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Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 224
The Morung Express “
www.morungexpress.com
Sunday, August 18, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both
Top terrorist, bomb-maker Abdul Karim Tunda held [ PAGE 08]
‘Marriage would ruin my relationship’ [ PAGE 11]
Immanuel College conducts Gospel prog
PM rules out repeat of ‘1991 economic crisis’
I am going to church. Today’s my turn to lead the praise and worship.
GPRN/NSCN responds to NSCN (K)
Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): The Mangmetong Senso, Dimapur (DMST) has condemned the “extortion note” served to one of its members, M. Longri Pongen, by some “unidentified persons for a sum of Rs. 1,00,00,000 (Rupees one crore).” The DMST President and General Secretary in a press statement informed that the “miscreants” have threatened to “eliminate” Pongen and his family if he “fails to bow to their demand.” The Senso stated that it feels “aggrieved and insulted” for the “inhuman and uncivilized” threat rendered to one of its members. Further, the DMST has called upon authorities to take “sincere and timely action” against the “criminals” and appealed to all “societies and individuals” to condemn and stand against “such elements” in society.
4 cups of coffee a day can shorten lifespan
WasHiNgtON, august 17 (pti): Drinking four cups of coffee a day may endanger health in under-55s, a large study on over 40,000 individuals has claimed. Scientists have found a greater than 50% increased mortality risk in both men and women younger than 55 years of age who drank more than 28 cups of coffee a week. The study of more than 40,000 individuals suggests that younger people in particular may need to avoid heavy coffee consumption. A multicentre research team investigated the effect of coffee consumption on death from all causes and deaths from cardiovascular disease in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study cohort, with an average follow-up period of 16 years and a relatively large sample size of over 40,000 men and women.
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[ PAGE 12]
[ PAGE 09]
By Sandemo Ngullie
DMST condemns extortion note
”
–Dwight D. Eisenhower
Britain’s Farah wins world men’s [ PAGE 02] 5,000m Forces clear protestors gold from Cairo’s al-Fath mosque
reflections
Full text on page 4
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A stranded family walk towards their village as trucks stand after Bodo protesters blocked a highway during a 100hour long agitation to demand for a separate state of Bodoland, Assam, on Friday. The endorsement of Telangana has spurred activists to call for other long-standing demands for separate states to be met. (AP Photo)
July 4 murder: Police await DNA analysis
Dimapur, august 17 (mExN): It has been over a month since the murder on July 4 created shockwaves. A woman was found murdered at Landmark Colony in Dimapur, with her throat slit and a stick inserted into her vagina. After investigation, three suspects were initially detained, which was followed by the arrest of the main accused, barely two days after the news of the murder reverberated around the state. After the initial emotional public outcry over the murder, people’s curiosity on the progress of the investigation seems
to have died down but the case is still alive. While the Special Investigation Team set up to probe the murder is collecting evidence, the fate of the main accused, Rikumkaba Pongen and the three suspects – T. Yapang, Samarenba and Santosh Nath— hangs in the balance of the justice system. The three suspects remain in judicial custody after their unsuccessful bail bid while the main accused is also under judicial custody after the 15-day police remand. The possible involvement of the three suspects in the crime remains vague.
The DNA analysis is likely to determine their fate. Police said that blood samples of the three suspects and the main accused were collected and sent for DNA analysis along with the tissue (hair and genital swab) samples of the deceased victim. The analysis report is likely to take no less than two months to reach here, the police said. The blood samples were sent to an undisclosed forensic laboratory a few days after the arrest of the main accused. The police chose not to disclose the location of the laboratory citing “chances of manipulation.”
It is reported to be the first instance in the history of the Nagaland Police wherein investigators has resorted to taking DNA examination in crime investigation. Further, finger-print analysis of the suspected murder weapon (a machete/dao) is yet to reach the investigators. The machete was found at the crime scene. The police doubt it will hold any conclusive evidence citing it would in all likelihood have many overlapping prints since it was believed to be an everyday kitchen implement.
NEW DElHi, august 17 (agENciEs): The Voter Verifiable Paper Trail (VVPAT) system will be used on trial basis for the first time in the Nagaland bye-elections to be held on September 4. The VVPAT system is a new initiative of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections. The VVPAT unit prints a ballot slip containing the serial number and symbol of the candidate when a vote is cast using the Electronic Voter Machine (EVM). The ballot slip is visible to the voter for about five seconds behind a ballot slip viewing window. After this, the ballot slip is cut and it falls into a compartment. In case there is a dispute about the voting and a petition is filed, the votes can be tallied electronically and physically with the ballot slips that fall into the compartment.
VVPAT to be used on trial basis during bye-elections on September 4
Electronic Ltd and Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL), is estimated at about Rs 12,000. To allow its use in the bye-election, the Conduct of Elections Rules were amended and notified by the Election Commission on Friday.
Vibi Yhokha
NEW DElHi, august 17 (aFp): India’s premier ruled out Saturday any suggestion the country could suffer a repeat of its 1991 balance-of-payments crisis as it grapples with a plunging rupee and a huge trade gap. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke a day after India’s currency hit a new low of 62.03 rupees to the dollar and stocks posted their sharpest singleday fall in nearly two years. Singh was finance minister in 1991 and was credited with overcoming the deep economic crisis. “There is no question of going back to the 1991 crisis,” Singh told reporters in New Delhi in televised remarks at a book launch. In 1991, hard currency reserves had sunk so low that India was on the brink of defaulting on its foreign loans. Singh said the country only had foreign exchange reserves for 15 days in 1991. “Now we have reserves of six to seven months. So there is no comparison. And no question of going back to the 1991 crisis,” he said. India still has painful memories of 1991, when New Delhi had to pledge its gold reserves with the International Monetary Fund to fund its debt. To get India out of its economic morass, Singh unleashed sweeping change, beginning the process of abolishing what was
“The time has come to look at the possibilities and limitations of the monetary policy in a globalised economy” known as the “licence raj”, a system of economic management ruled by government monopolies, quotas and permits that dictated what firms could make. Since June 1 this year, overseas funds have pulled out a combined $11.58 billion in equities and debt from India’s markets over concerns about a sharply slowing economy, regulatory data shows. To curb the rupee’s fall, Indian policymakers have pushed up short-term interest rates and announced plans to allow state firms to raise funds abroad and curb gold imports. Earlier this week, the central bank also tightened controls on the amount of money local firms and individuals can send abroad. Asked about the record current account deficit -- the broadest measure of trade -- Singh acknowledged the problem and said gold imports needed to be further curbed. Gold is the second-largest contributor to the current account deficit after oil. “We seem to be investing a lot in unproductive
assets,” he noted. Gold is hugely popular in India, especially during religious festivals and wedding seasons, and is also bought as a hedge against inflation. India’s woes have been exacerbated by signals the US could soon slow its stimulus drive that prompted big investment flows to emerging markets, and homegrown graft scandals that have virtually paralysed government policymaking. Singh added that he hoped for “fresh thinking” at the central bank when its new governor Raghuram Rajan takes over in September. “The time has come to look at the possibilities and limitations of the monetary policy in a globalised economy,” he said. India’s finance ministry is reported to regard the current central bank leadership as overly conservative in its focus on inflation at the expense of economic growth. Rajan is a former International Monetary Fund chief economist and is famed for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis. Related story on page 8
New voting system to debut in Nagaland A special kind of teacher
At present, EVMs are used Scaling up for voting and counting is Election Commission based on the results in the sources said depending machines. on feedback from the electorate, including whether Physical verification the use of VVPAT helped In comparison, the increase trust in the elecVVPAT will print a voter’s tions, and how friendly its selection, thus also allow- use was, a decision would ing for physical verification be taken on whether it of the vote. 42 VVPAT – one should be “gradually exwhich will be in use and an- panded in a graded and other as a stand-by – will be phased manner” throughused in the 21 election sta- out the country. Using tions during the Septem- VVPAT throughout the ber 4 bye-election. All the country will require a lead 12,000 registered voters time for manufacturing in the constituency will be enough machines and an able to use the system. expenditure, which could The cost of each VVPAT, be in the range of Rs 2,000manufactured by Bharat 3,000 crore.
Kohima | August 17
“Why are we special?” asked Sedevinuo, a differentlyabled student to her teacher Seli Tucker. Unprepared for this question and taken aback, Seli felt poignant about her special students, but told her, “Because you are extra special and you have special abilities.” Then, Sedevinuo clapped happily. Seli Tucker and Naomi Domeh are special education teachers from Cherry Blossoms School, Kohima. Naomi Domeh is a teacher of a special kind. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the tender age of one. Now 24, she is teaching differently-abled students with Cerebral Palsy, Down’s syndrome, Intellectual disability and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). She covers almost all subjects with her specialty in Hindi. “It is challenging and at the same time encouraging. I just want them to learn
Naomi Domeh (left) and Seli Tucker (right)
and also teach them how to interact and adjust with others,” says Naomi. Naomi grew up and studied in Senapati. In school, she was the only differently-abled student. According to her, the community where she grew up was a positive and friendly environment unlike a lot of other societies, where differently-abled people are often ostracized. After completing her HSSLC she came to Kohima in 2006 where she started giving tuitions to neighboring kids. Although teaching was never on her cards, she
joined Cherry Blossoms School two years back and also undertook Early Intervention trainings and says she has grown to love this profession and will continue teaching in the future. Teaching kids with special needs is tedious and requires a lot of multitasking because each child has different capabilities and needs. “We do not just teach them books but we help them to adjust with the society. We try to understand their different needs and capabilities and teach them accordingly.
But we have to learn from them first.” says Seli. Being a special education teacher, they often have to deal with parents too and though a lot of parents cooperate, there are still more who often take positive corrections negatively. “If we keep our special kids at home, they will not learn anything. Some parents do not want to admit that something is wrong with the child. We cannot make them normal but at the least we try to help them to adjust to their society” adds Seli. Seli Tucker has been in the teaching profession for almost 11 years but teaching special kids has been a recent milestone. When asked about her experiences teaching kids with special needs she said, “It is challenging and tiresome and in the beginning I almost felt like giving up but when parents come and tell you that their kids are improving, it is so encouraging. I go home and I thank God every night for this life.”
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