1st October 2013

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The Morung Express

Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 269

www.morungexpress.com

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reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 12 pages Rs. 4

Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change Manmohan drove home to Pakistan: Dialogue contingent on cross-border peace

Sandra Bullock vows to quit acting for son

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Accused stands trial for 2011 Kirha rape-murder DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 30 (MExN): The accused in the July 2011 rape and murder of a 21 year-old woman at Kirha village, Dimapur faced trial on Monday at the sessions court, Dimapur. The defendant, Bekuto alias Beto Zhimomi was arrested by the police a month after the incident occurred. During the hearing on September 30, the prosecution witness was crossexamined. Two more witnesses will be examined on November 1, it was learnt.

VIP Security: Kaito admits cooperation

DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 30 (MExN): Nagaland Home Minister, G Kaito Aye has acknowledged the state’s Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Advisors, Chairmen and MLAs for their co operation in the release of security personnel, pilot/escort vehicles attached to them. The Home Minister in a press note further acknowledged “the concerns shown by various high profile officials in the State that they had voluntarily released their security personnel/vehicles attached to them.” He expressed confidence that the detached security personnel and vehicles can be used for the maintenance of law and order in the State.

NFHRCC to survey Western Sumi sector

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DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 30 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothill Road Co Ordination Committee along with the Nagaland state PWD (Roads & Bridges) is scheduled to survey the Nagaland Foothills Road in the Niuland area under the Western Sumi sector on October 2. A press note from the Convener and General Secretary of the NFHRCC informed that this decision was resolved on September 28. The NFHRCC has directed all committee members and requested all leaders of Western Sumi Hoho, Kyong Lotha Hoho and ASTD to accompany the committee along with the departmental official and to assemble at 6:30 am at the NGHRCC Treasurers, Yashitsungba Aier’s residence in Kher Mohul, Dimapur. It added that the team will then proceed at 7:00 am towards Governor’s camp Doyang river.

–Muhammad Ali

Ecotourism workshop at Yuvraj Mopungchuket Village underway returns to Indian [ PAGE 02] squad Syria: Amid rare unity, [ PAGE 12 ] UNSC mulls action

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lalu Prasad is held All govt tax transactions go online from october 1 guilty in fodder scam Morung Express news

Inverters are very expensive so I bought lamps instead!

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RANchI, SEP 30 (IANS) Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and 44 others were Monday convicted for illegal withdrawal of millions of rupees from the animal husbandry department in Bihar, in what is popularly known as the fodder scam, by a CBI special court here. The former Bihar chief minister faces a maximum punishment of a life term as he was convicted for offences of criminal breach of trust, forgery, cheating and conspiracy, among other charges, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the 1996 case. The quantum of sentence against Lalu Prasad and 37 convicts will be announced Oct 3. Eight convicts were sentenced Monday itself. “Special Judge Pravas Kumar Singh found all the 45 accused guilty,” a CBI lawyer told reporters. Those convicted by the trial judge included former chief minister Jagannath Mishra of the Congress and Janata Dal-United MP Jagdish Sharma, for fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.377 million from Chaibasa district treasury. After the division of Bihar in 2000, Chaibasa district is now in Jharkhand. Some of the fodder scam cases were transferred to the new state for trial. The court gave eight convicts

• Lalu sent to Birsa Munda Central Jail • Sentence to be announced on October 3

Indian politician and Rashtriya Janata Dal party chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav, center, arrives at a special court held by Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI, for a verdict in the 15-year-old “fodder scam” case, in Ranchi on Sept. 30. (AP Photo)

three years imprisonment and slapped fines ranging from Rs.50,000 to Rs.5 million on them. They included former Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Dhruv Bhagat and former secretary of animal husbandry department K. Arumugam. After the day’s proceedings, Lalu Prasad was sent to Birsa Munda central jail in Ranchi. Lalu Prasad’s eldest son Tejsavi told reporters that the judgment would

be challenged in a higher court. Lalu Prasad reached Ranchi Sunday along with Tejasvi by a plane and stayed in the railway guest house. On way to court in the morning, the former Bihar chief minister offered prayers at the Durga temple on Ranchi’s Ratu Road. RJD leaders, including Lok Sabha member Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Prabhunath Singh and Lalu’s brother-in-law Sadhu

Petrol price cut by Rs 3.05, diesel to cost 50 paise more

against the rupee. In a parallel move, diesel price was hiked by 50 paise, excluding VAT, in line with the January decision of the government allowing oil companies freedom to raise prices in small doses every month to wipe out mounting losses. Today’s hike in the ninth since the January 17 and most of the losses on diesel sales should have been wiped out by now to make the fuel market priced. But the fall in rupee, around 25 per cent since April, has worsened the situation.

Yadav, were present in the courtroom when the judgment was pronounced. The verdict is crucial for Lalu Prasad and his political future since the central government ordinance that would have shielded convicted parliamentarians and legislators from disqualification may be withdrawn after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi trashed it. Related news on page 8

From October 1, the Department of Taxes of the Government of Nagaland will make all its services available online. All statutory forms will now be mandatorily issued through the internet via its website www.nagalandtax.nic.in. In collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Karnataka, the Department has developed a web-based application software termed ‘Taxsoft’ in order to provide various e-services to the taxpayers and citizens of Nagaland State. E-services available include registration, returns, electronic payment, refunds, check post operations, audit and assessment, issuance of statutory forms, transfer and cancellation of registration, declaration by dealers of their purchases and sales, declaration by dealers of their TDS deductions and way bills. While these services have been available to taxpayers since 2011, the option for manual procedures (offline issuance of Statutory Forms) will no longer be available from October 1, 2013. According to an official from the Department, the new system aims to

bring more transparency in tax transactions, as well as curb malpractices from both sides, i.e., the government and the dealer. As per the Department of Taxes records, since 2011, the e-services have been able to attract tax payments to the tune of Rs. 55.29 crores. The system cuts the amount of time spent by the dealer to pay taxes through the treasury, banks and the Department from 2-3 days to 5 minutes through their online account. However, the only authorized bank through which online payments can be made is the State Bank of India. Dealers and assessee can avail these e-services by obtaining a User ID and Password from their respective district/ward Superintendent of Taxes, after whose approval the dealers can directly get online forms printed from their account. The issuance of forms like C, F etc. will be facilitated by the ‘e-CST module’ under ‘Taxsoft’ through which dealers can request for online statutory forms, making use of their User IDs provided by the Department. This system has been developed by a team of NIC, Karnataka, in a way as to incorporate manual/ offline forms issued as well, where dealers had the facility to enter ‘interstate transaction details’ into the

system, thereby facilitating the Department to capture information on each transaction. The system has a facility of forms verification. Citizens/dealers can use this facility by clicking the link “FORM VERIFICATION” from the Department’s website home page and verify the genuineness of the forms issued online. While the Department of Taxes has conducted workshops in September to acquaint nearly 2000 dealers from the State with this “user friendly” online system, many dealers have raised apprehensions about the same and confusions remain. Uneasiness with using computers and the internet have been expressed by some of the dealers, not to mention the state of the internet and electricity in the State. To get around this, the Department has authorized nine Dealer Facilitation Centres in Dimapur (4), Kohima (3), Wokha (1) and Mon (1) to support taxpayers to avail e-services at a “nominal fee.” The Department of Information Technology will also aid the process with its 63 Common Service Centres that have been set up across Nagaland State to provide “various government-tocitizens services and government-to-businesses services.”

personnel did not check the power lines immediately, which left residents in the dark for the night. However, the exact cause for the blackout is not known as the power department could not be contacted. On Friday morning, the adjoining Changkikong and Japukong ranges were also affected. Power supply to Mangkolemba town was restored by Sunday evening; however Japfukong range is still reeling under darkness. The resident disclosed

that she had called the Junior Engineer (Power) incharge of the area to complain about the extended blackout out. “Whenever I call him (JE), he always replies the he will send them (department personnel) as soon as possible. But, the action seldom happens. He has not told me what the problem is,” she stated. There has been no official intimation by the power department till date for the reason of the blackout. Meanwhile, the people

are finding it extremely difficult to live without power supply. It was also informed that the citizens who cannot afford inverters have been chargingtheirmobilephones during the church services, as the generator is switched on during the service. “In Japukong area it’s normal for the supply to get disrupted for two-three days in a week. But blackout for five days and with no news of power being restored is really frustrating,” a resident of Longchem town lamented.

two could not spell the given words. When Mhayani’s turn came, she was asked to spell ‘Hierarchical,’ which she spelled correctly. “I was lucky because I got the spellings which I knew.” she says. The fourth child in the family of five, Mhayani hails from Wokha where her family resides. Her father is a State District Educational Officer (SDEO) at Bhandari and her mother is a teacher in a Government High School in Wokha. With the prize money, Mhayani has donated Rs. 10,000 to the student welfare fund in her school, paid her school fees, gave her tithe in the church and the rest she has deposited in her bank account. Mhayani feels that there is nothing that beats hard work but ultimately God should be in the picture. “Everything is possible if you try your best. Give your best but you should not forget God.” says Mhayani.

DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 30 (MExN): More than two months into the trial proceedings of the 2004 Dimapur twin blasts, three of the nine defendants named in the case sought acquittal from the charges filed against them. Appearing before the Sessions judge, Dimapur on September 30, the defendants, namely – Ranas Ali, Abdul Kalam and Shajan Ali sought discharge on grounds of alibi. According to the pleas of alibi, submitted by Ranas Ali and Abdul Kalam, the duo was not in Dimapur when the blasts occurred. They stated that they were both serving prison time in Diphu jail at the time. In the case of Shajan Ali, he stated that he was admitted at the district hospital, Dimapur when the blasts took place. Their pleas were however struck down by the judge under the conditions stat-

ed in section 34 (common intention) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal code. Shajan Ali and Abdul Kalam, according to charge filed by the police, were part of the group which planted the first bomb at the Dimapur Railway Station. Ranas Ali was charged of being part of the second group which planted the second bomb at Hongkong Market. It was further learnt that two separate charges were filed against the two groups as the places of occurrence fell within the jurisdiction of two police stations. The charges were however clubbed and considered as one as per the conditions stated in section 219 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The next hearing is scheduled on October 29. The judge fixed October 29 as the next date of hearing wherein statements of witnesses will be recorded.

Dimapur | September 30

fuel Price see-saw Five-day blackout in Japukong range

NEw DElhI, SEPTEMBER 30 (PTI): Petrol price was on Monday cut by Rs 3.05 per litre, the first reduction in rates in over five months and the steepest in over five years, while diesel prices were raised by 50 paise a litre. The price changes announced by oil companies are excluding local sales tax or VAT and will be effective midnight tonight. While petrol price cut has been made possible because of appreciation in rupee value against US dollar, diesel

rates are being hiked as per the practice of increase in rates by small monthly doses to cover losses. Since June petrol prices have been raised seven times, totalling Rs 10.80 per litre, excluding VAT as the rupee depreciated sharply

Morung Express news

Mokokchung | September 30

Residents of Japukong range under Mokokchung district are going through a hard time due to power failure since the morning of September 26, Thursday. One resident at Longchem EAC Hq disclosed that heavy rainfall for hours on September 26 was followed by the inevitable stoppage of power supply (A recurring trait in Nagaland). She informed that power department

World is ‘not ready’ Mhayani Murry: Spelling her way to victory 2004 Dimapur twin blasts: Three defendants submit pleas of alibi for aging population Vibi Yhokha

Kohima | September 30

Kristen Gelineau Associated Press

The world is aging so fast that most countries are not prepared to support their swelling numbers of elderly people, according to a global study going out Tuesday by the United Nations and an elder rights group. The report ranks the social and economic well-being of elders in 91 countries, with Sweden coming out on top and Afghanistan at the bottom. It reflects what advocates for the old have been warning, with increasing urgency, for years: Nations are simply not working quickly enough to cope with a population graying faster than ever before. By the year 2050, for the first time in history, seniors over the age of 60 will outnumber children under the age of 15. Truong Tien Thao, who runs a small tea shop on the

sidewalk near his home in Hanoi, Vietnam, is 65 and acutely aware that he, like millions of others, is plunging into old age without a safety net. He wishes he could retire, but he and his 61-year-old wife depend on the $50 a month they earn from the tea shop. And so every day, Thao rises early to open the stall at 6 a.m. and works until 2 p.m., when his wife takes over until closing. Thao’s story reflects a key point in the report, which was released early to The Associated Press: Aging is an issue across the world. Perhaps surprisingly, the report shows that the fastest aging countries are developing ones, such as Jordan, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Vietnam, where the number of older people will more than triple by 2050. All ranked in the bottom half of the index.

Entourage, Confetti and Hierarchical were the three final words that made Mhayani Murry the winner of the 2nd Spelling Bee Competition in Nagaland. She walked away with a prize of Rs.50, 000 – one of the most coveted prizes for students in Nagaland. “I didn’t expect to win. I am still wondering. There were really smart competitors out there. I guess I just got lucky,” says seventeen year-old Mhayani who prepared for the Spelling Bee Competition for three weeks using an Oxford Dictionary. Mhayani who is currently studying in the 12th standard in Science stream at Model Higher Secondary School Kohima heard about the competition from her Vice Principal, where she was selected in a trial. “I used most of my free time reading the dictionary.

I took it to class and would read it in between classes.” she further adds. Mhayani had mixed feelings about the competition. It was both tough and easy for her. In the first round, they had to spell

Mhayani Murry

seven words, where she was able to spell four words. In the last three rounds, they had to spell one word each. In the final round, there were only three participants left and Mhayani was the last one in the serial number. The first

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