October 2, 2018

Page 1

Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00

www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVIII No. 297

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018 Pages 16 ` 5.00

HC ends house arrest of rights activist Navlakha

ISL 5: NE United salvage a point against FC Goa

French photographer in Nobel scandal jailed for rape

national, Page 12

sports, Page 16

international, Page 9

Centre on alert after exodus of Rohingyas

G U WA H AT I , O C T 1 (AGENCIES): An alert has been sounded by the Railway Police Force over mass movement of illegal Rohingya from Assam and other North Eastern states to South Indian states using trains originating from the region and West Bengal. As per report published in The Assam Tribune, a communication from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) marked ‘secret’ claimed that a huge number of Rohingya are coming to Kerala by train. The communication dated September 26 was sent from RPF Principal Chief Security Commissioner P Sethu Madhavan to all his divisional commissioners. “All Rohingyas are travelling in groups along with their families… Officers and staff under your control may be sensitized about their movement. If they are found in trains, they may be handed over to the police having jurisdiction for further action. Action taken report may be sent to this office at the earliest for the perusal of the Principal Chief Security Commissioner of the RPF (PCSC),” the communication directed.

According to reports, the railway divisional security commissioners in Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad have reported mass movement of Rohingya from the North East to Kerala through several long-distance trains. The letter has identified 14 trains traversing the Northeast-Kerala route, including Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express, Howrah-Chennai Mail, Shalimar-Thiruvananthapuram Express, Silchar-Thir uvananthapuram Express and Dibrugarh-Chennai Egmore Express, as potential trains to carry suspected Rohingya to Kerala. The 14 trains are known to carry labourers on a daily basis from the NE states, West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar to the southern state in search of work.

States asked to identify Rohingya refugees

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday said the state governments have been asked to identify Rohingya refugees in their regions and collect their biometric details. The Centre will send the biometric reports collected by states to the Myan-

mar government through diplomatic channel for the resolution of the issue, he said. “We have already issued a concerned advisory on this issue. The states have been asked to identify them and collect their biometrics,” Singh told reporters here after the meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council. The Union Home minister chaired the 23rd meeting of the Council to discuss issues related to inter-state relations and security matters, including the Maoist menace. Last month, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that any sovereign nation is free to take action against illegal migrants. He said that the issue of deportation of Rohingyas for India is not a matter of ego and confrontation but of principles. Those who, in the name of human rights, are expressing concern on the rights of others should bother first for the rights of the citizens of India. The citizens of the country have the first right on its resources and not the illegal migrants. Rohingyas are illegal migrants; they are not refugees for which a process is required to be completed, which they never followed.

He said that India is not a signatory to International Laws on Refugees or to the UN Refugee Convention 1951, hence, the question of its violation does not arise. The principle of nonrefoulement would apply to Rohingyas only if, they were given asylum in India. He said that the Government is very clear on the issue and to this effect has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court. The Union Home Minister said the Government of India has extended aid to Bangladesh for the welfare of Rohingyas there. He described both Bangladesh and Myanmar as friendly countries and said that the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi has raised a ray of hope by saying that her country is prepared to take back Rohingyas. He expressed the hope that Myanmar would take some solid steps in this direction at the earliest. Earlier this year, he Centre on Friday urged the Supreme Court not to intervene in the executive decision on deportation of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar and it would not be in national interest for the court to issue a direction to stop their deportation.

SBI halves daily ATM cash withdrawal limit NEW DELHI, OCT 1 (AGENCIES): India’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), has lowered the ATM cash withdrawal limit to Rs 20,000 a day, from Rs 40,000. The lower limit will be effective from October 31. “In view of the increase in the number of complaints received by banks around fraudulent transactions at ATMs and to encourage digital and cashless transactions, it has been decided to decrease the cash withdrawal limits of debit cards issued or being issued on ‘Classic’ and ‘Maestro’ platforms,” said a bank communiqué to offices. Skimmers, as reported in multiple cases in the past decade, steal the PIN for debit cards from unsuspecting customers using hidden cameras and electronic devices. The Classic cards constitute a sizeable chunk of SBI’s card portfolio. Despite the government’s digital push and rise in digital transactions, demand for cash continues to be high and, according to some estimates, it is as high as pre-demonetisation levels. (More on p-8)

State ranks 3rd among NE States in HIV Correspondent

KOHIMA, OCT 1 (NPN): Despite relentless efforts by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), Nagaland Legislators’ Forum for AIDS (NLFA) and other agencies, Nagaland continues to be counted among the top three States in the Northeast with high HIV/AIDS prevalence. As per a recent report, Mizoram tops the list with 2.04% of its population between 15 and 49 years of age being infected with HIV, while Manipur (1.43%) and Nagaland (1.15 %) follow suit. Also, the recent fourmonth survey from April to July this year found an alarming upsurge in HIV positive cases in Dimapur with 399 out of the 7,056 persons tested being found positive. This was followed by Kohima with 108 testing positive and Tuensang with 82 persons testing positive. This was stated by NSACS information, education & communication (IEC) deputy director (DD) Thejangunuo during observation of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day-cum-seminar on HIV/ AIDS sensitisation. Organised jointly by

Th. Muivah Bogus voters of Purana Fuel prices soar; LPG to cost `502.4 per cylinder NPCB notifies on DELHI, OCT 1 at BPCL outlets. ment provides a higher use of firecrackers hospitalized Bazar asked to submit NEW (PTI): Petrol price MonAlso on Monday, do- subsidy. But as per tax DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): proof of residence

Th. Muivah (File) Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): NSCN (I-M) ato kilonser, Th. Muivah was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi on Monday. Highly placed sources informed Nagaland Post that Muivah was brought to the hospital after he complained of “uneasiness”. After examination, sources said that Muivah was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for monitoring. It may be recalled that the NSCN (I-M), after signing the cease-fire agreement with the Centre in 1997, held several rounds of negotiations and talks, after which the group led by 84year old Th. Muivah signed the ‘Framework Agreement’ with the Government of India on August 3, 2015.

This is it!

“Soon we’ll have to use two-wheeler when petrol price crosses Rs.100 per litre.” K Y M C

DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): Chairmen of six colonies and gaon buras (GBs) of Purana Bazar have set a seven-day deadline for all bogus voters under five polling stations to provide proof of their residence, failing which they threatened to strike off their names from the voters’ list. This was decided in a meeting held here, where it was resolved to delete all the migrated and bogus voters from the voters’ list. The meeting asked the bogus voters to submit their proof of residence and voter cards to their respective colony chairman and GBs. The colony chairman and GBs also urged the public of Purana Bazaar to submit all their relevant documents for retaining their names in the electoral roll. This was stated in a press release issued by Purana Bazar GB Niuto Awomi.

day crossed the Rs 91mark in Mumbai while domestic cooking gas LPG rates breached the Rs 500level for the first time ever as oil at four-year high pushed fuel prices to new all-time high across the country. Petrol prices were hiked by 24 paise per litre and diesel by 30 paise, according to price notification of state-owned oil firms. The hike pushed petrol price in Delhi to an alltime high of Rs 83.73 per litre and diesel to Rs 75.09. In Mumbai, petrol now costs Rs 91.08 at Indian Oil Corp (IOC) outlets, Rs 91.15 at Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) pumps and Rs 91.15 at Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) stations. Diesel in Mumbai costs Rs 79.72 per litre at IOC outlets and Rs 79.79

mestic cooking gas (LPG) rates were hiked by Rs 2.89 per 14.2-kg cylinder to Rs 502.40 on account of higher GST applicable on base price, according to oil companies. This is the fifth straight monthly increase in subsidised LPG rates. It was priced at Rs 491.21 in May. All consumers have to buy cooking gas LPG at market price. The government, however, subsidizes 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each per households in a year by providing the subsidy amount directly in bank accounts of users. This subsidy amount varies from month to month, depending on the changes in the average international benchmark LPG rate and foreign exchange rate. When international rates move up, the govern-

Telcos asked to delink Aadhaar-based eKYC NEW DELHI, OCT 1 (PTI): Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Monday asked telecom companies to submit within next 15 days a plan to stop using Aadhaar for customer authentication, days after the Supreme Court imposed curbs on the use of the 12digit unique ID number. A circular to this effect has been issued by the UIDAI to telecom service providers (TSPs), including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and others. The UIDAI circular, seen by PTI, says: “...all TSPs are called upon to immediately take actions in order to comply with the judgement dated 26.09.2018. In this regard, TSPs are hereby directed to submit by 15th October, 2018, an action plan/exit plan to the authority for closure of use of Aadhaar based authentication systems...” Significantly, the UIDAI has also asked all telecom

operators to “take immediate cognizance” of the request for delinking Aadhaar with mobile number as and when such requests are received from subscribers. The authority noted that TSPs may take appropriate action to perform fresh KYC as per the Department of Telecom (DoT) approved list of proof of identity, and proof of address within six months from the date of such request to avoid de-activation of the mobile number. “All TSPs shall immediately notify their customers the facility of delinking their Aadhaar number and the UID token from their database and establish a system to accept and process such requests for delinking,” UIDAI said adding that the “process of delinking” should form a part of the exit plan that has been sought. The Supreme Court, last week, struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act,

which allowed private companies to use the 12-digit biometric ID-based eKYC. Following this, private companies like telecom operators will not be able to use this instantaneous and inexpensive Aadhaar eKYC route. This would mean that the industry will have to revert to alternates like legacy paper-based technique (collect physical paper forms with signature, photographs, ship to verification centre and call up the customer to cross-verify submitted details). The turn around times in this route is between 24-36 hours. When contacted, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said: “In order to ensure smooth discontinuation... there are certain requirements which are there under the Aadhaar regulations... so the companies are in the best position to know what exactly is needed and they can submit their plan by October 15.”

rules, GST on LPG has to be calculated at the market rate of the fuel. The government may choose to subsidize a part of the price but tax will have to be paid at market rates. This has led to increase in price. The price of non-subsidised or market priced LPG in Delhi was hiked by Rs 59.00 per cylinder to Rs 879 mainly due to change in international price and foreign exchange fluctuations. According to IOC, the subsidy transfer in customers’ bank account has been increased to Rs 376.60 per cylinder in October as against Rs 320.49 per cylinder in the previous month. Delhi has the cheapest fuel rates among all metros and most state capitals because of lower taxes.

Ahead of the festive season, the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) has reiterated on the Noise (Regulation and Control of Pollution) Rule, 2000 laid down by the Centre to regulate noise so people were least disturbed. In an official notice, NPCB member secretary, Rusovil John, pointed out that under the said rule firecrackers above 125 decibels were banned besides bursting of crackers from 10pm to 6am was not permitted. In addition to the above rules, the NPCB under Section 31 A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and section 8 of the Noise (Regulation and Control of Pollution) Rule, 2000 has directed that, if there was to be firework, prior permission has to be taken from the concerned (Cont’d on p-12)

NSCN (K): Counter rejoinder to rival group DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): In a counter rejoinder to the rival group’ statement issued by MIP in-charge ‘maj.’ Joseph Lamkang, the NSCN (K) group led by ‘gen.’ (retd) Khango Konyak said that Yonghong led Pangmi sect had “wilfully seceded from NSCN/GPRN and entered into an NCA pact with Myanmar Union, thus forfeiting almost a century old Nagas struggle for sovereign independence.” Therefore, Khango led group through its MIP asserted that Nagas from India in particular cannot serve two masters and there cannot be two parallel NSCN/GPRN in Nagaland. MIP said that since the Myanmar NCA group had sought refuge under the Myanmar juntas, it would be a wastage of resources and unnecessary harassment to entertain them (NCA group) in any form i.e. politically,

morally or materially. “The Nagas under Indian occupation cannot afford to continue to feed the Myanmar NCA group despite the presence of few misguided leaders from Nagaland in their midst,” it added. MIP also alleged that the group has been comfortably pursuing lucrative businesses worth millions in the form of road construction contracts, gold and jade mining, illicit opium trade and other extortion rackets. Terming it as a “hollow claim” that Khango was impeached constitutionally and consented by all the NSCN/ GPRN members MIP said only 36 pangmi workers plotted and appended the impeachment order amid thousands of NSCN/GPRN workers who were completely ignored, uninformed and uninvolved in the conspiracy. (Cont’d on p-12)

NSACS, NLFA, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) and Red Ribbon Club of Kohima College, Kohima (KCK), the programme was held at Kohima College here on Monday. Thejangunuo said as per the HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) survey, Nagaland led the country with high HIV general prevalence rate of 1.29% in 2016 and was third in the adult prevalence rate (0.78%). She said between 1999 and 2018, a total of 1,06,1976 persons had undergone blood screening test, out of which 23,870 persons were found to be HIV positive. Stating that HIV prevalence was high-

est in the 25-34 years agegroup (42%), followed by the age group 35-49 (31%), the DD added that 93% of the cases transmitted was via sexual intercourse. She regretted that though the State government provided Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for free, many people living with HIV (PLHIV) did not avail ART out of stigma and discrimination. Thejangunuo stated that out of 10,61,976 PLHIVs, only 17,161 got registered for ART and 12,042 had started ART. Further, 1,583 patients died despite undergoing ART and 7,646 were alive on ART, she added. (Cont’d on p-12)

CM’s office rebuffs fake news

DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Monday took serious note of a fake message that was being circulated on WhatsApp regarding change in portfolios of ministers. In a press note, CMO media cell said certain unscrupulous and malicious elements were spreading the message with an objective to cause confusion and unnecessary turmoil that could have an adverse effect on the ongoing relief and rehabilitation works as also on the overall law and order situation. In this regard, CMO said an FIR was registered and the matter was being investigated to punish the antisocial elements and criminals. CMO has requested the public not to be misled by such messages and to desist from circulating the same.

DCCI directs shops to carry out cleanness drive

DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): Dimapur chamber of commerce (DCCI) has directed all business establishments and shops to carry out cleanness drive in their homes and business establishments on October 2, from 7-10 a.m. on the occasion of Swachh Bharat Day. In a press note, DCCI president, Akashe Zhimomi, urged all to clean their surroundings and ensure that flower pots and its catchment trays were dried, vessels emptied and clear any and stagnant water in their surroundings. Reminding that public health was prime importance to the business community, DCCI further urged the community to always ensure their surrounding clean and healthy throughout the year.

Governor, CM wish Prez on his birthday

DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya, has extended greetings to the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, on his 73rd birthday which falls on October 1, on behalf of the government and the people of the state. In a message to the President, Acharya said “We value your special concern to the people of North East in general and Nagaland in particular, which will inspire us to work hard, despite small in number.” Governor wished and prayed to Almighty to give long life and continue to lead the Nation to reach great heights in the comity of nations. State chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, also tweeted: “Happy birthday to the Honourable President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind. I wish you good health, prosperity and long life.”

NCSU demands end to table tender

DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) has reiterated its demand for an end to table tender, saying it was a total violation of government standing order. In a press release, NCSU president, Pele Khezhie, and general secretary, John Kath, cautioned all the departments to strictly follow government standing order by inviting open tender in all contract and supply works to avoid legal action. On the other hand, the union has welcomed chief minister’s assurance to float open tender for construction and renovation of all district and sub-division HQ roads in Nagaland. NCSU also strongly supported state government’s proposal to scrutinize contractors while allotting works. Meanwhile, the union has directed all its district units to mobilise evolution duty in their respective district and report the information to head office.

Power outage under Wokha sub-station

DIMAPUR, OCT 1 (NPN): Department of Power has informed that due to locking up of 132/33kV Wokha substation at Niropen Colony on October 1, 2018 at around 5:05pm by some public, there was total shutdown of power supply to the whole of Wokha district, Tseminyu area and Pughoboto area. In a press release, transmission division Kohima executive engineer said department was making an all-out effort to resolve the issue. K Y M C


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