C M Y K
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thursDAY • JAnuArY 07 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 5 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
The only way to enjoy anything in this life is to earn it first N Korea claims successful H-bomb test
By Sandemo Ngullie
o F
T R u T H
— Ginger Rogers
‘Nagas should unite for economic development’
PAGE 09
reflections
P o W e R
Williams’ buzzer-beater lifts Mavs in 2OT
PAGE 02
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Massive earthquake May hit northeast
• Call for compliance with building codes can animals actually predict natural calamities? • Enhanced preparedness required for A goose in Dimapur may have actually anticipated the January 4 earthquake while reinforcing the claim effective response to earthquakes that animals can actually sense or detect changes in • Recent tectonic shifts put NE at risk the Earth.
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2 arrested for Jan 1 murder JaLuKIE, JaNuary 6 (mExN): Peren Police have arrested two juveniles in relation to the January 1, 2016 murder of a 67 year old widow at her home in Jalukie. A press note from the Superintendent of Police, Peren, informed that police apprehended the prime accused, a juvenile of 14 years and his accomplice, also a juvenile of 13 years from Jalukie Town on January 4. “Based on circumstantial evidences and statements of witnesses the two accused juveniles were apprehended for questioning and in course of investigation the prime accused confessed to the crime,” the police informed. It further stated that the weapon used for the crime was recovered and seized from the place of occurrence. The motive of the murder is suspected to be robbery, police added. Both the accused juveniles have been forwarded to the Juvenile Justice Board and further investigation is in progress.
Directive to abstain from hunting Hornbill
C M Y K
DImapur, JaNuary 6 (mExN): The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Mangkolemba has directed all village councils under Mangkolemba sub-division to inform villagers and public to abstain from hunting the endangered Hornbill bird which has been sighted in the area. Any person violating this order will be penalized/punished as per the provision under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, ADC T Imtiwapang Aier informed in a notification issued through DIPR.
NEW DELHI, JaNuary 6 (TNN): The Union home ministry’s disaster management experts have warned of a bigger catastrophe, earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.2 or greater on the Richter scale which may hit the already ruptured Himalayan region. They say quakes with higher intensity than the one that struck Manipur on Monday are likely to rock the region in future. The tectonic shift a series of these recent earthquakes have caused in the region -- Manipur 6.7 (Jan 2016), Nepal 7.3 (May 2015) and Sikkim 6.9 (2011) -- have re-ruptured the plates that had already developed cracks during previous temblors. This has led to conditions which might trigger multiple earthquakes which may go up to 8.0 in magnitude. In a post-Nepal disaster assessment, the MHA’s National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has warned of enhanced risk around the “ring of fire garlanding the entire north India especially the mountains”. This was also highlighted at a recent meeting organised by the Centre in Arunachal Pradesh’s capital Itanagar where policy-makers from 11 hill states had participated and resolved to develop a common building code for mountains. Speaking to TOI, NIDM director Santosh Kumar said the interconnected plates across Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and India pose a bigger danger, and predicted a disaster of bigger magnitude that awaits hill states and parts of Bihar, UP and even Delhi which fall under the second worst seismic Zone IV classification. The NorthEast and other hill states fall under severe seismic Zone V. Though some Indian scientists have reservations, but international experts, prominently Roger Bilham, the seismologist of University of Colorado and an authority on the subject, are of the opinion that “the current conditions might trigger at least four earthquakes greater than 8.0 in
magnitude. And if they delay, the strain accumulated during the centuries provokes more catastrophic mega earthquakes.” Kumar said the Centre has taken measures to sensitise the governments of all the hill states to adopt a common building code that is different from the rest of India. The recent Itanagar deliberations on sustainable development of mountain states were part of Centre’s earthquake risk mitigation strategy to sensitise policy-makers about “the natural time bomb”. Stress has increased in the mountains of north-east since the Nepal earthquake. Monday’s 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Manipur shows the stress has not been fully released, it has only become worse. “The collision between the Himalayan plate in the north and the Indo-Burmese plate in the east and the risk created as a result is the highest at this moment,” according to NIDM experts. India is divided into four seismic zones. The most active Zone V comprises of the whole of north-east, parts of north Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Delhi comes under Zone IV and is considered as one of the high-risk areas. According to MHA’s own assessment, the regulatory mechanism in Indian cities that prominently figure on the disaster map are weak and any disaster striking in any one of these populous cities would cause huge casualties. The UN office for disaster risk reduction (UNISDR), which considers India a valuable partner and had even acknowledged the leadership of minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju and made him a disaster risk reduction champion for Asia two months ago, has emphasised India’s need for compliance with building codes and the necessity for an “enhanced preparedness for effective response to earthquakes.”
This goose from Taxes colony, Dimapur may have anticipated the January 4 earthquake (Morung Photo)
Morung Express news Dimapur | January 6
Earthquakes are a sudden phenomenon and seismologists have no way of knowing exactly when or where the next one will hit. On the other hand, it is believed that animals can anticipate earthquakes, though there is no scientific evidence to support it. More than a week before the January 4 deadly 6.7 magnitude earthquake which jolted the North East region and Bangladesh inflicting human casualties and properties damage, a goose in Dimapur may have actually anticipated the impending calamity, if one has to go with the claim of animals actually predicting earthquakes. “The goose had been acting very strange for
more than a week before the January 4 earthquake- cackling unusually in high pitch tones all the time, even in the middle of night,” owner Toshirenla who stays at Taxes colony in Dimapur said. Toshirenla said the goose, one out of seven that she rears, would at times even approach them with the peculiar cackling for no apparent reason. “We had never heard the goose act so restless, or cackle so nervously,” she said. However, the goose reportedly stopped her ‘abnormal behaviors’ right after the earthquake. Fearing that something might be wrong with the goose’s health, the owner took the bird to the vet on January 4, after the earthquake. However, the veteri-
nary doctor, Dr Michael Imchen, who is a visiting consultant at Animal Concern located at Duncan Basti found nothing wrong with the health of the bird. “There was nothing unusual with the goose’s health. The bird was healthy and fit. No external injury too,” Dr Michael said. The veterinary doctor, who also holds special interest in animal psychology, said he asked the owner to take the goose and report back if the bird acts strange as before. The owner called back to say the goose was surprisingly acting in his normal behavior. “I strongly believe the goose was acting strange because it had anticipated the impending earthquake and maybe in a way warning us of the approaching calamity,” Dr Michael said
The belief that animals and birds can detect an impending earthquake or a natural calamity by showing unusual behavior has been around for centuries but without any scientific evidence. However, researchers around the world still continue to pursue the idea. Countless pet owners around the world claim to have witnessed their cats and dogs acting strangely before the ground shook— barking or whining for no apparent reason, or showing signs of nervousness and restlessness. Even the United States Geological Survey (USGS), an agency that provides scientific information about the Earth conducted a few studies on animal prediction, but nothing concrete had come out of it. After the 2011 magnitude 9 earthquake in Japan, Hiroyuki Yamauchi of National Tsing Hua University and colleagues conducted a survey on how cats reacted ahead of the quake. The survey found that six or more days before the devastating earthquake, some cats engaged in unusual behaviors and became more stressed out. In 373 B.C., historians recorded that animals, including rats, snakes and weasels, deserted the Greek city of Helice in droves just days before a quake devastated the place.
NSCN (R) reportedly recruiting 2016 is crucial for Naga people: Yitachu drug addicts in Arunachal Pradesh our Correspondent Hutsii | January 6
guWaHaTI, JaNuary 6 (HINDusTaN TImEs): A new Naga rebel outfit has reportedly been recruiting drug addicts across the opium belt of Arunachal Pradesh to broaden its extortion empire. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Reformation had broken away from the NSCN-Khaplang group after the latter ended its 14-year ceasefire in March 2015. Its avowed objective was to pursue the Naga peace process with New Delhi. But officials in south-
ern Arunachal Pradesh said NSCN-R has been recruiting drug addicts to control the state’s Longding, Tirap and Changlang districts. Rebels of NSCN-K and NSCNIsak Muivah were hitherto known to operate in these districts that are strategic for movement to and from bases in Myanmar. “We had last month raided Kheti village in Tirap district on tip off that some rebels were carrying out recruitment and extortion drives there. They managed to escape but we recovered extortion notes
and a list of the group’s cadres in the area,” a senior police officer, declining to be quoted, told HT. Some names in the list were those of drug addicts and offenders, the security forces found. Apart from Longding, Tirap and Changlang, Lohit and Anjaw districts of southern Arunachal Pradesh are notorious for opium cultivation besides the availability of heroin and methamphetamine from the ‘Golden Triangle of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.
According to Narcotics Control Bureau, A r u na c ha l P ra d e s h topped the list of states in illegal poppy production for opium during 2014-15. Of the 2,530 acres of poppy crop that NCB destroyed during that fiscal, the state accounted for nearly 40%. NCB officials say the illegal poppy farms are guarded by armed militia who are known to work in coordination with rebels. State chief minister Nabam Tuki admitted that checking opium cultivation was a major challenge.
Minister for School Education & SCERT, Yitachu today said 2016 is very crucial for the Naga people, postulating that important political developments may take place this year. “To let solution come, we should analyze and examine the Naga issue, on the Nagas as whole perspective, not in line with factionalism, tribalism and favoritism, but it should be viewed Naga as a whole whether any solution that comes about is workable, practicable and accept-
able to the Nagas,” he said while speaking at Phoyisha cultural festival at Hutsii under Meluri sub division of Phek district. “If we can view the issue on that line, solution can take place, but as long as we continue to look from the angle of our own favoritism, affiliation, tribalism and factionalism then solution will remain elusive,” he said. Touching on education, he said there is huge increase in literacy in the state. He however said that problems in the education sector are compounded mainly because “we don’t
practice the truth, speak the truth and function the truth.” He urged for better coordination between the village authority and the teachers and staff in order to provide quality education to the children. The Minister asked teachers, village leaders and leaders to work for the interest of the poor and weaker sections of the society. Unless the weaker sections are taken care of, society cannot progress, he said. “Extra service should be provided so that God blesses our children in return,” the Minister added.
shamator issue continues to see-saw 12 hr bandh enforced to
KIpHIrE/TuENsaNg/KoHIma, JaNuary 6 (mExN): The scales in Tuensang and Kiphire seem to be tilting as Yimchungrü leaders have now decided to temporarily withdraw their indefinite strike while Tikhir leaders have decided to impose one. The Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC), expressing displeasure, at the Nagaland State Cabinet’s “ambiguity and contradiction” following its last emergency meeting held on January 5, has now authorised the Tikhir Students’ Union to impose an ‘indefinite blockade’ of NH-202 under Tikhir jurisdiction. This was informed in a press release today from the TTC Executive Council Chairman Dioto Tikhir and its Secretary, ST Tsuthong Tikhir. They appealed for “clarity and consistency” in adhering to the Cabinet decision of December 30, 2015. Meanwhile, the Yimchungrü Akheru Arihako (YAA) and the Yim-
chungrü Tribal Council (YTC) have decided to honour the appeal of the Nagaland State Government and deferred the YAA Golden Jubilee celebration from January 7-10, 2016 to January 14-17, 2016 “for the convenience of the students’ community.” YAA President TS Akiuba also informed in a press statement that the indefinite strike is “temporarily with-
ebration to a date which gives reasonable time to the Government to further discuss the issue and settle it amicably and also lift the indefinite bandh.” This was informed in the minutes of an emergency meeting called on January 5 at 6:00pm in the residential office of the Chief Minister of Nagaland, albeit conducted in his absence. The minutes were sent to the President of the YAA by Cabinet Secretary, RB Thong, with the request that the YAA and YTC lift the indefinite bandh. The emergency Cabinet meeting, it was informed, happened only with five ministers and acknowledged that this is “short of quorum” of seven and hence not in a position to review the State Cabinet decision of December 30, 2015. Maintaining that the Cabinet will take up the matter for further consideration on the return of the Chief Minister, the minutes also offered that “If agreed to by YAA, the expenses incurred for deferring the function will be paid by the State Government.”
• One strike lifted, another imposed • YAA Golden Jubilee celebration deferred drawn” as requested by the State Cabinet “for further consideration.” The YAA also urged the State Government to “fulfil” the three-points charter of demands given by way of an “ultimatum” to the Nagaland Chief Minister. The Government of Nagaland had reiterated on January 5 that it is not averse to the holding of the YAA golden jubilee conference at Shamator “so long as the situation is conducive.” In the light of this, the State Cabinet had requested the YAA to “defer the cel-
protest alleged rape of minor
WoKHa, JaNuary 6 (mExN): A 12 hour total bandh was enforced in Bhandari January 4 in protest against the recent alleged rape of a minor girl. A public meeting was also held and a charter of demands was drawn to place before the Nagaland State Government for sanction within 30 days. A press note from the Lotha Lower Range Public Organization(LLRPO) informed that the charter demanded that the culprit be “awarded rigorous punishment according to the quantum of crime committed and the victim be compensated as per provision of the scheme.” It further urged that a EAC hq and police out post with a company of armed personnel be established at Yanmhon area where alleged rape occurred. “Law and order situations go out of hand almost all time due to absence of law enforcing agencies in the area. Officer on duty reaches only to retrieve dead bodies or at times to take custody of unlucky culprits apprehended by villagers,” the charter stated. It
said that Yanmhon area which is over 35 km from Bhandari can only be travelled through Assam. Hence to look after law and order affairs of the area from Bhandari has a practical inconvenience, it added. Further, it was resolved that Bhandari Sub-Divisional HQ which functions under ADC be accorded full-fledged status by virtue of the oldest and largest Sub-Division in Nagaland. It added that the Sub-Divisional planning board be accorded to the Subdivision by keeping in letter and principle Nagaland Govt’s notification of 1982, declaring Bhandari Sub-Division as the most economically and educationally backward region of Nagaland. “Traveling another 60 km from Bhandari to attend DPDB to Dist. HQ Wokha only defrauds of its priorities and shares and nothing else,” it said. Urging the Nagaland State Government to fulfill these demands within the stipulated time, the LLRPO cautioned that failure to do so would compel it to initiate its own course of action.