Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 299
DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00
Armenia ready for cease-fire talks
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international, Page 7
Truckers call off economic bandh after govt assurance
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 2 (NPN): In a significant development which has come as a major relief, the indefinite economic bandh called by five truck associations, which began on September 29, was called off on October 2 evening. The decision to call off the economic bandh was made following several assurances reportedly made by Dimapur district administration to the truckers on October 2. Informing this to Nagaland Post, deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan, said that the truck drivers/ owners associations had called off the indefinite economic bandh with effect from Friday evening, in the interest of public welfare and mutual goodwill. Earlier during the day, a meeting between the DC and Dimapur-based unions was held at DC’s
President Trump, first lady test positive for COVID
Trump and Melania
WASHINGTON, OCT 2 (PTI): US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus, a development that is likely to affect his hectic election campaign just weeks before the presidential polls. “ To n i g h t , @ F LO T U S and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” 74-yearold Trump tweeted. In a statement, Trump’s physician Dr. Sean Conley said the president and the first lady “are both well at this time”, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence. “Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering,” Conley added.
This is it!
“Guys, in lockdown we stopped the virus with masks but now with unlock we’re back with pollution problem.” K Y M C
office chamber to deliberate on the matter, after which the Dimapur-based unions held a separate meeting with their Assam counterparts to convey the assurances. The assurances were contained in a letter from DC Dimapur, dated October 2, to the presidents of Dimapur District Truck Owners’ Association, Dimapur Truck Drivers’ Union, Dimapur District Truck Drivers’ Welfare Trade Union and Dimapur Truck Drivers Union. In the letter, the deputy commissioner Dimapur stated that the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur has assured to expedite the investigation into the September 22 murder of a truck driver and bring it to a logical conclusion at the earliest. With regard to the demand for compensation/ ex-gratia, DC said assured that compensation will be paid, provided that the innocence of the victim was unequivocally established
during the course of the investigation. On the issue of DMC lease system, the DC stated that his office was not the competent authority to decide on the matter. He however assured that the issue will be flagged to the government for perusal and further directives. It may be recalled that against the backdrop of the killing of a truck driver (Jiten Gogoi from Assam) on September 22 near IMC Hall in Dimapur, five associations-- DDTOA, D T D U, D D T DW T U, Lahorijan & Khatkhati Truckers’ Welfare Society and Bokajan Truck Owners’ Association had served a 3-day ultimatum on the state government to resolve the various problems faced by truckers in Dimapur. Among the principal demands, the truckers associations demanded an end to the lease system of the Dimapur Municipal Council which they claimed, was the root cause
of “these entire problems” as the lessees (contractors) were alleged to be “actively involved in passing details of goods vehicles to all the miscreants.” The associations had also pointed out that drivers of all goods transport trucks were unwilling to enter Dimapur until their safety and protection was ensured against various miscreants. Further, the associations also said that the “internal conflict of taxation among the so-called transporters/brokers” based in Dimapur had also created fear psychosis among the truckers. They also alleged that the transporters insist that the truckers meet different underground groups and also do not allow truckers to be provided with police escort while entering Dimapur. They had also demanded that the state government provide compensation to the victim’s family.
IPL 2020: SRH outclass CSK by 7 runs
nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial
Diesel price cut, petrol unchanged DIMAPUR, OCT 2 (NPN): State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) lowered the prices of diesel across the country Friday after a twoday pause while petrol rates remained unchanged. Diesel rates have been reduced by 15-18 paise across all major cities. However, petrol rates continue to remain high in major cities as there has been no reduction by OMCs. In New Delhi, the price of diesel has come down by 17 paise and was retailing at Rs 70.46 per litre. After today’s rate revision, diesel price in Dimapur fell to Rs.71.39 per litre while in the state capital the price of diesel decreased to Rs.72.10 per litre. A litre of petrol in Dimapur and Kohima remained at Rs.80.34 and Rs.81.23 respectively. Petrol prices across the have remained static for at least two weeks across major cities and is increasingly becoming a burden for citizens across the country. Currently, OMCs review fuel prices on a daily basis, and implement any changes with effect from 6 a.m. every day.
sports, Page 8
Covid vaccine rollout unlikely before fall 2021, say experts New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI): An effective vaccine is not likely to be available for the general public before the fall of 2021, according to experts working in the field of vaccine development. Researchers at McGill University in Canada carried out a survey of 28 experts working in vaccinology in late June 2020. The majority of those surveyed were mostly Canadian or American academics with an average of 25 years of experience working in the field. “Experts in our survey offered forecasts on vaccine development that were generally less optimistic than the timeline of early 2021 offered by US public officials,” Jonathan Kimmelman, a professor at McGill University, said in a statement. “In general they seem to believe that a publicly available vaccine next summer is the best-case scenario with the possibility that it may take until 2022,” said Kimmelman, the senior author on the paper published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Many experts also believe that there may be some false starts before an effective vaccine is available. “The experts we surveyed believe that there is a one in three chance that the vaccine will receive a safety warning label after approval, and a four in 10 chance that the first large field study will not report efficacy,” added Patrick Kane, the lead author of the paper, a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University. The study also showed that about one-third of those surveyed believe that vaccine development is likely to face two main setbacks.
The first vaccine widely deployed in the US and/ or Canada will receive a boxed warning from the FDA to highlight serious or life-threatening adverse reactions, the researchers said. Also, the first large field trial in the US and/or Canada would report a null or negative result in terms of efficacy, they said. “Our study finds that experts are largely in agreement about the timeline for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine,” said Stephen Broomell, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the US.
Nagaland COVID-19 tally 6318 Ao Senden resolves to Autosrickshaws charge more COVID-19 STATUS AS ON october 2, 2020
District Dimapur Kiphire Kohima Longleng Mokokchung Mon Peren Phek Tuensang Wokha Zunheboto Total
Asymptomatic 673 0 247 1
ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic RecovDeath Critical-ICU ered Mild Moderate On Ventilator 29 2 0 2562 14* 0 0 0 12 0 5 1 0 1721 1 0 0 0 4 0
Death under Investigation
Total Migrated Cases
5 0 0 0
30 0 6 5
3315 12 1981 10
10
0
0
0
42
0
0
0
52
76 0 2 36 1 2 1048
0 0 0 0 0 0 34
0 0 0 0 0 0 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
300 272 33 72 25 118 5161
2 0 0 0 0 0 17
0 0 0 0 0 0 5
6 0 0 0 0 0 50
384 272 35 108 26 123 6318
*5 deaths not due to Covid-19 *5 deaths in under investigation
DIMAPUR, OCT 2 (NPN): A total of 74 COVID-19 positive cases were detected on Friday across the state-- 28 each in Dimapur and Tuensang, 14 in Kohima and 4 in Mokokchung, taking the tally to 6,318. As per the severity of symptoms, 1048 active cases were asymptomatic, 34 mild and 3 moderate cases. Further, out of 6318 positive cases, the distribution across various categories of people include 3025 cases from the armed forces/police, 1505 returnees, 1442 traced contacts and 346 frontline workers.
India’s virus tally nears 64 lakh
PTI Adds: India’s COVID-19 caseload inched closer to 64 lakh-mark with 81,484 infections reported in a day, while the number of people who recuperated from the disease crossed 53 lakh pushing the recovery rate to 83.70 per cent, the Union health ministry said on Friday. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country mounted to 63,94,068, while the death toll climbed to 99,773 with the infection claiming 1,095 lives in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry data updated at 8 am on Friday.
back 14 Naga tribe hohos despite COVID cess withdrawal
DIMAPUR, OCT 2 (NPN): Ao Senden on Friday resolved to back the 14 Naga tribe hohos till the end and also be a part of the system of a common platform, Ao Senden president Chubawati Longchar and secretary Imtipokyim stated. Adopting a resolution in this regard at its Federal Council meeting on October 2, the Senden warned appropriate action would be initiated against any group or individual going against its decision. Ao Senden further warned that if any harm or problem arose to any Ao leader or any individual from the Ao community in relation to the Naga issue, stern action would be taken against the perpetrators. The Federal Council meeting also reaffirmed the previous resolutions adopted by Ao Senden with regard to Naga political solution, which included the demand for an honourable and acceptable solution made to ato kilonser of NSCN/GPRN on August 22, 2015. It reminded that based on the resolution of the Federal Council adopted on September 24, 2019, the Senden together with 14 Naga tribes participated towards peace building with all Naga political groups. Also, as per the December 5, 2019 information, it said no Ao individual or organisation can participate with regard to Naga political issue without the authorisation of Ao Senden and its six range conference. It further re-affirmed the September 14, 2020 notification, warning individual/groups not to take part in Naga political issue without the sanction of Ao Senden.
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 2 (NPN): Despite revocation of the COVID Cess on diesel and petrol, with effect from September 24, autorickshaw fares were yet to be slashed as there were reports of the drivers charging more and as per their whims. When contacted, Dimapur District Auto Drivers’ Union ( D DA D U ) p r e s i d e n t T i t o Yepthomi told Nagaland Post that following receipt of complaints, the union had advised/ requested the drivers to charge “reasonable fares” from passengers. He explained that the fares were increased earlier as prices of petrol spiked following imposition of the COVID cess. When pointed out that the drivers continue to charge more even after withdrawal of the cess, Yepthomi said DDADU was waiting for the administration to issue a directive on the rate of
fares so that they could follow it up accordingly with the drivers. The deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur Rajesh Soundararajan told this reporter that the temporary hike of auto fares was caused due to COVID-related standard operating procedure (SOP) under which the drivers were not allowed to carry many passengers. “In order to overcome their loss, they hiked the fare. But they should not over-charge their passengers,” DC stressed. Mentioning that the administration was waiting for the new SOP, the DC assured that if there was any relaxation on passenger fares then the fares of taxis and autos would be reviewed. As per the Consolidated Guidelines for Unlock 4 issued by the State government on August 31, auto rickshaws have been allowed to ply with certain restrictions on the number of passengers they could carry for ensuring social distancing.
NSF, ENSF to launch first phase of agitation from Oct 12 RNPC urges GoI to consider demand Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCT 2 (NPN): Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) have decided to hold its first phase of agitation from October 12, as the two organizations expressed dismay over the response of the state government with regard to its ultimatum on streamlining of SSA & RMSA teachers. Informing this at a press conference here on Friday, NSF president Ninoto Awomi said both the associations unanimously decided to go for agitation as they were not satisfied with the response given by the state government, adding that details about the kind of agitation would be known in due course of time. He said that it has been more than two years and four months since an agreement was signed between the School Education department
NSF and ENSF officer bearers during the meeting, Friday. (NP)
and Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (NSSATA), NSF and ENSF on June 12, 2018. Awomi said the agreement stated that the department would rectify the nature of appointment of SSA teachers of 2010 and 2013 batches based on appointment order, RTI reports and advertisement and other relevant documents. Subsequently, he said the cabinet meeting on October 3, 2018 decided in
principle to bring the teachers of all 2010 and 2013 batches of SSA and RMSA teachers into the mainstream of school education cadre as per the office memorandum issued by the cabinet’s secretariat on October 5, 2018. However, the NSF president regretted that despite several reminders and appeals, the agreement has not been implemented till date. Claiming that the agitation was supported by feder-
ating units, he said the joint ultimatum was issued for the first time by the two associations. ENSF president Sepili L Sangtam, who too was present, alleged that the government’s letter on September 23 in response to their ultimatum was a delay tactic in fulfilling their demands. Mentioning that the associations had given enough time to the government, he said both NSF and ENSF were not happy at the agreement having not been implemented. Prior to signing of the agreement, Sangtam said the SSA and RMSA teachers had held agitations at the State secretariat and directorate. And after the agreement was signed, he said meetings were held with the principal secretary and that the teachers were sending reminder letters too in this regard.
for separate Naga flag, constitution
DIMAPUR, OCT 2 (NPN): Rengma Naga People’s Council (RNPC) said Government of India (GoI) must seriously consider the demand for separate Naga flag and constitution, if it really wanted to end the almost century-old Naga political issue. In a statement issued by its president K Solomon and media cell secretary Aga Rengma, the council explained that while it appreciated GoI for understanding and acceptance Nagas’ unique history and their right to self-determination, it was also imperative for New Delhi to know that without separate flag and constitution any solution within the Indian constitution would not be considered acceptable, honourable or final. RNPC thanked both GoI and NSCN (I-M) along with all the NNPGs, Naga civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals who are pursuing the common goal of a peaceful, lasting and mutually acceptable solution. Noting that the Naga movement (Cont’d on p-8) for self-determination was one of the
longest struggles for freedom that also resulted in the longest ceasefire between India and Nagas, the council prayed that the same peace be continued forever through a final solution. The council further appealed to all negotiating parties with GoI to use God’s given wisdom in inking the final solution, adding the Rengma Nagas of Assam stood with rest of the Nagas, CSOs, NSCN (I-M) and NNPGs for an inclusive and honourable solution to the protracted Naga issue. Like any other Naga tribe irrespective of artificial boundaries, the Rengma Nagas too cherish the common aspirations of “our forbearers” and pray for achieving the same in peace and with honour, the statement pointed out. Calling for avoiding repeating “past history” like the Shillong Accord that resulted in the current situation, RNPC said it was praying and waiting hopefully for a peaceful and mutually accepted solution along with all the other Nagas. K Y M C