Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 310
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2018 Pages 12 ` 5.00
US wants ‘regime change’ in Iran, says Hassan Rouhani
India crush WI to seal Test series 2-0
Union Min Akbar denies sexual charges
international, Page 9
sports, Page 12
national, Page 5
Assam fake encounter: Maj Gen, six others get life imprisonment
NEW DELHI\GUWAHATI, OCT 14 (AGENCIES): In a landmark judgement, a summary general court martial conducted by the Army has sentenced a Major General, two Colonels and four other soldiers to life imprisonment for the extra-judicial killing of five youth activists in Assam in 1994, a Times of India report stated. The judgement, pronounced by the court martial held at the 2 Infantry Mountain Division at Dinjan in Dibrugarh district of Assam, will however have to be confirmed by “higher competent authorities” like the Eastern Army Command at Kolkata and the Army headquarters in New Delhi. “This can take two to three months,” said a source. Sources said the seven held guilty are Major General A K Lal, Colonels Thomas Mathew and R S Sibiren, and junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) Dilip Singh, Jagdeo Singh, Albindar
Singh and Shivendar Singh. They, of course, can file appeals against the verdict in the armed forces tribunal and the Supreme Court. Lal, incidentally, was removed as commander of the strategically-located 3 Infantry Division at Leh in September 2007 after a woman officer accused him of “misconduct” and “misbehaviour” on the pretext of teaching her yoga. He was dismissed from service in December 2010 after a court martial, but the armed forces tribunal later restored his retirement benefits. The new court martial verdict revolves around the extra-judicial killing of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) activists Prabin Sonowal, Pradip Dutta, Debajit Biswas, Akhil Sonowal and Bhaben Moran after a unit of the Punjab Regiment had picked them up along with four others from different places in Tinsukia district of Assam between February 17 and 19 in 1994. The Army had detained the nine at the Dholla Army
As fuel prices rise, PM to meet major oil company heads today
NPF dismisses PDA’s show of unity
NEW DELHI, Oct 14 (IANS): Fuel prices continued to rise across the four major metros Sunday even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to meet oil company chief ’s tomorrow to take stock of the global energy scenario. In the national capital, petrol was priced at Rs. 82.72 per litre, up from Rs. 82.66 on Saturday, data on the Indian Oil Corporation website showed. Similarly, petrol prices in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai also rose on Sunday -- to Rs. 88.18 in Mumbai, Rs. 84.54 in Kolkata and Rs. 85.99 per litre in Chennai. The prices vary from region to region due to local taxes, as the product is excluded from the Goods and Services Tax regime. Delhi has the lowest tax rate among the four metro cities. The increase in transport fuel prices comes amid a continuous surge in global crude oil prices. UK Brent crude has gone upwards of $85 per barrel. Earlier this month, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a cut in excise duty by Rs. 1.50 a litre. Additionally, the state-owned oil marketing companies have been mandated to reduce prices of petrol and diesel by Re 1 a litre each.
This is it!
“Our children live in dirt and don’t suffer. That’s because they have acquired nature’s immunity.” K Y M C
DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (NPN): NPF on Sunday hit back at the NDPP dismissing the latter’s statement of expressing unity by PDA legislators and PDA Coordination Committee members. In a rejoinder issued by its press bureau, NPF said the repeated echoing of their unity stand and firing lies after lies accusing the opposition by a new born party, indicated its insecurity in handling their partners and running the affairs of the state. NPF also reminded NDPP that dislodging any ruling government was the duty and prime requisite of any opposition party and, therefore, to play the old tape recorder from new one was absolutely its discretion and that it was not the business of NDPP to bother. However, the opposition party said it was natural for NDPP to feel insecure against the backdrop of the number of its legislators (17) as against NPF’s (26) and
Camp after the general manager of the Assam Frontier Tea Limited at Talap Tea Estate, Rameswar Singh, was killed by ULFA militants. Five of them were later killed in the infamous Dangari fake encounter case on February 23. The then AASU vicepresident and now a BJP leader in the state Jagadish Bhuyan had fought for justice single-handedly in the Gauhati High Court, which led to a CBI probe in the case. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal was the AASU president at that point in time. Though the CBI had also lodged a case against the accused soldiers after recording statements of the survivors and other witnesses, the Army had obtained permission from the court to try them under military law through a court martial. “The seven men have been dismissed from service and have been sentenced to life imprisonment. For 24 years, I have never once lost
that at any point of time the latter could topple the PDA government, but that time and again it comforted the ruling coalition of not forming any government unless it was a stable one, unlike the present government. Reiterating that it will never shy away from people’s welfare issues despite being in the opposition, NPF said NDPP should not expect it to behave like silent spectators while its chief minister Neiphiu Rio took the State backward. Alleging that the PDA alliance/government was made by a “cheater” like the chief minister, NPF pointed out that he was elected to the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and chosen as leader of NPF Legislature Party, before being installed as the chief minister. But Rio insisted on contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha polls by betraying his constituency people who had elected him to be their
faith in Indian democracy, Indian judiciary system and the Indian Army. The Army has given exemplary punishment to its own officers and men on finding them guilty and this has amplified the glory of the Army and increased people’s trust on the Army,” said Bhuyan. The landmark court martial judgement comes at a time when almost 750 Army officers and soldiers have filed petitions in the Supreme Court against any move to dilute the ironfisted Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives military personnel special rights and immunity to operate in “disturbed areas” like J&K and the North-East. Army chief General Bipin Rawat, on his part, has said the force will firmly stand with all its soldiers who operate and conduct bonafide counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir and the North-East, but will deal sternly with cases of wrongdoings, aberrations and moral turpitude.
representative, it added. According to the statement, NPF, NPF Legislature Party and the DAN had urged him not to go to Lok Sabha and continue as the chief minister, but as he refused, and people of the State elected him to Lok Sabha as per his desire. However, to the utter disappointment of everyone, he cheated the Naga people again and resigned from the Lok Sabha and came to the State to fight Assembly elections. With the support of BJP, Rio was made chief minister, but from day one till date, none of his commitments made to the people had been fulfilled, it said. NPF said one of the biggest blunders in the entire history of the Nagas was that Rio had sold the legitimate right of Nagas to be integrated under one administrative umbrella by rejecting the idea in the national media and reducing it to emotional integration.
Nagarjan bridge closed for traffic
(L) The crack near the bridge. (R) The loose earth which caused a minor land subsidence that affected the road. (NP)
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (NPN): The approach road to the Nagarjan beam bridge from Dimapur city side developed deep cracks when the concrete abutment protecting the filled roadside at the bridge base, gave way triggering subsidence and consequent cracks over the sunken road portion. District authorities at Dimapur have prohibited movement of vehicles on the bridge as a precaution. According to traffic personnel stationed at the location, the cracks appeared between 12 to 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
2 gang-raped in national capital
New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS): A 16-year-old class 10 student was on Saturday was allegedly gangraped by four persons in east Delhi’s Vinod Nagar, police said on Sunday. The accused have been arrested. Police said one of the accused Amit Kumar (26), known to her and her kin, lured her to visit a nearby park where his three friends were waiting. “The accused forcibly took the victim to a flat in same locality and gangraped her,” police said. Another woman employed with a MNC in west Delhi was also allegedly gangraped by two of her colleagues Saturday night. The two offered her a lift after office. During the journey, the accused served her cold drink laced with sedatives and she became unconscious. The victim was taken to a flat where they took turns to (Cont’d on p-5) rape her, police said.
Lessee system affecting common man, says PDR DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (NPN): People for Democratic Rights (PDR) has expressed concern over the leasing out of tolls and taxes under Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) that had led to rise in rate of taxes and tolls, and thereby resulting in spurt in prices of commodities affecting common man. PDR pointed out in a statement issued by its media & publicity affairs cell that various organisations had already widely opposed the lessee system as the earlier system of tolls being collected directly by DMC proved more effective. However, it regretted that, much against the public wishes, municipal affairs department went ahead in issuing advertisement inviting bids for leasing out urban tolls and utility fees for DMC in 2017 for 36 commodities on June 24, 2017 to a local daily and the result notified in another daily on July 17,
2017. According to PDR, the lease system clearly was a disadvantage to the DMC as it drastically brought down the amount of tax collection, eventually leading to deficient development for the public. More items were clandestinely leased out in 2018, including MS rod, the rate for which increased manifold after it was leased out, and the department even changed the taxing system from per-vehicle basis to per metric-tonne basis, it alleged. PDR said Hardware Merchants’ Association, Dimapur District had every right to oppose the lease system as it had increased tax on MS rod astronomically. Any government policy must be framed keeping in mind the welfare of the public. However, the lease system was outright against the wishes and welfare of the people and directly affecting them, the statement stressed. Mentioning that no
government department or policy maker should initiate steps to benefit at the cost of the public, the organisation said it saw no reason why the items had to be leased out when the new system had clearly brought down the revenue collection. Moreover, DMC had hundreds of employees who could be assigned for toll tax collection and if at all there was shortage of manpower, then the council could rope in services of hundreds of educated unemployed youth to collect tax by paying them lump sum or on a daily basis and provide a part time job/ income, it added. As the lease system was very much against the wishes of the public, who were now carrying an extra burden, PDR demanded that the municipal affairs department should immediately revoke and cancel the order on tolls and taxes in respect of DMC. The organ-
isation said it was working on disclosing irregular appointments made in DMC and other irregularities in the council to place them in public domain. Demand for removing LMCP department’s head: Meanwhile, since Nagaland State Vigilance Commission had already started investigating into the irregularities in Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (LMCP) department, PDR demanded that the current head of the department be relieved of all responsibilities and sent on leave for a fair probe. Stating that it was also digging more into the issue, the organisation alleged that a certain officer in LMCP department had been meeting influential persons and those in power for reasons clearly understood. PDR cautioned the officer to stop any sort of lobby, lest he and those whom he was meeting were exposed.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, Dimapur PWD (R&B) executive engineer Talitemsu Jamir disclosed that digging for an abutment (supporting column) for the new underconstruction bridge had loosened the soil. This coupled with rain for the past few days had pulled down the earth at the North Western end of Nagarjan Bridge, resulting in the crack. While the crack appeared on the approach road, the bridge itself was not affected. Motorists were still plying along the road despite the potential danger posed. Meanwhile, Talitemsu and representatives of Dimapur district administra-
tion visited the site and decided to close the bridge for all traffic movement, in consultation with DC Dimapur Sushil Kumar Patel and police commissioner Limasunep Jamir, for commuter safety. Notifications to this effect were later also issued by PRO of Dimapur Police and DC office. Police barricades were erected in the evening to prevent vehicles from using the road stretch. However pedestrians were allowed to walk across. When asked if there was any likelihood of the bridge being re-opened for vehicles after damage assessment, Talitemsu said it was
unlikely. He explained that it was because vibrations from vehicles could make matters worse. However, he did not rule out the possibility of repair works on the area once the abutment was raised to a certain height. It may be added, that with the closure of Nagarjan bridge and the dismantling of the British made Bailey Bridge over Dhansiri river connecting Purana Bazar and New Circuit House/ Walford colony, the only remaining bridge is the new Dhansiri bridge near Burma Camp area. This has caused mounting traffic problem for Dimapur city during the past year.
AFRAU threatens to stop protecting Amur falcons
Day 10 of MRVC: 2.49 lakh children vaccinated in state
such AFRAU Pangti held a general meeting on October 7 and thoroughly deliberated the long pending issue of non-implementation of the project even after the lapse of three seasons. In the meeting, the union (landowners) resolved not to continue protection activities or cooperate with the “distinguish visitors” if the Government failed to fulfil their demand in order to facilitate tourist visits and for the welfare of Pangti village. The union also warned that failing to comply with its demand and denying it a timely reply will result in the union taking its own course of action. Any unpleasant situation that may arise during the bird season shall be the sole responsibility of the concerned department, warned the release.
DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (NPN): Health & Family Welfare department Sunday reported that the state was able vaccinate 2,49,577 children against the deadly measles and rubella diseases and achieved 53.18% coverage on the 10th day of Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign (MRVC). As per reports received as on October 12, the department said it has covered a total of 2,374 schools and carried out 659 outreach sessions all over Nagaland. The department has expressed gratitude to the administration, districts officials and front line health workers at all levels for their tireless efforts. It also thanked all schools, village councils, civil organizations and public for their trust and co-operation to carry out a successful campaign.
DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (NPN): Amur Falcon Roosting Area Union (AFRAU), Pangti, has warned that it will stop protecting Amur falcons and cooperating with the “distinguished visitors” if its demand is not met. Airing its grievances, AFRAU president N Thungbemo Shitiri, in a press release stated that the union had submitted a representation on September 10 regarding the non implementation of road connectivity to tourist spot (Amur Falcon Observation Area), under Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2016, and issuing work order to a local deserving tender submission, to execute the work before the arrival of the birds i.e the second week of October. Shitiri claimed that even after repeated pleas, the concerned department failed to act on the issue. As
NVCO demands end to taxes collected by urban bodies, police DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (NPN): Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has asked the State government to stop the toll tax being collected by municipal and town councils, besides illegal collection of cash at check-gates and highways in Nagaland. In a release issued by its press & media cell, the organisation stressed that as a welfare State, the government was responsible for maintaining reasonable prices on goods and services. However, it lamented that prices were always on the rise, affecting common man. NVCO held collection of money at the check-gates and on highways, including toll tax collected by the municipal and town councils, illegal collection of cash by police, public organisations and federations, groups,
organisations and unions on goods carriers as the root causes of price rise in the State as traders realise these cash collections from their hapless customers. NVCO President Kezhokhoto Savi alleged that, despite the State government’s ban on collection of money at the check-gates and highways and Gauhati High Court disallowing associations, organisations, federations and unions from collecting money on the highways, several organisations, groups and federations, besides Nagaland Police personnel, were still collecting money. The organisation demanded that money collection at the check-gates and highways on goods carriers across the State should be stopped under Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, pointing out
that several States, including in the Northeast like Meghalaya, had already denotified all taxation check-gates to allow movement of goods across the country under the new tax regime. It pointed out that GST covered everything. It further said that it was shocked to learn about Dimapur Municipal Council’s (DMC) toll tax collection, as highlighted by Dimapur Hardware Merchants’ Association. The association had pointed out that earlier, the entry tax per vehicle for MS rod was Rs 350 for 6-wheeler vehicle and Rs 450 for 12-wheeler vehicle. But after the toll tax was leased out, the collection had shot up to Rs 50 per metric tonne (MT), instead of per-vehicle basis, since October1. (Cont’d on p-5) K Y M C