters to deal with stray cattle menace. According to the official data, there are over 5,268 cow protection centres which have, till now, ensured the well-being of as many as 5,73,417 cattle in the state.

state to democratically fight the “savagery”. The BJP has claimed that at least six of its workers and supporters, including a woman, were killed in violence allegedly unleashed by the TMC. The TMC has claimed that its three supporters have been killed in violent incidents. Members of other parties, including the Left and the Congress, have also attacked the TMC for the violence in the state, which they said has been aimed at their members and sympathisers as well. The TMC has denied the charges. Banerjee had earlier asked people to show restraint and not be involved in any form of violence. In the national capital, the BJP at a virtual conference said West Bengal is “burning because of statesponsored violence”. Its spokesperson Sambit Patra said the TMC should have been gracious

after winning the polls and termed the violence as painful and saddening. Speaking at the conference, BJP leader and candidate in the West Bengal assembly polls, Anirban Ganguly, said people who voted for the TMC in Bengal should ask if what is happening in the state is right. “Whatever the TMC is doing is very close to Nazi Germany’s fascism. This is a fascist government. Such incidents do not take place in a democratic government,” Ganguly said and asked where are the political leaders of other opposition parties and why are they silent about this. The Delhi BJP staged a protest here with several of MPs, including Meenakshi Lekhi and Ramesh Bidhuri, and MLAs courting arrest, the party said in a statement. Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal were among those who protested in Patna.

London, May 4 (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met British Home Secretary Priti Patel in London on Tuesday to sign a new Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, which he said would strengthen the “living bridge” between the two countries. According to the senior Indian Cabinet minister, the agreement will facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows between India and the UK. It is one of the outcomes related to a Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for Tuesday. “A fruitful meeting this morning with Home Secretary Priti Patel. Signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows,” Jaishankar tweeted alongside images of his meeting with the British-Indian Cabinet minister. “The living bridge between India and UK will get stronger as a result,” he said. While details of the agreement have not yet been released, it is expected

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with British Home Secretary Priti Patel.

to enhance student numbers coming into the UK in return for illegal migrants being deported back to India. The issue of illegal Indian migrants in the UK has long been on the agenda of bilateral negotiations, with both sides failing to agree on the numbers in question. While the UK maintains around 100,000 Indians are living illegally in the country, India has questioned the veracity of those numbers in the past because that figure is believed to also cover nationals from other parts of the Indian subcontinent. The two sides were close to signing an agreement on the issue in 2018

(Accredited by Asia Theological Association) Mt. Miracle, Signal Angami, Dimapur- 797112, Nagaland

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Tathagata Roy

on a steamer trip with TMC’s playboy-politician Madan Mitra less than a month before elections and shot selfies with him. “All were roundly defeated. What great qualities were these women possessed of ? Kailash Vijayvargiya, Dilip Ghosh and Co must answer,” he said. He mentioned, “It must not be forgotten that a BJP electoral ticket carries with it substantial money for running the election. Or for other purposes.” In another tweet he said, “Correction: Tanusree Chakraborty, NOT

Parno Mitra, shot selfies with Madan Mitra. The error is regretted.” Mitra, Chatterjee and Sarkar lost from Baranagar, Behala West and Behala East constituencies respectively. Referring to post polls violence against BJP workers by TMC workers, Roy said, “BJP Karyakartas from Canning complain that Shaukat Mollah of TMC has been on rampage, destroying, setting on fire their houses and looting their possessions. Calling Kailash Vijayvargiya, Shiv Prakash, Arvind Menon. Your duty does not finish as soon as you’ve lost the elections.” “Strangely the Karyakartas are asking ME to come to their rescue. Not Dilip Ghosh, not any of the General Secretaries. I have no official responsibility in the party and as such am helpless,” he added.

Jaishankar signs Migration and LDF victory a warning against Mobility Partnership agreement BJP’s rule at Centre: CPI(M)

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New Delhi, May 4 (IANS): Former Governor of Meghalaya and Tripura and senior West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tathagata Roy on Tuesday trained guns at party National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state unit Chief Dilip Ghosh for giving tickets to film and TV actors who never had anything to do with politics. In a series of tweets, Roy questioned Vijayvargiya and Ghosh what great qualities these women possessed for which they were given tickets. “Film and TV actors who never had anything to do with politics, let alone BJP, were handed tickets by BJP’s election management team -- Parno Mitra (Baranagar), Srabanti Chatterjee (Behala West), Payel Sarkar (Behala East),” Roy tweeted. Roy stated that these women were so politically stupid that they had gone

DP-2319

DC-418

before it fell through over this ambiguity. Jaishankar’s meeting with Patel follows an announcement by Downing Street on Monday revealing details of an Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP), which has been agreed and is to be signed off between the two Prime Ministers. The UK government said it has finalised 1-billion pound worth of trade and investment with India and that the ETP sets an ambition to double the value of UK-India trade by 2030 and declare a shared intent to begin work towards a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Thiruvananthapuram, May 4 (PTI): The CPI (M) in Kerala on Tuesday said the historic victory of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the April 6 Assembly polls has a great significance at the national level and stressed the need for an ‘alternative political stream’ in the country to oppose the BJP. The public acceptance of the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s performance has now become clear through the poll victory, A Vijayaraghavan, the acting state secretary of the Left party, told reporters here. Unleashing a scathing attack on the BJP-NDA government at the Centre, the Left leader alleged it had tried to destroy the state government misusing its investigating agencies and the opposition Congress in the state had supported the move. “Yet, the people of the state have given the Left government an iconic victory.The Vijayan government had prepared a blueprint for the comprehensive de-

A Vijayaraghavan

velopment of the state and sought to implement it.The poll results show that people are convinced of that,” Vijayaraghavan said. Stating that the poll victory has a great significance at the national level, the senior CPI(M) leader said it was also a “warning” against the BJP’s rule at the Centre. He accused the saffron party of making every effort to undermine the democratic content. “Struggles should be intensified against such policies and actions of the BJP.As such, a coalition of alternative political approaches and streams need to be formed at the national level.

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 148 Dimapur, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

A post-poll scenario

fter the outcome of the intensely fought assembly elections to four states and one union territory have settled, it is expected that the will of the people will prevail, whether in making the right or wrong choice. However, past experiences show that poll outcomes are not the end of the supposedly democratic process, as elected representatives, more often than not, go against the verdict of their electorate in pursuit of power and position. In this regard, what happens even in Bengal or other states could still make news in a post-election scenario. In Bengal, though the BJP did everything yet a lone woman in a wheel chair, singlehandedly humbled and overcame the world’s largest political party led by India’s undisputed top electoral strategists- prime minister Narendra Modi and his close aide and home minister Amit Shah. The BJP tried everything and every means to win Bengal beginning with engineering defections from TMC. In 2017 BJP received a boost when former union minister and TMC general secretary Mukul Roy, an accused in the Narada sting case and Shardha chit fund scam in Bengal joined the party. Months before the unparalleled 8-phase poll announced by the ECI for West Bengal, the BJP rank was being swelled by scores of TMC turncoats. The most notable TMC leader who ditched Mamata and TMC to join BJP was her former aide Suvendu Adhikari in December 2020. However all these amounted to little as Mamata fought back singlehanded and tooth-and-nail to protect her turf. The quick embrace of TMC turncoats has now caused more disgruntlement among loyalists within saffron party who were not given tickets. Of the 148 defectors from TMC who got BJP tickets, including over a dozen sitting MLAs, only six won. The BJP did achieve a remarkable gains in winning 77 seats in 2021 up from three in 2016. What the BJP did in Bengal was the same it did to the Congress in several other states where it managed to engineer defections to come to power. The humiliation in Bengal overshadowed the BJP’s successes in Assam, where it retained power and winning the union territory of Puducherry with its ally the AINRC. BJP had no presence in the Puducherry assembly but it made its presence in the house when it welcomed three Congress turncoats on February 25, 2021. Though BJP won Assam albeit due to division of anti-NDA votes, yet the party is divided between chief minister Sarabananda Sonowal and finance minister and party strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma. Both are contenders for the post of chief minister. It is not unlikely that in a scenario where numbers could matter, any of the contenders could explore the possibility of poaching elected members from other non-NDA parties. This could likely happen to the Congress in Assam where the party will now be out of power for another five years. Congress has been the ladder of success for the BJP in many states. The leaderless grand old party needs to take a call on setting its house in order, otherwise it is on the road to nowhere in national politics. The lesson from West Bengal is that, only regional parties or regional leaders of standing, like Mamata, can take on the BJP and stop the saffron chariot from advancing and the lotus from blooming further.

DailyDevotion Vicarious Intercession

…having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus… —Hebrews 10:19 Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask. Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin. We have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Spiritual stubbornness is the most effective hindrance to intercession, because it is based on a sympathetic “understanding” of things we see in ourselves and others that we think needs no atonement. We have the idea that there are certain good and virtuous things in each of us that do not need to be based on the atonement by the Cross of Christ. Just the sluggishness and lack of interest produced by this kind of thinking makes us unable to intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God’s interests and concerns for others, and we get irritated with Him. Yet we are always ready with our own ideas, and our intercession becomes only the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means a radical change of all of our sympathies and interests. Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with them. Am I stubborn or substituted? Am I spoiled or complete in my relationship to God? Am I irritable or spiritual? Am I determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him

Quotes

"If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success." ~ James Cameron

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Post-mortem

COVID-19: A nation scarred beyond recognition D riven by a compelling need to unburden an unbearable sense of grief, this piece is also a supplication for divine mercy in these calamitous times. It is about the moral impoverishment of an ancient society and wanton abandonment of empathy as the essential condition of our coexistence. A nation ravaged by a surging pandemic and the accompanying hopelessness despair, destitution, sickness and death is numbed by the scale of human misery. The vastly understated official figures of daily deaths at 38,000 with over four lakh new cases every day and rising with a positivity rate of 36% in the national capital tell a story of pain and ineptitude. With less than 2% of the nation’s population adequately vaccinated to date in a country of 1.4 billion people, our flailing and floundering response as a nation to an unprecedented catastrophe will be etched in public memory as an unpardonable sin by those entrusted with the destiny of the nation. The

enormity of the challenge notwithstanding and granting the bonafide of those in power, their interrogation on the touchstone of “Raj Dharma and Rashtraneeti” is inescapable. Proud citizens of a resurgent nation that seek a place on the high table of global politics have been reduced to beggary — begging for a gasp of breath, a ventilator, hospital bed, medicines, a chance to be vaccinated on a non-discriminatory basis, transportation of the sick and the deceased, sources of information for medical relief, and above all a cylinder of oxygen to buy time in a hope to live, have robbed us of our innate dignity that defines our humanity. The trauma of seeing a loved one slip away gasping for breath while struggling to hold on to life wanting to live is a burden too heavy to carry and I should know, having lost my wife to lung failure. That she did not go for lack of oxygen seems a Divine benediction today. And we die a thousand deaths suffering the loss of our soul every time our dignity is wounded;

when the dead do not find space in cremation grounds; when bodies are piled one upon the other waiting to be cremated even as unending funeral pyres test the boundaries of our grief; when the helpless die in rickshaws, scooters and makeshift ambulances outside hospital gates for want of oxygen or hospitalisation, alone and in the cold without family or friend; when the nearest and dearest ones are forced to turn away or when nurses steal critical drugs to profiteer over human misery. When the allocation of a ventilator depends on the age of the patient, we know what we are or have become – a savage society. How else can we respond to Sahir Ludhiyanvi’s damning interrogatory: Kahan hain, kahan hain muhafiz khudi ke (whither the sentinels of honour; whither its measure), except by way of humble repentance for our moral, political and societal excesses? Living with the thought of dying alone with none to hold our hand in the last moments, not able to feel the warmth of those who are integral to our lives

remains mourning in perpetuity. Loneliness, as Mother Teresa reminded us, is about the feeling of being unloved. Thoughts about the futility of human relationships and dispensability of those who define us, have added to an unprecedented sense of aloneness. Gulzar’s poignant verse, depicting a decline in human bonding even in normal times says it all: Zindagi yun hui basar tanha, kafila saath aur safar tanha (life was spent alone, surrounded by a crowd). But this is not the life we want for ourselves and the generations to come. Wa i l i n g m o t h e r s, grieving children and the helplessness of the marginalised mock our politics and proclaim a failure of the dignitarian promise of our national charter. Failure of institutions Our ‘raucous’ democracy remains enthralled with electoral triumphs and the vanquishing of political opponents even as the nation’s soul is scarred beyond recognition. Political parties are complicit in their failure to

Naga Hills in the 19th century

he history of the neighboring Kingdoms of the Ahom and Manipur in the 19th century, affected the NAGA HILLS so much that a nano account of the kingdoms may do well for a short preface to the Write-up of the history of NAGA HILLS in the 19th century. To make the nano account clearer, only the causes of anarchy and turmoil in the two kingdoms have been brought out. The causes are: primogenitor system of succession, the Rajah owning all the lands of the kingdom, citizens render free annual service to the King, the tyranny, oppression and mismanagement of Gaurinath Sing, the reigning monarch of Ahom kingdom in 1788, were the immediate causes of the anarchy in the State. The position of the reigning Rajah became so unstable that he bought the help of the King of Ava [Burma] to prop him up on the throne on annual payment. The payments were costly, and the behavior of the invited Guests soon became unwelcome; even burdensome but king could not make them leave his kingdom. The ‘Maans’ –Burmesewere so cruel and insolent that they even ripped open woman’s abdomen, take out unborn baby and throw it at mango trees to shake down the fruits. They wrote insolent communications to the British at Calcutta for the return of runaway fugitives who have taken shelter in the British Territory of Bengal Province. They also began to look at the East India Company territory beyond the border of the Ahom kingdom with coveted eyes. Near in the neighborhood, Manipur invaded the Angami country in 1833, and claimed vast catchments of the Doyang and the Dhansiri of the Naga country down to the foothills touching the Assam plain. In the four centuries of the establishment of the Ahom Kingdom -1228 to 1700- in the sleepy hollow of the Brahmaputra valley, the martial well organized Shan leader Sookapa who founded the Ahom -the peerless or unequaled- kingdom in 1228, adopted Hinduism, its caste system and the martial characters of a master Race that they were, degenerated low to that of the ordinary man that they were far from before. Many descendants of the founder of the Kingdom claimed the right to the throne. The three principal elector Gohain chiefs, Prime Ministers of the Provinces; only less than the monarch:

some of them supported the primogenitor system and others for Talent & Efficiency, in the selection of the Rajah. By 18th Century, Sookapa’s descendants grew so large with many probable candidates for the throne; and like the Sunnis and Shahs of Islam, the differences between the supporters and opponents of the Systems tore the Ahom and the Manipuri Kingdoms into uncontrollable turmoil. The biblical saying: “brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against Parents and cause them to be put to death” [Mt.10:21] appeared true in the Manipur and the Ahom kingdom and fratricidal murders and eliminations became rife in the States. By the second half of the 18th century, Gumbhir Singh of Manipur fled to Cachar and the governance of the kingdom fell into disarray. In addition, the indigenous martial Moamarias of upper Assam, the Ahom dynasty’s ancient enemy, rebelled against the Rajah’s mismanagement and injustice and drove him out of ‘Gowhatty’, the Capital city. The Rajah Purunder Sing, went to East India Company Authorities at Fort Williams and got British help to regain his throne on promise Rs 50,000/- [Rupees fifty thousand] payment per mensem. The British brought him back and installed him on the throne in 1832 with unrestricted powers but he could no longer manage the Kingdom. He failed to pay the Company the arrear payments, countless ruffians, the lawless from Bengal and Cooch Behar flocked into Assam to robe the cultivators who ran away to the jungle. Countless peasants and the poor died of starvation, misery and complete lawlessness, descended on Assam. The king abdicated the throne. In the mean time, in Burma the white foreigners were subjected to ill treatment and harassment. So much so that Nathan Brown, the Pioneer of the Shan Christian Mission left Burma and came to Sadya, upper Assam on promise of all possible help and protection by the Army Officer, to continue the Mission. A Burmese spat at one of the white Merchants on the Bank of the Irrawadi River and when the Company demanded explanation; the king did not give any notice. The Calcutta government reminded again but Burma did nothing and kept silent. On this, the supreme Government at Calcutta sent an ultimatum to the King of Ava demanding

punishment of the Culprit before 24 February 1826, and on failure, consider himself at war with the British Authority at Calcutta. British Forces sailed up the river Irrawadi and engaged a flotilla of Burmese forces at a place Yandaboo, 20 miles from Yangoon. The Burmese were defeated and the King of Ava was made to sign the Treaty of Yandaboo. It was actually a treaty of submission, though the Kubo Valley under Manipur was returned to Burma. The King agreed to dozens of impositions and pay War Indemnity of Rupees One Crore to the Government of India. And Burma came under the British colonial rule till it got Independence in 1948, 122 years after the treaty. The Burmese finally left India; they took away some 30,000 slaves from Assam to Burma; this gives an idea of the life they had in the land they nearly took over including the Naga Hills, had the white man came 10years later. The Treaty of Yandaboo has Supplementary Treaty for the Kingdoms of Manipur and of Ahom. The Rajah of both the kingdoms was made to sign the Supplementary Treaty of their State. Gumbir Singh and Purunder were both restored to their throne; but the Supplementary Treaty made it mandatory for the Manipur Durbar [Court], to have a permanent white Resident Political Agent Representative of the Supreme Council at Calcutta and the King’s power of extreme arbitrary corporal and capital punishments were no longer allowed, unless with the approval the Political Agent. In the case of the Ahom kingdom, the failure of the King to keep the Treaty Agreement, and complete collapse of law & order made the Government seize, in 1838 through Notification in no uncertain Terms declaring the Seizure of the whole Kingdom: “your Kingdom does not extend beyond the northern bank of the Dhansiri River” and it was taken over into British possession for direct governance by the colonial Power. Raja Purunder Sing was pensioned off to Rangoon where he spent the remainder of his life. The British Government seized all the land, and started collection of the Revenue in Assam directly by themselves. Thus an important period of history of the Ahom and the Manipur Kingdom came to an end. Thepfulhouvi Solo. IFS Retd [Rr-68]. Former Principal Secretary, Nagaland

prevent large political gatherings, protest movements, or religious congregations – all of which are responsible for the pandemic’s massive surge in the country. Our exalted institutions of democracy including the Parliament, the Election Commission and even the Supreme Court failed the nation.Despite its celebrated jurisprudence on human rights, the court’s inability to issue binding judicial diktats against the holding of large electoral rallies in the time of pandemic is wholly inexplicable considering the indisputable evidence that huge physical gatherings compromise the social distancing norms and the legally enforceable COVID-related protocols. An eloquent newspaper headline about a high court sums up in varying degrees the unintended but a collective failure nevertheless, of our constitutional institutions. It reads: “Delhi HC hearing plea to get him ICU bed, man dies in wait”. Clearly, in matters of life and death judicial inaction cannot pass off as an act of judicial restraint. Constitutional courts with

a large remit need not be reminded that securing the right to life is the first charge on the exercise of judicial power and that in moments of test, justice and judgment cannot lie apart. The politicians for their part must know that “the struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting” and that the excesses of power are invariably called to account. We must all accept that the embrace of humility and a rejection of hubris, in the order of things, is both a sign of strength and a condition of our existence.The anguish and deep sorrow that inspires this piece is beyond the ‘realm of articulate thought’. But hopefully, the soaring and silent ache in the heart is self communicating. Grief, felt in the innermost recesses of our being heals, even if it is a terrible burden of being. And we know that “God brings men in deep waters not to drown them but to cleanse them”. Ashwani Kumar. The writer is a former Union Minister for Law and Justice.

Be patient for sustainable career

e have been publishing about career options and opportunities but at p[resent our students are concerned about the pandemic situation which has come once again . We are yet to recover from last year’s losses and the fresh entry recently is bringing more questions for all of us. Students, teachers, parents or guardians are all worried about studies, future, jobs or careers, etc. Today, let us discuss what we need to do instead of talking about any career option. Lock down like situation and cancelling of board exams means more worry for students as well as guardians and also teachers and different academic institutions. Entrance exams are also postponed and there is no exact date as of today when most of the entrances like JEE, CLAT, NEET, etc would be conducted. Though there are mentions of few exam dates but they might be postponed any time depending on the situation. What students can do all these days apart from their online class is to learn other skills like skills which will make them employable in future. The use of technology properly will enhance the employability skills. One may also think of learning another language. One of the best things is investing the time instead of wasting the time. Most of us waste the time and will repent in future. This is the time to invest time to gather knowledge and different skills. Getting accessed to different digital libraries is one of the best options. One of the best things we can do at home is starting participatory learning where students as well guardians and parents also start learning. We can transform the home into a learning hub till lock down or similar situation remains. All the members of the family may start learning something new. Learning or online classes should not only limit students or job seekers. As

there is no age for learning and reading so let us all utilize the time in learning new things and skills. There are many online courses with certification where students and others may enroll. Before taking any certification course digitally please ensure that credible institutes are being chosen by aspirants. Like the students of secondary and senior secondary students, college and university students may also prepare for various exams conducted by different agencies. Students preparing for different competitive examinations should feel good that they have got more time for preparation. More time means more possibilities and more chances of learning many new things. Let us tell our mind that we are investing the time so that we get more interest and the interest would be cracking competitive examinations in near future. My request to teachers and faculty members would be please think of innovative ways as experienced teachers can do wonders even in this situation. There can be team work with formal teachers and other mentors or professionals engaged in guidance to keep motivating our students. But all the students should remember that the best person to motivate one is the person himself or herself. Let us stay motivated and remain positive for our own bright future. Instead of worry we should try to engage ourselves in constructive activities. Let us keep fighting the pandemic and make sure that all of us remain healthy. Instead of focusing on little negative news like deaths or shortage of oxygen in a few areas, let us focus on the fact that many have cured from COVID 19 and we need to trust our immune system and keep ourselves healthy to fight the virus. Invest time and don’t merely waste time in these situations if we want a sustainable career for us. Ranjan K Baruah

Reader’s Post Protect children from Covid-19 Sir,

The second covid-19 wave in India has hit us like a tsunami and caught everyone off guard. With lessening in the cases of Covid, most of us became complacent and threw caution to the wind. Our complacency became our nemesis and the main reason for the 2nd wave hitting us harder than the 1st wave. We are now witnessing a surge so sudden that even advanced metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, with the best of medical facilities and personnel, are being dragged to their knees by the mammoth number of cases and death every single day. In such trying time, I earnestly want to draw attention of parents with children who may or may not be going to school. Every day I see many children loitering around without following safety protocols and oblivious to the seriousness of the Covid situation. I know it is not easy for any parent to be watching over their children round the clock. As a Teacher in a school, I urge the parents to engage their children in meaningful and fun activities at home till the school reopens. Also keep insisting to follow the safety measure such as wearing mask properly, maintain social distance washing/sanitizing hands regularly, etc. If they are meaningfully engaged and they maintain safety measure if going outside, then they will enjoy their holidays and also break the chain of Covid transmission to a significant extent. Let us all stay safe and make others safe by always following the safety measures against Covid-19. Limasangla Tünyi Asst. Teacher, Lorna’s Hr.Sec. School, Dimapur

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

Karnataka oxygen tragedy: blame game between 2 DCs

Ravi noted that the day before the tragic incident happened, vehicles from Chamarajanagar were waiting for more than 24 hours in front of the oxygen plant.

Chamarajanagar (Karnataka), May 4 (IANS): A day after 24 Covid patients died in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district after alleged fluctuating oxygen supply, its Deputy Commissioner, M.R. Ravi squarely blamed his Mysuru counterpart Rohini Sindhuri for the deaths due to “enormous delay in supply” of the life-saving gas. Ravi hit out at Sindhuri following her media statement released in Mysuru on Monday stating that “she helped Chamarajanagar under humanitarian considerations by sending 250 cylinders at midnight”. Ravi told reporters that she was misleading people by issuing such statements. “I have been raising this issue at various levels ever since the problem of our supplies started about 10 days ago. The ery first day when we encountered our supplies were hampered, I immediately

informed our Chief Secretary (P. Ravi Kumar) first, then district in-charge minister (S. Suresh Kumar), Xhief nodal officer for oxygen supply, (ADGP Pratap Reddy), so on and so forth. Finally, when I could not find solutions, I did not hesitate to raise it in front of the Chief Minister (B.S. Yediyurappa) three days ago when he had convened a meeting with all officers. “There, I had even cautioned that danger is lurking if the supply chain is not restored properly, due to interference of the Mysuru DC. In this meeting held three days ago, the CM and the CS had instructed her not to interfere with supplies of Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Kodagu districts. Despite these instructions, she continued to interfere and finally our district paid the price,” he claimed. Ravi alleged that oxygen suppliers in Mysuru used to request them to take permission from the

Mysuru Deputy Commissioner, “which became a routine affair and only if some of us called her, the oxygen used to be released... that too, a bare minimum quantity”. “For instance, if we wanted 100 cylinders, we used to get 10 cylinders. Who gave her permission to ration our requirements? If she claims that she has maintained a record, then our district has also maintained records,” he said. Ravi noted that the day before the tragic incident happened, vehicles from Chamarajanagar were waiting for more than 24 hours in front of the oxygen plant. “If our quota of oxygen was loaded in these vehicles, then we could certainly made an serious attempt to save three people that died between 12 midnight to 3 a.m. and seven lives there after,” he said. Sindhuri is yet to react to the allegations.

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

‘You can bury your head, we More virulent COVID strain, less infra won’t’: Delhi HC to Centre have led to more deaths in Delhi: Experts

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday told the Centre that it intends to see the compliance of its order in connection with the oxygen supply to the national capital. The Centre’s failure to implement the order also irked the court and brought the government close to a contempt case. A division bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli asked the government to explain why a contempt case should not be initiated against it. It directed the Centre to show cause why no action should be taken against it for failure to comply with the Supreme Court and High Court orders to supply required oxygen to the Delhi government. Making strong remarks, the bench asked the Centre: “Are you living in an ivory tower? Where are you living?” The bench further added that because the Delhi government didn’t raise the demand, people should be allowed to die. “Is this what it’s come to? You want to quibble while people

are losing lives?” On shortage of oxygen in Delhi, the High Court told the Centre, “you can put your head in sand like ostrich, we will not.” The top court’s April 30 order shows it directed the Centre to provide 700 MT of oxygen and not just 490 MT, said the High Court. It further emphasised there is already a top court order and now, it will also say the Centre will have to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to Delhi right away by whatever means. The court noted that it sees grim reality everyday of people, who are not able to secure oxygen or ICU beds in hospitals, which have reduced beds due to shortage of oxygen. The high court also sought appearance of two Central government officers to be present before it on Wednesday to respond to the notice. It also rejected the Centre’s submission that Delhi was not entitled to 700 metric tonnes of medical oxygen against the backdrop of existing medical infrastructure.

NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (PTI): A more virulent strain of coronavirus, insufficient infrastructure to handle critical cases and hoarding of essential drugs have led to more deaths in Delhi, experts said on Tuesday, a day after the city registered a record 448 deaths. They also said the number of deaths could be more as many patients die outside hospitals waiting for a bed. Dr Jugal Kishore, the head of community medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, said the “insufficiency of infrastructure” to handle critical patients is leading to more deaths. “The virus is not causing so many deaths, it is the insufficient resources and facilities. This is the major reason,” he said. Critical cases are piling up but there are no beds available for them. Many patients have died on the way to hospitals or outside healthcare facilities waiting for a bed, while many have died due to unavailability of

Covid-19 patients at the Covid Care Centre at CWG Village in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI)

oxygen, Dr Kishore said. Critical patients spend 10 to 20 days in ICU or on oxygen support. So, the beds remain occupied for this period, even as the number of critical cases keep increasing every day, he said. Black-marketing and hoarding of essential drugs being used to treat critical patients is another reason. “This has limited the people’s access to these drugs,” he said. Sudhanshu Bankata, the Executive Director of Batra Hospital in Tughlakabad Institutional Area, said a critical patient succumbs

to the virus after 14 to 15 days of testing positive. “So, if there are more cases today, the number of deaths will be high on the 14th or the 15th day,” he said. Bankata also said that a large number of patients are being treated at home, as hospital beds are full. “In many cases, patients require high oxygen flow which can only be provided at hospitals and not through concentrators or cylinders. By the time a bed becomes available, their situation has already deteriorated sharply,” he said.

Odisha supplies 5,125 MT of medical oxygen to 10 states

Bhubaneswar, May 4 (PTI): Odisha has so far sent 281 tankers/containers carrying 5,125.412 MT medical oxygen to 10 states for the treatment of critical COVID 19 patients, official sources said on Tuesday. The medical oxygen has been escorted from Rourkela, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Angul districts by Odisha Police and more are being sent, said ADGP (Law and Order), Y K Jethwa, who has been monitoring smooth transportation

of the oxygen carrying carriers to different states. The sources said 5,125.412 MT of medical oxygen has been sent to different states till May 3. While 31 tankers were dispatched from Angul with 517.94 MT, 64 from Dhenkanal with 981.08 MT, 74 from Jajpur with 1508.62 MT and 112 from Rourkela with 2117.772 MT, he said. This apart, Jethwa said, 83 tankers with 1702.98 MT of oxygen, were being

sent to Andhra Pradesh, 76 tankers with 1267.739 MT of oxygen were sent to Telangana. Tamil Nadu has received 7 tankers filled with 136.42 MT of medical oxygen, he said, adding that similarly, Haryana received 35 tankers filled with 654.482 MT of oxygen. Thirteen tankers with 211.16 MT of oxygen were sent to Maharashtra, while 214.391 MT of oxygen filled in 14 tankers have left for Chhattisgarh.

Twenty-four tankers have carried around 437.69 MT of oxygen to Uttar Pradesh and 26 tankers with 438.23 MT of oxygen were sent to Madhya Pradesh. Two tankers with 33 MT of oxygen were sent to Delhi and 1 tanker with 29.32 MT sent to Punjab in the last 12 days, he said. A Special Cell was formed under the ADGP (L&O) as the Nodal Officer for coordinated action for loading and transportation of medical oxygen by

Odisha to states facing a deficit. A dedicated corridor has been set up with round the clock monitoring. District SPs/DCPs and Range DIG/IG/CP are supervising the movement personally within their jurisdictions. Odisha has sent oxygen to UP, MP, Haryana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and other needy states. “We will do our utmost for prompt service to assist the needy states,” Jethwa said.

Foreign aid allocated to states, UTs for COVID management New Delhi, May 4 (PTI): The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that aid received from other countries has been distributed in different states to help deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases. Based on the criteria and principles laid out by the ministry, depending on each state’s requirement, 24 different categories of items numbering nearly 40 lakhs were distributed to 38 institutions in different states, the ministry said in a statement. Major categories of equipment include BiPAP machines; oxygen (concentrators, cylinders, PSA Oxygen plants and pulse oximeters); drugs (Favipiravir and Remdesivir); and PPE (coveralls, N-95 masks and gowns). Since grant in aid is limited in quantity, it has to be optimally utilized by allocating it to high burden states [states with higher number of active cases], where the requirement for

said.

5th series of a consignment of 545 oxygen concentrators from the US, arrives in India. (PTI)

such equipment/medicines is more, according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for allocations. Spreading such aid thinly each time over a large number of states may not bring forth the desired results, the ministry said, adding it will also lead to small packages travelling large distances, high turnaround times and possible wastage of resources. The requirement of the high burden states in the context of number of per-

sons admitted in hospitals and prior distribution done by the central government resources would also be considered. Special focus can also be on states considered as medical hubs of the region, which have a patient in-flow from neighbouring states/ cities. In some cases, resource low states such as North Eastern and hill states where tankers etc don’t reach, can also be covered to shore up their needs, the ministry

The 31 states and UTs which have either received or where the equipment has been dispatched include -Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Karnataka. As the different tranches are coming in, the rest of the states and UTs will also be covered in the coming days. For all consignments received via MEA and coming as donations from foreign countries, the consignee is the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS). Upon receipt of the papers outlined in the process flow chart, IRCS issues the necessary certificates immediately to HLL for processing customs and regulatory clearances at Airports. IRCS also ensures liaison with MoHFW and HLL so that delays are reduced and quick turnarounds are achieved, the ministry said. The HLL Lifecare Limited

(HLL) is the customs agent for IRCS, and the distribution manager for MoHFW. The consignments are processed at airport and transported for distribution by HLL. In case of consignments arriving at military airports, or bog items like oxygen plants, Dept of Military Affairs (DMA) assists HLL. “Accessibility and the immediate use of resources to save the lives drives the need for immediate allocation of short-notice incoming consignments. The materials from abroad are currently coming in different numbers, specifications and at different times,” the statement said. “Hence there is a need to reconcile the distribution logistics with the need to reach the materials as expeditiously as possible to the states,” it added. The allocations are done keeping in mind equitable distribution and the load on tertiary health care facilities.

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New Delhi, May 4 (PTI): Urging people to stand by each other and defeat the despair caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Tuesday said it hurts that those in power not just “shirked responsibility” but continuously “spun a web of lies” refusing to address people’s difficulties. In an emotional audio message on Instagram, accompanied by photographs conveying the devastation caused by the pandemic, the Congress general secretary said “we are passing through a dark era”. “I know that many of you are suffering from the enormous pain of losing loved ones, many are praying for the welfare of their loved ones and are very worried about their health.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

The pandemic has shaken us all, has changed our lives. Nothing remains like it was earlier,” she said. “It hurts that those who had power in their hands, who were in positions of responsibility, they not just shirked responsibility but continuously spun a web of lies and refused to understand the difficulties people faced,” Priyanka Gandhi said in the audio message

accompanied by pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a poll rally, and media reports of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stating that the state has sufficient oxygen. However, she also noted that during this time people are also coming together extraordinarily and helping each other. “I hope that people helping each other and standing by each other in times of grief will also have an effect on the rulers and they will realise their responsibilities,” Priyanka Gandhi said. The clouds of fear and despair are looming large and there is only one alternative for coming out of these dark times -- do not tire, she said in her message in Hindi.

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‘Humanity will triumph’: Priyanka urges people to stand by each other

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Su doku

KAKURO

No. 4529 Yesterday’s solution No. 4528

No. 3553 Yesterday’s solution No. 3552

Across 4. Typewriter user (6) 7. Throw this at weddings (8) 8. Counting device (6) 10. Wall painting (5) 13. A salver (4) 14. Poke (4) 15. Chinwag (4) 16. Mimic (3) 17. Woodwind instrument (4) 19. Rowing blades (4) 21. Pleasant or sweet odour (9) 23. Ruminant mammal (4) 24. Thin fog (4) 26. Not high (3) 27. Streetcar (4) 29. Egg-shaped (4) 32. Genuine (4) 33. Group of lions (5) 34. Monthly pay (6) 35. Friendly, sociable (8) 36. Motive (6) Down 1. Rascal (5) 2. Introduction, in short (5) 3. Shoe part (4) 4. Jewelled headdress (5) 5. A drama (4) 6. Drinks noisily (6) 9. Truncheons (6) 11. Vase (3) 12. Love deeply (5) 13. Hot or warm (7) 15. Toothed wheel (3) 16. Land measure (3) 18. Bargain (6) 20. Theatrical performer (5) 21. Hardly any (3) 22. Point a weapon (3) 23. Give to charity (6) 25. Wicked (3) 28. Synthetic fibre (5) 30. All-night watch (5) 31. Narrow shelf-like part (5) 32. Sewer rodents (4) 33. Leaf of a book (4)

ers, officials said even as they stressed that they can’t declare the same with certainty as the department has no way of categorising the passengers. The Labour department, though, indicated that the rush in the trains was due to migrants returning home on account of the lockdown-like restrictions. “After the lockdown was announced, our department conducted a survey of around 5,000 people at CSMT, LTT and Bandra stations and randomly asked passengers why they were heading back to their villages and if they needed any help. Around 10 to 12 per cent of them said they were going back purely due to the lockdown. These people were from the unorganised sector who lost work because of the lockdown. A majority of them, though, was heading back due to some personal work and their journey was preplanned. Also, this time there was no panic as the

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No. 9910 Yesterday’s solution No. 9909

CHANDIGARH, MAY 4 (IANS): The pharma sector is facing shooting prices and shortage of raw materials, known as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), as 85 per cent of them come from China, Assocham said on Tuesday. It sought government’s intervention in clearing the bottleneck in the import. “Such practices are not acceptable during these challenging times when the whole country is fighting a battle against the pandemic. We urge an immediate intervention from authorities to take necessary action against this practice,” Assocham chairman of Northern region development council A.S. Mittal said in a statement. The drugs for which the raw material cost has gone up multifold include paracetamol (price from Rs 350 to Rs 790 per kg), propylene glycol (from Rs 140 to Rs 400 per kg) ivermectin (from Rs 18,000 to Rs 52,000 per kg) doxycycline (from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 per kg) and azithromycin (from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 per kg). Jitender Sodhi, Assocham Chairman of Himachal Pradesh, said, “The economic impact of the Covid-19 second wave has started taking a toll on pharma sector as well.

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of China’s Huawei. Later, they submitted applications wherein the trails will be done without technologies from Chinese vendors. “These TSPs have tied up with original equipment manufacturers and technology providers which are Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and C-DOT. In addition, Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd

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ers (TSPs) for conducting trials for use and applications of 5G technology. The applicant TSPs include Bharti Airtel Ltd, Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd, Vodafone Idea Ltd and MTNL,” DoT said in a statement. Initially, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea had submitted proposals to carry out trials using technology

will also be conducting trials using its own indigenous technology,” DoT said. The latest move also indicates that the government may bar Chinese companies from participating in rolling out of the 5G services in the country. The telecom firms have been given permission to use experimental spectrum in various, bands including the mid-band (3.2 GHz to 3.67 GHz), millimeter wave band (24.25 GHz to 28.5 GHz) and in sub-gigahertz band (700 GHz). Telecom operators will also be permitted to use their existing spectrum (800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2500 MHz) for conduct of the 5G trials.

‘Developers will have no choice but to escalate prices to offset hike in prices of raw material. This will therefore have a cascading effect on the home prices also. The affordable housing segment will be the worst hit as it would be financially unviable for developers to operate such projects which have very low margins,’ CREDAI President Harsh Vardhan Patodia said. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) urges the government to take necessary steps to control the exponential hikes in the prices of construction raw materials, he said.

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CHANGE OF NAME

I, Loche, S/o Khamwang, earlier known as Loche Konyak in my appointment order, have decided to henceforth change my name to Loche for all official purposes. That I have declared to adhere to my name Loche by an Affidavit, authenticated by Shri Lhusisato Iralu, Notary Public Vide Regd. No.222/2020 Dated 17-09-2020. Loche, Deponent K-924

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NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (PTI): The Department of Telecom on Tuesday approved applications of telecom companies -- Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and MTNL -- for conducting 5G trials but none of them will be using technologies of Chinese entities. The list of telecom gear makers approved for trials include Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, C-DOT and Reliance Jio’s indigenously developed technologies. This means that Chinese gear makers will not be part of the 5G trials. “The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) approved today permissions to Telecom Service Provid-

clined to comment, AMNS India and JSPL did not reply to a query on the reason for the price hike. Reacting to the price hike, realtors’ apex body CREDAI said since January 2020, there has been a steep hike in the prices of construction raw materials. Prices of steel are at an all-time high and have nearly doubled since then. As a result of steel price hike alone, construction costs have increased by 3-5 per cent, while the shortage of labour and disrupted supply chain of materials is only making the situation more difficult for the real estate sector, it said.

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DoT approves telcos’ applications for 5G trials

NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (PTI): Domestic steel makers have hiked the prices of Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) and Cold Rolled Coil (CRC) by Rs 4,000 and Rs 4,500 per tonne, respectively, industry sources said on Tuesday. After the price revision, a tonne of HRC will cost Rs 67,000 while the buyers will get CRC for Rs 80,000 per tonne. The price revisions have been made in the last three days, the sources said. According to the sources, the prices of HRC and CRC could again be increased by Rs 2,000-4,000 per tonne. Another hike is likely in mid-May or early June, they added. HRC and CRC are flat steel used in consumerfriendly industries such as auto, appliances and construction. The prices of the vehicles and consumer goods are bound to be impacted by the rise in steel prices as steel is a raw material for these sectors, an expert said. When contacted, a SAIL official said ‘it is market driven’ and did not comment further. While JSW Steel de-

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MUMBAI, MAY 4 (PTI): Rising for the second day in a row, the rupee closed 10 paise higher at 73.85 against the US currency on Tuesday on dollar selling by traders. A stronger dollar in the global markets, losses in the domestic equities and high crude oil prices, however, restricted the gain in the local unit. ‘The Indian Rupee appreciated for the 2nd successive session against the US Dollar this Tuesday as traders trimmed their dollar long positions,’ said Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst Reliance Securities. At the interbank forex market, the rupee opened at 73.83, and hit an intra-day high of 73.76 and a low of 73.97.

second wave of COVID-19 cases weighed on investor sentiment. While a persistent increase in daily caseload in several states is still a matter of concern, visible modest decline in new cases in many parts like Maharashtra and Delhi offers comfort, he added. The total tally of coronavirus cases in the country mounted to 2,02,82,833 with 3,57,229 new infections being reported in a day, while the death toll increased to 2,22,408 with 3,449 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

plied for further distribution to beneficiaries,’ the ministry said. Lakshadweep has completely lifted its May-June allocation, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have already lifted 100 per cent of their May month allocation, it said. The rest of the states/ UTs (Punjab, Chandigarh, Goa, MP, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha and Puducherry) have also been sensitised to immediately start the lifting foodgrains under the PMGKAY and the same is likely to be accelerated in the coming days, it added. Further, the ministry said the states have also been advised to encourage migrant NFSA beneficiaries for using the facility of portability under the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ plan. The cost of free foodgrains distribution under the scheme is entirely being borne by the central government. The additional grains given for free under PMGKAY to NFSA beneficiaries is over and above the existing monthly entitlement of 5 kg grains per person.

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Rupee gains 10 paise to end at 73.85

pointment in several highquality midcaps. Afternoon trade witnessed profit-taking in metals and pharma names as the street exhibited nervousness on regional lockdowns which accentuated the weakness. “In the broader market, paper stocks were sought after today on hardening pulp prices while coffee producers saw investor appetite,” said S Ranganathan, Head of Research at LKP Securities. Binod Modi, Head Strategy at Reliance Securities, said the mounting uncertainty led by rise in

NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (PTI): The Centre on Tuesday said 28 states and Union territories have started lifting additional foodgrains meant for free distribution to 80 crore beneficiaries for two months under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY). PMGKAY has been reintroduced for two months -- May and June -- to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to various disruptions caused by the resurgence of COVID-19 in the country, it said. Under the PMGKAY, additional foodgrains are provided free of cost via ration shops to 80 crore beneficiaries registered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). In a statement, the Food Ministry said that the state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) has already positioned sufficient foodgrains in all states and UTs for the successful implementation of the scheme. ‘Till May 3, about 28 States/ UTs have started lifting from FCI depots and 5.88 lakh tonne of foodgrains have been sup-

Steel makers hike prices of HRC, CRC by up to Rs 4,500 per tonne

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MUMBAI, MAY 4 (PTI): Market benchmark Sensex surrendered early gains to finish in the red for the third consecutive session on Tuesday following brisk selling in frontine stocks. The grim COVID-19 situation and continued selling by foreign funds has sapped risk appetite, traders said. After a gap-up opening, the 30-share BSE index succumbed to profit-taking in afternoon trade to finish at 48,253.51, down 465.01 points or 0.95 per cent. On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty slumped 137.65 points or 0.94 per cent to close at 14,496.50. Dr Reddy’s was the top loser among the Sensex constituents, retreating 2.26 per cent, followed by Reliance Industries, Sun Pharma, HDFC twins, Infosys, M&M and Bharti Airtel. On the other hand, ONGC, Bajaj Finance, TCS, SBI, Kotak Bank and Nestle India were among the gainers, climbing up to 1.86 per cent. “Indices lost a percentage on Tuesday as the street punished earnings disap-

States begin lifting free grains for distribution under PMGKAY

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

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Sensex skids for third day on COVID headwinds

business

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LOST NOTICE

I, Miss Lanusenla B Jamir am applying for a duplicate copy of HSLC Mark Sheet as I have lost it. Name : Lanusenla B Jamir F/Name : Bendangtoshi Jamir DoB : 17.10.2002 Roll No : 191201106 School : Edith Douglas HSS, Mokokchung Year : 2019 Result : Pass MKC-2316

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

23 dead in Mexico City Johnson hails new era in UK-India relations underground rail bridge collapse

U N I T E D NAT I O N S, MAY 4 (AP): China’s UN ambassador on Monday urged stronger diplomatic efforts to resolve the confrontation in Myanmar since the Feb. 1 military coup, warning that further violence could lead to a chaotic situation “and even a civil war”. Zhang Jun also warned that “any wrong handling” might lead to further tension in Myanmar. The UN Security Council on Friday strongly backed calls by Southeast Asian nations for an immediate cessation of violence and talks as a first step toward a solution following the military coup in Myanmar that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party and reversed years of slow progress toward democracy. The council again demanded the restoration of democracy and the release of all detainees including Suu Kyi and condemned the use of violence against peaceful protesters and the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Zhang, who described Myanmar as “a friendly neighbour”, strongly backed diplomatic efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Na-

Zhang Jun

tions known as ASEAN and by UN special envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener, and expressed hope they would produce results. He said “China is not in favor of imposing sanctions.” “We should really be creating a more favourable environment for bringing the country back to normal and finding a political solution through dialogues among the relevant political parties within the constitutional and legal framework,” he said. Myanmar for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. As the generals loosened their grip, culminating in Suu Kyi’s rise to leadership in 2015 elections, the international community responded by lifting most sanctions and pouring investment into the

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The Lekromi Village Council on behalf of the Lekromi Village would like to congratulate Mr. Dieto Kapfo, S/o Mr. & Mrs. Neipezu Kapfo for clearing the NPSC exam for the post of Secretariat Assistant (Class-III Non-Gazetted) under Personal and Administrative Reforms Department in the recently declared NPSC examination result. The council further would like to wish him the best in his career. Neipechulo Kapfo Secretary Lekromi Village Council

BEIJING, MAY 4 (PTI): China on Tuesday asked the Philippines to stop the “megaphone diplomacy” over its claims on a reef in the disputed South China Sea and said its officials should have “basic manners” and stop insulting remarks after Manila’s top diplomat termed Beijing an “ugly oaf ”. Reports from Manila on Tuesday said the Philippines foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr has apologised for using an obscene phrase, demanding China to get out of the Whitsun Reef which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines news portal GMA News reported that Locsin Jr has apologised to the Chinese government for spewing profanity in a tweet blasting the presence of Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea. In a separate tweet Locsin Jr, while referring to the news of his apology said, “To my friend (Chinese Foreign Minister) Wang Yi only. Nobody else”. Locsin’s outburst came after Manila urged Beijing to recall hundreds of Chinese vessels lingering near Whitsun Reef, part of the South China Sea claimed by both the countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement

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LEKROMI VILLAGE COUNCIL

Mese Kapfo Chairman Lekromi Village Council

country. The coup took place following November elections, which Suu Kyi’s party won overwhelmingly and the military contends was marred by fraud. “It’s mainly an issue relating to the difference on the election,” Zhang said. “The political parties should be able to find a solution on that. So that’s why China prefers ... more diplomatic efforts.” “That’s why China is working very closely with the relevant parties urging them really to refrain from going extreme, avoiding violence, avoiding casualties, and try to find a solution with dialogue. That’s why the council is also now giving full support to the diplomatic efforts of ASEAN,” he said. Z h a n g wa s a s k e d whether China was concer ned that Myanmar could descend into civil war, given that its military is fighting the Kachin and Karen ethnic minorities, which maintain their own armed forces, while also confronting pro-democracy protesters — amid reports that civilians, mainly students, are now receiving training in the use of weapons in ethnic areas.

Have ‘basic manners’: China tells top Philippines diplomat

OFFICE OF THE

We the Yonchucho Students’ Union, Yonchucho Baptist Church and Yonchucho Vi l l a g e C o u n c i l c o n v e y o u r w a r m e s t congratulations to Mr. Merishan Ezung, S/o Mr. Nchumbemo Ezung and Mrs. Martha Ezung for achieving the Post of Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC), under Personnel & Administrative Reform Department, Govt. of Nagaland. We commend you on this latest success, and we look forward to bring even more great things from you. (Chonbenthung Yanthan) (Wothungo Ngullie) President, YSU Pastor, YBC (Arhonthung Ngullie) VDB Secy. Yonchucho Village, Wokha OFFICE OF THE

ZELIANG STUDENTS' UNION DIMAPUR

KOHIMA VILLAGE STUDENTS’ UNION KOHIMA VILLAGE, KOHIMA: NAGALAND

NAGALAND

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MOTTO : “UNITY FOR EXCELLENCE”

on Monday that “China has no law enforcement rights in these areas...the unauthorised and lingering presence of these vessels is a blatant infringement of Philippine sovereignty”. China claims most of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims. In a strict rejoinder to Locsin Jr, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin in a statement here said facts have proven time and time again that “megaphone diplomacy” can only undermine mutual trust rather than change reality. “We hope that certain individuals from the Philippine side will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status,” Wang said. He made the remarks in response to a query about a statement issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday, which protested against Chinese Coast Guard vessels’ patrols in waters off the Huangyan Island, the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal.

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Footage showed rescuers using a ladder to pull passengers out of train carriages as they were hanging from the bridge. Because of the train’s unstable position, rescue efforts had to be suspended, Sheinbaum said. Residents had reportedly complained about damage to pillars along the route of metro line 12 years ago. There had also been allegations of corruption in the construction of the line. In 2014 not long after the inauguration of line 12, service was interrupted for months for repairs.

Melinda French Gates and Bill gates

lead healthy, and productive lives. “We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives,” the statement said. The duo, two of the richest persons in the world,

asked for “space and privacy” for their family “as we begin to navigate this new life.” The divorce announcement puts focus on the couple’s sprawling Seattle-based organisation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which had reported total net assets of USD 43.3 billion at the end of 2019.

OFFICE OF THE

HUMTSO STUDENTS’ UNION WOKHA - 797111, NAGALAND

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Tikhir Union Kohima (TUK) expresses profound happiness and extends heartiest congratulations to Shri N. Joshua Tikhir, S/o Shri Nokshu Tikhir, Sangkumti Village for securing the post of E.A.C. in the recently declared NPSC result. The Union wishes him the best in his future endeavors. (T. TSUTHONG) (TSINTSUMONG. T) President General Secretary

The Humtso Students’ Union would like to convey our sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Jandeno Humtsoe, D/o of Mr. Yilobemo Humtsoe and Mrs. Tsenlumi Humtsoe for clearing the recently declared IBPS Examination as Probationary Officer (PO) 2020 in Canara Bank. The Union takes immense pride on her achievement and wishes her all the best in her future endeavours.

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OFFICE OF THE NEW RALAN BAPTIST CHURCH

Through this column, we, the Teaching Staff of Toluvi, would like to appreciate Shri. Ghutovi Awomi, Chairman, SMC, GMS Toluvi under whose dynamic leadership and guidance, the GMS Toluvi received the best SMC performance, certificate of Appreciation under EBRC Khusiabill, Sr. SDEO, Dimapur. We look forward to many more fruitful years of achievements in the years to come, not only for the students and teachers but the whole community in general. GHOKHETO YEPTHO Hd. TEACHER, GMS TOLUVI DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

Sd/Peter R. Humtsoe President, HSU

Sd/Chumthungo J. Shitiri Gen. Secretary, HSU

WOKHA, NAGALAND

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With immense pride an honour, we the New Ralan Baptist Church extend our heartiest congratulations to Smt. Mhalo Humtsoe W/o Rhonchamo Kikon on being promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary Agriculture Govt. of Nagaland. The Church wishes her the very best in her future endeavour and prays our Almighty God to give her more wisdom and good health as she takes up the new responsibilities. Y. N. Kikon, Pastor New Ralan Baptist Church

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NEW YORK, MAY 4 (PTI): Billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda French Gates have announced they are divorcing after 27 years of marriage, saying they no longer believe “we can grow together as a couple”, but will continue to work together at their foundation that has an endowment of about USD 50 billion. In a joint statement posted on Twitter by both, they said: “After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage.” They said that over the last 27 years they built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to

OFFICE OF THE

(Mr. Thejaselhou Kire) (Ms. Rose S Sekhose) With immense joy and pride, the Kohima Village Students’ Union would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Thejaselhou Kire, S/o Vitsothie Kire and Ms. Rose S Sekhose, D/o Lt. Kevichabeilie Sekhose for securing the post of Secretariat Assistant under Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department in the recently declared NPSC Examinations. The Union acknowledges them for their hardwork and wishes them the best of luck for their future endeavours. (Neizovolie Nigel Solo) (Keneilhouzo Solo) President Info. & Publicity Secy.

ried out to publicise the causes of the accident. We are very sorry for what happened,” she said. Several carriages of a line 12 metro train plunged several metres and collided into each other, videos circulating on social media showed, reports dpa news agency. Initial findings showed the accident occurred when part of the bridge gave way, Sheinbaum said. Traffic had been flowing under the collapsed section of the bridge at Olivos station on the southeastern edge of the Mexican capital at the time of the accident.

Billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates divorcing after 27 years of marriage

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The Zeliang Students' Union Dimapur, Nagaland with immense pride and honour take this opportunity to extend our heartiest congratulations to Shri. Pauding, S/o D. Disuang Zeme, for securing the post of EAC, AND Shri. Lungkube, S/o Zierangchung for securing the post of Secretariat Assistant, in the recently declared NPSC result for bringing laurels to the community. The union is immensely proud of their achievement and prays that Almighty God guide them and further wishes them success in their future endeavours. (Thinzan) (Rangauding Hau) President Asst. Gen. Secretary

MEXICO CITY, MAY 4 (IANS): At least 23 people were killed and 70 others injured after a bridge on an elevated section of the Mexico City underground system partially collapsed as a train was passing over it, according to authorities. In an interview with local TV station on Tuesday, Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said that the accident occurred on Monday night when a concrete beam collapsed just as a subway train was passing, reports Xinhua news agency. “The corresponding investigations will be car-

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Date : 04/05/2021

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An aerial view of subway cars dangle at an angle from a collapsed elevated section of the metro, in Mexico City, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP/PTI)

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Myanmar violence could lead to civil war: China’s UN envoy

national supply chains to ensure critical medicines, vaccines and other medical products reach those who need them most. “Deepening the economic relationship between the UK and India through an Enhanced Trade Partnership and confirming our intent to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with a view to doubling UK-India trade over the next decade,” notes an official statement from Downing Street. “Increase cooperation between British and Indian universities on crucial research in areas like health, emerging technologies and

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a demonstration of the deep connection between the UK and India. This connection will only grow over the next decade as we do more together to tackle the world’s biggest problems and make life better for our people,” Johnson added. T h e ‘ 2 0 3 0 Ro a d map’, to be published in full by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and agreed between the two sides, includes plans to expand the UK-India health partnership to enhance global health security and pandemic resilience. This includes firming up inter-

The Shiyong Union Mon Town would like to congratulate with immense joy and pride to Miss. H. Pongloi daughter of Mr. Honlei Konyak and Mrs. Wanshom Konyak for achieving the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) through NPSC exam. Further, our Union wishes her a success in the future endeavour, our prayers and best wishes are with you always as you take this new assignment. President G/Secretary W. Yaton K. Nokton

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decade. “The agreements we have made today mark the beginning of a new era in the UK-India relationship,” Johnson said. “The UK and India share many fundamental values. The UK is one of the oldest democracies, and India is the world’s largest. We are both committed members of the Commonwealth. And there is a living bridge uniting the people of our countries,” he said. “In the last week the British people have stepped up in their thousands to support our Indian friends during this terrible time in

climate science. Work in lockstep to tackle threats to our shared security in all their forms. The UK’s Carrier Strike Group will visit India later this year to boost this work with our navies and air forces undertaking joint training exercises to enable future cooperation on operations in the Western Indian Ocean,” it reads. India and the UK have also agreed to work together to achieve ambitious goals on tackling climate change and preserving nature, including accelerating the development of clean energy and transport, protecting biodiversity and helping developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change. India is described as an “indispensable partner” in relation to the UK’s Integrated Review, published earlier this year, which highlighted the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to the UK’s security and prosperity.

With immense pride and honour we the Lekromi Students’ Union congratulates Mr. Dieto Kapfo, S/o Mr. & Mrs. Neipezu Kapfo and Lekromi Village for clearing NPSC examination under Personal and Administration Reforms Department for the post of SA (Secretariat Assistant) Cl-III NonGazetted. The Union wishes him the best in the coming days. (WERU L. MERO) President, L.S.U

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PM Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Boris Johnson during their virtual summit. (PTI)

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LONDON, MAY 4 (PTI): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday declared a new era in UKIndia relations following a virtual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which culminated in the two leaders agreeing on a ‘2030 Roadmap’ as a framework for strengthening ties across health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence. Downing Street said the two Prime Ministers have pledged to achieve a “quantum leap” in the UKIndia relationship and that India has elevated the status of its relationship with the UK to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” - the first European country to be granted that status. An Enhanced Trade Partnership, which had been announced earlier, was reiterated as a starting point to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in future, with an ambition for bilateral trade to be doubled over the next

(KUTO KAPFO) General Secretary, L.S.U

Infotainment

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

suspends Kangana’s account; actress Bored of lockdown? Learn a new trick online Twitter says have many platforms to raise my voice W K hat do you do when you are bored of OTT and there’s nowhere to go because there is a raging pandemic outside. You learn a new trick. Cyber space is buzzing with online classes that promise to make you adept at everything, from whipping up an exotic dish to stirring up a lip-smacking cocktail or mocktail, to picking a few intricate dance moves, and even master a not-socommon workout regime. Delhi-based Mohit Thapa is a choreographer and a dance teacher. He tells IANS that he never thought that dance could be taught online. Thapa teaches jazz and Bollywood dance forms, and he admits it is tough to make people understand body coordination over a screen and yet many want to attend these online sessions. “Although it is tough to make people understand body coordination, over time it has improved. Some students just want to attend the classes to have

fun and learn easy moves, while some are dancers in training, who want to keep their knowledge up to date,” Thapa said. Going out and partying with friends seems bleak given the current scenario. However, homegrown liquor enthusiasts like Puru Agarrwal have come out to help partygoers through online cocktail sessions. “If you ask me personally, it’s been a blessing in a way. First the risk of going out (is not there), and second (there is) more cleanliness. I use basic home ingredients for cocktails that are fresh. Lastly, people have started enjoying learning and making

cocktails from the comfort of their home. Everyone is happy by the end!” Agarrwal said. Music live sessions are another area that have a growing demand. Rohit Manchanda of Houze of Gigs says his sessions get many together digitally. “ Te c h n o l o g y h a s changed music and fans of today look to connect with musicians on a personal level, in addition to a musical one on a variety of platforms. The ability of artistes who can do both plays a significant part in their success,” Manchanda said. He added: “It feels like a treasure stumbling upon a potential next great

star, which makes listeners today feel like part of the discovery process, which in its own way has also shaped the global music market.” Homeg rown chefs have also made it to the forefront thanks to the web space during lockdown. Manu Mahalwar is one such name who discovered his passion for cooking amid the pandemic last year and is now teaching foodies over Instagram. “The whole idea and inspiration came due to lockdown. I have been experimental with my recipes before just as I am now. Even a small interaction or fun food activity breaks the monotony (amid isolation).

Spice Girls reportedly set to film sequel to ‘Spice World’

he Spice Girls will reunite for a film sequel to Spice World, according to sources. A film industry source has told The Sun that four members of the band – Geri Horner (Ginger Spice), Melanie C (Sport Spice), Mel Burton (Scary Spice), and Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) – have approached a screenwriter about devising a follow-up to their 1997 film.

The reported project is to help mark the group’s 25th anniversary next year. The band have reunited on several occasions, including for the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony and a 13-date tour across the UK and Ireland in 2019 without Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), who wished to focus on her family and business. According to The Sun, the apparent sequel is being

spearheaded by Horner, who is currently managing the group. A film industry source told the publication: “The girls have been talking about how to mark the film’s anniversary and are actively considering making a tongue-in-cheek sequel. “ T h e y h ave a p proached a screenwriter who is considering working on the project and making

tentative steps forward. “It is still in the early stages but they are talking to established names in the business, which proves they are taking a big screen comeback seriously.” Spice Girls’ representatives declined to comment. The original film starred the band as well as Richard E. Grant, Meat Loaf and Sir Elton John. In 2019, Paramount announced an animated film positioning the group as superheroes but it’s believed to have been put on hold. Elsewhere, Melanie C said last January that she thinks Victoria Beckham is “coming around” to the idea of rejoining the Spice Girls. She also said that plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Spice Girls’ first single ‘Wannabe’ (released July 8, 1996) are “high on the agenda for us”. (NME)

The best part about live sessions is the interaction with followers,” he said. Staying indoors and an absolute disconnect with nature has an adverse effect on mental and physical health. Workout, Zumba and yoga sessions, too, have gone online courtesy Zoom videos and Instagram. “Times are changing, so are our needs. With the pandemic around, everyone realises how important it is for us to stay on top of our mental and physical health. When everything is available online these days, you get the luxury of staying home and staying safe at the same time. Healthy body leads to a healthy mind,” says Jasbir Singh, fitness professional. Musicians Mar vin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s words in the song “Ain’t no mountain high enough” would seem like an apt fit here: “If you need me, call me, no matter where you are, no matter how far”. Online gurus catering to the demands of their wards would sure vouch for the lines. (IANS)

angana Ranauts handle @KanganaTeam has been suspended on Twitter, after the actress posted a series of tweets perceived to be controversial. In reaction, the actress told IANS she had other platforms to raise her voice including her films. Kangana had shared a video, where she commented on the reported violence that took place in West Bengal after the assembly election results were declared. The actress had captioned the video: “Distressed beyond words, death of democracy, important message for our government #BengalBurning #BengalViolence” When IANS reached out to Kangana, she said: “Twitter has only proved my point they are Americans and by birth a white person feels entitled to enslave a brown person, they want to tell you what to think, speak or do.” She added: “Fortunately, I have many platforms I can use to raise my voice including my own art in the form of cinema but my heart goes out to the people of this nation who have been tortured, enslaved and censored for thousands of years and still there is no end to the suffering.” (IANS)

Red Hot Chili Peppers to sell entire music catalogue for in excess of $140m

he Red Hot Chili Peppers will reportedly sell their entire back catalogue for $140 million upwards. According to Billboard, Anthony Kiedis and co are closing in on the biggest deal yet between Hipgnosis Songs Fund and an artist. The investment company - which was founded by Merck Mercuriadis and Nile Rodgers - is believed to have paid the whopping sum for the rock band’s biggest hits, including ‘Under The Bridge, ‘Give It Away’ and ‘Cali-

fornication’. Hipgnosis already owns the entire back catalogue of former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and 50 per cent (1,180 songs) of Neil Young’s music collection, the latter of which is said to have sold for an estimated $150 million. However, their biggest acquisition was $323 million for a sizeable amount of Kobalt Music Group’s artists’ works, including Fleetwood Mac and George Benson. Meanwhile, RHCP have been working on new music since

reuniting with Josh Frusciante. The 51-year-old guitarist rejoined the band at the expense of Josh Klinghoffer in 2019, following more than a decade’s hiatus. And in October, he discussed penning new material with the ‘Dani California’ group. He said: “We were rehearsing for a couple months, then the quarantine started, and we stopped rehearsing for a couple months, then we went back to rehearsing. “We’re moving ahead with what we’re doing, writing new music.” Earlier this week, drummer Chad Smith - who completes the lineup with bassist Flea - gave an update on their follow-up to 2016’s ‘The Getaway’. He said: “There’s a gag order on me, I guess I do so many Zooms and they’re just like, ‘Why did you say that?’ ... There’s something coming! I can say this: we’re making a record, we’re making new music and it’s very exciting. I don’t know when it’s coming out, but we can’t wait for people to hear it. And we can’t wait to perform for people, just like everybody else that really misses that experience.” (Contactmusic)

3D ‘lung-on-a-chip’ model to test new therapies for Covid

team of researchers has designed a 3D “lung-on-a-chip” model that replicates human alveolar lung tissue to test new therapies for Covid-19 and other lung conditions. The model will help study how Covid viral particles travel through airways and impact pulmonary cells. The technology also enables scientists to investigate how various Covid therapies, such as Remdesivir, impact the replication of the virus. “This is a first-of-its-kind in vitro model of the human lower lung that can be used to test many of the biological mechanisms and therapeutic agents, in-

cluding antiviral drugs for Covid-19 research,” said Y Shrike Zhang, Associate Bioengineer, Department of Medicine and Division of Engineering in Medicine at Brigham and Women’s

Hospital in the US. The team developed this technology to mirror the biological characteristics of the human distal lung. They found that the 3D alveolar lung effectively grew

Bruce Willis to star in The Fortress trilogy

ruce Willis is to star in ‘The Fortress’ trilogy. The 66-year-old actor has boarded the film series with Jesse Metcalfe and Chad Michael Murray also starring in the flicks directed by Cullen Bressack. The first installment has begun production in Puerto Rico and will be shot back-to-back with the sequel. The third movie is set to be filmed in the future. The plot revolves around a top-secret resort for retired US intelligence officers as a group of criminals led by Balzary (Murray) breach the compound, hellbent on revenge on Robert (Willis) – forcing the retired officer and his son (Metcalfe) to save the day. K Y M C

‘The Fortress’ has been developed by Randall Emmett and Emile Hirsch with the script being written by Alan Horsnail. The first two movies will be produced by Emmett and George Furla, Luillo Ruiz and Chad A. Verdi. Tim Sullivan, Nick D’Angelo, Caesar Richbow and Danny are executive

producing. Bruce is also set to collaborate with Emmett on his directorial debut ‘Midnight In The Switchgrass’, which stars Hirsch and Megan Fox. The movie - which is set in 2004 - will tell the story of an FBI Agent (Megan) and a Florida State officer (Emile) who team up to investigate a string of unsolved murder cases, with Bruce playing the part of Megan’s FBI Agent partner. Randall has produced more than 100 movies with partner George Furla under their Emmett/Furla banner, including ‘The Irishman’ and ‘2 Guns’ - but will make his bow behind the camera on this project. (Contactmusic)

cells over multiple days and that these cells adequately populated airway surfaces. Through genome sequencing, scientists observed that the alveolar lung model more closely resembled the human distal lung than previous 2D models have.A Additionally, the lungon-a-chip model successfully stimulated breaths of air at the normal frequency for humans. The team intends to use this technology to study a broad range of pulmonary conditions, including various lung cancers. To replicate smoking’s impact on the lungs, scientists allowed smoke to seep into the model’s air chambers

then simulated a breathing event, moving smoke deeper into the lungs. From there, they measured the smoke’s impact and cell damage it caused. While this innovation holds the potential to vastly expand the possibilities of studying and treating pulmonary diseases, this model is still in its early stages, said Zhang. Currently, the alveolar lung-on-a-chip only incorporates two out of the 42 cell types existing in the lung. In the future, researchers hope to incorporate more cell types into the model to make it more clinically representative of human lungs, Zhang noted. (IANS)

SHENA OLD VILLAGE COUNCIL Zunheboto District : Nagaland

(05-05-2021)

An Ancestral stroll path circular road (Gumla) about 4 km surrounding the village has been reconstructed by the Shena Old Village Council was inaugurated by Er. Kahuli Sema, Chief Engineer, PWD (Police Engineering) on 1st May 2021. “The land within the Gumla belongs to the Village Community, thus no individual or group shall claim ownership” has been inscribed in the inaugural stone for the information to its citizens. Shri Vüxüto Achumi G.B and Chairman K-930

Dearest Husband, Father and Obu, Rev. Dr. K. Imotemjen Aier. A very Happy 90th Birthday to you. We praise God for letting you achieve another milestone in your life. God is Great. His blessings are bountiful. What a Glorious celebration of Life !! You have taught us the meaning of God’s Love, Faith and Hope. But most of all, you have shared your Love of Christ with us, and this is the very foundation of everything good in our lives. We are so blessed to have you in our lives as someone to look up to and be there for us in every step of the way. It is our prayer that the good Lord continue to Bless you, Keep you and Take Care of you always. Wishing you a life showered with lots of Love and Joy. Happy Birthday!! – Much love from your loving Wife, Children, In- laws and Grand Children. K-928 K Y M C

West Brom hold Wolves 1-1 in EPL

more than justified his return to the starting line-up. The only change at half-time was the official, with Mike Dean stepping up to referee the second half after Paul Tierney sustained an injury, but there was a shift of momentum towards the home team. West Brom threw everything at Wolves in the early stages of the second half with goalkeeper Rui Patricio making two

Boxer Verdejo charged with killing woman pregnant with his child

India’s FIH hockey games vs Spain, Germany postponed

Félix Verdejo

stance before throwing her body over San Juan’s Teodoro Moscoso Bridge and into the San Jose Lagoon, the agent wrote. Authorities issued a warrant for Verdejo’s arrest after Rodríguez was reported missing and investigators interviewed a witness and reviewed surveillance-camera footage and cellphone records. On Sunday, hundreds gathered at the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge near where Rodríguez’s body was believed dumped into the lagoon. They called for justice for Rodríguez and

OFFICE OF THE TSÜTUONUOMIA STUDENTS' UNION KOHIMA VILLAGE, KOHIMA

more to be done to address a spike in gender violence in the U.S. island territory, the Washington Post reported. “The pain, anger and indignation that we feel every time we witness a crime of gender violence has to be kept alive in us so that we do not rest in our responsibility to protect, prevent and abolish this evil,” Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said in a statement on Sunday. Verdejo fought in the lightweight division at the 2012 London Olympics. He has a record of 27 wins and two losses in the ring.

LAUSANNE, MAY 4 (IANS): The Indian men’s hockey team’s preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games suffered a major blow on Tuesday as its upcoming FIH Pro League away matches against Spain and Germany were postponed due to “international travel restrictions affecting India because of the Covid-19 pandemic”. While India were supposed to play Spain on May 15 and 16, their matches against Germany were scheduled on May 22 and 23. “FIH, Hockey India as well as the Hockey National Associations of Germany, Spain and Great Britain -- since the matches initially planned in London on May 8-9 were also postponed -- are currently looking at all potential options to rearrange these matches at a later date,” an FIH statement said. The FIH expressed sympathy to the Indian hockey community, as well as their families and friends in times of Covid.

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The Pimla Village Student's Union (PVSU) congratulates Mr. Atokiho Swu son of Mr. P. Dohoi Swu head GB Pimla Village for being elected as the Vice President of Naga Student's Federation. (NSF). The Union further wishes the best for your endeavor President Kiyekali Swu P. V. S. U

General Secretary Neuto Swu P. V. S. U

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With immense pride and honour, we the Tsütuonuomia Students' Union, Kohima Village would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Miss Rose S. Sekhose, D/o Late Kevichabeilie Sekhose and Albina Sekhose on her being selected to the post of Secretariat Assistant under Personnel & Administration Reforms Department. The Union further wishes her the very best in all her future endeavors. Vituotsolie Solo Kiyakhrienuo Solo President General Secretary

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my combined with the frequency with which he has taken wickets in this period (strike rate of 33.5) has lifted him to the top of the ODI bowling rankings. He has been in the top-three since February 2019. Despite a lengthy stint on the sidelines, young fast bowler Ferguson is New Zealand’s top ODI wickettaker over the past three years and was the stand-out performer at the last World Cup, emerging the secondhighest wicket-taker with 21 wickets.

NEW YORK, MAY 4 (AGENCIES): Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry shone while Carmelo Anthony made history in Monday’s NBA action - but the night belonged to the New York Knicks who recorded their 12th win in 13 games. The Knicks’ impressive run was extended with a 118-104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, with Julius Randle top scoring on 28 points. Westbrook posted his 32nd tripledouble of the season with 14 points, a career-high 21 rebounds and 24 assists as the Washington Wizards won 154-141 against the Indiana Pacers. Curry scored 42 - his ninth 40-plus point haul of the season - in the Golden State Warriors’ 123-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. And there was movement in the history books as Anthony rose to 10th in the NBA’s all-time scorers list, after his 14 points for the Portland Trail Blazers put him on 27,318 career points, surpassing Elvin Hayes. “Top 10 in anything of all time is a special thing,” Anthony said after the Blazers’ 123-114 defeat by the Atlanta Hawks. “I don’t want to take this moment for granted. I understand how big this moment is.” Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers ground out a 93-89 victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets without star player LeBron James, who was resting a sore ankle.

WOKHA TOWN YONCHUCHO EKHUNG

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Pimla Village Council would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Shri. Atokiho Sumi, S/o Shri P. Dohoi Swu, Hd. G.B., Pimla Village, Dimapur, Nagaland, for being selected as Vice President of Naga Students' Federation. The Pimla Village Council wishes him all success in his future endeavours. (KIYEHO SWU) Chairman Pimla Village Council

(KIHOKHU D. SWU) Secretary Pimla Village Council

With immense pride and joy we the Wokha Town Yonchucho Ekhung extend our heartiest congratulations t o M r. M e r i s h a n E z u n g , S/o Mr. Nchumbemo Ezung and Mrs. Martha Ezung for bringing laurels to the union and community for achieving the Post of Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) in the recently declared NPSC result 2021. The Ekhung is immensely proud of his great achievement and prays that Almighty God guide you and bless you in your future endeavour. Sd/Sd/Lichio Yanthan Nyamo Ezung Secretary, WTYE Chairman, WTYE OFFICE OF THE

TAMLU VILLAGE STUDENTS' UNION Estd:1953 Dist. Longleng; Nagaland

OFFICE OF THE

WAKCHING AREA STUDENTS’ UNION

Motto: “Knowledge Courage Integration”

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The Police Baptist Church Dimapur, Youth Department, with immense pride and cachet would like congratulate Mr. Moanungsang Jamir, S/o Mr. T Chuba Jamir for successfully clearing the recent declared Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) Exam to the post of Secretariat Assistant (SA) and Dr. Nungothung Z. Odyuo, S/o Mr. Zubenthung Odyuo for successfully completing BDS from Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences (H.P). May God continue to bless them with sound health and wisdom in all their future endeavors’ (PBCD, YOUTH DEPARTMENT)

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Ms. NIKALI V SEMA Mr. VIQHESHE S FUTHENA D/o Vikiye Swunetho & S/o Shikhu Futhena Vitoli Swunetho & Lhovili Futhena The Lazami Social Welfare Organization Kohima (LSWOK) through this column Congratulates Ms. Nikali V Sema & Mr. Viqheshe S Futhena of Lazami Village for securing the post of Secretariat Assistant under the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department through the Nagaland Public Service Commission 2021. The LSWOK is also honored to mention that Mr VIQHESHE S FUTHENA is currently the Information & Publicity Secretary of the Organization. The LSWOK is much pleased to appreciate and applaud both of them for their sincere effort and for bringing laurels to the village in particular. The Organization wishes them the best in their endeavor. (NGUKATO K) (KITOHO SWU) President General Secretary

With immense joy and pride, we the Wakching Area Students’ Union would like to congratulate and felicitate MS. H. PONGLOI KONYAK, D/o Shri Honlei Konyak for clearing the NPSC Examination to the post of DSP under Home Dept. Police Establishment Branch, Govt. of Nagaland. Further Union wishes her success in his future endeavour and may our Almighty God grant her good health as she takes up her new assignment. (MR. TEMWANG) President, WASU

(MR. LONGME T.P.) General Secretary, WASU

The Tamlu Village Students' Union with immense pride and honour would like to convey profound congratulations to the most promising leader Mr Nganlang C Phom (Vice President, TVSU) S/o Shri Chingan Phom for bringing laurel to the Union by cracking the prestigious NPSC exam and securing the post of Secretariat Assistant (SA) under Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department. May the spectacular achievement be a beacon of hope for the upcoming young aspirants of the Union. The Union further wishes him lots of success in his future endeavours. C.SHAM-E PHOM PHONGTANG C PHOM President Statistical Secretary TVSU TVSU

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rently sits 12th on the ICC ODI batting rankings, was the country’s key performer during the ICC World Cup in 2019, where he was pivotal in the Black Caps’ charge to the final and finished as the tournament’s fourth-highest run-scorer (578 at 82.57). Taylor, who currently sits fourth on the ICC ODI batting rankings, is New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in ODIs over the past three years, scoring a dozen 50-plus scores in 27 innings. Boult’s miserly econo-

Anthony makes history; NY Knicks records 12 wins

P.O. NAGINIMORA - 798622, B.P.O WAKCHING DIST. MON : NAGALAND

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New Zealand men’s cricket team squad.

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involving Owen Otasowie and Vitinha. Kyle Bartley looked likely to clear but his attempt ricocheted off Silva, looping over Johnstone and into the Albion net, much to the delight of the teenage forward who wheeled away in celebration. The Portuguese has struggled to fill the void left by Raul Jimenez but this was his second goal against Wolves’ biggest rivals and

S A N J UA N, M AY 4 (AGENCIES): Boxer Félix Verdejo, who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympic Games, has been charged in U.S. federal court with kidnapping and killing a woman who was pregnant with his child, authorities said. Verdejo was taken into custody in Puerto Rico on Sunday for the murder of Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz, 27. He was charged with kidnapping and carjacking resulting in death and intentionally killing an unborn child, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Puerto Rico said in a statement. Verdejo, 27, could face the death penalty if he is convicted. An attorney for Verdejo was not immediately available for comment. An FBI agent wrote in a federal court affidavit that Rodríguez was killed on Thursday after she met Verdejo to request his help to end her pregnancy. Ve r d e j o p u n c h e d Rodríguez in the face and injected her with a sub-

his luck from range. West Brom came close to the breakthrough late in the half when a short corner found its way to Diagne at the far post but he could only divert across goal rather than into the net. It was to prove costly within minutes when Wolves took the lead in farcical circumstances at the other end after some impressive build-up play

DUBAI, MAY 4 (IANS): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday commended New Zealand on becoming the No. 1 side in One-day International (ODI) rankings, calling it a huge achievement for a country with just over 51 lakh people. The ICC tweeted, “No. 1 Men’s ODI team: @BLACKCAPS; No.1 Men’s Test batsman: Kane Williamson; No.1 Men’s ODI bowler: @trent_boult; No.1 Women’s T20I allrounder: @sophdevine77. Estimated population: 5,112,300.” The Black Caps had on Monday moved up two slots in MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings after gaining three rating points to reach an aggregate of 121. They displaced England from the top. Among the players ICC praised were experienced batsmen Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor and fast bowlers Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson. Williamson, who cur-

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Mbaye Diagne (second right) cancelled out Fabio Silva’s opener to earn West Brom a point

huge saves when the equaliser seemed inevitable. Firstly, the impressive Matheus Pereira slipped the ball to Conor Townsend only for the full-back to shoot too close to Patricio on the angle. Then, good work by substitute Matty Phillips found Sam Gallagher in space at the far post only for the midfielder to see his effort palmed away. The goal finally came just after the hour mark when Diagne was left unmarked in the centre of the goal to head calmly home from Townsend’s expertly directed left-wing cross. With both teams chasing a winning goal, it made for an open finale as rain lashed down on the sodden Hawthorns turf but neither side had the quality to fashion another clear chance late on. The result means West Brom have had the better of this season’s Black Country derbies, having won at Molineux in January. But a repeat of the fixture next time around now looks highly unlikely.

ICC praises NZ players after team’s jump in ODI rankings

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W e s t B ro m w i c h , MAY 4 (AGENCIES): West Brom came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at home to rivals Wolves but the solitary point edges them closer to the drop. Mbaye Diagne’s second-half header cancelled out Fabio Silva’s fortunate goal in first-half stoppage time but the draw means Sam Allardyce’s side are 10 points from safety with four games to go. Wolves had more of the ball throughout but their own frailties were evident as Nuno Espirito Santo’s out-of-form team failed to withstand West Brom pressure after the interval. As rain swept across the ground, it took both teams some time to settle into any kind of rhythm but it was Wolves who had the first chance when Romain Saiss headed straight at Sam Johnstone. The away side dominated possession for much of the first half, Nelson Semedo forcing a far better save from the Baggies goalkeeper on the half hour before Vitinha tried

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

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sports

IPL-2021 suspended indefinitely BCCI assures safe return to foreign players

N E W D E L H I , M AY 4 (PTI): A barrage of COVID-19 cases forced the IPL’s indefinite suspension on Tuesday, a move that was welcomed by the franchises even as the league’s jittery foreign recruits waited for BCCI’s plan of action to ensure their return amid some strict travel restrictions. The decision to postpone the league was announced after SunRisers Hyderabad batsman Wriddhiman Saha and Delhi Capitals spinner Amit Mishra joined the infected players’ list, which already had Kolkata Knight Riders’ Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier. Chennai Super Kings’ bowling coach L Balaji was among the prominent non-playing staff to test positive. “The Indian Premier League Governing Council and BCCI in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect,” a statement from the IPL read after the development was confirmed by its chairman Brijesh Patel to PTI. “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in

organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind,” it added. The IPL said BCCI will do all it can to ensure that players in the event get back to their homes safely. IPL features cricketers from England (11), Australia (14), South Africa (11) and New Zealand (10) among other countries. The event also featured nine West Indians, three Afghans and two players from Bangladesh. Several former foreign players, especially from Australia, were also a part of the support staffs and commentary teams. “These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is

imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times,” the IPL stated. “The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.” The cricket boards of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa backed the decision and expressed confidence in BCCI’s planning for their players’ safe return. But Australia made it clear that it won’t seek exemption from the travel ban which is in place till May 15 for flights from India. “Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association respect the decision of the Austra-

lian Government to pause travel from India until at least May 15 and will not seek exemptions,” a joint release from CA and ACA stated. The Board, apart from mulling the way forward, was also counting its losses, which could run into Rs 2200 crore, according to a senior official. The 52-day 60-match tournament would have concluded in Ahmedabad on May 30. However, only 24 days of cricket was possible with 29 completed games before the virus halted proceedings. “We would be losing anything between Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 crore for the midway postponement of this season. I would say something in the range of Rs 2200 crore will be closer to accurate estimation,” the BCCI official said. The tournament began on April 9 and ran smoothly before KKR’s COVID-19 cases caused the initial panic on Monday. “...we will take stock if we can find a suitable window later during the year. It could be September but these are all speculations. As of now we are not conducting it any further,” BCCI vice-president Rajiv

Shukla told PTI. The 2020 IPL was also held in a bio-secure bubble in the UAE and at that time, infections were only reported before the start of the event. India is currently recording over 3 lakh cases everyday and more than 3,000 daily deaths. The explosion of cases has severely burdened the country’s healthcare facilities causing an acute shortage of oxygen, hospital beds and crucial medicines. The IPL was being staged across six venues in a caravan model where only two venues were being put to use at one go. At the time of suspension, matches were being held in Ahmedabad and Delhi and the league was due to move to Bengaluru and Kolkata next week. Just days before this suspension three Australian players -- Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andre Tye -- had left the left the league citing pandemic concerns. Senior Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin was also forced to withdraw after several members of his family, including his wife, children and parents, tested positive for the virus.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Madrid Open: Mertens stuns Halep, to take on Sabalenka in quarters M A D R I D, M A Y 4 (IANS): Former doubles partners Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka took contrasting paths to a showdown in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open here on Tuesday. T h e N o. 1 3 s e e d Mertens came from a break down in both the second and third sets to upset No.3 seed Simona Halep 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in two hours and 34 minutes, while Sabalenka needed only 52 minutes to power past Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-2. Initially, Mer tens failed to gain much traction with her tactical approach and Halep was rarely troubled by her changes of spin and depth. But Halep too was error-prone on Tuesday, and her loss of a break in the first set foreshadowed the failure to press home leads that would ultimately cost her the match. In the second set, Halep recovered from 1-3 down and broke for 4-3 after a brilliant return game. But the Romanian’s lack of focus returned on the brink of victory. Serving to stay in the set, she committed four straight unforced errors to find herself in a decider. By now, persistence had paid off for Mertens. Her backhand down the

Elise Mertens

line was finally clicking. Two winners from that wing got her a break back for 3-3, and another pair saw her capture the Halep serve again for 4-4. As in the second set, Halep tripped up serving at 5-6. With Mertens giving nothing away, another sequence of unforced errors flowed from Halep’s

Russia’s Rublev continues to impress

Russia’s Andrey Rublev overcame a tough challenge on his Madrid Open debut to beat the United States’ Tommy Paul 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 for a place in the third round on Tuesday. Paul put forth a brilliant effort while Rublev struggled to control the ball in the unfamiliar high altitude, according to atptour.com. The World No. 7, who has advanced to the quarterfinals or better in all seven tournaments he has played this season, is now 9-2 at the ATP Masters 1000 level in 2021, after reaching the semi-finals in Miami and the final in Monte-Carlo. Meanwhile, World No.1 Ashleigh Barty won the battle when the last two champions of the French Open clashed and she beat Poland’s Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-4 in the third round of the Madrid Open.

Mark Selby beats Shaun Murphy to win UEFA allows 26-player squads for Euro 2020 fourth World Snooker Championship

Mark Selby grasps the trophy after adding the 2021 world snooker title to his 2014, 2016 and 2017 Crucible triumphs.

S H E F F I E L D, M AY 4 (AGENCIES): Mark Selby has won the 2021 World Snooker Championship having defeated Shaun Murphy 18-15 in the final at the Crucible. Selby – a 9/1 winner for Richard Mann’s Antepost Angle column – broke the back of the match when reeling off four frames in a row on Sunday evening to lead 10-7 overnight, before maintaining his three-frame advantage on Monday afternoon when refusing to buckle in the face of a bold and brave onslaught from Murphy. The 37-year-old is now a four-time world champion, drawing level with John Higgins on the list of multiple Crucible winners, having added to his title victories in 2014, 2016 and 2017. On the evidence of his performance over the last 17 days, he might yet come close to chasing down Stephen Hendry’s record of seven World Championship wins.

Despite puffing his chest out and throwing his full arsenal of artillery at Selby on Monday afternoon, and then again in the evening, Murphy was unable to land a significant blow on an opponent who continues to prove himself a defensive master and nerveless break-builder on the biggest stage. Murphy had twice threatened to close within a single frame in that third session, but Selby continued to find a way to keep the 2005 champion at arms length and by the time he claimed the final frame of the session to ensure his 10-7 overnight advantage had moved to 14-11, he already had one hand on the famous trophy. When the final session began to the backdrop of another electric Crucible atmosphere, Murphy kept true to form by making the early running with a sting of brilliant pots, only to miss a simple pink to middle and let Selby in for a typically

clinical run of 66 that helped him move four frames clear. This season’s European Masters winner then built up a 44-point lead in the following frame as he tried to edge closer to the winning line, an early finish already looking on the cards until he broke down and Murphy stepped in to reduce his arrears 15-12. In spite of that setback, Selby thundered in another long red on the way to clinching the next frame in one visit with a break of 68, though Murphy hit back once again, needing a couple of chances to clinch frame 29 but keeping himself just about alive in the process. A stunning 120 from Selby appeared to have finally killed off Murphy’s hopes, but roared on by the Crucible faithful, he found his best snooker when he needed it most and fired in back-to-back centuries to send the arena into a frenzy and leave Selby suddenly looking flustered in his chair. Still nursing a 17-15 lead, Selby at least had breathing space and after Murphy missed from distance, he managed to carve out a 38-point lead in frame 33 until rattling the jaws of the green pocket. With one final lifeline, Murphy went down on his shield as most of South Yorkshire willed in an attempted red along the left-hand side cushion that threatened to drop but instead, left Selby with a clear run to the winning line.

W E M B L E Y, M AY 4 (AGENCIES): Teams will be allowed to select a 26player squad instead of the usual 23 at this summer’s European Championship. The change has been implemented to lessen the load on players after a club season compressed because of the coronavirus pandemic. It will also help managers adapt if outbreaks occur during the tournament. The decision, taken by Uefa’s national teams committee in April, was approved by Uefa’s executive committee on Tuesday. In a statement, it said the rules were approved

“in order to guarantee the smooth running and continuity of the competition in light of the Covid-19 pandemic”. A rule allowing each team to make up to five

substitutes per game had already been confirmed. However, 23 players will remain the maximum number permitted on team sheets for matches. The tournament,

racquet to take her total to 48. Mertens, who entered the quarter-finals here for the first time, will face another Madrid last-eight debutante, No.5 seed Sabalenka. Sabalenka was imperious against Pegula, striking 25 winners to 13 unforced errors.

which had been scheduled to take place last summer, begins on 11 June. The deadline for submitting squads is 1 June. England manager Gareth Southgate is expected to announce his squad during the week commencing 24 May. Steve Clarke, the Scotland manager, had been expected to name a provisional squad in mid-May, but may now miss that step out before making his final selection at the end of the month. Robert Page will have the job of picking the Wales squad, after confirmation that he will take charge of the team for the tournament.

Sports official Sacheti dies batling Covid NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (IANS): Boxing Federation of India (BFI) executive director Raj Kumar Sacheti has passed away due to Covid-19. “With a deep sense of sorrow and grief, we inform you that Mr. RK Sacheti, ED (BFI) left for heavenly abode today morning, creating a huge void in the sports world. He has been a Member IOC Olympic Task Force & an able administrator with an unparalleled contribution to (Indian) Sports. #RIP,” the BFI tweeted. Sacheti was also an associate joint secretary of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Indian team to feature in AFC Women’s Club Championship NEW DELHI, MAY 4 (IANS): An Indian side is set to feature in the inaugural AFC Women’s Club Championship, a pilot tournament the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will kick off this year. With the country set to host two major international events -- the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 - an Indian club competing in the eight-team tournament will give a “huge boost” to women’s football in the Indian women’s football team squad. country. The All India Football statement on Tuesday that, ture eight teams from eight Federation (AIFF) said in a “The tournament will fea- different nations and will

be played between October 30 to November 14, 2021. “Group A (East) will consist of representative clubs from Chinese Taipei, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, while Group B (West) is set to feature a club each from India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan and Uzbekistan, wherein India are to be represented by the Hero Indian Women’s League champions,” the AIFF said. “An Indian club playing in the AFC Women’s Club Championship is a great opportunity to boost the growth of women’s football in India. We al-

ready have two International events -- the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup lined up in 2022. As a prelude to that, Indian representation in the Club Championship will further redefine women’s football in India to a large extent,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said. The AFC will also have a soft implementation of the AFC Women’s Club Licensing System in order to prepare clubs and member associations ahead of the planned AFC Women’s Champions League in 2023.

Maradona case a ‘trial by media’, says lawyer Transgender soccer referee BUENOS AIRES, MAY 4 (IANS): An investigation into the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has become a “trial by media”, a defence lawyer said. Maradona died of a heart attack aged 60 last November, less than a month after undergoing surgery in Buenos Aires to remove a blood clot on his brain. A report leaked to the media last week said the former Napoli star’s medical team had acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner,” adding that he was not given the appropriate care, Xinhua reports. The report, written by

a medical committee appointed to probe the circumstances of Maradona’s death, was submitted to prosecutors in Buenos Aires on Monday. “The evidence that was leaked, as well as the audios and witness testimony, the extracts, including edited audios and chats, involve less than half of the defendants. Is that not striking?” Vadim Mischanchuk told reporters. “It would seem there is an intention to produce a trial by media, a trial prior to the delivery of justice, and that is not good at all.” Investigators have said they are trying to determine

Diego Maradona

whether there was negligence on the part of doctors and medical staff. An initial autopsy found that Maradona had died from “acute pulmonary

edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy”. Results of a second autopsy, published in late December by the San Isidro

public prosecutor, revealed Maradona was suffering from problems related to his kidneys, heart and lungs. Following his brain surgery on Nov. 3, Maradona’s personal doctor Leopoldo Luque said the former attacking playmaker required treatment for “abstinence”. He did not provide further details of the condition, but Maradona had previously battled drug and alcohol addiction. Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov both had their homes and workplaces raided by police in the days after Maradona’s death as part of the investigation.

makes Israeli sports history

HAIFA (ISRAEL), MAY 4 (AGENCIES): Sapir Berman made sports history on Monday, officiating at a soccer match in Israel’s Premier League for the first time since coming out as transgender. “This is the first step in a long and wonderful journey. Sapir, we are proud to do it with you,” the Israel Football Association tweeted as she took the field for the contest between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Haifa. At a news conference last Tues-

Sapir Berman

day in which she publicly announced her transition, Berman, at 26 already a top referee in Israel’s leading soccer league, said she had always seen herself as

a female, even at a young age. She told reporters that players had already begun using the feminine form of words in Hebrew when addressing her. “They really feel that they want to somehow take part in this process and even speak to men when it’s not necessary and speak to me as a woman. So thank you,” Berman said. Outside the stadium in the northern city of Haifa, one fan carried a banner that hailed Berman as a “super woman, incredible, brave”.

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