C M Y K
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 272 • 12 PAGes • 5
www.morungexpress.com
MonDAY • october 03• 2016
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men India has never coveted any country’s land: PM PAGe 08
Older persons asked to impart wisdom, expertise to younger generations
o F
T R u T H
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Rohit sets up massive lead for India
PAGe 02
PAGE 12
sit investigation into fuel adulteration is ‘progressing’
CBI probe demand into fuel adulteration issue gains strength
Dimapur Police appeals citizens to cooperate
Dimapur, OctOber 2 (mexN): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to look into the fuel adulteration issue brewing in Nagaland State has arrested a total of 16 persons so far in connection with the case, and is interrogating all individuals connected to the case. The SIT, formed in the wake of growing public demands for investigation into the matter, has collected a total of 73 samples from “sealed sites” and has dispatched them to Forensic Science Labs. Reports of few have been received. During investigation, the SIT has also been able to trace the SK Oil found in these sites to “certain agencies” located across the State; necessary investigation on the matter is still underway. The origins of the solvents used for the fuel adulteration have also, reportedly, been traced to various petro chemical firms within and outside Nagaland State. Investigation on this matter is also underway. These details were made known today through a detailed Press Note from the Additional Dy. Commissioner of Police/PRO, Dimapur, on behalf of the Office of the Commisioner of Police, Dimapur, Government of Nagaland. It reassured the public that the SIT has “pro-
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
gressed” with the case investigations “keeping the interest of the public sentiments at large and, with time, it is hopeful that justice will be done.” While noting that “considerable efforts and time has been dedicated for the case investigations and it continues to do so,” the Dimapur Police appealed to citizens to “cooperate and refrain from making unilateral conclusions while the matter is still under investigation.” The clarification was made in the light of “allegations” made by the ‘Coordination Committee of Civil Society Organization on Fuel Adulteration’. As the case unfurled The Dimapur Police stated that on June 27 this year, members of ACAUT Nagaland had reported fuel adulteration “operations” at six sites to the Dimapur district administration and police. Accordingly, informed their Press Note, the places were “raided” and “huge quantities of Hydro Carbons were seized from these sites which were found illegally stored and allegedly used for fuel adulteration.” The hydrocarbons and the premises were “sealed in the interest of the investigation.” Two cases were registered at the West Police Station and Diphupur Police Station respectively. On July 2 this year, informed the Dimapur Po-
suspected chemical solvent found at one of the fuel adulteration sites in Dimapur on June 27, 2016. (File Photo)
lice, the investigating team visited the sites to “draw samples” of the hydrocarbons “when it was observed that in two of the sites, seals were found breached and some quantities of Hydro Carbons had been drawn discreetly in an effort to destroy evidences.” Subsequently, a third case was registered at the West Police Station and five persons were arrested in connection to the incident. The arrested persons were remanded to police custody “till the furthest period.” The investigation team then reportedly observed that the seizure memo was “drawn assessing the quantities of hydrocarbons based on the storage capacities of the containers, acoustic response elicited after banging on the tankers and not as per the quantities actually present.” According to the Di-
Power woes: Damaged transformer pesters consumers
Alleges electrical dept of apathy Morung Express news Dimapur | October 2
C M Y K
Commercial vehicles to keep off Dimapur roads on Oct 4
Supply shortage coupled with under-strength distribution set up continues to be the primary problems nagging the electricity sector in Nagaland state. While the former as a problem is as old as the Power department itself, the latter of late has taken centre stage and on set to become a huge liaAah,too high.let’s just bility soon if not addressed swacch bharat the drains. with earnestness. As predicted by engineers of the Power department, the incidence rate of distribution transformers breaking down has drastically increased over the past couple of years with the number of breakdowns overtaking availability of replacements by a huge margin. It, in simple terms, means extended blackouts whenever transformers go kaput anywhere in the state. In yet another clear display of an under-strength distribution network, at The Morung Express least three localities in DiPoll QuEsTion mapur have been without Vote on www.morungexpress.com electricity for over four days after a 500kVA transformer sMs your answer to 9862574165 broke down. The transDo you agree that an former in question broke inactive lifestyle is down on September 28 a leading cause for cutting off supply to parts of heart diseases in Duncan Basti, Supply colNaga society? ony and Landmark colony (formerly PWD). The transformer reportYes no others edly encountered “techniWill the present crisis within Naga Hoho affect the Naga cal breakdown” and had progress towards it political to be sent for repairs. A reand historical rights? Why? placement of a lower ca40% Yes pacity (250kVA) was put in 52% no place on September 30 as a temporary measure but it 08% others also broke down no sooner Details on page 7 than it was installed. The
problem – it could not sustain the load demand of the affected areas. Subsequently, a second replacement was requisitioned and installed. It worked albeit on condition of load shedding. While one official maintained the department is doing its best to restore normal supply, exasperated consumers of the affected areas have accused the department of irresponsibility and apathy. One consumer said that inquiries made with the complaints cell in concern were met with “inquire from the head office (Nagarjan)” response. “I understand it is hard to get replacements. But the department should have been responsible enough to let the consumers know and understand the situation. No one is taking responsibility,” said the exasperated consumer, adding that the department was still to issue any public notice. As regards the loadshedding, the consumer said that the lights came back on Sunday morning for around 5 minutes and then for another brief period around church time only to go off for most of the remaining day. Repairing the damaged transformer, as per a department official, is likely to take another week. The official, while acknowledging the consumers’ plight, said that it is very difficult to find ready replacements in the 500kVA range. Stating that the stand-in 250kVA transformer was working, the official informed that load shedding will be imposed during the day and total shutdown during the night till the 500kVA transformed is restored.
mapur Police, the officer responsible for the seizure and sealing of the site in question has been “subjected to departmental enquiry.” The concerned duty personnel placed on guard of the sites were also “taken to task for dereliction of duties.” However, the Dimapur Police clarified that the said incident has “not in anyway” affected the investigation of the main case and, the “few quantities” of hydrocarbons “pilfered” from the site are “likely to be recovered.” Meanwhile, in connection to the case registered at the Diphupar Police Station, the “re-assessment of the seized items in the sealed premises was necessitated owning to the non-quantified seizure list made initially,” stated the Dimapur Police. The re-assessment was conducted with the permission of the
Court in the presence of a Magistrate observing “all due legal procedure.” The re-drawn seizure memo was submitted to the Court and the same was taken into cognizance. The release of the eight empty oil tankers has been done “in compliance of the Orders of the Court,” clarified the Police. It also informed that the SIT filed at least six petitions at different dates against different accused persons in the Court through the office of the Public Prosecutor for the cancellation of their anticipatory bails. However, “these matters are the discretion of the Court,” the Dimapur Police reminded. “The demands for the ‘re-arrest’ of the accused persons are not permissible unless the Court cancels the bails granted,” it reiterated.
Dimapur, OctOber 2 (mexN): Commercial vehicles in Dimapur have resolved to go off roads on October 4, 2016 to put pressure on the Nagaland State Government to bring in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation on the fuel adulteration racket as demanded by the Co-ordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration (CCoFA). In separate press statements issued to the media on Saturday, All Nagaland Taxi Association, (ANTA) Dimapur Unit; Dimapur District Truck Welfare Trade Union (DDTDWTU) and the Dimapur District Pick Up Van Owner and Drivers’ Union (DDPODU) stated that the decision to keep off roads was to show solidarity and support the CCoFA’s demand. The office of the DDTDWTU requested all its members to desist themselves from plying/driving on October 4 from 6AM to 6PM. It however said the appeal made is not mandatory and binding and purely voluntary. ANTA Dimapur Unit, on the other hand, directed all the taxi owners and drivers to go off road in the form of “Chaka Bandh.” DDPODU, while expressing solidarity simply stated that it backed the “bandh call.” The Dimapur District Auto Drivers Union (DDADU) has also reportedly convened a meeting on October 3 to decide on the same. The CCoFA, consisting of various civil society organizations, had served a 15-day ultimatum to the State Government, with effect from September 23, demanding that CBI be brought in for thorough investigation on the fuel adulteration racket and to re-arrest all the alleged fuel adulteration kingpins. In the event of failure by the State Government to fulfill the demand, the CCoFA had cautioned that the committee would enforce bandh on national highways within the State as it deemed fit. CCoFA said the committee, formed by
a public resolution on September 10, 2016, met the State Chief Secretary on September 23, and submitted a memorandum containingtheresolutionsadoptedonSeptember10. Since the ultimatum was served to the State Government, a number of civil organizations and student bodies have issued press statements, reiterating support and reminding the government of the demand. No response has been forthcoming from the government. The 15-day ultimatum will end on October 8, 2016. On the move behind the demand for CBI to investigate the fuel adulteration racket, a member of ACAUT Nagaland pointed out that the reason was because the “case was falling apart.” “It’s not that we have lost confidence on the SIT constituted to probe into the case, but there are several indications that the case is falling apart,” the member suggested. Further, there is also apprehension whether the SIT can probe into the angle of diversion of SK Oil without any interference, the ACAUT member stated.
DDCF backs CCoFA demand
Meanwhile, the Dimapur District Citizens Forum (DDCF) has demanded immediate “follow up action” to hand over the fuel adulteration case to the CBI as desired by CCoFA. “When such an important issue was highlighted by a non-governmental organization, the government should feel ashamed and take up the matter on top priority,” DDCF president, N Joseph Lemtur said in a press statement. The DDCF also maintained that the petrol pump owners should be held equally accountable, as they had “sublet/leased their outlets to be used for unlawful activities.” Reaffirming its support to the public resolution adopted on September 10, 2016, the Forum said it would fully support the CCoFA in its follow up actions of National Highway bandh call if the fuel adulteration case is not handed over to the CBI for “greater transparency and justice.”
Election with 33% reservation: CM assures Naga women
Dimapur, OctOber 2 (mexN): Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang on Sunday assured Naga women that the election to the municipal bodies/town councils will go ahead with the 33% women reservation as decided by the State Cabinet. Media Cell, CMO in a press statement said members of Naga Mothers Association (NMA) and Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) had called on the Chief Minister at his official residence to extend appreciation for the bold step taken by
him and his cabinet colleagues on women reservation. The NMA and JACWR members also apprised the Chief Minister on the importance of women reservation to various municipal bodies in the state. In response, Zeliang told the women representatives that the State Government is firm on its decision and will go ahead as per the Cabinet resolution. He, however, informed that there may be delay on the election by a month or two since the election department has to com-
plete certain election modalities. As per the government plan, the election was scheduled to be held in November but due to various technical problems, it would have to be postponed to either December or January 2017, he said. The Chief Minister also suggested that that election could be held in phase manner- to conduct election in town where all the necessary formalities has been completed in the first phase, and gradually for other town where town council has been declared recently.
Meanwhile, Zeliang appealed to all concerned not to create misunderstanding out of the reservation issue, but to maintain cordial relationship and work together for the welfare of the state. “Maintain cordial relationship, don’t create misunderstanding between man and woman out of this issue,” Zeliang told the women representatives, according to the CMO statement. He also called upon the women folks to choose efficient and suitable candidate for the betterment of the society.
supo the illustrator: 13-year old naga creating art forms Morung Express news Kohima | October 2
At 13 years of age, Supolepden (Supo) Kichu is a self taught figurative and fashion illustrator whose amazing talent of illustration, is hard to ignore. “I started drawing ever since I learnt how to hold a crayon in my hand!” says Kichu. Illustration is a decorative visual art form; an art form many in Nagaland are yet to delve into, which is perhaps the reason why talented illustrators like Kichu are yet to gain recognition. Kichu’s portfolio mostly focuses on Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with all of his works sold out in days at a minimum rate. When asked about his obsession over Victoria’s Secret, Kichu mentions that his first impression of the show was quite the contrary. When he was in class 3, he saw the show for the first time and found it ‘the dumbest fashion show ever’ but after watching reruns of the show, he realized that the show was really creative, and slowly developed his
supo Kichu concentrating on an artwork. samples of the work of the young artist. (Morung Photo)
interest. Kichu’s images are mostly done with markers, color pencils, pastels and water colors. Some of his art works, especially his illustrations of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, are digitized and edited for a fresh look through Photoshop. Although he has not undergone any training or classes on art, Kichu says the internet has helped him learn more about illustrations. He is of the view that his generation is fortunate to be born in the age of internet and social media which should be taken ad-
vantage for one’s own positive growth. What stands out in Kichu’s illustrations is the way he pays careful attention to detail, which he says is the best part of illustrating. His love for colors is clear in all his works entertaining drawings of varied hues. “I love giving details. I have the determination to do my best in what I love whether it is wrong or right and I love experimenting new things. I give so much effort to my works- it is a piece of my lifestyle,” says Supo who prefers using color pencils because color pencils were his first
tools for drawing, and he feels most experienced with them. When asked what inspires him the most, Kichu is quick to reply that his family, friends and Victoria’s Secret are what inspire him the most. His parents have been very supportive of his ambition, and his dreams of becoming an illustrator in New York. Kichu tries to balance his interest with his studies and still maintains good grades in school. Besides illustrations, Supo is interested in music and environmentalism. He takes violin classes
from the ‘School of Rock’ and does his bit as an environmentalist by reducing his carbon footprints in most of his daily chores. “My friends ask me what I am going to be. I tell them I am going to New York. I want to be an illustrator in New York City,” says Supo. Supo is currently studying in Class 7 in Fernwood School and lives with his parents and an elder brother at Upper Agri Colony, Kohima. To see more of Kichu’s illustrations, you can view his Facebook page by the name Supo Kichu’s Illustrations.