13 dec 21 by Nagaland Post

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXII No. 11

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

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INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9

Tribute to Oting victims at Kohima

SFs have taken undue advantage of AFSPA to terrorize people: Kashiho Correspondent

KOHIMA, DEC 12 (NPN): A tribute service in memory of the victims massacred on December 4 at Oting village, Mon was held at the Old MLA hostel junction here on Sunday evening where hundreds of people from all walks of life attended. Speaking on behalf of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU), minister soil & water conservation, geology & mining and NSMDC minister V Kashiho Sangtam expressed deep condolence for the Konyak youths gunned down by troops of 21 Para special forces. Kashiho said no words could ever describe the gruesome act of genocide

Residents of Kohima take part in the tribute service held on Sunday evening. (NP)

committed on the innocent Konyak brothers who had done nothing wrong in the eye of law. He alleged that security forces had taken full advantage of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to “kill and terrorise” people since 1958. Therefore, he said repeal of the draconian Act which has been a long standing demand of the people of Nagaland and other Northeastern States, he added. Kashiho also alleged that Nagas suffered untold

miseries and discrimination at the hands of Central paramilitary forces under the oppressive Act that resulted in loss of thousands of lives and homes. He also said the hue and cry against the Act appear to have fallen on deaf ears. He termed the December 4 incident a ‘carnage’ inflicted on the Konyak brothers at Oting that also exposed the real nature of the Act and for all to see and understand that it (AFSPA) was oppressive, discrimina-

tory and should be done away with. Kashiho disclosed that the State government held a special emergency cabinet meeting on December 7, wherein it was decided to send a memo to Government of India to repeal the draconian Act. He also pointed out that the State government had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a senior IGP to investigate the Oting incident and submit its report

within one month. Similarly, he said the Indian Army had also set up its court of inquiry headed by one Major General to probe the circumstances under which the botched operation by troops of 21 Para Special Forces took place. Kashiho assured the people of Oting and Konyak brothers that ENLU would do its best to impress upon the Centre and State government to give impartial judgement so that the culprits were punished as per the law. He said ENLU would continue to “fight till justice was delivered and appropriate actions taken”. Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Kohima (ENPUK) president N Toshi Chang, paid homage to the victims and described their deaths as a great loss. He however said the victims did not die in vain as their death had brought the Nagas together when the whole world had the perception that Nagas were divided.

F1: Verstappen wins world championship SPORTS, PAGE 12

NGBF writes to President for immediate repeal of AFSPA

DIMAPUR, DEC 12 (NPN): Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF) has appealed to President Ram Nath Kovind to immediately withdraw Armed Forced Special Powers Act (AFSPA) both from the State and the Northeast. In a memorandum to the President, NGBF president Sahlem Konyak and general secretary Shikuto Zalipu expressed pain at the perpetual suffering of people owing to the “undemocratic, torturous and venomous” law in Nagaland since 1958. When the world saw India as the largest and greatest democracy with profound Gandhian principles, they asked why should Nagaland continue to be under such a barbaric and inhuman law. They further wanted to know if Nagaland was really an integral part of the Indian democratic system and a beneficiary of the provisions of the constitution, and (Cont’d on p-8) whether it was morally right

to nullify the right to life of Nagas in Nagaland under the draconian AFSPA. Claiming that lives of thousands of innocent Nagas had been extinguished in the past 65 years, which was too painful, they asked how long this must go on. Aware of the immunity assured by AFSPA, the NGBF leaders observed that killing of innocent Naga men, women and children drove Nagas further away from the world’s largest democracy. They pointed out that Indian Armed Forces have, more often than not, exhibited cowardice and not heroism or patriotism in Nagaland. With the long-pending unresolved Indo-Naga issue now on the table for early solution, they urged the President to give personal attention to find why and who in the Armed Forces decided to first ambush and slay six unarmed Konyak Naga daily wagers and another eight in the panicky

situation that followed later in the evening of December 4 in Mon district. The memorandum stated that post the tragedy the most unfortunate and dishonourable statement came from Union home minister Amit Shah in Parliament wherein he expressed regret, but misled the members with factually incorrect details while narrating the sequence of events. Through the President, Sahlem and Shikuto appealed to Shah to retract his statement to restore his good image. They also pointed out that Government of India and Naga armed groups had officially concluded political negotiations on October 31, 2019 and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured them many times that an honourable and acceptable political solution would be ensured. Hence, they urged Kovind to herald an enduring peace between government of India and the Nagas.

India’s Omicron Justice before ex-gratia, compensation: Konyak CSOs Right-wing groups set Christian BAN welcomes tally climbs to 38 survivors and family mem- at the earliest, the Konyaks gramme, candlelight vigils religious books on fire in K’taka implementation of the December 4 and would be compelled to take will be held across villages Demand site to with 5 new cases erect monolith bers 5 incidents. extreme course of action. of Mon district on Mon- BENGALURU, DEC 12 as part of a preaching drive. of SARFAESI Act

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (AGENCIES): Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh reported their first Omicron case on Sunday, while Maharashtra and Karnataka each recorded one more case of the Covid-19 variant, taking the tally in the country to 38. All the five persons in the cases reported on Sunday had arrived from foreign countries. According to state health officials, a 20-yearold fully vaccinated man who came to Chandigarh from Italy to meet his relatives and a 34-year-old foreign traveller, who came from Ireland to Mumbai and then to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, have tested positive for the variant. Meanwhile, Kerala Health minister Veena George said the first case of Covid-19 variant Omicron has been confirmed in the state. A man who had arrived from South Africa became the third person to test positive for the Covid-19 variant in Karnataka, while a 40-year-old man tested positive after returning to Nagpur in Maharashtra from a West African country, taking the state’s tally of Omicron cases to 18. With this, Omicron has been detected in Maharashtra (18), Rajasthan (9), Karnataka (3), Karnataka (3), Kerala (1) and Andhra Pradesh (1) and Union Territories of Delhi (2) and Chandigarh (1).

This is it!

"He hasn't been seen after Hornbill Festival was cancelled. That means he'll return only next year." K Y M C

Candlelight vigil across villages in Mon today Mass public rally on Dec 16 DIMAPUR, DEC 12 (NPN): Konyak civil society organizations (CSOs) on Sunday categorically stated that no ex-gratia or compensation would be accepted until justice was delivered to all victims, including the

In a press note issued through the Konyak Union, the CSOs also demanded that the administration should allocate a site without any delay to erect a monolith in honour and respect of the victims. They said the site would be used as ‘Genocide Park’ in order to commemorate the 14 innocent lives lost on December 4 and 5, which has already been marked in Konyak history as “Black Sunday”. CSOs warned that if their demand for allocation of a site was not met

They also demanded that Indian security forces return the hard-earned money, including bikes and other belongings, they had allegedly taken from the victims. Meanwhile, with the “Week of Deep Mourning” set to culminate on Monday, Konyak civil society organisations (CSOs) have announced a series of programmes in memory of the 14 innocent lives who were mercilessly massacred by Indian Armed Forces in Mon district on December 4 and 5. As part of the pro-

(AGENCIES): Members of right-wing groups have set fire to Christian religious books in Kolar in Karnataka, alleging conversions by the church in the latest communal attack against Christians in Karnataka, NDTV report stated. The police said the Christian community was warned against distributing religious booklets. No member of any right-wing group has been arrested. The incident took place when representatives of the Christian community were (Cont’d on p-8) allegedly going door-to-door

day in collaboration with Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Bangjum (KBBB). This will be followed with a mass public rally on December 16 and a reminder of the earlier memorandum would be submitted to Government of India through the state government. Konyak CSOs, including Konyak Students’ Union s u b o r d i n a t e s, Ko n ya k Union branch and Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khung (KNSK) branch, have been urged asked to comply with the director.

They were intercepted and questioned by members of the right-wing groups, who then snatched the booklets and set them on fire. Admitting that they were bur ning religious books, one of the right wing members insisted that they “did not act violently”. “We did not trouble them. They were distributing books in our neighbourhood and were propagating about Christianity,” he told reporters. “We have warned the Christian community to not create any communal

Centre to launch ST/SC national helpline States need to rethink over removal of

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (IANS): With an objective to build informed awareness about the provisions of the law that are aimed at ending discrimination and provide protection to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), the government will launch a National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) on Monday. The helpline will be launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with an aim to ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Act, 1989 which was

enacted with a view to, interalia, preventing atrocities on members of SCs and STs. The ministry said that the NHAA will be available round the clock on toll-free number 14566 across the country. It can be accessed by making a voice call / VOIP either from a mobile or landline number of any telecom operator across the country. This service will be available in Hindi, English and regional language of the State/UTs. Its mobile application will also be available. The system will ensure that every complaint is registered as an FIR, relief is provided, all registered

complaints are investigated and all chargesheets filed are prosecuted in the Courts for decision -- all within the given timelines in the Act. Available as a web based self-service portal also, the NHAA will generate awareness about the Protection of Civil Right (PCR) Act, 1955 and its rules as well. “A docket number shall be given for each complaint received from Victim/Complainant/NGOs regarding non-compliance of the POA Act, 1989 and the PCR Act, 1955. The status of the grievance can be tracked by complainant/NGOs online.

general consent to CBI: Jitendra Singh

lice medals for meritorious service to 47 CBI officials. He expressed concern that states are withdrawing the general consent given to the CBI to investigate cases but they are, nevertheless, holding on to the prerogative to give selective consent where it suits them. Calling for wider introspection by the polity, the society and the nation at large, Singh asked whether this is the kind of propriety which is to be followed. He said that states have to make it clear whether

they trust the CBI or not, or whether they trust the agency selectively as they continue to give selective consent in cases which suits them. According to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act which governs the CBI, the agency needs consent from the state governments to operate in their jurisdiction. However, this consent is not required when a case is entrusted to the CBI by a High Court or Supreme Court.

(Read more on p-5)

Booster increases antibodies, improves protection against Omicron: Scientists NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (PTI): A booster dose against COVID-19 raises the amount of circulating antibodies and is shown to increase protection from symptomatic infection with Omicron, scientists have said, underlining that booster can be the simplest step forward, especially for the immunosuppressed. Reacting to the statement of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that booster dose of Covishield vaccine is effective against Omicron and a third booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine provides 70-75 per cent protection against symptomatic infection from the Omicron

variant, the virologists and epidemiologists underlined that booster doses of any vaccine (except live attenuated like oral polio vaccine or OPV, measles) exponentially raises antibody level. Eminent virologist Dr Shahid Jameel said a booster shot after two doses increases the amount of circulating antibodies and is shown to increase protection against symptomatic infection with Omicron. “We don’t know how well two doses continue to protect against severe disease,” he told PTI. On what India should do where majority of population is vaccinated with Co-

‘‘

Booster shot after two doses increases the amount of circulating antibodies

vishield, the former head of the advisory group to the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia (INASACOG) said it must be ensured that those who got only one dose of Covishield get the second dose in 8-12 weeks instead of 12-16 weeks. “Carry out lab studies with Omicron to learn how

well sera from Indian vaccines of Covaxin and Covishield neutralise the virus. Make a policy on boosters. What vaccines to use? Who should get it? And when? Make a policy and start vaccinating children starting with adolescents,” he said. Jameel said in India, four vaccines can be used as boosters: Covaxin in people who got Covishield and vice versa, DNA vaccine ZyCov-D, Covovax protein vaccine from SII and Corbev ax-E protein vaccine from Biological E. The Health Ministry told the Lok Sabha last week that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Ad-

ministration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) are considering scientific evidence related to justification for booster doses against the coronavirus. "If we are interested in being cautious about the unknown risks of Omicron, boosters for as many as possible is the simplest step forward, especially for the immunosuppressed, seniors and those with co-morbidities. This is in the best interests of their welfare," noted virologist Dr T Jacob John told PTI. John, the former direc-

tor of the ICMR’s Centre of Advanced Research in Virology, stressed that children must be vaccinated too since unvaccinated large segment of population can act as reservoirs-- plus Omicron seems to go after children”. “Better to prevent than to wait for evidence. Protection delayed can also mean protection denied,” he said. Dr Giridhara R Babu, professor and the Head of lifecourse epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India, said the evidence is gradually mounting in stressing the need for boosters eventually to everyone. (Cont’d on p-8)

DIMAPUR, DEC 12 (NPN): Business Association of Nagas (BAN) lauded the state government for implementation of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002. In a press note, BAN president L Mongkum Jamir general secretary Dr. Yan Murry said that the implementation could not have come at a better time when businesses were trying to recover from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. With implementation of the SARFAESI Act, BAN said Naga entrepreneurs and businesses can now have a breather to sustain and expand its businesses while contributing towards employment generation and building our state economy. BAN assured to closely work with banks and financial institutions so that SARFAESI Act is implemented in letter and spirit.

State logs 4 fresh Covid-19 cases

DIMAPUR, DEC 12 (NPN): Nagaland on Sunday recorded four fresh Covid-19 positive cases while no deaths were reported for the ninth consecutive day. Of the fresh cases, three were from Kohima and one in Mokokchung, taking the total caseload to 32115. Further, the death toll remained unchanged at 699 (including 16 non-Covid deaths but with positivity). Nagaland currently has 102 active cases. PTI: With 7,774 people testing positive for Covid-19 infection in a day, India’s tally climbed to 3,46,90,510, while the number of active cases declined to 92,281, the lowest in 560 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll mounted to 4,75,434 with the addition of 306 new fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 a.m. K Y M C

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR: SBAK Nito Mount, women conference-cum-75th anniversary, which got underway on December 10, 2021 at Lizutomi Baptist Church (LBC) under Zunheboto district on the theme “Soaring Higher” (Isaiah 40:31), came to a close Sunday evening. The three-day event was organised by SBAK NM, department of women ministry and hosted by LBC. The 75th anniversary celebration, which marked an important milestone in the field of women ministry, brought together over 3000 believers from around 120 churches under SBAK NM. While delivering message in the morning session, advisor for food & civil supplies, legal metrology & consumer protection and taxes, Pukhayi Sumi, reminded the congregation that attaining 75 years was a huge achievement, adding they must now be matured in every aspect. Asking the womenfolk whether they were

Advisor Pukhayi Sumi being felicitated during the morning session at LBC on Sunday.

having close relationship with God, the advisor encouraged them to remain calm and composed and be sincere in their faith. On the occasion, Aloino centre director Anshely Sumi delivered sermon based on the topic “women: the light of their people” (Esther 2:16-18). Earlier, short messages were also delivered by former women secretary Dr. Niholi Sema, former women secretary Kuholi Chishi and incumbent secretary, department of women ministry Katoli V Sumi. In the closing session,

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF PVC informs: Following the request of the business community, Padum Pukhuri Village Council (PVC) has informed that it has reviewed November 5, 2021 resolution, particularly the decision adopted for closure of shops on Sunday. The council reconsidered its earlier decision and partially relaxed opening of shops that deals with bakeries products and other perishable items even on Sunday after 12noon. The council also extended gratitude to the Business Association Padum Pukhuri and VDB Women Cell for taking initiative in putting up decoration works in the village including illuminating the entire stretch of 2 km of NH-29 that falls under its jurisdiction making this festive season more beautiful and meaningful. GBUD informs: GBs Union Dimapur Sadar has informed all government appointed GBs that Red Blanket for the year 2019 will be distributed from GBs Union office, Naga shopping arcade Room No. 1/ OC on December 13th, 14th and 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. All the GBs under Dimapur Sadar both urban and rural have been requested to come along with the appointment order.

SBAK (NM) mission and evangelism secretary Vihoto Awomi delivered sermon on the topic “The liberated lives” (Galatians 5:13-14). Other highlights of the morning and closing sessions included Esther’s prayer by former women secretary Qhesheli Sumo, special number “women of faith” by former women secretaries, song by SBCZ choir, choreography by Sumi Baptist Church Akuluto, reading out of committee resolutions and vote of thanks by chairperson Faith Theological College (FTC) board chairman, Er. Dr. women executive SBAK L. Yezhekhu Sumi sharing Christmas message during NM. the advent Christmas celebration on December 12.

KVK Peren organises two-day training

and soil suitability, how to do field preparation, seed treatment, sowing and spacing maintained, factors for raising production like irrigation, nutrient management, weed and pest management along with plant protection measures were discussed in detail. 23 farmers from different SHGs including 14 farmwomen attended the programme. Training was further conducted to diversify from sole paddy cultivation to pulse and oilseeds crops for increasing their income from rice fallows in Rabi season.

KLBC D. Block celebrate advent Christmas

DIMAPUR: Kohima Liangmai Baptist Church (KLBC) D. Block celebrated advent Christmas at its Church premises on December 12. In a press release, media cell KLBC D Block stated that on the occasion of advent Christmas celebration, Deacon, Luidi shared on the message of Christmas and said that, Christ came and people have joy and transform their lives. Luidi said that Christmas is where there is hope, love, light and life. Speaker said Christmas reminds every one the immortality of souls and God’s promise of everlasting life to the people through KLBC D. Block Sunday School Children presenting song on the occasion Christmas. of advent Christmas on December 12.

Japfüphiki Baptist Khriesarüü Krotho platinum jubilee choir members.

D I M A P U R : Ja p f ü p h i k i B a p t i s t Khriesarüü Krotho (JBKK) celebrated its platinum jubilee from December 3 to 5 under the theme “Praise be to His Glorious name” (Psalms 72:19), hosted by Kezo-Town Baptist Church. In a press release, JBKK stated that speakers for the programme were

academic dean, Shallom Bible Seminary, Dr Villo Naleo; youth director, Angami Baptist Khriesarüü Krotho (ABKK), Kevilhouleu Suohu; pastor, Khedi Baptist Church, Dr Rukuovilie Sachu; executive secretary JBCC, Kehovi Tase and pastor Phesama Baptist Church, Rokovilie Zashümo.

PHE Kiphire conducts training DIMAPUR: Department of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Kiphire division, conducted a two-day basic training/workshop on skill development under Jal Jeevan Mission support activity on December 2 and 3 at EE, PHED office Kiphire. A press release by PHE Kiphire division stated that the training was conducted under the supervision of executive engineer (PHED), Er. Akokba Sair, where he highlighted objective and purpose behind training stating that the training on skill development under JJM was to ensure sustainability of water supply infrastructure and to enhance skill of village functionaries for operation and maintenance of assets. Junior engineer, Er. Metmei Phom, along with master trainer, further dem-

Villagers attend the training conducted by PHE Kiphire.

onstrated on how to use equipment’s and methods involved in plumbing, masonry and welding to participants, followed by activities involving self-operation of equipment and technical way of doing it. The objective of the training was to equipped

and entrust village functionaries to operate and maintain various assets that are available in their respective villages. Altogether, 25 participants from 15 village took part who were trained and entrusted to overlook on their village assets.

2nd death anniversary Lt. Kedise Kraho

(1958-2019) You are remembered every moment in our lives for your divine nature of sharing, care and love. You live in our soul, mind and hearts. “A day never passes without your memory; you live in our hearts forever.”

dp-5930/21

Participants during the 2-day training programme.

DIMAPUR: KVK Peren under ICAR Research Complex for NER, Jalukie, organised a two-day training programme on “Production technology of oilseeds and pulses under diversified cropping systems” on December 9 and 10 at Samziuram village for practicing farmers, with SMS, PBG, Dr. Patu K Zeliang, as training coordinator. A press release by KVK Peren stated that training on cultivation practices of pulse crops such as rajma, rice bean and pigeon pea along with oilseed crop Toria and Soybean were given, while topics such as climatic

JBKK celebrates platinum jubilee

dk-5940/21

SBAK (NM) women conference cum 75th anniv culminates

STATE

Loving wife and children

1st Death anniversary of our beloveD lt. raj Kumar lama

Naga Hoho delegation visits NC Hills

DIMAPUR: Naga Hoho (NH) has condemned the alleged stepmotherly treatment meted out to Nagas by Assam government and assured to extend support to them through appropriate authorities. This followed a visit by a hoho delegation led by its president HK Zhimomi to Lodi village, near Haflong in Assam’s NC Hills, on December 10 organised by Zeliangrong civil society organisations (CSOs), NH media cell stated. During a public meeting held on the occasion, members of Rengma and Zeliangrong briefed the visiting team on the grievances faced by Nagas living in Assam. The delegation appreciated and acknowledged the unflinching support and cooperation of Rengma-Zeliangrong Joint Council, Assam to NH. During the public meeting, the hoho called for peace and unity

among the Nagas while in search for a solution to the Indo-Naga political issue. The team apprised the Nagas of Assam on the ongoing Naga peace talks and the prevailing siatuation in Nagaland due to atrocities by Indian Army on innocent Naga civilian at Oting village on December 4. Appealing to Naga communities living in Assam to extend support and expressed solidarity with Oting villagers and the Konyak community in general in their pursuit for peace and justice, NH urged the two communities to observe total shutdown within their respective jurisdiction. On its part, the Joint Council endorsed the activities of NH and said it stood committed to the ongoing peace process while keeping in mind that only integration of Naga-inhabited areas could bring about a lasting solution to the Indo-Naga political issue.

Condemns: Naga Hoho has condemned the brutal killing of innocent civilians at Oting village, under Mon district on December 4 and 5 by the Indian security forces for no rhyme or reason. The Hoho stated that the incident itself was a proven fact that the Indian security forces do not have the sense of humanity and respect for the God’s creation of man in His own image. It stated that the Government of India (GoI) must come out clearly and take the responsibility to not only condemn but befitting actions be taken against those perpetrators. It also demanded the GoI to repeal AFSPA from Naga inhabited areas. The Hoho expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for God’s comfort and strength.

13th December 2020 A year has passed, yet the void remains. There is not a day where we haven’t missed you. But we take solace in the fact that you were the most beautiful human being that we have known and we hope that you are in a better place now. We love you and we miss you. Loving wife, son, daughters, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, in-laws, kith & kin. k-2392/21

3rd deaTh anniVerSary

Mrs. Tiarenla Longkumer 13-12-2020

St. Peter Church Kijümetouma celebrated its silver jubilee with the theme “I pray that they all be one” (St. John 17:21) on December 11 and 12. Parish Priest Christ King Parish, Fr. C.M Joseph sdb, has blessed and unveiled jubilee monolith, Fr. Neisalhou Carolus Vicar General, Kohima Diocese and Rector St. Xavier Seminary Jalukie was the main celebrant of the holy eucharist. The faithful of St. Peter Church Kijümetouma felicitated the pioneers of the Church and the leader of various churches and groups. K Y M C

Lt. Viphrezo Xavier Suohu 20.06.1959 – 13.12.2018

“Your life was a Blessing, your memory a treasure; you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure” k-2388/21

Beloved Wife & Children

A year ago, God decided that he wanted you back from us . A year ago, the moment you left us, immeasurable pain and deep scars which would last forever were inflicted upon us. Now a year later, reality had finally sunk in and we now feel at peace as we believe that you are also at peace in your heavenly abode. Asleep in Jesus a blissful refuge, from which none ever wake to weep.

We miss your presence and we dearly love you dp-5950/21

Loving Children & Relatives K Y M C

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Are growing atrocities against Christians a sign that anti-minority minds dominate India? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

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Kronu inaugurates ‘Peak FMU, Medziphema organises exhibition, sales day of Hope’ trekking route

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Yes. No. Can’t Say.

89% 9% 2%

NEXT POLL

Q: Will the SIT be able to

submit its report on the Dec 4 killings within a month?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST DECEMBER 13

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazu sun

26 11

Aizawl

Nice with sunshine

Guwahati Hazu sun Imphal

Pleasant and sunshine

Itanagar Mostly sunny and pleasant

23 9 26 11 24 7 23 12

Shillong

Hazu sun

19 4

Kohima

Sunshine

20 8

Dimapur Sunshine and beautiful

25 11

Mkg

Sunny and pleasant

Tuensang Sunny and cooler Wokha

Hazy sun

Zunheboto Plenty of sunshine

22 9 14 4 20 11 19 7

Neiba Kronu and others after the inauguration of‘Peak of Hope’ trekking route at Pfutsero. DIMAPUR: Planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu on Saturday inaugurated “Peak of Hope” and trekking route at Pfutsero under Phek district. The inauguration of this “Peak of Hope” marked the launching of trekking route from Glory Peak Pfutsero to Chida Lake.

SBAK - Aizuto 7th Triennial Conference concludes

A view of SBAK - Aizuto 7th Triennial Conference hall. DIMAPUR: Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Kuqhakulu (SBAK), Aizuto successfully concluded its 7th Triennial Conference, hosted by Phuye New Baptist Church from December 10 to 12, under the theme “God’s Word Endures Forever”. A press release by media supervisor, ZTSBC SBAK-Aizuto, Bombo K Yeptho stated that on the first service, director Urban Mission, Rev. Dr. Joshua Rochill, preached on the theme “God’s word Endures Forever”, while in second service, literature secretary, Rev. Picuto Yepthomi, delivered the message on the topic “Fighting the battle on knees”. Principal, Anderson

STATE

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

Theological College, Dr. Shitovi Yepthomi, on the third service spoke on the topic, “Faith in the Perilious time”, while executive secretary, Rev. Mulato Chishi, brought the devotional message on the power of gospel. On the last service of the conference, mission secretary, Kihoshe Assumi, spoke on the topic “The signs of the end time”. It also informed that youth conference at Medical Colony Suruhuto Town Baptist Church would be held in the coming days. Altogether, 90 churches registered for the conference and more than 2000 delegates attended the event.

With this, one can now avail the service and facility of Polaris, to be managed by The Kalos Society. Kronu stressed on the need to put a concerted effort to make Pfutsero a permanent tourist destination, adding that tourism activities should be whole year affair. He was hopeful that Pfutsero can become one

of the most tourist attractions spots in future. The minister informed that a chapel will be constructed in the vicinity of “Peak of Hope” for prayer and catering purpose for the trekkers. Earlier, the function was chaired by Dingulo Khutsoh while Rev. Dr. Neingupe Chiero pronounced dedicatory prayer.

DIMAPUR: Commemorating India’s 75th year of Independence, Medziphema Field Management Unit (FMU) and Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) under Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) JICA & FDA observed “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” event by organising an “exhibition-cum-sales day” under Medziphema village Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) on November 29 at Medziphema local ground. In a press release, Medziphima beat range forest officer Florence T. Sangtam informed that during the programme, special guest, advisor sericulture, excise & minority affairs, Zhaleo Rio appreciated the efforts of the forest department in providing such marketing platforms for SHGs to showcase and sell vegetables and handicrafts. He also said that it was a good beginning and that the very approach should cover all administrative headquarters by encouraging SHGs. NFMP project director, Vedpal Singh extended his good wishes for their future endeavours and appreciated the hard work of SHGs and FMU Medziphema for their initiative.

Zhaleo Rio along with forest officials, administrative officers and members of SHGs at the exhibition-cum-sales day. DFO Dimapur, Beizo Suokhrie also said he was impressed with the active participation of SHGs in running the stall. Also speaking at the programme, FMU head Medziphema, forest ranger, Florence T. Sangtam emphasised on the need for sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural communities. She therefore said that with such events, the aim for a sustainable community was achieved through participatory planning and capacity development for

people and institutions concerned. Informing that the event would contribute towards achieving sustainable development goals, Florence encouraged the groups to continue activities for the protection of forest resources. Meanwhile, while appreciating SHGs and stakeholders, FMU Medziphema head also acknowledged Chakhroma Students’ Union in general and CSU president V. Akieto Khro in particular for supporting the SHGs.

She pointed out that the world was looking for naturally grown organic food products which the tribal communities of the country were growing and developing. In this regard, she urged the general public to come forward and purchase the tribal products which were of good quality. The exhibitioncum-sales day included various local products such as vegetables, wild fruits, handicrafts, face masks and other local organic foods.

St. Joseph University and Don Bosco College observe Human Rights Day

DIMAPUR: St. Joseph University Dimapur, department of political science and Don Bosco College (DBC) observed the International Human Rights Day, 2021 on December 10 In a press release from St. Joseph University, Dimapur, de par tment of political science assistant professor Dr. Chubatila stated the event at St. Joseph University Dimapur was conducted partially online and offline mode. The department faculty and students had the opportunity of listening online to Dimapur District Legal Services Authority, panel lawyer Yanbemo Ngullie, who spoke on the topic “Human Rights infringements and the role of society”. The speaker highlighted the various issues such as poverty, denial of education, and subjugation of women as amounting to gross violation of basic human rights. He also discussed human rights violations specifically in India through caste-based practices of repression against the SCs, STs, OBCs and other marginalised sections,

St. Joseph University students during the Human Rights Day observation. DBC students hold placards on Human Rights Day. racial discrimination and violence, suppression of freedom of speech and expression through various sedition laws, violence against women both in the private as well as public spheres, crimes against children, human trafficking and so on. The online session was moderated by university department of political science assistant professor Dr. Chubatila. She supplemented the speaker by emphasizing the necessity to understand

the concept of human rights beyond living a mere life, and how the state should ensure decent living of its citizens as a guarantee of human rights. She also pointed out how law can be a double-edged instrument in either protecting and empowering lives, or maiming and taking away lives. Guest speaker’s address was followed by an offline programme conducted in three classrooms of both undergraduate and post-

graduate students wherein three students from each semester were assigned three topics respectively. While Elizabeth Y. (BA Sem-I), Soyimkumla (MA Sem-I) and Avilo Achumi (MA Sem-III) spoke on the “Origin and significance of International Human Rights Day”; Otokutoli (BA Sem-I), A. Sazune (MA Sem-I) and Kheboli Swu (MA Sem-III) highlighted the “Provisions for Human Rights in the Indian Consti-

Can Youth’s skill training on handicraft culminates

TTC not to attend meeting with YTC

Lotha Eloe Hoho destroys IMFL

Participants after the skill training program on handicraft. DIMAPUR: A month-long ¬skill training programme on handicraft organized by Can Youth and aponsored by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in collaboration with Rongmei Youth Club (RYC) which started on November 10 culminated on December 10. K Y M C

During the month-long programme, unemployed youths were provided with advanced training on handicrafts. Can Youth alongside RYC Dimapur aimed to create good space of skill development among the unemployed and dropout youth of Dimapur from

different communities. The programme was graced by RYC secretary Gangangpou. Interacting with the youth, he said that each and every youth has a potential to do something great in different ways. Gangangpou on behalf of entire Rongmei Youth Club congratulated the organization

for this wonderful training which was most needed at time and participants for their dedication and hardwork to learn something. Can Youth informed on how the crafts made by participants were put up on stall at Kaziranga National Park and highlighted the products to promote among the people and requested to use bamboo materials instead of plastics which were harmful to humans and environment. Can Youth board secretary, Kivitoli K Sema, urged the youth to not let the work go in vain and make it profitable by accepting it as an opportunity which will guide them to earn. While project coordinator Imlisunep Aier thanked all the sponsors, partners and village heads for their love and support and taking into observation how participants acquired knowledge on handicrafts and wished for their success in life. The trainees were awarded a completion certificate based on their dedication and regularities.

DIMAPUR, DEC 12 (NPN): Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) has announced that it would not attend a meeting convened by Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) at Shamator town on December 15. Expressing regret for the inconvenience, TTC president Topan K Tikhir and general secretary W Tothong Philip in a press release said this was done taking into consideration Tikhir people’s general interest and the consensus that till the time the tribe was recognised by the State government no meeting shall be held between TTC and YTC. They said joint tribal council meeting would take place between TTC and YTC, if the latter so desired, only in the presence of the State government and only after the government gave its recognition to Tikhir tribe YTC had invited TTC for a tribal council meeting to work out modalities at Shamator town on December 15 at 10 a.m.

tution”, and the issues of “Infringement of Human Rights in Nagaland” were raised by Lempiba Sangtam (BA Sem-I), Dzuve Chizo (MA Sem-I), and Martina Patton (MA Sem-III). The sessions in these classrooms were moderated by Abetoli Achumi, Benjungnungsang Ozukum and assistant professors in the department, Dr. Chubatila. DBC: The observance of Human Rights Day was organised with the aim to

spread awareness about people’s social, cultural and physical rights to ensure welfare of everyone, under the theme “Equality- Reducing inequalities and advancing human rights”. The progamme was observed with students and NCC DBC cadets, accompanied by principal Fr. Dr. P Suresh, director Bosco Computer Center, Fr. Christu Das, dean of students’ affair, Zavelu Vero and Lt. Rokovinuo.

Officials of LEH seen destroying IMFL seized item. DIMAPUR: Lotha Eloe Hoho (LEH) has destroyed 36 bottles of Old Monk Rum, Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) seized by LEH on December 10. A press release by LEH stated that the IMFL’s were seized during night bazaar on November, at Tokhu Emong celebration at Wokha. LEH further discouraged idea of making local wines and sale of wines in Wokha Town during festivals as it contained harmful chemical sustains added during brewing. K Y M C

NORTHEAST

More items seized from person who stole Maradona’s watch

GUWAHATI, DEC 12 (PTI): Several memorabilia, including a cap, shoes and a doll, have been recovered from the residence of the person who has been arrested in Assam’s Sivasagar district for allegedly stealing football legend Diego Maradona’s limitededition watch from a Dubai repository. It is being ascertained how much of all that has been recovered belonged to the late Argentinian footballer, the police said on Sunday. “Ref recovery of @ hublot Watch of Late Diego Maradona, more memorabilia have been recovered. Jacket, track pant, T shirt, Shoes, toy doll, Squash racket, watch, lighters, Cap and iPads,” special DGP (Law and Order) GP Singh tweeted. He added that the origin of the items is being ascertained. The Sivasagar Police stated on its Twitter handle

It is being ascertained how much of all that has been recovered belonged to Maradona. that a search operation was conducted at the house of the accused on Saturday night. “It is to be ascertained how much of them belong to Maradona,” the tweet added. The accused, who worked as a security guard at a Dubai company that preserves belongings of Maradona, was held from Sivasagar on Saturday on the charge of stealing a limited-edition Hublot watch of the late footballer, Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mah-

Arunachal Pradesh logs one new COVID case, tally at 55,305 ITANAGAR, DEC 12 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday registered one new COVID-19 case, four less than the previous day, with the tally rising to 55,305, a health department official said. The death toll remained at 280 as no fresh fatality due to the infection was reported in the past 24 hours, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said. At least 54,997 people, including five since Saturday, have recuperated from the disease, he said. The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state remained at 99.44 per cent. The northeastern state now has 28 active cases, Jampa said. The Capital Complex Region, comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa areas, has the highest number of active cases at 10, followed by West Kameng at nine, Tawang at four, Namsai at three, Lower Dibang Valley and East Siang at one each. Over 12 lakh samples, including 199 on Saturday, have been tested for COVID-19 in the state, Jampa said, adding that the positivity rate stood at 0.5 per cent. State Immunisation Officer Dr Dimong Padung said 14,36,447 people have been inoculated so far.

Assam registers no COVID death for second time this week

GUWAHATI, DEC 12 (PTI): Assam reported no death due to COVID-19 for the second time this week while 112 new positive cases were detected on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 6,18,441, according to the bulletin issued by the National Health Mission here. The total death toll due to the virus remained unchanged at 6,129. No death was registered earlier this week on December 8. The current death rate in the state is 0.99 per cent while 1347 COVID-19 patients have died due to other causes, according to the bulletin. The state currently has 1,110 active cases against 1,135 on Friday. The number of positive cases detected during the day declined to 112 as against the previous day’s 141, the bulletin said. Kamrup (Metro) district reported 42 new positive cases followed by 11 each in Dibrugarh and Jorhat and 10 in Barpeta. The new cases were detected out of 31,000 tests, while the cumulative tests in the state have reached 2,60,71,410, the bulletin said. The number of recoveries during the day was 137, higher than the previous day’s 201, with the total recoveries rising to 6,09,854. So far, a total of 3,52,50,237 people have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in the state.

anta had said on Saturday. After working in the UAE for a few days, the accused apparently took leave to return to Assam in August, stating that his father was unwell, he said. The Assam Police swung into action after the Dubai Police reached out to India with information about the accused, Mahanta said. Subsequently, the man was arrested from his residence early on Saturday and the watch was recovered, the DGP added.

Over 46,000 schools of Assam AFSPA likely to be key issue in poll-bound Mnp to be evaluated in two phases

GUWAHATI, DEC 12 (PTI): The Assam government will undertake a massive exercise, ‘Gunotsav’, to evaluate over 46,000 schools covering more than 42 lakh students in two phases next year. A meeting here on Sunday presided over by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma discussed the detailed framework for the exercise, an official statement said. It deliberated on the parameters for scholastic evaluation to be conducted under the initiative which will be done in two phases. The first phase will be organised from April 5-7 and the second phase from April 20-22, it said. The proposed exercise will cover 46,251 government, provincialised, and tea garden-managed schools covering 42,51,524 students. ‘Gunotsav’ is an accountability framework for improving the quality of elementary education which includes learning outcomes of children along with coscholastic activities and use of resources, including

community participation. Meanwhile, the chief minister, who is also the Chancellor of Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences, attended its fifth General Council Meeting here on Sunday and discussed the academic and administrative initiatives of the university, another official release said. The General Council took several key decisions aiming at boosting the academic environment and bringing in a robust administrative mechanism. It also discussed the suggestion made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the curriculum of medical sciences in vernacular languages and entrusted vice-chancellor, Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bora, to take the necessary initiative. The chief minister emphasised the need for permanent campus of the university to streamline its functioning. He also asked the university to focus on research that can be translated from ‘Lab to Field’ to benefit the common people.

It should be 7 to 8 days if one wants to collect quality leaves. More workforce will be engaged in tea plucking in the coming session 2022-23 for producing quality tea”, said Santosh Saha, Chairman of TTDC here on Sunday. Saha said the TTDC has also been focusing on setting up modern tea processing factories in the state. “A mini green tea making factory has already been set up with the help from North East Council (NEC). Besides, two modern packaging units were established in Durgabari tea estate”, he said. Two Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to the tune of Rs 11.20 crore have been sent to NEC for modernization of existing tea processing units at Durgabari and Brahmakuna tea estates. The TTDC chairman further said the state government has been in touch

IMPHAL, DEC 12 ( IANS): After firing by the security forces killed 14 civilians and injured 30 others in neighbouring Nagaland on December 4, the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 is likely to be a top issue in the upcoming Assembly elections in Manipur scheduled early next year. After the ruling BJP’s two vital allies -- Naga People’s Front (NPF) and National People’s Party (NPP) -- the main opposition Congress in Manipur on Saturday demanded the withdrawal of AFSPA from the northeastern state. The NPP and the NPF had recently reiterated their demand to repeal of the “draconian” law, as it did not “help in any way” to tame the insurgency in the northeastern region. Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee’s working president Keisham Meghachandra on Saturday urged Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to press Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeal AFSPA in the ongoing Winter Session of the

Parliament. “Manipur cabinet must adopt a resolution for the immediate removal of the AFSPA from the entire state,” he told the media. Meghachandra said the Congress government had earlier removed AFSPA from seven Assembly constituencies in Manipur. “If Congress comes back to power in the 2022 elections, the first cabinet meeting would decide on the immediate and complete removal of AFSPA from the entire state of Manipur,” the Congress leader said. With not much time left for the Assembly polls, political parties are busy campaigning in Manipur, including the BJP, Congress, NPP and others. BJP President J.P. Nadda has visited the northeastern state thrice since October, addressing many election rallies, while Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state once and virtually addressed a function with an eye on the elections. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, NPP President and Meghalaya Chief

Minister Conrad K. Sangma and many other politicians have also visited the poll-bound state to kick start the campaign for the vital elections. Elections to the 60-seat Manipur Assembly are likely to be held in February-March next year, along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa. The Election Commission has also initiated various exercises to hold the elections in the state. The ruling BJP has been running the government since 2017 with the support of the NPP and the Naga People’s Front (NPF), which has organisational base both in Manipur and Nagaland. After 15 years, the Congress was ousted by the BJP-led alliance in 2017, despite emerging as the single largest party with 28 seats. But the saffron party, which had bagged 21 seats, stitched together a coalition government with the support of four NPP MLAs, four NPF members, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent member.

Former B’desh PM’s daughter who sheltered in Tripura in ‘71 back to say thanks SONAMURA (TRIPURA), DEC 12 (PTI): Sixtyyear old Seemin Hossain Rimi, daughter of the first prime minister of Bangladesh who along with her family escaped to Tripura after a murderous military crackdown during the 1971 war for liberation of Bangladesh, has made the journey back to thank the people of the tiny northeastern state. Sonamura a small town bordering Comilla district of Bangladesh, sheltered thousands of refugees from East Pakistan during the war and also housed a training camp for Mukti Bahini (Free Bangladesh forces) as well as a makeshift hospital for them. Rimi, now a Member of Bangladesh’s Parliament, is the daughter of Tajuddin Ahmad, who led the Provi-

sional Government of Bangladesh as its prime minister during the Liberation War in 1971 and is regarded as one of the leaders instrumental for the birth of Bangladesh. “I cannot believe that I am standing before the bungalow of the then Subdivisional Officer, who arranged for our shelter and gave us security. My tears now are of joy... the educational institutions were closed in Tripura during that time to provide us shelter”, she said while reminiscing of those tumultuous days on Thursday. She went to Delhi to attend a programme to celebrate fifty years of Bangladesh’s freedom and friendship between the two countries and on the way back made a detour to Tripura for three days to pay

Seemin Hossain Rimi her “tribute to the people” of the state. When her father was despatched to India by the Awami League to lead his countrymen’s war efforts, her mother Syeda Zohura Begum along with four minor children went into hiding to escape the marauding Pakistan army, and then moved from one safe home to another on her way to India and safety.

She narrated the family’s harrowing seven-daylong journey from Dhaka to Boxanagar, a distance of about 80 kms. “I was nine and started our journey from Dhaka by a motor launch with my mother, sisters and one year-old brother. There was not a single drop of drinking water, so I lifted water by a mug and drank ... but after five minutes saw blood soaked bodies floating in the river whose water I was drinking”, she said. In another incident, she said, they were travelling in an open boat and suddenly a Pakistani soldier standing on a bridge opened fire at the boat killing passengers. Somehow the Ahmad family survived. “Sometimes, we traversed through water-logged

jute fields. At one point of time we were caught by Rajakars (militia working with the Pak army). They were poor and told us that if we paid a bribe they would guide us up to Boxanagar”, she said. Sometimes they had to cross rivulets through `Bansher Shako’ (narrow bamboo bridges) with every possibility of falling down into the rivulets. The Pakistani army camps were nearby and soldiers could be seen, any noise would have meant being discovered and “sure death” soon afterwards. “When we reached near Boxanagar, firing was going on. We were starving for two days and thought that we would be caught in the crossfire and would not live anymore. However, we

crossed the border and finally reported to the officerin-charge of the Boxanagar police station, who provided us boiled rice, dal and brinjal fry. I am trying to recollect his name to pay my respects,” she said. Sub-divisional officer of Sonamura, Himangshu Roy Chowdury, arranged their stay at Sonamura and next morning offered them breakfast. Rimi had a nostalgic reunion with Roy Chowdhury on Friday, who was awarded the Padmashree by the Indian government for his contribution to the war effort and towards refugee rehabilitation. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Tripura had sheltered refugees from the other side of the border surpassing its own population.

IIT Guwahati establishes micro electronics and nano energy facilities

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (PTI): Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati has established advanced micro electronics and nano energy facilities at its Centre for Nanotechnology which is the first-of-its-kind in the Northeast, according to officials. The centre, aimed at meeting future challenges and augmenting academic partnerships with industry in nanotechnology, will carry out multidisciplinary translational research in the fields of health care, nano biomaterials, micro and nano electronics, nano-energy devices and sensors, they said. According to officials, the institute has been working in the

field of nanotechnology since early 2000 and has a proven record in multiple areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the new building last month, the construction of which was funded by the income generated by the existing work on nanotechnology at the institute. “This centre has established state-of-the-art facilities for nanofabrication, with class 100 cleanroom facilities being one of the major attraction, and is poised to make major contributions in the areas of nanodevices development for healthcare, renewable energyphotovoltaics, light-emitting di-

odes, thin-film transistors, sensors, and other allied areas. “The faculty and scholars at this centre have demonstrated translational research capability resulting in several technology transfers and establishing few centre for excellences as well,” said TG Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati. The centre was funded by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It will host 25 state-of-the-art laboratories that will focus on advancements in disciplinary, scientific and translational research and is equipped with cleanroom facilities integrated with state-of-art fabrica-

TTDC to engage more workforce to Assam govt to clear illegal produce quality tea in coming season encroachment from govt lands AGARTALA, DEC 12 (PTI): The Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) will engage more workforce in the coming season for quality plucking of green leaf from tea estates to ensure better price for all the stakeholders associated with the state’s century-old industry. For the past few years, poor plucking has hit the state’s tea industry the most, fetching an average price of Rs 200 plus per kg in the auction markets - Kolkata and Guwahati. Now, the TTDC wants to increase the average tea price to more than Rs 300 per kg. “We are going to provide utmost care to ensure quality plucking of green leaf from the tea estates as this is an area where a lot of work needs to be done. Currently, plucking of tea leaves takes 10 to 15 days due to acute shortage of experienced tea pluckers.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

with Dhaka to export tea to Bangladesh. “We are trying to access the Bangladesh tea auction centre situated at Srimangal in Sylhet district, which is near Kamalpur subdivision of Dhalai district. It will be a game changer for the state if we get the facility”, he stated. For the past few years, the tea industry has been gaining momentum due to proactive initiatives taken by the TTDC. “Despite the Corona pandemic, the state produced 4.45 lakh kg of tea in the year 2020 whereas it was only 1.72 lakh kg in 2017 and 2.98 lakh kg in 2018. It shows a lot of good works were put in place in the past few years”, he pointed out. Naturally, overall turnover has gone up significantly in the state. The turnover has enhanced to Rs 10.50 crore in 2020-21 from Rs 5.46 crore in the year 2019-20.

GUWAHATI, DEC 12 ( AGENCIES): The Assam government has decided to clear illegal encroachment from government land from as many as 12 places, said state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. According to Economic Times, the said land will be cleared within five years of the present government. ‘’The government has identified 12 sites which are illegally occupied. In two places we have already carried out evictions drives and cleared the land from encroachment,’’ ET quoted him as saying on Saturday. Sarma further asserted that a committee has been formed under the former minister Pradip Hazarika to assess if there is any encroachment and how much encroachment of the land of sattras (monasteries).

Kidnapper killed in Assam

DIPHU (ASSAM), DEC 12 (PTI): A member of a gang that had abducted a man was killed during an operation by security forces to rescue him in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Sunday, police said. The abducted person, an employee of a company engaged in four-laning work of a stretch of the national highway, was rescued safely, they said. A team of local police and the CRPF carried out the operation in Kania Engti village in the district, and during an exchange of fire, one of the gang members was killed, a senior official said. “We had information that the kidnappers had demanded Rs 30 lakh as ransom and the sum was to be handed over on Sunday,” he said. A pistol and ammunition were recovered from the deceased, who is yet to be identified, the official said. Meanwhile, police officers claimed that no militant group is active in the district, and “some criminals” are suspected to be involved in the abduction. Further investigation is underway.

tion, characterisation, and testing laboratories. “The centre aspires not only to become one of the major fountain heads of scientific and technological innovation of the country but also in the global scenario. The major targets in this regard would be to establish worldclass facilities, publish high-impact research, patent translational research, transfer technology to the industry, and train highlyskilled research scholars who are ready to push the barriers of cutting-edge science and technology,” said Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, Professor, Head, Centre for Nanotechnology, IIT Guwahati. Bandyopadhyay explained that

the key outcomes expected from the Centre for Nanotechnology include nano-enabled healthcare, energy harvesting and LED prototypes, devices and technologies. “The startup and incubation ecosystem plans to nurture at least 25 start-ups in the next three years,” he said, adding capacity building of highly skilled manpower in the area of nanofabrication and nanoelectronics and setting up a heath data analytics ecosystem, including rural health and wellness centres, around an electronic health record software and point of care testing devices innovated here are among the outlined plans of the Centre.

MC Mary Kom Inaugurates 52nd Varsity Week Of DU

Mary Kom and Sarbananda Sonawal at the event. DIBRUGARH, DEC 12 (AGENCIES): On the occasion of the 52nd Varsity Week celebrations of Dibrugarh University (DU), MC Mary Kom visited the premises of the campus. The noted sportsperson was there as the chief guest to attend the inauguration of this year’s edition of the Varsity week, which started on Sunday, reports Partidin Time. Meanwhile, the atmosphere around the campus was enthusiastic as people

flocked to catch a glimpse of Mary Kom. She reportedly arrived at around 11.30 am along with former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. They were greeted with a warm welcome as they entered the playground of the university. Present as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the 52nd Varsity week, Mary Kom made a long speech addressing the students of the university. She spoke about her struggles in life and

asked the young students to be mentally strong and prepared to face anything in life. Also present at the event, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke, calling for the students and faculty to work towards making the university one of the best in the country. The presence of sixtime world champion and Olympic medal winner MC Mary Kom lightened up the event as the faculty and students alike were exhilarated.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

I am a Hindu but not Hindutvawadi: Rahul

JAIPUR, DEC 12 (IANS): Addressing a mammoth gathering in Jaipur during the national rally organised to protest against the price rise and inflation, veteran Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday fiercely attacked the central government’s policies and said that he is a Hindu but not Hindutvawadi. Elaborating the difference between the two, he said, “Two words cannot mean the same thing. Every word has a different meaning. In our country’s politics today, the meaning of Hindu and Hindutva are the same. These are not the same thing, they are two different words and they mean completely different things. I am a Hindu but not a Hindutvawadi. Mahatma Gandhi was a Hindu and Nathuram Godse was a Hindutvawadi, he added. “No matter whatever happens, Hindu seeks and spends his whole life in search of truth whereas Hindutva spends his whole life in search of power and getting empowered. He will kill anyone for the sake of power. The path of Hindu is ‘Satyagraha’ while the path of Hindutva is ‘Sattagraha.’ Attacking the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi

said that the entire country has been left in the hands of a few industrialists and the country is being run by “Hum Do, Hamare Do”. Rahul Gandhi further said that the government of the country says that no farmer has died during the agitation. “I gave them a list of five hundred people from Punjab and Haryana and asked them that the Punjab government has given compensation, you should also give it. But they didn’t.” He also took a jibe at PM Modi for giving concessions to industrialists. He said that the country belongs to the poor, farmers, small shopkeepers, only these people can give employment to this country. Adani-Ambani has a place but they cannot create jobs on a large scale. Small business people, farmers can generate large scale employment.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi was unaware of the absence of Punjab CM Charanjit Channi from the rally. He kept calling his name but then Sonia Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot signalled him about Channi’s absence. Before Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also addressed the gathering and attacked the policies of the central government and the BJP. She termed the central government as the government of lies, greed and loot. I know how roads are being built in Goa just for the sake of transportation of coals to benefit one industrialist, she said and termed Modi as Paryatak PM. “ M o d i j i t r ave l l e d throughout the world but did not go to farmers who were protesting on the roads,” she said adding that “the state in which I work spends crores of rupees on advertisement but does not spend on fertilisers for farmers.” Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also spoke on the occasion and said that all state governments are facing the challenge of financial crisis as the central government stays mum. He said that Narendra Modi is one such PM who has not replied to a letter from the CM.

States need to rethink over removal of general consent to CBI: Jitendra

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (PTI): Minister of State for personnel, public grievances and pensions Jitendra Singh on Sunday said state governments have to make clear whether they trust the CBI as they are withdrawing general consent given to the agency to operate in their jurisdiction but are allowing it in selective cases referred by them under public pressure. Singh was speaking at the central investigative agency’s investiture ceremony where he presented police medals for meritorious service to 47 CBI officials. He expressed concern that states are withdrawing the general consent given to the CBI to investigate cases but they are, nevertheless, holding on to the prerogative to give selective consent where it suits them. Calling for wider introspection by the polity, the society and the nation at large, Singh asked whether this is the kind of propriety which is to be followed. He said that states have to make it clear whether they trust the CBI or not, or whether they trust the agency selectively as they continue to give selective consent in cases which suits them. According to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act which governs the CBI, the agency needs consent from the state

governments to operate in their jurisdiction. However, this consent is not required when a case is entrusted to the CBI by a High Court or Supreme Court. Asking the state governments to “rethink” their decisions to withdraw general consent, the minister said state governments continue to refer cases to the CBI under public pressure which indicates that the people have greater trust in the agency. “Similarly, complex and urgent cases are also assigned to the CBI by the judiciary on many occasions,” he added. Singh said that zerotolerance for corruption, transparency and citizen centricity are the three main mantras that determine the administrative outlook of the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that irrespective of ideological beliefs, it is the collective responsibility of all to strengthen institutions like the CBI as these institutions also contribute to strengthening the nation’s resolve to achieve the ultimate goal of incorruptibility in society. Speaking at the function, CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal said the agency is trusted by courts, governments and the people at large. For every serious

crime, there is always a clamour for CBI investigation, he said. “The success of the CBI is exemplified by the fact that it has over the years been able to achieve nearly 70 per cent conviction rate despite the fact that the accused are able to get the best of legal support. The CBI is committed to take forward the great legacy and adapt with time,” he said. Jaiswal said the agency has initiated a comprehensive internal process of modernisation, upgradation of capacities, setting higher benchmarks for investigation and preventive vigilance and for leveraging cutting edge capabilities to combat new age crime. He said the CBI has identified 75 practices which need to be discouraged so as to enhance efficiency of the organisation. The agency chief referred to a countrywide crackdown on online peddlers of child sexual exploitation material. He said more than 5,000 individuals from more than 80 locations in India and more than 100 countries across the globe have been identified during the operation. “We have taken note that the problems of today cannot be solved by using the skills and knowledge of yesterday,” Jaiswal said.

NATIONAL

Covid: PDP barred from ‘Apne senao par hei hame garv’: holding youth convention CDS Rawat’s last public message

S R I NAG A R , D E C 1 2 (PTI): Authorities on Sunday barred the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from holding a youth convention here citing COVID-19 restrictions, with party chief Mehbooba Mufti describing the move as “sabotage”. The convention of the youth wing of the party was scheduled to take place at the PDP president’s ‘Fairview’ residence on Gupkar Road here. However, all roads leading to the venue were sealed by the police and no movement was allowed on the road. Journalists were also barred from moving towards the venue. A PDP spokesperson claimed that Mufti was placed under house arrest. However, there was no official confirmation. In an order, the Executive Magistrate, First Class, South Srinagar said in view of the report received from the Senior Superintendent of Police and in view of COVID-19 restrictions in place, “it is hereby ordered that the scheduled youth conference that is to be held by PDP at Gupkar is hereby not allowed.” The magistrate directed the station house officer concerned to “ensure” that no such event takes place “without the permission of the competent authority.”

PM’s Twitter handle ‘briefly compromised’ NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (AGENCIES): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal Twitter account was “briefly compromised”, his office posted on the social networking site early on Sunday morning, after it shared a scam link promising a bitcoin giveaway. The account has now been restored and the malicious tweets have been deleted. According to screenshots shared on Twitter by several users, tweets put out from PM Modi’s @narendramodi account read, “India has officially accepted bitcoin as legal tender. The government has officially bought 500 BTC and distributing them to all residents of the country.” Along with the tweet, a possible scam link was also attached. The tweet was soon deleted but not before #Hacked began trending in India. Users f looded the micro-blogging site with the screenshot of the nowdeleted tweet. Earlier, in September 2020, the Twitter account linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal website and mobile app was hacked by an unknown group.

PDP spokesperson Najamus-Saqib said the party activists were barred from moving towards Mufti’s residence. After the convention at Mufti’s residence was foiled, the party tried to hold it at its headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Park here, “but the office was also sealed by the administration,” the spokesperson said. He claimed that Mufti was placed under house arrest. In a video message put up on her party’s Twitter handle, Mufti described the move by the authorities as “sabotage”. “I wanted to speak to the young people associated with my party. Now they (authorities) remember Covid and sabotage this event,” she alleged. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K charged that the government was looking for new ways to “deny rights” to the youth of Kashmir and to “pull them away from democracy and push them on the path to violence”. “So that it is easier for them to rough them up or throw them in jail. This is what they have been doing for the last three years,” she added. Mufti said the party’s activists from all parts of the valley wanted to come and meet and have a conversation.

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (PTI): “Apne Senao par hei hame garv, aao milkar manaye Vijay Parv (We are proud of our armies, let’s celebrate victory together)” was the last public message by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, a day before his death in a helicopter crash. The Indian Army on Sunday released a 1.09-minute video clip in which Gen Rawat greeted the armed forces personnel on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war and paid tributes to the fallen heroes. Army sources said the video was recorded on the evening of December 7. Gen Rawat, his wife and his Defence Adviser Brigadier LS Lidder were among the 13 people killed in the horrific helicopter crash at 12:22 pm on December 8 near Coonoor. In the video clip, Gen Rawat paid glowing tributes to the Indian armed forces personnel killed in the 1971 war with Pakistan and appealed to the citizens to join the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the victory. The video was also played at the inaugural event of the ‘Vijay Parv’ celebrations at the Indian Gate complex. The event was attended by Defence

Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat (File)

Minister Rajnath Singh and the top military brass of the country. Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the “Mukti Bahini” on December 16, 1971, that paved way for the birth of Bangladesh. “I am extending heartfelt greetings to all the brave soldiers of Indian armed forces on the occasion of Swarnim Vijay Parv. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the victory in the 1971 war as the Vijay Parv,” Gen Rawat said. India is organising a series of events to mark the stupendous victory of India over Pakistan in the war 50 years ago. “I am paying my tributes to our brave soldiers on this occasion, remembering their sacrifices. Several events are being organised at the India Gate between December 12 and 14.

Priyanka Gandhi slams Modi govt, asks what it has done for common man

JAIPUR, DEC 12 (PTI): Attacking the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday charged that the BJP government wants to sell to its industrialist friends whatever her party had built in 70 years. She said when elections come, BJP leaders talk of China or other countries, casteism, communalism but not about the struggles of the people and asked what the Modi government has done in seven years of its rule. “It is your responsibility to make the government accountable, it is your responsibility to ask why there is so much inflation,” she said while addressing a national level rally against

Priyanka Gandhi

inflation here. Gandhi alleged that the government is working for select industrialist friends instead of working for the good of the people and farmers of the country. “There are two types of government. The goal of the first type of government is service, dedication and truthfulness to the public and there is a gov-

ernment whose target is lies, greed and loot...The target of the present central government is lies, greed and loot,” she alleged. “The Modi government at the Centre repeatedly questions what Congress has done in 70 years. I say leave the talk of 70 years. Tell us what you have done in seven years?” she asked, S h e c h a r ge d t h a t whatever the Congress built in 70 years, the Central government wants to sell it to industrialist friends. Targeting the Uttar Pradesh government, Gandhi charged that the Yogi Adityanath dispensation is spending crores of rupees on advertisements but has failed in getting farmers fertiliser.

“It is a matter of great pride that Vijay Parv is being organised at the Amar Jawan Jyoti complex which was established in memory of our brave soldiers,” Gen Rawat said in the message. “We invite all countrymen to participate in the Vijay Parv,” he said. He ended by saying: “Apne Senao par hei hame garv, aao milkar manaye Vijay Parv.” On January 1 last year, Gen Rawat took charge as India’s first CDS with a mandate to bring in convergence in the functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country’s overall military prowess. In the last two years, Gen Rawat carried out the extensive groundwork to roll out tri-services reforms. Known to be forthright, fearless, and blunt at times, the outstanding military commander ruffled many feathers with his controversial remarks during his tenure as the Army Chief as well as Chief of Defence Staff. In his role as Chief of Army Chief between 2016 and 2019, he strongly backed a policy of hot pursuit in dealing with cross-border terrorism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Karnataka reports third Omicron case BENGALURU, DEC 12 (PTI): Karnataka on Sunday reported the third case of Omicron variant of COVID-19 with a man who arrived from South Africa testing positive for it. “Third case of #Omicron has been detected in Karnataka. A 34-year-old male returning from South Africa has tested positive. He is isolated and being treated in a govt hospital. 5 primary and 15 secondary contacts have been traced and samples sent for testing,” State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar tweeted. The Omicron variant was first detected in India in Bengaluru with two people testing positive for it comprising a South African national of Indian origin and a doctor.

2 MLAs join SP ahead of 2022 UP Assembly polls LUCKNOW, DEC 12 (PTI): Ahead of the crucial 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party got a shot in the arm on Sunday when two sitting MLAs, one from the BJP and one from the BSP, joined the party at its headquarters here in presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. The legislators are Vinay Shankar Tiwari (BSP) from Chillupar assembly seat in Gorakhpur and Digvijay Narayan alias Jai Chaubey from Khalilabad constituency in Sant Kabir Nagar. Former chairman of the UP

Legislative Council Ganesh Shankar Pandey, who was fielded by the BSP in 2010 for the post of council chairman, also joined the Samajwadi Party. Apart from these prominent leaders, a large number of Brahmins from different political parties also joined the party. Speaking on the occasion, Tiwari termed Yadav a “popular leader” and claimed, “This (BJP) government was not formed for democracy (loktantra) but for autocracy (rajtantra), and there is a ban on free speech. This government has also started a new trend

of putting its plaques on foundation stones or development work of any other government.” The government has sown seeds of hatred and has divided the people, he alleged. Tiwari said the government had set up big hoardings advertising its achievements but the ground reality was completely different. “The injustice done to the Brahmin community has been the most in this government,” he said, adding that the UP government had started a “policy of encounters” in the state.

SRINAGAR, DEC 12 (PTI): The National Conference (NC) on Sunday asked the Delimitation Commission to provide an agenda for the December 20 meeting before the party MPs could take a decision over their participation in it. The Commission has called a meeting of its associate members in New Delhi on December 20. The Commission has five associate members who are five Lok Sabha MPs from J-K. While the NC has three MPs, all from the Kashmir valley, the BJP has two from Jammu region. NC Member of Parliament from south Kashmir’s Anantnag, Hasnain Masoodi, said the party has sent a written communication to the Commission, asking it to provide the relevant material so that the party MPs could decide whether to participate in the meeting or not. “We have sent a letter to the Delimitation Commission and we have asked them to make us aware of the agenda of the

Hasnain Masoodi (File)

meeting, provide us the agenda items and provide us all the material concerning that (the agenda items),” Masoodi told PTI. The letter was sent by Masoodi and NC MP from north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Mohammad Akbar Lone. NC president and Srinagar MP, Farooq Abdullah, is currently in Jammu. Masoodi said the party wants

to go through the agenda first before taking the decision over its participation in the meeting. “We want to go through the material that is provided to us so that we can look into it and then take our decision,” he said. The NC MP said the two MPs have also reminded the Commission that there has been no response so far from the Com-

mission to the party’s letter written on February 17. The party had boycotted the first meeting of the Commission with the associate members and had sent a letter to the Commission, saying the exercise was an outcome of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act-2019, which the party had challenged in the Supreme Court. The letter had called upon the Commission to halt the delimitation proceedings as the exercise was being conducted in accordance with the provisions of an Act which is under judicial scrutiny. Masoodi said once the party MPs get a response from the Commission, they will study it and then take a decision. “We have just been asked to come for the meeting on December 20. What is the meeting about, what do we have to do there, we have no idea. Nothing has been told to us. That is why we have written the letter,” he said.

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Provide agenda for Delimitation Commission meeting: NC

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post VOL. XXXII NO. 11 DIMAPUR, MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

Greased pole syndrome

y 2024 India will go to the polls to elect members to the next 18th Lok Sabha and in effect, also decide which party or coalition will form the government. The BJP led by prime minister Narendra Modi will be fighting to win a third successive term. The BJP is today not only the biggest political party in India and the world but also the richest and most well organised. It is backed by a totally committed and disciplined army of RSS cadres with a strength in terms of not less than fifty to sixty lakhs. The BJP itself is reported to have somewhere around 18 crore members across India and has today reached almost every state in India. The BJP came to power in 2014 with a huge margin and repeated the win with a huge landslide in 2019. The Congress which headed the UPA I and II lost heavily winning only 44 seats in 2014 and despite the alleged failures of the BJP under Modi and speculations of a Congress revival the party could hardly manage 52 seats in 2019. All these statistics does not mean that the size and resources of a political party guarantees power. The Congress experienced this in 1977 when, despite being the only dominant political party, suffered a jolt at the hands of the Janata Party, formed by political parties with diverse ideologies and agenda. Only anti-Indiraism brought them together.Today the opposition parties are as formidable in their own right- Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Shiv Sena, NCP, Samajwadi Party, RJD etc. On the strength of its all-India presence and having won at least 20% of votes in the 2019 election, the Congress should have been the natural choice to head the opposition alliance. Unfortunately, the dynastic party run by the troika – mother, son and daughter- has not shown maturity and leadership qualities required to lead the party at a time when it was needed the most. This is a major syndrome that has led many Congress men and women to leave the party because the party is fast losing relevance. Politics is about winning but taking on the BJP in 2024 is another matter. With Congress unable to rise about family interests and the party losing elections in a routine manner, the supposed empty space as the political alternative is being contested by Mamata Banerjee. After the unbelievable win by routing the rising BJP, the Trinamool Congress supremo sees herself as one who can rightly lead the combined opposition. Mamata may be more than buoyed by her win in Bengal against BJP but she is on a wrong footing if she thinks opposition will unite under her. Mamata has trained her guns at the Congress and in particular Rahul Gandhi. This is not going to help her indirectly. At such time, a unified approach instead of political unity, can happen early if the family realises it is not time for dynastic politics but realistic politics.

DailyDevotion Personality

…that they may be one just as We are one… — John 17:22 Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator. Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “… that they may be one just as We are one….” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.

Quotes

Order and simplification are the first steps toward the mastery of a subject. ~ Thomas Mann

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

Post-mortem

Grassroot Reality of the Oting Massacre

Shared during the Virtual Roundtable Discussion Repeal AFSPA: Perspective from the North East India and Beyond Organised by the Naga Scholars’Association on December 11, 2021. This past weekend, Nagas woke up to a horrifying reality – the death of 15 young men. The name Oting was unknown to many Nagas and the outside world until this past weekend. Suddenly, #Otingmassacre is everywhere! I am a native of Kongan village, although born in Wakching village of Mon District. Kongan, Wakching, Naginimora, Tiru, Oting are all in the same mountain range touching the plains of Assam, where in the recent years coal mining has become the main source of income for the villagers. My friend, Dr. Dolly Kikon, an Anthropologist based in Melbourne has done an extensive study on this practice and Autonomous rights in Nagaland (Refer to Dolly Kikon, Cultures of Coal: Extractive Resources and Tribal Aspirations in Nagaland and Kikon, Dolly, Living with Oil and Coal: Resources Politics and Militarization in Northeast

India, Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2019). Many natives of these villages are into this mining business mainly for their livelihood. There are many levels of operations, likewise the people who work there. Unlike the land owners, contractors, or wealthy investors, the coal miners of Dec 4th are daily wage earners who work in dangerous conditions and risking their lives in the rat-hole mines. Like any other Naga, they want better lives, they want to sustain themselves, they want to send their children to better schools or colleges instead of sending them to the shabby government schools. And most importantly, these villagers are the custodians of our culture. They take care of the ancestral lands. They are the ones who keep our hearth warm and welcome us home. So killing these young adults in the most inhuman way is causing much grief and anger. I hear many commentators saying that there has never been an outpouring of emotions and reactions of this magnitude. This massacre has touched us to the core and we are still trying to come to grips with this horrible reality. I cannot even begin to imagine what the families of the slain

narrative of the geo-political struggle of Nagalim, people from all over the country and overseas are interested in this tragedy. So we have these humble, simple folks coping with not just a profound loss but never-beforeexperienced interviews, probes, investigation which could be overwhelming. 3. There is a probability of normal grief turning into complicated grief in our experience of this trauma. We are not well equipped to provide emotional and mental health services to so many people. The tendency of our people to resort to traditional or unhealthy means of coping is there. 4. Because of the timeframe of the massacre and the resultant reactions, there were much turmoil and confusion in the initial stage. I have to give huge credit to our elders, the Konyak Union, Konyak Student Union, Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong, the Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Bangjem and members, the various Organizations and Administration, for stepping up and doing what was necessary on December 4th, the 5th and this whole week. Managing the situation which involves several villages and Mon Town, is no easy task. Those friends

visiting ground zero talk about the amazing hospitality in the midst of pain, the resilience of the humble villagers and all they encountered. 5. For many Nagas, it is reliving past traumas – poems, songs, social media rants, that recount deep, vivid pain have emerged within this week. Vigils are held in so many places, with hundreds and thousands of people participating everywhere even beyond our Naga borders. The slogan to remove or revoke AFSPA is everywhere, even louder this time round. This is a very pivotal time in our history. We need to centre ourselves and come together to have the right narrative shared. This is no time to fight amongst ourselves but to address our plight which our 14 innocent brothers have paid for. It calls for all of us irrespective of our age, gender, tribe, party, faction, and denomination - to come together!! Let us retrospect and honestly see where we are as a people. For many of us, we were born into this system where military presence in civilian areas is a norm. The atrocities acted out against our parents, brothers and sisters are somehow tolerated because of the culture of

impunity in our system. The experts will tell us that this is totally wrong. In a democratic country, we should be able to achieve our aspiration in non-violent ways through sincere negotiations and dialogues. We need to do away with mistrust, apathy and fight for dominance. Can we aspire towards peaceful co-existence? Our historical narrative is one that is broken, confusing and complex. We should support the current investigation into the massacre – that the responsible parties look into the rightness of the incident, the truth, and that the Konyak people demands are fulfilled. We should not let this case be compromised or fade away to oblivion or apathy. C o n s e q u e n t ly, we should continue to reach out to the Oting, Jakphang and Chi as well as Tizit and Mon Town people. We should uphold the dignity of their distress and walk with them as they seek justice and healing. We should hold their hands and walk with them. How can we transcend our confusion and pain? How can we reconcile with this bitterness and pain? What can you and I do in this pursuit for peace and justice? Kuknalim. Ellen Konyak Jamir

Human rights and the AFSPA

NTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY was observed all over the world on the 10th of the month. In India the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Justice Arun Mishra in an event that day to mark the Human Rights Day declared, ‘There is no room for fake encounters. The government is accountable to its people’. I sat pondering through the day as to how to celebrate the day. Memories of horrifying incidents of violation of Human Rights flooded my mind. I recalled the valiant fight of the brave young woman, Irom Sharmila Devi fasting 16 long years demanding repeal of the ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT, 1958 (known widely as AFSPA, in short). I remembered how another young woman, Manorama Devi was picked up by the security forces from her home in the wee hours of the morning on July 2004 and was found abandoned dead in a nearby field after a few days with bruises on her thighs and other inner parts. The furious red face of the former Indian Army Chief and Rajya Sabha member, Gen.Shankar Roychowdhury (retd.) with his decorative long moustache flashed before my eyes when I, in the Roundtable organized by the SAPRA India Foundatioon on 26 August 2004 at New Delhi to discuss the developments in Manipur in the context of AFSPA, questioned whether

brothers are going through and how they will live on. The impact: 1. These young adults whose names we will never forget are gone forever - W. Thakwang, L.Thapwang, L. Langwang, L.Pongche, M. Langtun, Phaokam, W. Hokup, W. Manpeih, C. Shomwang, S. Khawang, P. Ngampho, M.Yinjong, L.Leiong (from Chi) and Bipul Konwer. With them, precious lives have ceased. The hope of their families, the breadearners of the families and dependents are gone. For example, the father and son duo, the twin brothers, the newly married and another one soon to be married, Pongche from Jakphang was working as a handyman far away from his family. By the way, majority of them are from Oting, one is from Jakphang village, and another one from Chi village. There are three villages deeply affected. There are a dozen more currently receiving medical treatment for their injuries. Who will help them? Two of the seriously injured are recent graduates. We are anxious about their future. 2. The families and relatives of the deceased are in a state of mourning. And because this massacre happened within the grand

AFSPA is the panacea for insurgency, how long can a region and its people be kept under subjugation by military might if the civil society was getting alienated and if POTA could be repealed on grounds that it lacked a human face and was misused in many areas, then can’t the AFSPA, which is draconian and had been grossly misused for almost half a century be repealed or replaced by a better legislation. The participants of the Roundtable included former Intelligence Bureau official, M.K. Dhar and former DG BSF & member National Security Advisory Board, E.N. Rammohan. I demanded then, ‘Manipur should not be abandoned to the periphery of national consciousness’ and proposed that the government of India should outline a roadmap for lasting peace and development in Manipur. My mind slowly turned from the turbulent Past to the Present. My attention then dwelt on the horrendous incident at Oting village of Mon district, Nagaland where on 4th December 2021 the Security Forces shot unsuspecting civilian coalmine workers and subsequently killed many more civilians using lethal weapons in the repression of the angry public protesting against the highhandedness of the security forces. The killings were clear cases of Human Rights violation. The pain caused by the incidents was deep and hard to bear. The pain and anguish were

more unbearable and infuriating when government of India fabricated excuses of justification for the inhuman acts of its security forces. I was unable to find any appropriate word of condemnation for such an anti-people stance of a democratic government. May the Truth prevail. It was only last month (November) on the 16th that I, accompanied by my nephew, Mr Zasivikho Zakiesato, a young upcoming social worker in Dimapur, visited my long time friend, Mr. Chingwang Konyak, a former Minister & a former MP of Nagaland and the present President of the ruling National Democratic People’s Party of Nagaland at his Dimapur home. Mr Chingwang Konyak hails from the Mon district of Nagaland. Immediately after the Oting incident the Chief Minister of Nagaland as well as the Chief Minister of Meghalay came out demanding for the repeal of the AFSPA. I appreciate the two leaders for their courage and political vision. More importantly, I salute their sensitivity to the wishes and aspirations of their people and their high sense of obligation to the people they govern. Not long after there followed a great din of demands by various organizations inside and outside the country to repeal the Act. The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the United Nations (CSCHR) came

out with a strong statement on Oting incident on the 7th December 2021demanding repeal of the Act. The statement was welcomed and supported by the Citizen Committee Manipur of which Mr Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director, Human Rights Alert, Manipur is the Convener. Human Rights Watch, New York joined the chorus with its article on 8th December 2021 under the headline, India: Army Kills 14 Civilians in Nagaland with sub-titles : Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act; Prosecute Soldiers Responsible. Statement of the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) on the incidents in Oting, Mon District, Nagaland on 4-5 December 2021 issued on 12 December 2021 expressed solidarity with the coal mine labourers and protestors killed and injured at Oting, Mon district, Nagaland and said despite the historic judgment of the Supreme Court of India in EEVFAM -vs- Union of India the government of India is yet to grant prosecution sanction against anyone involved in the extra- judicial killings. ’The repeal of AFSPA will strengthen the spirit of the country’s constitutional democracy’ read the statement Why the demands for the repeal of the AFSPA? The Act is a short enactment of the Indian Parliament having only 7 sections. But, it is lethal in the sweeping powers conferred to the security forces and glaring in

the absence of accountability of the soldiers with the immunity provided from prosecution. The Supreme Court of India had the occasion to look into the provisions of the Act threadbare in a Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 129 of 2012 filed by the Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) & anr versus Union of India & anr against the fake encounters perpetrated by the Security Forces in Manipur. Based on the judgment and order of the Supreme Court I wrote an article, ‘AFSPA and the law of the land’, which was published in the Fortnightly, the North East SUN in its September 1-15, 2016 (Vol. xx, No.17) issue. I reproduce the same below (Courtesy:the North East SUN) for the benefit of the public to acquaint themselves with what the highest Court of the land said on the Act and ponder on the merit of the gathering storm of demands for its repeal. I, for one, strongly feel that it is high time to do away with the draconian law. This will help in the emotional integration of the Northeast into the Indian Nation and remove the feeling of OTHERNESS from the mind of the people of the region. Radha Binod Koijam, Sr. Advocate Former Chief Minister, Manipur & Chairperson, Citizen Committee Manipur

Economic policy of Sardar Patel

ardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man, has been the foremost among the national heroes of India. In 1946, in view of the possibility of getting independence soon, 13 out of 15 provincial committees of the Congress proposed the name of Sardar Patel for the national president, so that he could become the first Prime Minister of independent India. But despite the proposal of an invincible majority, this could not happen due to the insistence of Gandhi in favour of Nehru and the country was deprived of a strong and practical leadership. This adversely affected the policies of the nation in various domestic and foreign matters, for which we are suffering till date. Sardar’s view towards the economic affairs of the country was very practical.

It was full of humanity and the need of the hour. More production, equitable distribution, and fair treatment of all the means of production were the mainstays of his economic policy. He made it clear that achieving industrial dexterity and self-reliance through progressive development would be the first goal of the nation, which would increase the prosperity of the common mass and ensure a high standard of living for them. In a speech given in Kolkata on January 5, 1948, he stressed that before nationalization of industries it is necessary to first establish them properly and such people cannot be patriots who believe that workers should reduce production, but they should be given more money. Sardar Patel had realistic views on the planning and economic policy of India. He had emphasized on the

co-operation between the three stakeholders, the government, the industrialist and the workers, to counter the economic sickness spreading in the country. He was a staunch supporter of the abolition of control and supported the government’s plan to decontrol food and clothing and provide industrial relief. He was opposed to the planning framework which went beyond the country’s capacity and resources. He wanted to organize the country’s economy on the basis of villages. He firmly believed that once the facilities were provided to the villagers, they would take care of themselves and then their grain production would increase much more than we expected. Patel was against instilling in the people such hope which would never be fulfilled. He was not against

taking foreign loans when needed, which could be spent on production related plans and industrialization. According to Shri N. G. Ranga, in 1936, Rajaji and Sardar Patel had rehearsed that Jawaharlal’s socialism would create problems for the social economy of India, so he presided over the Congress and opposed their campaign of socialism from a favorable position. As a result of which Nehru had to wait till the year 1951 i.e. Sardar’s death before launching his campaign against the economy of the Indian peasantry and the enterprise of its people. In a meeting of Chief Ministers and heads of provincial Congress Committees, Patel clarified that the plan for this country would be different from that of industrialized countries, which were either small in extent or highly developed.

Machine is not the complete solution to the problem of this country. Millions of useless hands cannot get work from the machine, because the machine itself displaces man. He emphasized on the expansion of cottage industries, but at the same time called for rapid industrialization in the country to generate sufficient resources, so that the country does not face a serious crisis. Sardar Patel was accused by the so-called socialists of being a friend of the capitalists. He made it clear that on the basis of Gandhiji’s teachings, he behaves workers, industrialists, princes, farmers and landlords in equal measure and lovingly inspires them to do the right thing. In the current situation, he was against nationalization. He said that it is necessary to establish industry and increase production in the country

before nationalisation. Socialism in England has come there rightly by following the path of industrialization. In India, socialism in true sense lies in the development of cottage industries, which can provide employment to crores of people. By making the spinning wheel more ubiquitous, the concept of Swadeshi can be developed through Khadi. Patel urged the traders not to import foreign clothes and urged the citizens not to wear it. In order to take a step towards self-reliance, he wrote a letter to the then Industries and Supplies Minister Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to manufacture the necessary equipments and weapons for the army in the country itself and his idea was supported by the eminent scientist S.S. Bhatnagar. (To be Concluded...) - Er. Prabhat Kishore

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

NATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

Big challenge before Rahul, Priyanka to revive Cong: Sanjay Raut

MUMBAI, DEC 12 (PTI): Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have a big challenge before them of reviving their party. In his weekly column ‘Rohkthok’ in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Raut, whose party shares power with the Congress and NCP in Maharashtra, said the Gandhi siblings should take inspiration from Lokmanya Tilak, who had transformed the Congress into a weapon of political revolution. Raut, who is the executive editor of Saamana, met the two Congress leaders last week in New Delhi. He said during their meeting, Rahul Gandhi told him the system of creating and building leaders has stopped in the Congress and that the latter never disrespected senior party leaders. Raut quoted Gandhi as saying that he had requested senior leader Ghulam Nabi

Azad to take charge of the Congress’ Jammu & Kashmir unit after his Rajya Sabha term expired, but the latter refused. “He can become the chief minister again after elections. But, he refused saying the Congress didn’t exist there. Azad ji has been the chief minister there and he thinks the Congress doesn’t exist there,’’ Raut said quoting Rahul Gandhi. The Sena leader further mentioned that when he pointed out during the conversation that Azad was holding public meetings in Kashmir, Gandhi said “yes...the reasons behind that could be different”. The former Congress president said the party had given a lot to its elder leaders. They are taking a different stand when the party needs them. “What can I do?” Raut said attributing the comments to Rahul Gandhi. Raut in his column described Rahul Gandhi

State govts will take call on withdrawal of cases against farmers: Tomar

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (AGENCIES): Days after Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) called off the agitation, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday (December 12) said state governments will decide on withdrawal of the cases registered against farmers during the year-long protest. SKM, an umbrella body of farmer unions that spearheaded the protest, announced the suspension of protests on December 9 after receiving a formal letter from the Government of India promising the formation of a committee on MSP and withdrawal of cases against the farmers immediately. Speaking to reporters today on the issue of withdrawal of cases, Tomar, as quoted by PTI, said: “The issue of law and order falls under the jurisdiction of

state governments. So they will take a decision in this regard.” He added that he has been in touch with the farmers’ leaders since the last year. “I also talked to them today morning. We are saying that this is not a question of victory or defeat and you should also not see this issue like this,” the Union minister said. The Centre’s letter to SKM had mentioned that the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have agreed to withdraw cases against farmers with immediate effect. “Cases registered against farmers in Delhi and other states will also be withdrawn”, it added. Earlier on Sunday, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said that farmers will leave all protest sites in Delhi by December 15.

Sanjay Raut

and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as different personalities whose styles of functioning were also very different, but said there was a unanimity between them. ‘’Both have a big challenge of reviving the Congress,’’ the Rajya Sabha member said. “If you expect a quick stand from her (Priyanka Gandhi) in any political discussion...she says she will have to discuss with her brother,” Raut said, adding that the discussions between him and Priyanka Gandhi were related to various issues, including those pertaining to the forthcom-

ing Goa and Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as well as national politics. The Sena leader said when he raised the issue of MVA leaders in Maharashtra being targeted using central agencies, Priyanka Gandhi said her family was also facing a similar situation. He quoted her as saying that when she went to Lakhimpur Kheri (after the alleged killing of some farmers a few months back), her husband got “69 notices from the Income Tax (department) in one day”. Raut said Priyanka Gandhi told him she will not backtrack, and continue to fight. He also said Rahul Gandhi told him that during Captain Amarinder Singh’s tenure as the chief minister of Punjab, the Congress’s graph declined. The Sena leader said Gandhi told him that during a poll, Singh had got “only six per cent votes” as CM,

while those who were not even in the chief ministerial race got more votes than Singh. Singh was told implement promises made to the people, but the response was cold, Raut said quoting the former Congress chief. Further quoting Gandhi from their conversation, Raut said, “He (Singh) was told to do something or else the party will have to take action. The party seniors stood by Singh and told me not to take a stern action against him. If Singh wasn’t changed as the CM, the party would have been finished in Punjab.” The Congress leader also told that even if West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticises him or the Congress, he will not react to it, Raut said. Notably, Banerjee during her recent Mumbai visit took a veiled dig at Gandhi, saying one cannot be abroad most of the time.

Won direct war in 1971, will also win indirect war against Pak-induced terror: Rajnath NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (PTI): India won the direct war against Pakistan in 1971 and it will also win the ongoing indirect war against Pakistan-induced terrorism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday. The 1971 war showed that India’s division -- at the time of its independence from the British rule -- in the name of a religion was a “historic mistake”, he said. “Pakistan wants to break India by promoting terrorism and other anti-India activities,” the minister said in his speech at the inaugural ceremony of ‘Swarnim Vijay Parv’ (Golden jubilee celebration) to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. The Indian

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (PTI).

armed forces defeated all its plans in the 1971 war and they are currently working to uproot the menace of terrorism, Singh noted. “We won the direct war and I can fully assure that we will win the indirect war too,” he added. The minister said the Indian government had planned to conduct this Swarnim Vijay Parv in more glorious manner. “However, due to un-

timely death of the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel, it was decided to conduct this event with simplicity,” he mentioned. “Today, at this event, I remember each one of them and pay my tribute to them,” he noted. Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel were killed when a military chopper carrying them crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8. One person -- Group Captain Varun Singh -- survived the crash. “Indian Air Force’s officer Group Captain Varun Singh is getting his treatment at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru,” Singh said.

12 BJP CMs, 9 DyCMs to attend 2-day Varanasi conclave NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (AGENCIES): The chief ministers of 12 BJP-ruled states will attend a two-day conclave in Varanasi from Monday in which nine deputy chief ministers of the party will also participate to deliberate on a wide range of subjects relating to good governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the event aimed at showcasing the best governance-related practices from the party-ruled states, BJP general secretary Arun Singh said in a statement, asserting that the conclave will provide chief ministers an “opportunity to learn and grow from others and highlight

the good they are doing”. PM Modi will inaugurate the Kashi-Vishwanath Dham, a renovated pilgrimage corridor at the centre of which is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Monday, an event the BJP will be broadcasting live at more than 51,000 places across the country. The chief ministers attending the “Mukhyamantri Parishad” are from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, Mr Singh said. Both the deputy chief ministers of the party in Bihar

and the deputy chief minister of Nagaland will also participate, Mr Singh added. “From the hill states to coastal states, from the northeast to southern India, from the westernmost part of India to the easternmost and the heart of India, the conclave will encapsulate the diversity of India,” he said. This conclave will witness extensive and fruitful deliberations on a wide range of subjects relating to good governance and the pro-people initiatives being undertaken in line with the BJP’s focus on all-round development, he said. PM Modi himself has served for 13 years as a chief minister and

thus is sensitive to the aspirations of the states, Mr Singh said, adding that as prime minister, he has always worked in line with the mantra of cooperative federalism. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, regular meetings were held with chief ministers, and they were consulted on different aspects of fighting the pandemic, Mr Singh said. The conclave will begin after the Kashi Vishwanath corridor is dedicated to the nation by PM Modi, and the chief ministers will join various cultural and spiritual programmes, including a visit to the ghats and the viewing of the Ganga aarti by boat.

No alliance with TMC for Goa polls: AAP BJP and AIMIM two sides

Arvind Kejriwal with AAP leaders at a press conference in Panaji.

PANAJI, DEC 12 (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday said it will not have an alliance with the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the forthcoming Goa Assembly elections. The AAP is determined to provide a fresh alternative to Goa with good candidates and form an honest and corruption- free government, the party’s Goa desk in-charge Atishi said. The Assembly polls in the coastal state are due early next year. “I say with full responsibility that there will be no alliance with TMC. So, there is no ques-

tion of any talks with them. We are determined to give Goa a fresh alternative with good candidates and form a honest corruption free government,” Atishi tweeted. She was responding to a tweet by a West Bengalbased writer, who quoted a media report saying the AAP is looking to forge an alliance with the TMC in Goa and that the Mamata Banerjee-led party is yet to decide on the proposal, but the two sides have held a round of discussion on the issue. The AAP has decided to contest the Goa Assembly elections on its own. The Arvind Kejriwal-

led party contested the 2017 Goa Assembly polls, but did not win a single seat. The TMC, which recently announced that it would contest all the 40 seats in the Goa Assembly, has tied-up with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, the oldest regional outfit in the coastal state. In the 2017 Goa Assembly polls, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party by winning 17 seats, but failed to form government. Later, the BJP forged an alliance with some regional outfits and independents to form government in the state.

MUMBAI, DEC 12 (PTI): The Congress in Maharashtra on Sunday alleged that the AIMIM and BJP are two sides of the same coin, a day after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the grand old party and the NCP at a rally in Mumbai for “failing” to implement a 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in the state. Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Naseem Khan on Sunday wondered why the Owaisi-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) remained “silent” on the Muslim quota issue when the BJP government was in power in Maharashtra from 2014 to 2019. Khan, who had served as a minister in the then Congress-NCP government till 2014, said the quota for Muslims in jobs and education had been upheld by the Bombay High Court but not implemented by the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government. “When Congress was

protesting against the Fadnavis government’s inaction on quota implementation, the AIMIM remained silent. The AIMIM and the BJP are two sides of the same coin,” Khan alleged in a statement. He said two MLAs of AIMIM in Maharashtra never raised their voice in the Legislative Assembly when Congress demanded implementation of the Muslim quota. On the contrary, the AIMIM legislators always supported the Fadnavis government, he claimed. Addressing the rally at Chandivali in Mumbai, Owaisi had said Congress and NCP joined hands with Shiv Sena for power and forgot the assurance of implementing a 5 per cent quota in jobs and education for the Muslim community. Alleging that the AIMIM’s political stance has always been supportive of BJP, Khan said the Owaisi-led party remembers the Muslim quota only during elections.

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of the same coin: Congress

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No. 10124 Yesterday’s solution No. 10123

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(From p-1) “However, data on physical outcomes are important in prioritizing the booster doses. Protection against hospitalisation or deaths is important in analysing the need for prioritising boosters compared to receiving only two primary doses,” he said. Babu said for developing countries, the priority still remains to reach the unreached (providing two primary doses to those not already vaccinated). Among the fully vaccinated, the available evidence points to the usefulness of providing booster doses to the elderly and those at high risk, including immunocompromised, he said.

2 held in Credit CoJustice before ex-gratia, operative Society compensation: Konyak CSOs scam case (From p-1)

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (IANS): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday said it has arrested two persons in connection with the Navjeevan Credit Cooperative Society scam case. According to officials, Jai Narayan Sharma and Nizamudin were arrested on the basis of the role played by them in money laundering. Officials said they were arrested to unearth the true facts about generation, acquisition, layering and integration of proceeds of crime and for corroboration of other evidence in the aforementioned case.

Clarifying that NSCN (YA) did not have any base camp nor any operating office in Mon district, the CSOs questioned the Indian Army on whose intelligence source/s it was operating. They further warned that Konyaks would not remain silent even after the end of the mourning week, but take more extreme course of actions if the authorities concerned, including the Central and State governments, failed to deliver justice within the stipulated time as demanded in their charter of demands. They also urged the Special Investigation Team (SIT)

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Prasad Ghat in Varanasi, where 32 children from beggar families are studying. Lauding the initiative, chairman MSME, Confederation of Indian Micro Small Medium Enterprises, Uttar Pradesh, Gaurav Prakash said, “This idea has the power to reform and transform the livelihood and give them (the beggars) dignity and respect, which will be a huge game changer in coming times.” As per the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation report of 2017, Indians spend Rs 34,000 crore as donation to beggars. “Since we are highly religious, we believe we earn punya (spiritual reward) by giving alms to the poor. This ‘punya’ market was Rs 34,000 crores in 2017 and it is growing gradually,” Mishra said.

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elsewhere in the country,” Chandra Mishra, who heads the Common Man Trust, told PTI. After the initial success, the Trust intends to turn Beggars Corporation into a profit making venture. “Earlier, we were experimenting as to whether the beggars would work and whether their products can be marketed. Their products have been accepted. Now, we are trying to turn it into a profit-making company,” he said. According to Mishra, the Beggars’ Corporation will be registered as a ‘for profit’ company by March 2022 post it intends to raise Rs 2.5 crore from angel investors and venture capitalists. “We will then pick 100 beggar families in the first phase in Varanasi,” Chandra said. The Trust also runs a ‘School of Life’ at Rajendra

(From p-1) He reminded Government of India that the tears of Nagas will not dry quickly. He appealed to all Nagas to fight together for a better future where the people would live freely. In her short remark, Eastern Nagaland Women Union Kohima (ENWUK) president Lemei B Phom offered solidarity with the Konyak brethren. She termed the incident at Oting as shocking and strongly condemned the barbaric act committed by the security forces under the cover of AFSPA but said no reason could justify the killing. Lemei assured that the mothers and sisters were with the Konyak people in their quest for justice. Earlier, the tribute service was chaired by Konyak Baptist Church Kohima (KBCK) pastor Z Mankup while KUK president H Angnyei Konyak proposed the vote of thanks. KBCK member Chuba Lam invoked God’s blessings and Sangtam Baptist Church Kohima pastor Thsadongse Sangtam offered the benediction. Tribute songs were presented by Yemkongsomba and Mannham & Angam. Hundreds of people from in and around the State Capital attended the service, which ended with a candlelight vigil.

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LU C K N OW, D E C 1 2 (PTI): Nullifying the phrase ‘beggars can’t be choosers’, a non-profit organisation has launched a project to help them earn a living by making items such as laptop and conference bags. Common Man Trust, a not-for-profit in Varanasi, conceptualised the initiative ‘Beggars Corporation’ in February and launched it in July. Laying stress on investment, and not on donation, this corporation envisages to make Varanasi --- represented in the Lok Sabha by Prime Minister Narendra Modi --- become a beggarfree city by 2023. The group has trained 12 families of beggars in Varanasi for different vocations and they have now shunned beggary. “If the pilot model succeeds, it can be replicated

Tribute to Oting victims at Kohima

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the company’s operation,” Volvo was quoted as saying. “After detecting the unauthorised access, the company immediately implemented security countermeasures including steps to prevent further access to its property and notified relevant authorities,” it added. The attack did not have “an impact on the safety or security of its customers’ cars or their personal data,” the company noted in their statement. But they conditioned the statement by saying this was only based on their “currently available information”.

Booster increases antibodies, improves...

The amendment to the law was made keeping in mind the hardship faced by depositors, she said, adding “that is why not only for those who have been affected from the day the law has been passed, but also earlier, those who have been waiting for the monies have all been included”. Observing that this government is sensitive to the needs of the middle class, the Finance Minister said, again in the case of distressed homebuyers, it has provided last mile funding for stressed projects for completion of dwellings. The government in 2020 set up an alternative investment fund mechanism which can fund these last-mile completion of housing projects. “Over 1,40,000 buyers are getting their homes back because of that one single window and these middle class homebuyers are across nearly 33 cities in this country and 243 such projects are coming to a conclusion because of the single window,” she said.

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SAN FRANCISCO, DEC 12 (IANS): Volvo Cars has released a statement confirming a breach of sensitive files that resulted from a cyberattack. The company said it is now aware that “one of its file repositories has been illegally accessed by a third party”, XDA Developers reported on Saturday. “ I nve s t i g a t i o n s s o far confirm that a limited amount of the company’s R&D property has been stolen during the intrusion. Volvo Cars has earlier today concluded, based on information available, that there may be an impact on

UP’s Varanasi-based NGO turns beggars into entrepreneurs

were kept high on the agenda of the Modi government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, it has been shown in various forms. “One was to restore the health of the banks through the four ‘R’ principles where depositors interests have been kept in mind, taxpayers’ interest has been kept in mind and as a result the public sector banks’ health has so improved that today they are able to raise money on their own in the markets,” she said. In February 2020, the government raised the insurance cover to Rs 5 lakh, she said, so the normal middle-class households who have put their hard earned savings in banks get their money in due time. “There were cases of people who had waited for their deposits for five years, six years, seven years and couldn’t get the money back because either the bank had to be liquidated, or some kind of amalgamation had to happen (as per the law),” she said.

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Volvo announces some R&D files stolen during cyberattack

Narendra Modi

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careful. Speaking at the “Depositors First” event here, Das said the Reserve Bank remains committed to ensuring that the banking system remains robust and resilient but it has to be a joint effort. “Every stakeholder whether it is the management of banks, whether it is the board of banks, whether it is the various committees of banks, the audit committee, the risk management committee, or any other regulatory authority that is associated, it has to be a joint

responsibility for all of us,” he said. Das stressed that the payment of the deposit insurance amount should be seen as a measure of last resort. “The RBI has been a d o p t i n g a p r o a c t ive strategy to strengthen the regulatory guidelines to strengthen the supervisory methods and to look at things which will ensure that going forward the banks function in a very resilient manner.” Recalling his statement in the recent monetary policy statement, Das said, “I had said that the country has demonstrated working together during this entire pandemic and India’s moment has come where India can become a growth driver for the world economy.” It will be possible if all stakeholders in the banking system work together, he added.

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Shaktikanta Das

Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation recently against claims received from depositors of 16 Urban Cooperative Banks which are under restrictions by the RBI. The second tranche would be released on December 31, 2021. Stressing that the reform has ensured that depositors’ money remains safe even when there is a bank failure in the future, Modi said this will help in boosting confidence of depositors in the banking system. Modi, while addressing a function on the theme ‘Depositors First: Guaranteed Time-bound Deposit Insurance Payment up to

Rs 5 Lakh’ here, said, the system of insurance for bank depositors came into being in the 60s in India. Earlier, out of the amount deposited in the bank, only the amount up to Rs 50,000 was guaranteed, and it was later raised to Rs 1 lakh. “Understanding the concern of the poor, understanding the concern of the middle class, we increased this amount to Rs 5 lakh... Earlier where there was no time limit for refund, now our government has made it mandatory within 90 days i.e. 3 months. That is, even in the event of a bank sinking, the depositors will get their money back within 90 days,” he said. Banks play a major role in the prosperity of the country and for the prosperity of the banks, it is equally important for the depositors’ money to be safe, the Prime Minister added. “If we want to save the bank, then depositors have to be protected,” he said. Emphasising that depositors and their interests

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said deposit insurance reforms undertaken by the government will instil confidence in account holders on the banking system. Parliament in August passed the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021, ensuring that account holders get up to Rs 5 lakh within 90 days of the RBI imposing a moratorium on a bank. This was done keeping the ‘Depositors First’ spirit in mind, Modi said while announcing that over 1 lakh depositors have got about Rs 1,300 crore of their money with stressed banks in the past few days with the enactment of the legislation. He assured that about 3 lakh more such account holders will soon get their deposits with the banks that are under the RBI moratorium. The first tranche of interim payments has been released by the Deposit

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NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (PTI): Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Sunday cautioned depositors to be careful while chasing high returns as it comes with greater risk. Observing that depositors themselves also need to be very discerning, he said it is important to keep in mind that higher returns or higher interest rates are usually associated with higher risks. “So, just because a bank is offering higher interest, the depositors themselves should be very careful before putting in money while chasing such high returns because usually, our experience is that high returns or high interest rates are associated with higher risks,” he said. However, he said there are institutions that are offering higher interest and are still viable but depositors should always be very

Deposit insurance reforms to instil confidence in banking system: PM

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‘Depositors should be careful while chasing high returns’

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G7 warns Russia of ‘massive’ consequences if Ukraine invaded LIVERPOOL, DEC 12 (AP): The Group of Seven economic powers told Russia on Sunday to “de-escalate” its military buildup near the Ukrainian border, warning that an invasion would have “massive consequences” and inflict severe economic pain on Moscow. G-7 foreign ministers, joined by the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, issued a joint statement declaring themselves “united in our condemnation of Russia’s military buildup and aggressive rhetoric towards Ukraine.” The G-7 called on Russia to “de-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels, and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities,” and praised Ukraine’s “restraint.” “Any use of force to change borders is strictly prohibited under international law. Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response,” the statement said. The US and its NATO and G-7 allies worry that the movement of Russian troops and weapons to the border region could be pre-

INTERNATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

G7 Foreign and Development Ministers pose for a group photo in Liverpool, Sunday. (AP/PTI)

cursor to an invasion, and have vowed to inflict heavy sanctions on Russia’s economy if that happens. Moscow denies having any plans to attack Ukraine and accuses Kyiv of its own allegedly aggressive designs. Truss, who discussed the crisis with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other G-7 diplomats, said the group was sending a “powerful signal to our adversaries and our allies.” “We’ve been clear that any incursion by Russia into Ukraine would have massive consequences for

which there would be a severe cost,” she said at a news conference on the final day of the weekend meeting. Top diplomats from the G-7 nations — the UK, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — are likely to deliver a stern warning to Moscow as part of their conclusions to the conference later Sunday. It’s less clear how much detail they will give about the measures they might take. When it comes to economic sanctions, Truss said the G-7 was “considering all options.” A senior US

official who participated in the G-7 discussions said the ministers were united in their “extreme concern” about developments on the Russia-Ukraine border and agreed on the need for strong measures that could be implemented “very, very fast” if Russia did not heed warnings to back down. The US and its allies have played down talk of a military response to defend Ukraine, with efforts focusing on tough sanctions that would hit the Russian economy, rather than just individuals.

Ukrainian, French Presidents discuss security issues KIEV, DEC 12 (IANS): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to discuss his country’s security situation. During the talks, the two leaders discussed the ways to unlock the negotiation process in the Normandy format, designed to end the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donbas through diplomatic means, reports Xinhua news agency. Zelensky said that Kiev stands ready to continue active work within the Normandy Four, which comprises Ukraine, France, Russia and Germany. Zelensky and Macron stressed the need to resume the effective functioning of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) to achieve an effective ceasefire, the release of hostages and the opening of the checkpoints in Donbas. The TCG, consisting of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, was formed to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Donbas.

UK opens up COVID boosters to all over 30s in Omicron fight LONDON, DEC 12 (PTI): Britain’s health authorities said on Sunday that bookings for the COVID booster vaccines for everyone aged 30 and over in England will be open from Monday, as one of the key actions aimed at tackling the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country. There are around 7.5 million people aged 30 to 39, and 3.5 million of those are eligible for boosters from Monday, NHS England said. It comes as early analysis shows booster jabs being effective against the Omicron variant, the first cases of which have started being hospitalised now. There is no reported death from the variant in the UK yet, but experts warn that it is set to take over from Delta as the dominant coronavirus variant by the end of this year. “ T h e C OV I D - 1 9 booster programme is accelerating rapidly and more than 22 million people in the UK have already received their top-up, securing vital protection ahead of Christmas,” said UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid. “This is our national mission – the most recent data shows boosters are the essential

defence against Omicron and we are doing everything in our power to get jabs into arms as quickly as possible. We are now expanding the offer to over-30s – so please come forward as quickly as possible to get boosted and help our country get ahead in this race with the variant,” he said. The expansion of the booster programme follows updated advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), allowing millions more people to book their third top-up dose. The booking can be made two months on from their second dose, which is a month in advance of becoming eligible to receive the jab - a gap set at three months from the second dose by the JCVI. “Booster vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones

from this virus and new variants,” said UK Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup. “With the emergence of the new variant and the rising case numbers, there has never been a more important time to get boosted. So when it’s your turn, come forward and book in,” added Dr Emily Lawson, head of the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, who also called on people to volunteer for the National Health Service (NHS) vaccination programme to help out as a “vaccinator”. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) war ned that the sheer weight of numbers of people being infected with Omicron means it will find the unvaccinated or people who have had a poor immune response to the vaccine.

Peshawar pays tribute to Dilip B’desh capable of protecting its independence & sovereignty: Hasina Kumar on his 99th birth anniversary DHAKA, DEC 12 (IANS): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that her country has attained all capabilities to protect its independence and sovereignty if it is attacked by any external aggressor or an enemy. The Prime Minister made the remarks while vitually addressing the President Parade 2021 of the 81st BMA Long Course at Bangladesh Military Academy at Bhatiari, Chittagong. “But if we’re ever attacked by a foreign foe, we have the capacity to protect our independence.” The Armed Forces, as the children of Bangladesh’s soil, should be equal

partners in sharing the joys and sorrows of its people, she said. “Their only professional goal should be to stay vigilant, be ready to perform their duties, and pay the ultimate sacrifice for the nation, if necessary. “We believe in peace, the Father of the Nation has given us the foreign policy ‘Friendship to all, malice to none’, we believe in that foreign policy, but if we’re attacked by enemies from outside, we’ve attained our capabilities to protect our independence and sovereignty,” Hasina added. Through their oaths, the new cadets are now responsible for maintain-

Boris under pressure over Downing Street parties

4 dead, 7 missing after freighter capsizes in China

PESHAWAR, DEC 12 (PTI): Legendary Indian actor Dilip Kumar’s 99th birth anniversary was celebrated in his city of birth here in Pakistan, with the provincial Cultural Heritage Council arranging a grand function to dust up some nostalgia and pay glowing tributes in loving memory of the late thespian. Blessed with a unique ability to underplay emotions, Kumar was credited to have brought method acting to Indian cinema. The superstar passed away on July 7 this year after a battle with prolonged illness. He was survived by wife Saira Bano. Born on December 11

LONDON, DEC 12 (PTI): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson came under growing pressure on Sunday as an image emerged of another alleged party held at Downing Street in December last year at a time when social mixing was banned due to the COVID-19 lockdown rules. ‘The Sunday Mirror’ published a picture of Johnson at a so-called Christmas quiz, which it said took place on December 15, 2020. Downing Street admitted the UK PM “briefly took part virtually” to thank staff for their work during the pandemic. But the Opposition Labour Party declared it was a breach of the rules in place at the time. “What do we see in

Dilip Kumar

in 1922 as Yousuf Khan to a Hindko-speaking Awan family at Mohallah Khudadad near the fabled Qissa Khwani bazaar of the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he spent 12 years of his childhood here before migrating to India. He was rechristened as Dilip Kumar and found fame in the Hindi film industry.

Boris Johnson

that picture? We see a Prime Minister on a virtual quiz night for 10 to 15 minutes to thank his staff, who by the way, had no choice but to come in every single day,” UK Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi told ‘Sky News’ in defence of his boss, the Prime Minister. “Sitting in his office are the two people who are closest working with him, no alcohol on the table, not drinking, on a Zoom call or

Participants of the function on Saturday, organised by the council at Peshawar Press Club, paid glowing tributes to the phenomenal career of Kumar, and also praised the achievements of some of the other legendary actors such as the late Raj Kapoor, who was also born in this city. Secretar y, Cultural Heritage Council, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shakeel Waheedullah, Central Secretary of Communist Party Pakistan Imdadullah Qazi, Provincial Secretariat Mazdoor Kissan Party Pakistan Abdul Mehmood, and Tariq Khattak were some of the speakers on the occasion.

a teams call, a virtual call respecting the lockdown rules. Many people would have had similar Zoom quiz nights around the country,” he said. The image is from when England was under Tier 2 restrictions, banning indoor household mixing, apart from support bubbles. Official guidance at the time stated: “You must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.” According to the ‘Sunday Mirror’, workers who took part in the Christmas quiz reportedly huddled around computers, with groups said to have broken rules on gatherings, and

drinking alcohol bought from a nearby supermarket. A No. 10 Downing Street statement said: “This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks. “The Prime Minister briefly took part virtually in a quiz to thank staff for their hard work throughout the year.” The latest Downing Street party adds to an already brewing controversy around breach of lockdown rules at the Prime Minister’s office after a video emerged earlier of senior staff joking about a “fictional party” on December 18.

BEIJ ING, D EC 12 (IANS): Rescuers are searching for seven crew members who went missing after their cargo ship sank on Sunday off the coast of Yantai City in China’s Shandong province, which killed four people, authorities said. According to the Beihai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport, a total of 14 crew members were on board when the accident occurred, reports Xinhua news agency. The rescue bureau received a report of the accident at 4.43 a.m.

Sheikh Hasina

ing the independence of Bangladesh and upholding its sovereignty, she noted. Extending her best wishes and greetings to all the new officers, the Prime Minister said that they were now entrusted with the “sacred duty of defending the great independence and sovereignty of the motherland”. “You’ve to remain alert and ready always to fulfil this responsibil-

ity. You’ll have to remain beside the people of the countryï¿½ you’ll have to perform your duties to meet all the necessities of people and share happiness and sorrows equally,” she said. The Prime Minister asked them to uphold the spirit of the independence and put it above everything. Mentioning that the ‘Bangabandhu Complex’ has been constructed at the BMA with all kinds of sophisticated facilities for internal training of cadets, she said: “I hope that this modern training system will play a pivotal role in building a trained and modern army.” Hasina also noted that the BMA is a successful

embodiment of the military academy that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of providing advanced training and developing capable leadership. Describing various development programmes for Bangladesh Army, she said the government has established new infantry divisions, brigades, units and training institutes. Hasina said the physical infrastructures required for the new weapons and equipment have been installed and built, while work is underway to incorporate and expand a variety of weapons and equipment.

Israel to remove security detail for Netanyahu family JERUSALEM, DEC 12 (AP): An Israeli parliamentary committee voted on Sunday to stop providing personal security for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife and adult sons, six months after the longtime leader was ousted from power. The decision, which goes into effect Monday, came despite pleas from Netanyahu that his family is regularly subjected to threats on their lives. Netanyahu was unseated from the prime minister’s office in June after a constellation of political parties united in their op-

position to him succeeded in forming a government without his long-ruling Likud party. The one-time leader, who served as prime minister for 12 consecutive years, is now the opposition leader and continues to have a state-issued security detail. Under standard procedures, security and a chauffered vehicle are granted to the family of a former prime minister for the first six months after he leaves office. But in January, at Netanyahu’s insistence, that limit was extended by a ministerial committee to one year.

On Sunday, the same ministerial committee adopted a recommendation from the Shin Bet security service to reduce the period back to six months. It said there were no imminent threats to Netanyahu’s wife or children. Netanyahu’s sons Yair and Avner, and wife Sara, will lose their security detail on Monday. “When the Shin Bet, Israel Police, and the Mossad say that there is no threat to the Netanyahu family, the decision is easy,” Public Security Minister Omer Barlev tweeted following the vote.

Crews search for the missing after devastating tornadoes in Kentucky MAYFIELD (US), DEC 12 (AP): Rescuers in an increasingly bleak search picked through the tornado-splintered ruins of homes and businesses Sunday, including a candle factory that was bustling with night-shift employees when it was flattened, as Kentucky’s governor warned the state’s death toll from the outbreak could top 100. Factor y workers sought refuge in what was supposed to be the safest part of the building, but it may not have mattered because the twister Friday night was so monstrous, Gov. Andy Beshear said. Authorities on Saturday reported rescuing 40 of the 110 people who were in the building at the time, but by

Debris from the driveway of their property which was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, U.S. December 12. (Reuters)

Sunday, hope of finding anyone else alive had all but evaporated. “It’ll be a miracle if we pull anybody else out of that. It’s now 15 feet deep of steel and cars on top of where the roof was,”

the governor said on CNN. “Just tough.’’ Jeremy Creason, Mayfield’s fire chief and emergency services director, said rescuers had to crawl over the dead to get to the living.

A nursing home and an Amazon distribution center also were smashed in other states in the unusual mid-December swarm of twisters. “I can tell you from reports that I’ve received I know we’ve lost more than 80 Kentuckians. That number is going to exceed more than 100,” Beshear said on the Sunday morning talk shows. “I’ve got towns that are gone, that are just, I mean gone. My dad’s hometown – half of it isn’t standing. It is hard for me to describe. I know people can see the visuals, but that goes on for 12 blocks or more in some of these places.” He said that going

door to door in search of victims is out of the question in the hard-hit areas: “There are no doors.” The tornado that carved the path of destruction in Kentucky touched down for more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) in the state. Eleven people were reported killed in and around the city of Bowling Green. If early reports are confirmed, the twister “will likely go down perhaps as one of the longest track violent tornadoes in United States history,” said Victor Gensini, a researcher on extreme weather at Northern Illinois University. The storm was all the more remarkable because it came in December, when

normally colder weather Williams, a 50-year-old ily members kept vigil at limits tornadoes. mother of four whose fam- the site Saturday. The outbreak also killed at least six people in OFFICE OF THE Illinois, where an Amazon THSOIPHU STUDENTS’ UNION facility in Edwardsville was hit; four in Tennessee; two NOKLAK – 798626, NAGALAND in Arkansas, where a nursMotto: “Strive Towards Maturity” ing home was destroyed; Ref No…………… Date 06/12/2021 and two in Missouri. APPRECIATION Debris from destroyed The Thsoiphu Students Union would like to express our profound buildings and shredded gratitude to Shri. Benei M. Lamthiu, intending Candidate of 57th trees covered the ground in Assembly Constituency Thonoknyu for his yeoman service towards Mayfield, a city of about the people of Thsoiphu Village in initiating the expansion of football 10,000 in western KenGround which was deeply needed by the Village. tucky. Twisted sheet metal, The union further lauds him for his generous contribution downed power lines and and concern for the people of Thsoiphu Village in particular and wrecked vehicles lined the Khiamniungan in general for his immeasurable philanthropic act for streets. Windows and roofs the welfare and upliftment of the society which the people will remain were blown off the build- ever indebted and cherished. ings that were still standWe pray that Almighty God bless you in your future endeavours. ing. Sd/Sd/The missing at the (Tamong T. Chai) candle factory included (P. Khuming Khiamniungan) President TSU General Secretary, TSU Janine Denise Johnson

INFOTAINMENT

More time outdoors may lower risk of MS in youth C hildren at risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) might find some protection from the disease by spending more time in the sun, a small study suggests. Although MS is rare in children and young adults, those with relatives who have the condition have increased odds of developing the disease early. Exposure to sunlight may cut their risk in half, researchers say. “In families where there’s several cases of MS, then we know that typically there’s a higher risk for individuals in that family,” said lead author Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant, a neurologist and director of the Regional Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of California, San Francisco. She emphasized that this study doesn’t prove sunshine reduces MS risk, only that there may be a connection. “If you have siblings with MS or parents with MS, then maybe making sure you spend more time in the sun regularly could help decrease the risk of having the disease,” Waubant said. MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, caus-

ing unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes, blindness and/or paralysis, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The majority of patients are diagnosed between ages 20 and 50. There seems to be something “very peculiar about MS and kids, because why would a child develop a disease that typically would start 20 or 30 years later?” Waubant said. Researchers theorize it’s probably because they may have greater exposure to risk factors and/ or maybe a higher number of genes that may trigger the disease. Increasing vitamin D has been tied to a lower risk for MS and may explain the sunshine effect that researchers found. Waubant suspects that a combination of sunshine

increasing vitamin D and revving up immune cells in the skin is protective. “We think it could be not only vitamin D, but also the fact that there are immune cells in the skin, and these immune cells are stimulated by exposure to the sun, and that is unrelated to vitamin D,” she said. “Those immune cells are actually good immune cells -- they help dampen inflammation.” For the study, Waubant’s team studied more than 300 children and young adults with MS and more than 500 without the disease. Participants ranged from ages 3 to 22. Their parents answered questions about how much time their child spent in the sun in the summer before the study. In all, 19% of those with MS had spent fewer than 30 minutes a day outdoors, compared with

6% of those without MS. Also, 18% of those with MS spent one to two hours a day outdoors, compared with 25% of those without MS. Waubant’s team calculated that those who spent 30 to 60 minutes a day outdoors had a 52% lower risk of developing MS, compared with those who spent less than a halfhour a day outdoors. More time in the sun reduced the risk even more. Compared with participants who were outdoors less than a half-hour a day, those who spent one to two hours a day had an 81% lower risk of MS, researchers found. More hours outdoors than that didn’t reduce the risk further, Waubant noted. Sun exposure in the first year of life also lowered MS odds. One expert who reviewed the finding wasn’t convinced that the lower MS risk that researchers identified was only due to sun exposure. “The study did control for a variety of variables, such as physical activity, and exercise is beneficial, so is it really sun exposure or physical activity that is protective?” said Dr. Asaff Harel, director of the Multiple Sclero-

sis Center at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Harel said individuals often have MS symptoms prior to diagnosis. “It is possible that those symptoms could keep someone from going outside, skewing the results,” he said. “Such a chicken-or-the-egg scenario is always a possibility with such studies.” Sara Bernstein, manager of research information at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said that sunlight and vitamin D have previously been linked to MS risk. “Evidence suggests that higher lifetime exposure to sunlight and higher blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of developing MS,” she said. “MS is more common at latitudes that are farther from the equator and less common in areas closer to the equator -- a factor that also suggests the influence of sunlight exposure on MS.” More research is needed to understand the relationship between vitamin D and the development of childhood MS, Bernstein said. N e a r ly 1 m i l l i o n Americans were living with MS in 2019, according to U.S. Census data.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

A malaria drug may protect lung cells against Covid

e s e a r c h e r s h ave found that a medicine currently used to combat malaria can prevent infection with Covid-19 in different cells. The medicine Atovaquone has a protective effect both before and after infection with the coronavirus in human cells in the laboratory, which means that it can in all probability be used both for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19, said researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark. Atovaquone has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As part of the medication Malarone, it has been used for the treatment and prevention of malaria since 1999.

“This is an exciting study which has shown that Atovaquone can be used - in the laboratory at least - to protect lung cells against several variants of the coronavirus,” said David Olagnier, Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedicine. “Being able to use already approved medicines against Covid-19 would be ideal, because it would save both time and resources during the developmental phase,” he added. For the researchers, the ability of Atovaquone to block infection across different viral variants (both the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants) has been particularly important, together with the fact that the medicine can reduce

the inflammatory response which is known to contribute to the development of Covid-19. The team also plans to investigate whether the drug has an effect against the Omicron variant. However, although the study reveals Atovaquone’s potent effect against the virus in a petri dish, it cannot directly confirm the effectiveness of the drug against Covid-19 in a human body. The research must first be validated in two clinical trials with patients. Both trials began in 2020 and both are testing Atovaquone in combination with the drug azithromycin in patients with confirmed Covid-19. (IANS)

Madonne Ashwin wins Best Director for Priyanka wraps up ‘Citadel’, calls it her most intense work ‘Mandela’ at 26th Asian Television Awards P

excellence in the Asian television industry. The award ceremony is held every December. Awards are presented in 56 categories across news, documentaries & current affairs, kids and animation, entertainment, drama, technical, digital as well as performances including acting and directing.

Vaping may double the risk of erectile dysfunction

Hip-hop star Raja Palme d’Or winner Julia Ducournau Kumari’s new single calls ‘Titane’ her hardest script ‘Get It In’ out now

A V

aping nicotine may put healthy men at higher risk ofAerectile dysfunction as compared to those who don’t vape, finds a new study. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, found that healthy men between the ages of 20 and 65 who vaped nicotine daily were more than twice as likely to report experiencing erectile dysfunction, CNN reported. “Our analysis accounted for the cigarette smoking history of participants, including those who were never cigarette smokers to begin with,” study author Omar El Shahawy from New York University, was K Y M C

quoted as saying. For the study, the t e a m i nvo l ve d n e a r ly 46,000 adults and looked at information reported by men who regularly used ecigarettes, restricting their analysis to only those who were otherwise healthy. “We excluded people with high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, which is a big reason for ED, and we excluded those with a history of smoking,” Shahawy said. The researcher further mentioned that it is possible that daily e-cigarette vaping may be associated with higher odds of erectile dysfunction regardless of one’s smoking history. (IANS)

fter much-celebrated numbers including ‘City Slums’, ‘US’ and ‘Firestarter’, rapper Raja Kumari has come up with her new single ‘Get It In’, for those who shine their light in the dark. Penned by Sanjoy, Elvis Brown, and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Sirah, the new single highlights living each day like it’s the last. Talking about the single, Raja Kumari said, “This song is about a battle between good and evil in your own mind and being fearless in the face of any obstacle but having fun and living in joy. I’ve admired people who have overcome hurdles and held their own when it seemed impossible. Here’s a single that salutes their spirit.” Presented by Mass Appeal USA, ‘Get It In’ is available on all streaming platforms. (IANS)

ulia Ducournau, who bagged the Palme d’Or at the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival for her second film ‘Titane’, has termed it the hardest script she has worked on. Although she’s quick to admit that she’s still at an early stage in her career. “I think that it is the hardest script I’ve ever had to write, although I’m very young in my career. But I think that I never struggled as much as I did for this one for many reasons. I was very scared of the expectations that people had for my second film, knowing that ‘Raw’ (her directorial debut) had found its success,” the French filmmaker told Variety. She also spoke about the void that she struggled with after the release of ‘Raw’ having given her everything to her first film, “When it’s your first feature, no one expects anything, because no one even knows you exist. So this is some-

thing that I struggled with very much. I also struggled with my own expectations.” “As far as my second film was concerned, I felt that I had given everything I had to ‘Raw’ and I was afraid that I didn’t have anything else to give to another film, and especially love. And so that was something that took a long time to find in me,” she added. ‘Titane’ made her the second woman in history to win the prestigious Palme d’Or after Jane Campion, talking about what’s going on in her mind following her big win she said, “I don’t think it’s something that’s I have fully processed yet. And I don’t think that I want to process it actually. “Maybe in retrospect, in many years, but right now, I do not want to yield under the weight of this too much. Because I want to keep on working. I was obviously honoured is really an understatement (sic),” she concludes. (IANS)

dc-1294/21

irector Madonne Ashwin has won the award for Best Direction (Fiction) at the 26th Asian Television Awards for his critically acclaimed Tamil film ‘Mandela’, featuring Yogi Babu in the lead. Talking to IANS, Madonne Ashwin expressed happiness at the honour, saying, “It feels good to know that ‘Mandela’ has won this award. This is the first international recognition for the film.” Stating that as ‘Mandela’ was first telecast on a television channel, it was considered as a television film also and therefore, they were able to apply under that category in Asian Television Awards, Ashwin said the film was also nominated in three other categories other than Best Direction. “’Mandela’ was nominated for Original Screenplay Best Editing and Best Film apart from Best Direction. It won under the Best Direction category,” Ashwin pointed out. The Asian Television Awards seeks to recognise programming and production

riyanka Chopra has completed the filming of Amazon Studios’ upcoming spy thriller series ‘Citadel’. For her, the series has been the most intense experience. The actress took to her Instagram and shared a series of pictures with her crew members. She wrote in the caption, “Photo dump* It’s a wrap on #Citadel Phew.. a whole year of doing the most intense work during the most intense time. It could not have been possible without this incredible lot of people. Some you see here some you don’t. It’s been hard but when you all see it.. it will be worth it! Onwards and upwards (sic).” Along with the happy faces during the course of filming and post the wrap, she also shared a few solo pictures of herself where she can be seen acting goofy and wearing the special effect make-up for her part in the series. Talking about ‘Citadel’, the series produced by Amazon Studios, AGBO and Midnight Radio, in addition to Chopra, also stars Richard Madden and Roland Møller. The series will also inspire spin-offs set in Italy, India, Spain and Mexico, all of which will explore the deeper layers of the storylines and will centralise into the main series. (IANS)

K Y M C

Sevilla confirm spot for La Liga title

Sevilla remain second in the league table, five points behind Real Madrid, while Athletic are eight games without a win.

M A D R I D, D E C 1 2 (IANS): Sevilla rode their luck, especially in the first half, to win 1-0 away to Athletic Club Bilbao to confirm their candidacy for this season’s La Liga title. Thomas Delaney’s magnificent 36th minute

shot into the top corner of the goal -- Sevilla’s only shot all game -- gave his side all three points on Saturday evening against a rival that hit the woodwork twice through Dani Garcia and Unai Vencedor and missed several other good

SPORTS

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

chances to take at least a point from the game. Sevilla remain second in the league table, five points behind Real Madrid, while Athletic are eight games without a win. Valencia continue to climb the table, although coach Jose Bordalas was sidelined with COVID-19 for their 2-1 win at home to Elche. Elche were close to taking a vital point in their battle against relegation when Lucas Boye’s 75th minute strike cancelled out Goncalo Guedes’ powerful 23rd minute opener for the home side, Xinhua reports. Elche were looking for a winner but were caught out by Cristiano Piccini’s powerful volley following a corner four minutes from time. The visitors thought they had equalised for a second time just moments later, but video images failed to clear up whether or not Guido Carillo’s effort had crossed the line. Alaves striker Joselu scored the equalizing goal for his side and also over-

took Javi Moreno as the club’s all-time top scorer in LaLiga in the process as the side from Vitoria drew 1-1 at home to Getafe. Getafe led thanks to Enes Unal’s 20th minute goal and looked as if they were going to hang on for three vital points until Joselu side-footed home from close range with just four minutes left. Levante remain without a win this season after a topsy turvy game saw them beaten 4-3 away to Espanyol. Sergi Darder put Espanyol ahead in the sixth minute, but in a chaotic game Levante turned it around thanks to Jorge de Frutos and Son and had chances to move further ahead before halftime. Raul de Tomas equalised for Espanyol four minutes into the second half and although Jose Luis Morales put Levante back in front in the 57th minute, that lead only lasted three minutes before Javi Puado drew Espanyol level and then scored the winning goal in the 76th minute.

Kohli can be more lethal in white-ball cricket: Gambhir

NEW DELHI, DEC 12 (IANS): Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Virat Kohli might become an even more dangerous batter in limitedovers cricket after being relieved of ODI captaincy duties. The 33-year-old stylish batter hasn’t been in the best of forms with the bat over the last two years. He last hit a hundred in 2019. Gambhir said India will see the best of Kohli whether he is captain or not. “Same as Rohit Sharma’s role in red-ball cricket, it’s just that captaincy is not there. It might just free Virat Kohli up much more. He might just become more dangerous in whiteball cricket with the pressure of captaincy not being there on his shoulders,” Gambhir said during an interaction on the Star Sports show Follow the Blues. “I am sure he is going to make India proud, he is going to keep getting runs in white-ball cricket or in red-ball cricket,” he said.

Conor Benn brilliantly knocks out Chris Algieri to get closer to world title shot LIVERPOOL, DEC 12 (AGENCIES): Conor Benn took a step closer to a world title shot with a wonderful knockout display to beat Chris Algieri in four rounds in Liverpool. The 25-year-old Briton produced a calm and clinical performance against the American former world champion, who had been billed as his toughest test yet. “My point is they’re not tests,” a riled up Benn said after the fight. “Ever y time I say they’re not sounds like arrogance but it’s just confidence speaking.” Benn, who remains undefeated with the 20th win of his career, showed off some superb body shots and ended the fight with a straight left, right combination. “When I say I’m top five, I’m top five for a reason,” Benn added. “Noone’s done that to Algieri. No-one’s beat [Adrian] Granados as easily as I did. Noone knocked out [Samuel] Vargas in one round. What more do I have to do?

Conor Benn finished 2021 in style with a superb fourthround knockout over Chris Algieri.

“I knew the knockout was coming. If they want to come and have a fight or stand there and be cute, that’s what happens.” Benn has built a career on silencing his critics and has exceeded expectations as the son of world champion Nigel Benn. The Briton is certainly improving with every fight and showed off visible improvements in his third outing in the ring in 2021. Benn started well, taking the first round with ease as he concentrated on body shots and built from his jab. Algieri, 37, was trying

to counter Benn with a left hook from the opening exchanges but Benn appeared unconcerned. Benn then dropped an unbalanced Algieri in the second round with a closerange left hook. The American seemed unhurt as he returned to his corner, but there was no rush of blood to the head of Benn. He remained calm in the third and slowly began to look for the bigger shots. Benn then ducked under a combination from Algieri - much to the delight of the crowd and his father at ringside.

Olympian Arvind Singh wins NBA: Golden State Warriors lose to Philadelphia 76ers gold in Asian Rowing C’ship

Stephen Curry is six short of Ray Allen’s three-pointer record, which has been standing since 2014.

Curry, 33, looks cer- Indiana Pacers. tain to create NBA history, Meanwhile, Reggie with his next opportunity Jackson scored with 2.2 coming on Monday at the seconds left to lead the Los

I warned Hardik that he would get injured, reveals Shoaib Akhtar

Arvind Singh got the better of Chinese and Uzbek scullers.

Singh won the silver with a time of 7:12.568. In the next race in Men’s Quadruple Sculls, India’s Bittu Singh, Jakar Khan, Manjeet Kumar and Sukhmeet Singh won silver in a photo-finish, losing the gold by 0.523 seconds. They clocked a time of 6.33.083. I n M e n’s C ox l e s s Fours final, India’s Jasveer Singh, Punit Kumar, Gurmeet Singh and Charanjeet Singh won the silver by

clocking 6:51.661. The Indian women rowers, who figured in the Quadruple Sculls and Light Weight Double Sculls finals, finished fifth in their respective races. “ O ve r a l l , a n o t h e r good performance by India. Congratulations and best wishes to all the rowers, coaches, support staff and backend administrators, who managed the team all these months.

LAHORE, DEC 12 (IANS): Former speedster Shoaib Akhtar had warned Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya of an impending injury which he ignored, but later paid the price. Since India’s semifinal exit in the 2019 ODI World Cup, Pandya has seen a drastic change in his international career graph due to fitness issues. The all-rounder wasn’t at his best this year and received plenty of criticism for his role in India’s exit from the T20 World Cup. Speaking on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, Akhtar revealed that he had predicted Hardik’s fitness

issues and had also warned the Gujarat cricketer. “I had told Jasprit Bumrah in Dubai and even Hardik Pandya. They were lean like birds. They didn’t have back muscles. Even now, I have such good strong back muscles behind my shoulders”, said Akhtar. “I touched his (Hardik) back, muscles were there but very lean. So, I warned him that he would get injured. But he said that he has been playing a lot of cricket. Exactly an hour-and-a-half later, he got injured,” he further added. Akhtar also stated that he had advised Hardik to increase his muscle mass.

Angeles Clippers to a 106104 win over the Orlando Magic. Jackson finished with a 25-point haul as the Clippers earned their third straight win, despite leading scorer Paul George missing his second consecutive game with a sprained right elbow. Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points as the Utah Jazz won 123-98 at the Washington Wizards, the visitors’ seventh straight victory. After building an early advantage, the Memphis

Grizzlies held on to beat the Houston Rockets 113106. Dillon Brooks scored a game-high 25 points while Desmond Bane supported with 19 points. Saturday’s results: LA Clippers 106-104 Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards 98-123 Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers 117103 Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat 118-92 Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies 113-106 Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers 102-93 Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs 112-127 Denver Nuggets

Serie A: Venezia stun Juve, Ibra saves Milan ROME, DEC 12 (IANS): Juventus failed to wrap up all three points against Venezia in Serie A, as they were held 1-1 by the newlypromoted Venezia, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late equaliser prevented AC Milan from a defeat against Udinese. The Bianconeri made the trip to Venezia without Federico Chiesa and Dejan Kulusevski, and lost Paulo Dybala in the opening minutes, but they went ahead in the 33rd minute as Luca Pellegrini rolled across from the left, Alvaro Morata cushioned a volley into the net on Saturday evening. The home side punished toothless Juve in the

Juventus players show their disappointment after conceding at Venezia.

55th minute as Mattia Aramu’s left-footed volley went beyond an out-stretched Wojciech Szczesny, Xinhua reports. The tie, coupled with Fiorentina’s 4-0 victory over Salernitana on Saturday, dropped Juve to

sixth place with 28 points, two behind the Viola. Elsewhere, Beto’s firsthalf goal gave Udinese a 1-0 lead, but Ibrahimovic’s stunning scissor-kick in the stoppages time helped Milan to settle for a 1-1 draw.

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BAN CHANG (THAILAND), DEC 12 (IANS): India’s Arvind Singh won the gold in the Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls at the Asian Rowing Championship on Sunday, beating his opponents with a time of 7:55.942. India ended the championship on a strong note, winning three more silver medals as the rowers continued their medal spree on the final day on Sunday. India bagged silver medals in Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls, Men’s Quadrapul Sculls and in Men’s Coxless Four. Thus, India ended the competition with two gold and four silver medals. Arvind Singh, who finished 11th at the Tokyo Olympics along bwith Arjun Lal Jat in the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls -- which is India’s best performance-ever at the Olympics -- finished first in the field that included competitors from Uzbekistan, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. It was an excellent race by Arvind as he got the better of Uzbek and Chinese scullers for the gold medal. In Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, India’s Ashish Phugat and Sukhjinder

PHILADELPHIA, DEC 12 ( AGENCIES): Stephen Curry was made to wait to break the NBA three-point record as the Golden State Warriors lost at the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, reports BBC Sports. Needing 10 more to surpass Ray Allen’s alltime leading tally of 2,973, Curry landed three from 14 attempts. Matisse Thybulle limited Curry while Joel Embiid scored a game-high 26 points as the 76ers won 102-93.

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NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021

Verstappen wins first F1 title in last lap drama

ABU DHABI, DEC 12 (IANS): Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Formula One world championship title for Red Bull after passing the Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton on the last lap in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. He became the first Dutch driver to win the Drivers’ Championship, ending Hamilton’s dominant streak of seven consecutive titles. Lewis Hamilton finished second as the race ended in a nail-biting onelap sprint, which saw Valtteri Bottas finish sixth and Sergio Perez retired from the final race. The Mercedes, however, clinched a record eighth consecutive constructors’ championship. “Oh my God!” Verstappen screamed over his

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates after he became the world champion. (AP/PTI)

radio. “You are the world champion! The world champion!” screamed back Red Bull boss Christian Horner. “Let’s do this for another 10 or 15 years!” Verstappen replied. Hamilton jumped ahead Verstappen at the start, while the Dutchman

came back in Turn 6, nudging him wide and over the run-off, but the Mercedes driver continued in the lead. Stewards decided not to investigate. The pit window opened when Verstappen came in on Lap 13, Hamilton a lap later, leaving Sergio Perez in

the lead with the mission to hold off Hamilton. Perez did exactly that, on Laps 20 to 21 -- being dubbed a “legend” by his team-mate as he let him past to continue the chase, before pitting on Lap 22. The podium looked certain until he retired on Lap 56 under a Safety Car, which was brought out for a Nicholas Latifi crash. Hamilton was cruising past Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles on Sunday in a race he controlled until Nicholas Latifi crashed with five laps remaining. F1 sent out the safety car for a clean-up and resumed the race with one lap remaining. Carlos Sainz took the final podium place ahead of AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda in P4 -- while AlphaTau-

ri teammate Pierre Gasly rounded out the top five. Valtteri Bottas struggled to P6, running as low as eighth, and losing a potential podium spot from fourth to sixth under the final Safety Car. Alpine took points with Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon eighth and ninth respectively, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounding out the top 10. Alfa Romeo suffered a double retirement as Kimi Raikkonen bowed out on Lap 26, teammate Antonio Giovinazzi 10 laps later. Latifi was Williams’ second retiree after George Russell bowed out from his tenure with the team with a loss of drive on Lap 27. Red Bull won its first F1 title since 2013; Mercedes had won every championship since.

MH-10 win 2nd All Nagaland Open Volleyball Tournament DIMAPUR, DEC 12 (NPN): MH-10 emerged champions of the 2nd All Nagaland Open Volleyball Tournament defeating Kimipfüphe Southern Angami Youth Organization. The tournament was organized by Horua Welfare Society played at Indisen Village Gound Dimapur on December 10 and 11. The other losing semifinalist were Volleyball For Peace Longsa and Elite Spikers Dimapur. The champions were awarded a cash prize of 1 lakh rupees, the runners up with Rs. 70,000/- and the losing semi-finalist with Rs. 20,000/- each. The best spiker was awarded to Menuokho Ngukha of Kimipfüphe Southern Angami Youth Organization,

Team MH-10 and individual winners.

The best setter to Akum of MH-10 Kohima and the best player to Imnungkumba of Changtongya Volleyball Association. All three were awarded a cash reward of Rs. 5000/- each. Temsukaba Longkumer graced valedictory function as the special guest. The final was played on December 11.

Meanwhile, the raffle draw result organized by Horua Welfare Society was also announced. The winning ticket numbers are: 1st Prize: 1456 2nd Prize: 2110 3rd Prize: 3243 Consolation Prize: 7779, 5332, 3625, 3931, 3888, 2430, 0053, 4099, 0853, 7382.

NBA announces squad for Bayern beat Mainz 2-1 to extend lead in Bundesliga table WI cricketers Cottrell, Chase, Mayers test positive for Covid national championship

The 12- member squad with team manager.

DIMAPUR, DEC 12 (NPN): The Nagaland Basketball Association (NBA), has announced on Thursday announced the senior men’s basketball team for the upcoming BFI Zonal Senior Men National Championship, 2021. The competition, organized by Basketball Federation of India, and hosted by the Meghalaya Basketball Association is to be held between December 16 to 19 at St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, in Shillong, Meghalaya. A press release by secretary Nagaland Basketball Association, Zasivi Mey-

ase stated that the 12-man roster, is led by Nagaland head coach Tiameren Amri and team manager Sentiningsang Longkumer. The 12- member squad consists of Salew Kadete, Keviu Kesiezie, Seyievizo Kire, Khrietseizo Khezhie, Junmani Baruah, Keneitseizo Belho, Keneingutou Kevin, Vikuo Israil, Rongsennungba, Vitoto Chisho, Rajan Nayak, and Chumbenthung Humtsoe The four reserve players are Rilise K Thonger, Imyangluba Lemtur Keneizelhou Kevin Tale, and Vikukhol Zao.

BERLIN, DEC 12 (IANS): Front-runners Bayern Munich overcame a fighting Mainz 2-1 and benefitted on Borussia Dortmund’s stalemate to increase their advantage in Germany’s topflight to six points following the 15th round of matches. The visitors staged a courageous performance as they pressed aggressively and defended well against the Bavarians who could only work out half chances through Alphonso Davies in the opening stages on Saturday evening. Mainz grew into the clash as the clock ticked and stunned the German giants in the 22nd minute when Jonathan Burkhardt’s cross allowed Karim Onisiwo to nod home the opener at the far post. The “Nullfunfer” were able to keep Bayern at an arm’s length but still Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman came close in the closing period of the first half. Bayern eventually restored parity in the 53rd minute after Corentin Tolisso’s defence-splitting pass fed Coman, who kept his cool and and finished the job after nutmegging Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner from inside the box, Xinhua

reports. The German record champions gained momentum and pressed Bo Svensson’s men into their territory. Bayer n’s dominance paid off with 74 minutes gone as Benjamin Pavard squared to Jamal Musiala, who danced through Mainz’s defence before drilling the ball into the bottom left corner to complete the comeback. Mainz responded well but couldn’t do more damage as Bayer n’s defence stood firm to secure the third straight win in the league. “We couldn’t keep up the pace throughout the game. In the second half ceased attacks and Bayern can of course take advantage of that,” Mainz striker Onisiwo said. With the result, frontrunners Bayern Munich establish a six-point gap while Mainz slump to the eighth spot. Elsewhere, runner up Borussia Dortmund suffered a setback in the title race after sharing the spoils with newlypromoted Bochum as Julian Brandt’s 1-1 equaliser came too late. Hoffenheim clinched its fourth win in row and climbed on the 4th spot as

Alphonso Davies (R) of Bayern Munich breaks through during a match against and FSV Mainz.

Chris Richard’s last-gasp 2-1 winner flabbergasted Freiburg. Leipzig retur ned to winning ways and ensured new coach Do-

menico Tedesco a successful debut after easing 4-1 past Borussia Monchengladbach and Hertha beat bottom side Arminia Bielefeld 2-0.

ST JOHN’S (ANTIGUA), DEC 12 (IANS): Three West Indies cricketers -Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers and a non-coaching member have tested positive for Covid-19 upon their arrival in Pakistan and will be unavailable for the three-match T20I series, which begins in Karachi on Monday. According to Cricket West Indies (CWI), all four individuals will be in isolation for ten days and until they return negative tests. They will be monitored by Dr Akshai Mansingh, the team physician. “Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, allrounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers, along with a non-

coaching member of the team management unit returned positive tests in Karachi and will therefore be unavailable to participate in the upcoming Pakistan series. All four members are fully vaccinated and are without major symptoms,” CWI said in a statement on Sunday.

MADRID, DEC 12 (IANS): The tennis world paid rich tributes to one of Spain’s greatest sporting heroes, Manolo Santana, who passed away aged 83 in Marbella on Saturday. The four-time major singles champion -- French Open 1961, 1964; Wimbledon 1966 and US Open 1965 -- had been tournament director of the Madrid Open until 2019, when he became the ATP Masters 1000 tournament’s honorary president. Santana also won the men’s singles in the 1968 Olympic Games, but didn’t get a medal as tennis was a demonstration sport at the time. He also captained the Spanish David Cup team on two occasions, before helping to organise the Madrid Open, which was first held in 2002. The King of Spain, Felipe VI, upon hearing the news of the demise tweeted, “There are people who become legends and make a country great. Manolo Santana was and will always be one of them.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, “He won Roland Garros, the US Open and Wimbledon, a total of 72 tournaments and an Olympic gold to make him a tennis legend and one of the best athletes our country has seen.” Rafael Nadal, a 20-time major champion and five-time winner of the Madrid Open, tweeted, “You will always be one of a kind and special. As I have said many times in the past: a thousand thanks for what you did for our country and for opening the way for others. You were always my role model, a friend and someone who was close to all of us.”

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Tennis world mourns demise of Spanish great Manolo Santana

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