6 Jan 22

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXII No. 30

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Omicron: Hongkong bans flights from India

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INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9

Witnessing exponential rise in Covid cases: Govt EFFECTIVE REPRODUCTION NUMBER (R VALUE)

INDIA

5 Jan

2.69

COVID-19 TRACKER

Dec 30

1.22

(Graphic: The Print)

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (PTI): India is seeing an exponential rise in the number of coronavirus cases, which is believed to be driven by its Omicron variant, the Centre said on Wednesday, while highlighting that the country’s R naught value, which indicates the spread of the infection, is 2.69, higher than the 1.69 recorded during the peak of the pandemic’s second wave.

Addressing a press conference here, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said the spike in the number of Covid cases is being witnessed in cities and “the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating strain”.

12,67,106 total electors in state: Final electoral roll DIMAPUR, JAN 5 (NPN): There are a total of 12,67,106 electors in Nagaland, as per the final electoral roll with reference to January 1, 2022 as the qualifying date. The final electoral roll has been prepared and published on January 5, 2022 by the respective electoral registration officer of all the districts in the state. As per the final published roll, out of the total number of electors in the state, 637830 were male and 629276 were female. The total electors include 1259137 general electors (629966 male and 629171 female) and 7969 service electors (7864 male and 105 female). The final electoral rolls could be checked/downloaded from www.ceo.nagaland.gov.in

Fuel outlets in Dmu to remain closed on Jan 9

DIMAPUR, JAN 5 (NPN): Petroleum Dealers’ Association Dimapur (PDAD) has informed that fuel retail outlets in Dimapur district would remain closed on January 9, 2022 in view of the annual picnic of the association.

State: 6 Covid cases

DIMAPUR, JAN 5 (NPN): Nagaland on Wednesday on recorded six fresh Covid-19 cases while no deaths were reported during the day. The fresh cases were reported from Dimapur, taking the total caseload to 32216.

This is it!

Mass gatherings need to be avoided to lower the speed of the infection spread, he stressed.

“We are now facing an exponential rise in (the number of) Covid-19 cases and we believe that largely, it is being driven by Omicron, particularly so in the western parts of our country and even particularly so in larger cities from where we have more data,” NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said.

“Clearly, this is an expanding pandemic. The R nought value is 2.69. This is higher than the 1.69 we saw when the second wave of the pandemic was at its peak.

The acceleration of cases is steeper than ever,” Paul said.

He, however, added that the hospitalisation rates are relatively low. He said though there is no need to panic, people must be alert, disciplined and prepared, adding that the country will face this phase of the pandemic as well.

On whether India is witnessing a third Covid wave, Paul said in other countries, it has been seen that just like a steep rise, there was also a steep decline in the number of cases. “...I would not venture into that except to say that like the previous waves, different parts of our nation will be in different stages. It starts in some states and then goes on and on. We are watching the dynamics...” he said.

K Y M C

Can expect Covid curve to flatten in 3 months, says ICMR scientist

A top epidemiologist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) expects that the Covid curve could begin to flatten within three months.

Dr Samiran Panda, head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR, said the coronavirus graph case could flatten only if people follow Covid norms.

“The Covid curve could flatten in the next three months, provided these four things happen. Those states that fall behind in vaccination try to ramp it up, people avoid mass gatherings, people avoid non-essential travel and maintain mask usage with vaccination,” said Dr Panda.

‘OmiSure’: First RT-PCR kit approved

by ICMR to detect Omicron variant

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a kit that will be used to detect Omicron. The kit is manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics and is named OmiSure.

Currently the kit that is being used to detect the Omicron variant in India is developed by US-based scientific instrumentation company Thermo Fisher. It uses the S Gene Target Failure (SGTF) strategy to detect the variant.

An approval letter by ICMR dated December 30, 2021, said: “The tests have been performed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Responsibility for batch-tobatch consistency lies with the manufacturer.”

The kit comes as a major aid as analysing the Omicron variant have been an issue among medical experts.

SPORTS, PAGE 12

Political solution will render AFSPA infructuous: NPCC DIMAPUR, JAN 5 (NPN): Ahead of the mass public march against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which has been scheduled for January 10, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) Wednesday asserted that Disturbed Area Act and AFSPA would automatically become infructuous if the political solution was resolved.

NPCC through its communications department claimed that implementation of political solution has been delayed because of the state government.

Stating that Congress was against the draconian laws, NPCC said that the party under the leadership of Dr. SC Jamir interpreted clearly to the Centre that “unrest in Nagaland is political and needs to be settled politically. The issue is not insurgency. It is related to our identity, religion, culture, customs and social practices.” According to NPCC, the NNC/FGN

had adopted policy of nonviolence and Naga groups have signed ceasefire agreements with the government of India since 1964, adding that ceasefire has continued.

It also said that Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was formed for selfdefence not for offensive war. However, NPCC said that after 1980, when NSCN broke away from FGN/ NNC, the decent policy that guided the political movement “underwent changes with rampant killings and recruitment.”

With BJP and alliance state government’s policy to “actively facilitate” the peace talks, NPCC said several thousands have joined the movement and government of India has quickly given recognition even to split factions.

It maintained that the government of India may divide factions, but cannot divide the inherent political goal. Asserting that no one was safe at one time, NPCC

said AFSPA in the decades of tumultuous situation was forgotten and how to stop factional warfare and assassinations became the priority.

“Many have conformed with killers and are working hand in glove,” NPCC claimed.

Maintaining that there was no threat for Indian Army, NPCC said all the factions have signed ceasefire and talks have concluded. Congress reiterated that once the talks were implemented, the government of India would have no justification to extend.

Therefore, NPCC said that the first demand was to implement solution.

Stating that AFSPA has nothing to do with justice to the victims of Oting massacre, NPCC said the culprits, who killed peaceful civilians, were criminals and needed to be prosecuted under CrPC. NPCC said that it was the duty of the state government to deliver justice and the culprits should not be allowed to escape by blaming AFSPA.

BJP, Cong lock horns over PM’s ‘security breach’ in Punjab States asked to share more intel through Multi Agency Centre

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cavalcade stuck on a flyover, in Ferozepur, Wednesday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH, JAN 5 (PTI): In a “major security lapse”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur on Wednesday after which he returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.

The Union Home Ministry directed the state government to file an immediate report, saying it did not ensure the required deployment, while Home Minister Amit Shah said that such dereliction of the security procedure during the prime minister's visit is totally unacceptable and

accountability will be fixed.

The incident triggered a major political row as the BJP alleged the ruling Congress in Punjab “tried to physically harm” the prime minister, while other parties too attacked the state government over the law and order issue.

On the defensive, Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi at a press conference denied there was any security lapse or political motive behind it and said his government was ready for an inquiry.

In Delhi, Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit back at the BJP, claiming Modi skipped the rally in Ferozepur as there were no crowds

and asked the saffron party to introspect. Channi too claimed that the turnout was low at the Ferozepur rally.

Prime Minister Modi who landed in Bathinda had to take the road route to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala in Ferozepurb because of inclement weather.

W h e n t h e c o nvoy reached near village Piareana on Ferozepur-Moga road, around 30 km away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, some protestors blocked the road following which the PM’s cavalcade was halted for almost 15-20 minutes on a flyover.

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (AGENCIES): The Centre wants the States to share more intelligence inputs through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC), a common counter-terrorism grid under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) that was made operational in 2001 post-Kargil war.

At a high-level meet on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked the Directors General of Police to share adequate information and actionable inputs through the MAC. As many as 28 organisations, including the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), armed forces and (Cont’d on p-7) State police are part of the

platform and various security agencies share real-time intelligence inputs on the MAC. Plans are afoot for more than a decade to link the system up to the district level.

A senior government official said that though the system existed to share information among various agencies, it was not being implemented effectively.

“States are often reluctant to share information on the platform. There are several gaps in sharing critical information at the right time, the meeting by the home minister will give a push to the efforts,” the official stated.

There are around 400

secured sites connected with the MAC headquarters.

The reluctance on the part of the States was also stated in a parliamentary standing committee report in 2020.

The committee had observed that the contribution made over the years by State agencies is lower in the overall inputs that had been received at the MAC. The IB had informed the committee that all organisations that are in any way involved in the counter-terrorism effort is a member of this centre. All the States have a subsidiary multi-agency centre (SMAC) located in all State capitals.

(Cont’d on p-7)

Assam reports first Omicron case No mix and match of Covid vaccines for booster jabs: Govt GUWAHATI/NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (PTI): Assam on Wednesday reported its first Omicron case after a Saudi Arabia returnee tested positive for the new coronavirus variant, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said. The 35-year-old man, who hails from Hojai district, was found positive for the Omicron variant, he said.

His sample was sent to the Jorhat-based North East Institute of Science and Technology after he had tested positive for COVID-19 following his return from the West Asian country, the minister said. “His sample report for genome

sequencing came during the day. But by this time, he has already recovered from the infection,” Mahanta added.

India's first Omicron death in Rajasthan: India on Wednesday recorded the first death linked to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus after the samples of a man in Rajasthan's Udaipur, who died last week, showed the presence of the variant, sources in the Union health ministry said.

The 73-year-old man, who was found infected with Omicron in genome sequencing and who had tested negative for the infection twice, died in a Udaipur

hospital on December 31, they added.

He died due to postCovid pneumonia coupled with comorbidities -- diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypothyroidism -- Udaipur chief medical health officer Dr Dinesh Kharadi had said.

The man was found Covid positive on December 15 and had symptoms like fever, cough and rhinitis and therefore, was admitted to the hospital. A sample was sent for genome sequencing and the results were received on December 25, in which he was found infected with the Omicron variant.

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (AGENCIES): Giving clarity on booster shots for Covid-19, the Centre noted that the precautionary dose of Covid vaccine for healthcare and frontline workers as well as those above 60 years with comorbidities will be same as the first two doses of the vaccine. “Precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine as has been given previously,” said Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog.

Though Dr Paul had earlier said that there was no problem in principle to mix and match, it seems that the Indian government has not

taken any decision on mix and match of vaccines in India yet.

Centre on Wednesday also said the upsurge of Covid-19 cases is happening in cities and the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating strain. The government, however, said there is no need to panic and one must be alert, disciplined and prepared, adding that the country will face this phase of the pandemic as well.

“Upsurge of infections is happening in cities. Omicron is the predominant circulating strain and mass gatherings need to be avoided to reduce the speed of the

spread of infection. There has been a surge in Covid cases globally whereas 25.2 lakh cases were recorded globally on January 4, the highest ever since the onset of the pandemic,” officials said.

“India reported over 6.3 times rise in Covid cases in the last eight days. There has been a sharp rise in case positivity from 0.79% on December 29 to 5.03% on January 5,” they said.

They said six states/ UTs now have over 10,000 active Covid cases. It further stated that Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,

Jharkhand and Gujarat are emerging as states of concern due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

“A total of 28 districts are reporting over 10% weekly Covid positivity, while 43 districts are reporting weekly positivity between 5-10%,” the officials said.

The Centre added that 1.06 crore or 14.3% of India’s adolescents aged 15-18 years have been administered the first dose of Covid vaccine.

An estimated 7,40,57,000 adolescents in the age group 15-18 years are there in the country and are eligible for vaccination, it said.

Over 800 teenagers get Covid vaccine in Nagaland Shillong Chamber Choir’s founder Neil dies Correspondent

"All politicians, both communal and secular, love to be seen performing religious rites during campaigning."

SA v IND, 2nd Test: SA require 122 runs to win

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KOHIMA, JAN 5 (NPN): Altogether 832 teenagers in the State have been inoculated against Covid-19 in the 15-18 age-group category till Wednesday.

According to data provided by the Health & Family Welfare department, as on January 5, 707 were administered the first dose of Covaxin in Dimapur district, while 125 received their first dose in Kohima so far after the vaccination drive for the 15-18 age group

was launched on January 3 in the State.

Meanwhile, as per the data, altogether 13,39,570 doses of both Covidshield and Sputnik V vaccines

have been administered in Nagaland.

While 7,57,319 first dose and 5,75,880 second dose of Covidshield have been administered; 3,470 individuals received their first dose and 2,901 their second dose of Sputnik V across the State.

Further, 16,005 healthcare workers received their first dose of Covidshield and 13,543 their second dose, even as 60,985 frontline workers were given the first dose and 48,627 the second dose. No healthcare worker

or frontline worker has been administered Sputnik V. On the other hand, 4,66,816 individuals received the first dose and 3,34,994 the second dose of Covidshield in the 18-44 years category, while 2,717 got the first dose of Sputnik V and 2,201 the second dose. In the 45 years and above category, 2,13,513 received the first dose and 1,78,716 received the second dose of Covidshield, while 753 were given the first dose of Sputnik V and 700 the second dose.

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JAN 5: Neil Nonkynrih, acclaimed Shillong pianist and founder of Shillong Chamber Choir passed away at Reliance Foundation hospital, Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

He was 51.

“Neil was unwell for quite some time. He had a septic shock brought about by a perforated ulcer, in Mumbai, where he had gone to record an album. We are making arrangements to bring his mortal remains to Shillong,” PBO Warjri,

Late Neil Nonkynrih

brother-in-law of Nongkynrih, said.

Chief minister Conrad Sangma expressed sadness at the demise. “I am saddened beyond words by the sudden demise of Padma Shri Neil Nongkyn-

rih, founder of the famous Shillong Chamber Choir.

He was a mentor to the country’s finest choir that serenaded crowds wherever they performed. We have lost a gem today,” Sangma tweeted.

An acclaimed pianist, Neil learned music from Trinity College and Guildhall School of Music, London from 1988. He taught music in the United Kingdom for years. One of his many successful pupils is Phillip Selway, member of the popular British band Radiohead.

(Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C

2

Multi-utility building inaugurated at Longchang

Eshak Konyak speaking at the inaugural programme.

DIMAPUR: A multi-utility building-cum-indoor stadium was inaugurated

by Eshak Konyak, MLA, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mon Thavaseelan K at Longchang under Mon district on Wednesday.

In a press release, personal secretary to MLA, P. Shampa Konyak said the MLA, who himself a sports enthusiast, encouraged the people to utilise the facility and build fit and healthy society.

Eshak also appreciated the Department of Under-Developed Areas

(DUDA) for funding the project, the contractor concern for timely completion, the village council of Longchang and other civil societies leaders for cooperation and also Badminton Hub, Nagarjan Dimapur for logistic support.

In a short speech, DC Thavaseelan highlighted various initiatives taken up by the local MLAs from Mon district and the government of Nagaland particularly on upgradation of healthcare services and sporting facilities.

Mon District Badminton Association president,

Poangba Konyak, also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the chief guest was given guard of honour by the Village Guards personnel and unveiled the inaugural plaque after dedicatory prayer was offered by LVBC Pastor Rev. Ashoak.

The function was c h a i r e d b y t h e E AC Longchang Cthitu Nienu, welcome note was delivered by Longchang village council chairman, S.Taiwang and vote of thanks by Longchang Area Students’ Union president, Wangkhao Angtok.

STATE KTCRYF silver jubilee: Kohima Christian Revival Youth Fellowship (KTCRYF) would be celebrating its silver jubilee on January 15-16 under the theme, “I will look unto the Lord (Micah 7:7)” at Union Christian Revival Church (UCRC), New Market Road, Kohima with secretary advisory board, ACRCC, Rev. Vitsiepielie Nguzhü and chairman, Beautiful Feet Ministry, Ado Kezo as the main speakers. All the office bearers of KTCRYF, programme participants and prayer group have been requested to reach the venue by January 14 evening.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, everyone has been advised to follow proper preventive measures.

Mon informs on e-Roll: Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mon, Y Chingyak Konyak has notified that the list of amendments to the draft electoral roll for the 41-Tizit, 42-Wakching, 43-Tapi, 44-Phomching, 45-Tehok, 46-Mon Town, 47-Aboi, 48-Moka and 55-Tobu Assembly Constituency has been prepared with reference to January 1, 2022, as the qualifying date and in accordance with the Registration of Election Rules, 1960. A copy of the roll and list of amendments has been published and will be available for inspection at the Office of ADC Mon, informed DIPR report.

ADC Peren informs: ADC Peren, K. Mhathung Tsanglao has informed all concerned that the list of amendments to the draft Electoral Roll for 6-Tenning & 7-Peren Assembly constituencies has been prepared with reference to January 1 as the qualifying date, and in accordance with the Registration of Electors Rule, 1960. It further informed that a copy of the said roll, together with the list of amendments have been published and would be available for inspection at the ADC office and concerned Booth Level Officers of respective polling station/areas.

ERO Kma informs: ADC & Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Kohima, N Bhavani Sri has informed that the list of amendments to the draft electoral roll for 8-Western Angami, 9-Kohima Town, 10-Northern Angami-I, 11-Northern Angami-II, 12-Tseminyu, 14-Southern Angami-I and 15-Southern Angami-II Assembly Constituencies had been prepared with reference to January 1, 2022 as the qualifying date and in accordance with Registration of Electors Rule, 1960. In a notice, ERO informed that a copy of the said roll together with the said amendments had been published and will be available for inspection at Deputy Commissioner’s office, Kohima and Booth Level Officer.

DIMAPUR: Dimapur district excise duty party manning excise check gate at Dillai have arrested a man with 400 cases of IMFL from a truck on December 4.

A press release by superintendent of excise, Dimapur, T Arilong Longkumer, stated that excise party during routing frisking duty intercepted a truck (NL01 AC 6691) and recovered IMFL which was concealed along with cement bags.

In this connection, one person identified as Parshu Sahu (27), S/o Ram Charan Sahu, R/o Kohora village under Bokahat PS of Golaghat district, Assam, was booked under relevant section of

KSU to inspect developmental activities within Mon district

DoSE informs on new Sainik Schools

The arrested person with the seized IMFL. NLTP Act 89.

The release stated that after preliminary inquiry, it was established that the IMFL was loaded at Jorabat, Guwahati and was

bound for Senapati, Manipur. The case was currently under investigation and the seized material deposited at excise malkhana for later destruction.

DC and DEO Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant and others at the releasing of electoral roll publication for five constituencies of Tuensang district at Circuit House, Tuensang on January 5. (IA Tuensang)

good workmanship within the stipulated timeframe mentioned in the respective DPR. Konyak Students’ Union has especially mentioned that the road construction activities undergoing within the district of Mon and cautioned that the union would take “its own course of action” against any contractors or beneficiaries found defying the notification.

DIMAPUR: Directorate of School Education (DoSE)has notified that the Government of India has approved an initiative for setting up of 100 new Sainik Schools under Sainik Schools Society, Ministry of Defence on affiliation basis through partnership of States/NGOs/ Private partners in order to meet the growing demand for Sainik Schools.

According to DIPR report, DoSE stated that these schools would be af-

AcKNOwLEDgEmENt

Electoral Registration Officer Dimapur with Political Party representatives during the Final Publication of Electoral Roll Wednesday at the conference hall of DC Dimapur (DIPR).

filiated to Sainik Schools Society of Ministry of Defence to create a system that combines academic rigour with a degree of discipline and provide increased focus on valuebased education which will enable children develop pride in rich culture and heritage of the nation.

Directorate of School Education informed that applications for registration through online mode are being sought from

NGOs/Private Schools/ State Government owned Schools for affiliating as new Sainik Schools through the web portal https://sainikschool.ncog. gov.in where interested parties may express their intent and register.

It further stated that queries, if any, about the scheme may be addressed to Sainik Schools Society of Ministry of Defence on email: sainikschool.affiliation@gmail.com.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Temeim Oba, it’s been one year, on this saddest day, you have gone to the place from where no one ever come's back.

Your death has reminded us that in this world nothing is permanent; we all have to go when God wishes.

You are deeply missed every day and every moment.

We hope you are doing well with the other Angels & know you are watching from Heaven above and blessing us It’s the body that dies not the soul. You’ll always be with LATE TAKOZULU LKR us in our hearts.

DIED ON : 06-01-2021 There is nothing that we can do for you than Praying Stay Peacefully in Heaven. May God bless your soul

dp-56/22

DIMAPUR: Wokha Town Council (WTC) administrator, T. Lankonsen Tsanglao has directed all the shops /business establishment under its jurisdiction to renew/extend their shop permits for the year 2022 on or before February 10.

Any shop/establishment r unning without Wokha Town Council trade permit have also been directed to obtain the same within the stipulated time.

Failing which, Wokha Town Council said defaulters shall be penalised a fine of Rs. 10 per day as per provision of Municipal Act 2001.

One held with IMFL in Dimapur

NEWS IN BRIEF

DIMAPUR: Konyak Students’ Union (KSU) while reiterating its April 19 and April 20, 2021 meeting resolution said the union would inspect all the developmental activities within Mon district.

In a press release, KSU president T Noklem and general secretary, A Pangnan have urged all concerned contractors for early completion of all the ongoing works with

WTC notifies

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

08/07/1987 – 20/12/2021 We, the bereaved family members of Late T. Nanwang Konyak 12th NAP (IR) would like to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual, who stood by us physically, spiritually and financially during the time of illness and demise, we regret our inability to thank everyone individually, it is our humble prayer that Almighty God bless you all abundantly. dp-55/22

Loving Parents, Siblings and Family Members

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Loving Wife & Children

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

k-19/22

We, the bereaved family members of Late BESUPRA KEZO would like to thank and express our heartfelt gratitude to all individuals, friends, neighbors, relatives, unions, churches and well wishers who in love and kindness supported and stood by us physically, financially and through prayers in time of his sudden demise on the 29th Dec 2021.

We also convey our special gratitude to the Pastor, Kikruma Baptist Church (KBC) and his Co-workers, all rank and files and officers of SIPL Pvt. Ltd. Your support at this difficult time was of great comfort to our family. We deeply regret our inability to mention each and every individuals, but it is our earnest prayers that the Almighty Lord who has witnessed your benevolent deeds bestows His rich blessings upon each and everyone.

Loving wife, sons, daughters and relatives.

K Y M C

Born on : 21st Dec, 1987 – Died on : 26th Dec, 2021 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”. John 11:25 My son and I would like to sincerely thank all of you who cared for my beloved wife Late Nikali Yeptho, from the time of her illness till her last breath. Your love and kindness shown to us through your unending prayers, your financial and material help, your physical presence has been over whelming. We are standing strong because of all your love shown to us during these time. We are indebted to each and every individual, churches, organizations, families and friends. Though we cannot mention all the names, we will always remember you all in our daily prayers.

May God bless you all.

01.01.1966 – 29.12.2021

dp-61/22

Loving Husband and Son

(Born : 02/06/1963 – Died : 03/01/2022) “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job: 1:21 We, the family members of Lt. Y. Elabemo Ezung would like to express our sincere and profound gratitude to each and every individual who sympathize with us spiritually, physically and financially prior to and after the funeral of our beloved father and my husband.

Our special gratitude to : 1. Doctors & nurses of CIHSR Hospital, Dimapur 2. Longsachung Baptist Church 3. Tiyichan Lotha Baptist Church 4. Tiyichan Youth Department 5. Tiyi Longchum Yingsung Baptist Ekhumkho Pongdenro Khumshum (TLYBEPK) 6. Wokha Town Longsachung Ekhung 7. Thenchoi Okho 8. Officers and staff, SDEO Wokha, Nagaland 9. Shri. Y. Patton, Dy. Chief Minister, Home & PWD (R&B), GoN 10. P.S/P.A. to Deputy CM & Co-Workers 11. Wonthungo Tsopoe Director, School Education, Kohima, Nagaland 12. Saron colony youth & neighbours We regret that we could not thank you all individually but we pray that God bless each and every one for your kind deeds. wc-05/21

Loving Wife, Children & Relatives.

K Y M C

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Does creation of new districts also mean more employment?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A

B

C

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

53% 42% 5%

NEXT POLL

Q: Does the ECI have any

intention to ensure a restriction on poll sops?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST JANUARY 6

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazy Sunshine

26 12

Aizawl

Sunny and pleasant

22 7

Guwahati Hazy Sunshine Imphal

26 11

Sunny and pleasant

23 4

Itanagar Sunshine and nice

23 11

Shillong

Mostly sunny

18 5

Kohima

Mostly sunny

19 7

Dimapur Mostly sunny and pleasant

25 10

Partly sunny and pleasant

22 8

Mkg

Tuensang Partly sunny and cooler Wokha

14 4

Sunshine and not as warm

Zunheboto Partly sunny

19 11 19 6

Thuni celebrated in Dmu DIMAPUR: Citizens of Zhavame dwelling in Dimapur celebrated Thuni festival under the theme, “Celebrating culture through peace and prosperity” at Zhavame Community Hall, Sovima Village, Dimapur, Wednesday.

In a press release, media team Thuni Feast 2022 stated that host of the feast, NDPP Phek region president, Mosonyi Domeh highlighted how Thuni festival, a festival of the Poumai community residing in Razeba range, was included in the restricted holiday list in the government calendar.

He acknowledged the past leaders of the community for spearheading the initiative to include Thuni festival among the Chakhesang festivals in 2016 and beyond.

Domeh exhorted the community not only to continue celebrating Thuni festival in the same manner but to make it even bigger in the years to come. He emphasized the importance of one’s identity and mother tongue especially with young children residing in towns and cities.

Taking this occasion of thanking for the bounti-

Celebration of Thuni festival at Zhavame Community Hall, Dimapur on Wednesday.

ful harvest and imploring choicest on the new season, he challenged the people to forgive and forget, be united steadfastly and work tirelessly for the interest of the people.

Convenor of Thuni feast, Reo Dukru gave the welcome address, chairman of Zhavame Union Dimapur (ZUD) Movi delivered the keynote address while advisor ZUD Rapri Pohena shared the background and celebration of Thuni.

The celebration began with an invocation by pastor Chakhesang Baptist Church Toulazouma, Mosa Nukhu, Parish Priest St Joseph Chumoukedima, Rev Fr Rozii Anthony Dukru blessed the new

Road-upgradation launching prog at Chendang

Road-upgradation programme in progress at Chendang Saddle, Tuensang.

DIMAPUR: Launching programme of up-gradation of the road from Chendang Saddle to Noklak on EPC mode (NERSDS) was held Wednesday at Chendang Saddle, Tuensang.

A press release by Chingmei Range Public Organisation (CRPO) stated that in a technical report, Er C. Hendo Sumao stated that the total coverage of the project highway will be 27.19km with an intermediate lane approximately.

However, currently at the

first phase, the coverage would be 17. km 103 meters and the rest will be continued in the second phase.

In short speeches, the village council chairman, Chendang Saddle, and village council chairman, Thang along with president CRPO and president TRPO assured that there will be no disturbance from any organizations or individuals concerning taxation and land reimbursement.

Further, advisor, Prison, Printing and Stationery,

3

STATE/NORTHEAST

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

Haying highlighted that the smooth functioning of the road construction has been approved through NERSDS and the project can achieve success through joining venture of both the districts along with the co-operation with each other.

He also acknowledged the commitment declared by both the CRPO and TRPO and further declared that he will focus more on the quality workmanship as well as the quoted quality of the road.

office bearers for the tenure 2022-24 to be headed

by Neilakhotuo Shupao as chairman and former pastor Siba Krocha pronounced the benediction.

Special folk tunes were performed by the youth, women and men group. A host of special attractions of greased bamboo pole climbing, tug of war between married men and youths and lucky draw stole the crowd’s attention after the programme.

Zhavame Unions in Kohima, Phek and Pfutsero, Zelome Union Dimapur, Tsiipfiime Union Dimapur, Razeba Public Organization Dimapur unit and the Village Council team Zhavame also partook in the celebration.

‘Kala utsav online competition’ underway

DIMAPUR: National level “kala utsavonline competition 2022” is underway at the Directorate School Education, Kohima. The twelve- day national online competition which started on January 1 would continue till January 12.

A press release by Department of School Education (DoSE) media cell state that the Arts Festival 202021 was organized jointly by the DoSE and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India and the National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi. Deputy mission director, Samagra Shiksha, Liyalo Apong said the Art Festival focuses on promoting traditional folk and classical art forms that reflect India’s rich culture, tradition and civilization.

Apong said the festival also create a platform to explore exchange and experience the diverse cultural

Participants at the ‘Kala utsav online competition’ in Kohima.

heritage of the country and highlights the importance of culture and develops a better sense of identity, belongingness as well as an appreciation of other cultures.

The release stated that

there are nine categories of competition for both female and male participants.

Out of 18 participants from Nagaland, 12 participants are performing at Directorate of School Edu-

Tongpang visits accident victims

‘Foodie’s World’ inaugurated in Mkg Correspondent

LM&CP deptt informs DIMAPUR: Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection Department (LM&CP) depar tment has informed that Justice Hukato Swu has taken charge of the Nagaland State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (State Commission) office in the presence of the LM&CP department joint controller & HoD, K. Takeeth Imchen.

In a press release, LM&CP department has informed that Justice Hukato Swu, who is also the president of the Nagaland State Consumer Disputes Redressal, has assured to take up all consumer cases currently filed and pending vigorously. The release stated that Justice Swu has sought cooperation from all district consumer forum offices and assured the citizens that consumer cases will be heard timely without fail.

cation Studio for six days as per the schedule and the six participants of Visual Art 2D, 3D and indigenous toys and games venue will also be held here at a separate hall scheduled on January 5-6.

Minister Tongpang Ozukum interacting with the accident victims on Wednesday.

DIMAPUR: Minister PWD (housing & mechanical), Tongpang Ozukum on Wednesday visited nine injured victims of the ill-fated passenger vehicle which met with an accident on January 4 at Changtongya

town under Mokokchung district.

In a press release, press secretary to minister, ImliyangerAier stated that the minister visited the patients who are admitted at Imkongliba Memorial

District Hospital (IMDH).

Tongpang interacted with the patients and the medical staffs to assess about their wellbeing and offered financial assistance as emergency aid for the injured.

MOKOKCHUNG, JAN 5 (NPN): Minster PWD (Housing and Mechanical), Tongpang Ozukum on Wednesday inaugurated a new chain of restaurant, “B.N. Resto Foodie’s World” at Longkumer Kilem, Mokokchung after it was dedicated by pastor MTBA, Rev. Ponen Longchar.

Owned by Bendangnukshi Longkumer, the restaurant is the eight in the chain of Foodie’s World in the North East and the first in Nagaland, offering fast food, fine dining, mocktails and coffee. A brief inaugural programme was held where Bendangnukshi delivered the welcome address.

Matri Foundation distributed 300 packed foods in Ura Village to the fire affected families on Tuesday following its motto which is “Do small things with great love’.

GB Union East Dimapur responds to DVC

DIMAPUR: GB Union East Dimapur (GBUED) claimed it had convened an emergency meeting on November 17, 2021, which was widely published in all local dailies the previous day, and a memorandum was submitted to the chief secretary with the consent of majority present at the meeting. Hence, it said the question of Darogapathar Village Council (DVC) being unaware about the meeting did not arise.

Replying to a letter of

DVC chairman and GBs in this regard, GBUED president, Niuto Awomi and general secretary, Pitu Mech further clarified that the allegation of deliberate misuse of Darogapathar village’s nomenclature by East Dimapur GBs Union was erroneous and unwarranted as the village had always been integral part of the union when the latter was formed on May 19, 2012 at Purana Bazar, Village Council Hall with the consent and participation

of all 22 federating villages, includes Darogapathar with representation of head GB Bhoben Sangma and GB Shikheto Murru.

They claimed that Darogapathar had even paid a registration fee of Rs 5,000 (receipt no. 14, dated 18/12/2013) and hence the question of deliberate misuse of the village nomenclature or that the village had never been part of the union did not arise.

Mentioning that the main purpose of 22 vil-

NORTHEAST

Tripura BJP MLA disqualified from Assembly under anti-defection law AG A RTA L A , J A N 5 (IANS): Tripura Assembly Speaker Ratan Chakraborty on Wednesday disqualified Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ashish Das, who joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on October 31, 2021, after criticising the saffron party and its leadership in the state.

The Speaker said that after examining all the relevant papers and documents as well as the petition of BJP Chief Whip, Kalyani Roy he had disqualified Das under the anti-defection law (the 10th Schedule of the Constitution). Roy earlier filed a petition before Chakraborty to disqualify K Y M C

the 43-year-old BJP legislator as he openly criticised Tripura’s BJP government and its leaders before joining the TMC at a function in Agartala last year. “With the disqualification, Das would not be entitled to get any facilities, allowance and pension. Despite many letters and communication from the state Assembly Secretariat, he did not respond to any of it,” Chakraborty told the media. The Speaker said that he has been examining the case of IPFT (Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura) MLA Brishaketu Debbarma, 44, who resigned from the Assembly in June 2021 and joined the

TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance) headed by Tripura’s royal scion, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman. The IPFT with eight MLAS is an ally of the ruling BJP. Tripura Assembly Secretary, Bishnu Pada Karmakar told IANS that the Assembly Secretariat would send the Speaker’s order by speed post on Wednesday to Ashish Das. Das, a Scheduled Caste leader and a BJP MLA from the Surma Assembly constituency in northern Tripura, refusing to make any comments on his disqualification said that he did not get any order or letter from the Speaker.

lages coming to form East Dimapur GBs Union was to appraise the State government about formation of EAC administrative headquarters, they said the union was formed even before Chümoukedima GBs Union came into being Further asserting that they believed that Darogapathar was not a hereditary village of particular clan, tribes or community and the village council chairmanship or GB was subject to change from time to time,

Niuto and Pitu said the village council thus ought to give due regard to their predecessors and take into account the good deeds or decision taken in the interest of the village. If not, this would amount to utter disregard and malign the image of their predecessors, which would set a bad precedent, they cautioned.

They said they looked forward to DVC’s cooperation for all good endeavours for the people of all 22 villages in East Dimapur.

SC upholds high court order on reservation in MU NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Manipur High Court order which said Manipur University (MU) is required to follow reservation norms of two%for SC candidates, 31%for STs and 17%for OBCs for admission purposes. A bench of justices L Nageswara Rao and Hima Kohli said the university was correct in calculating the extent of reservation of seats in taking admissions to different courses.

The apex court endorsed the view taken by the high court that after the amendment to the Reservation Act, the university had to follow the reservation norms of two%for SC candidates, 31%for ST candidates

and 17%for OBC candidates.

The top cour t was hearing an appeal filed by Kshetrimayum Maheshkumar Singh and others challenging an order of the Manipur High Court which held that the percentage of reservation for SC and ST candidates, as was applied to the university prior to the commencement of the Reservation Act, would be adopted for determination of percentage of reservation for the reserved categories in question. The high court directed that the percentage of reservation for students belonging to the SC, ST and the OBC categories in the university would be 2%, 31%and 17%respectively for admission to various courses.

dc-07/22

K Y M C

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Assam Rifles Jawan killed in IED blast at Imphal

Police inspecting the site where a bomb blast killed one AR jawan and wounded another at Lilong, Thoubal district on Wednesday.

Correspondent I M P H A L , JA N 5 : A bomb explosion in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Wednesday killed one security personnel and critically wounded another, officials said.

The explosion took place around 1:45 pm at a water reservoir at Ushoipokpi village under Lilong police station of Thoubal district where four troopers of the 16 Assam Rifles had gone to wash their utensil after a meal. The bomb suspected to be an improvised explosive device (IED) hit two of them while the other two troopers miraculously

escaped unhurt. One of the troopers later identified as L Wangshu (30) from Arunachal Pradesh succumbed to splinter injuries on the spot while another identified as Pinku Das (27) from Tripura has been evacuated to a unit hospital, a report said. The troopers were on routine ROP duty along the Imphal-Moreh section of the NH-102.

The police who rushed to the spot soon after the blast suspected that the IED remotely controlled was triggered by suspected insurgents. Local police as well as teams of state police commandos and troops of 16 Assam Rifles rushed

Over 50 COVID-19 cases found in IIT-Guwahati, restrictions imposed

GUWAHATI, JAN 5 (PTI): Over 50 people, including students and a faculty member, have tested positive for COVID-19 in IIT-Guwahati over the last six days, forcing the authorities to impose restrictions on the campus, an official said on Wednesday. Almost 99 per cent of the cases were people who returned to the campus from outside Assam after holidays, said Parmeshwar Iyer, Dean-PR, IIT-Guwahati.

“More than 50 cases of COVID-19 have been detected on the campus since December 31. Among them

are a faculty member and five members of his family, and another staff member.

The rest are students,” he told PTI. Except for the faculty member and his family, all the patients are lodged at the quarantine centre at the institute’s guest house on the campus, Iyer said.

“As the faculty member’s parents, mother-in-law and young son tested positive, they preferred to be hospitalised. They are currently undergoing treatment at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital,” he said.

to the spot soon after the blast and conducted a massive search operation in the nearby areas. There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but police suspected hands of a major rebel group behind the bomb attack. No one has so far also been picked up on suspicion.

It may be noted that the bomb blast came barely a day after Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi claimed that due to the continuous efforts of the “double engine” government, there was no fire of extremism and insecurity in this region in his speech at a public function in Imphal on Tuesday.

NORTHEAST

Will fight legally court petition on ILP system: Manipur CM Correspondent IMPHAL, JAN 5: Manipur government will fight legally at the maximum level, said Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh who responded to reporters over the court petition filed against the implementation of ILPS in the state.

Singh said that the state cabinet had resolved to fight it legally at the maximum level. On Monday, the Supreme Court of India sought responses of the Centre and the Manipur government to a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the inner line permit (ILP) system.

The system which controls the entry of people who are not residents of Manipur was introduced by the Central government to fulfil the long cherished dream of the people of the state effective from January 2019.

To another query over the reveal of the Armed Forces (Special) Power Act 1958, the chief minister said that the state government together with the Centre was currently assessing the law and order situation of the state.

Singh was talking to reporters on the side-line of an inauguration function of two bridges constructed over Imphal River under the PMGSY in Imphal East today. The bridges were constructed with Manipur State Rural Road Development Agency as the implementing agency.

Addressing the occasion, the chief minister pointed out that Imphal River passes through his Assembly constituency, Heingang, covering a long stretch of around 17 km and as there were not enough bridges earlier, the state government decided to construct these concrete bridges at strategic points for the convenience of the public.

The chief minister stated that construction of different infrastructure projects across the state, including those whose foundation stone laid by the Prime Minister, would continue as usual even during the enforcement of Election Model Code of Conduct.

He said that his government has also set a target to provide tap water to 80 per cent of the total households of the state by March, 2022.

PM security lapse: Sarma demands probe G U WA H AT I , J A N 5 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the ‘security lapse’ in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s travel in Punjab is a matter of serious concern and demanded an enquiry into it at the highest level.

The incident is a matter of shame and proved that the ruling Congress in that state is interested only in politics and not development, he said.

Modi, who was travelling by road in Punjab on Wednesday was on his way to the National Martyrs

Memorial at Hussainiwala from Bathinda when he was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes due to blockade by some protesters. The incident was described by the union home ministry as a “major lapse” in his security.

In a statement the home ministry said that after the incident the prime minister’s convoy decided to return.

Sarma in a series of tweets said “compromising” the security of the prime minister is a matter of serious concern and must be enquired into at the highest levels.

He wrote, “It’s a matter of shame that Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s cavalcade (sic) was stopped by protesters on his way to visit the martyr’s memorial at Hussainiwala, Punjab.”

Accusing the Congress government of Punjab of indulging in politics on all issues, Sarma, a prominent BJP leader of the north east, wrote, “While Adarniya PM is going all out to ensure holistic development of Punjab, today’s incident shows how Cong is least interested in development & only wants to play politics.

Ex-Tripura CM Sarkar attacks Modi Padma awardee accused of AGARTALA, JAN 5 (PTI): CPI(M) leader and four times chief minister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments against the erstwhile Left Front government and said the BJP-led ‘double engine’ government has fallen flat with “punctured tyres”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday while inaugurating the second terminal building of Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, had attacked the previous governments in Tripura, claiming corruption and backwardness was rife in the state till the BJP came to power and asserting “the state has now turned into an important trade corridor” now. Sarkar however tried to take credit for the airport modernization, stating that his Left Front government which ruled till 2018 had

“first sent the proposal for modernizing the airport and arranged additional land and relocated 33 families with proper compensation.

Works for new terminal building started in our tenure. Now PM says it (the Left Front government) was a laggard.”

Modi had on Tuesday said “the double-engine government (BJP government at Delhi and Tripura) are developing the state through the ‘HIRA’ (highways, Internet, railways and airways) model.” He said, broad-gauge train services reached Tripura after a prolonged movement demanding it. He also pointed out that ambitious railway projects like AgartalaAkhaura rail connectivity with Bangladesh started during the Left regime.

Sarkar also claimed that work on the third Internet gateway of India through Chittagong in Bangladesh

had started in Tripura during the Left Front’s rule and the former UPA government, of which the Left Front was a partner for four years, sanctioned multiple National Highways. He said Modi’s comments were “abrupt and concocted” and claimed they were designed to damage people’s movement for railways, airports and other connectivity projects.

Prime Minister’s claim of good governance and accountability of the Biplab Deb-led BJP government in Tripura is a ‘farce’ and there are allegations of rampant corruptions within the government, he claimed.

Sarkar, who is also the politburo member of CPI-M said, PM and his party did not have any role in the freedom struggle of India and claimed the BJP’s ‘political predecessors were British agents who backstabbed freedom fighters’.

sexually abusing minor girl

GUWAHATI, JAN 5 (PTI): A Padma awardee of Assam, accused of sexually abusing a minor girl he was fostering, has obtained an interim anticipatory bail from Gauhati High Court to evade arrest after a case was registered against him.

The vacation bench of Justice Arun Dev Choudhury granted the anticipatory bail to the accused, who prayed that the FIR was filed to malign his reputation and the complaint did not have any specific statement of the victim. The court, however, noted in its order passed on December 28 that the case is “serious” in nature as it includes offences under the POCSO Act and sought the case dairy from the police on January 7. As per the allegation, the Child Wel-

fare Committee (CWC), Lakhimpur, had requested the accused to provide a foster home to two girls, and he agreed to have the two girls placed under his and his wife’s care.

The girls had started living with his family from September 2020. As per the accused’s senior counsellor AM Bora, a dispute arose between his client and the chairman, CWC, Lakhimpur, and accordingly, the accused was asked to produce the girls on or before October 28, 2021.

The girls were brought before the CWC on October 28 and since then they are under the custody of the committee. The deed of foster care was cancelled by the CWC on December 17 on the ground that none of the girls is willing to go back to her foster parents.

ECI reviews poll preparedness in Manipur through virtual mode Correspondent IMPHAL, JAN 5: Election Commission of India ( ECI) on Wednesday reviewed poll preparedness for the forthcoming elections to the 60-seat Manipur Legislative Assembly through a virtual meeting.

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey reviewed the poll preparedness.

Representatives of political parties, state chief secretary, DGP, nodal officers of the state police department and chief electoral officer (CEO) Manipur were among others who attended the review meeting, an official source here said.

Representatives of political parties - All India Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist

Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Naga People’s Front (NPF), National People’s Party, and Peoples Democratic Alliance met the commission through video conferencing.

The main issues raised by the political parties included use of money power, illicit liquor, narcotics drugs and intimidation to influence voters.

Political parties requested for strict vigil on election expenses by candidates to ensure free and fair polls.

While expressing concerns about pre-poll violence, the political parties demanded deployment of adequate security forces during the poll process and other relevant measures.

The political parties also raised concerns about implementation of strict

COVID protocols for the safety of everybody.

The commission assured representatives that it has taken cognizance of suggestions, issues and concerns of the political parties and ECI was committed to conduct free, fair, participative, inclusive, inducement free and COVID safe elections in the state.

With regard to the concerns raised on excessive use of money and other inducements to influence voters, the commission reiterated that it has zero tolerance for misuse of money or muscle power or partisan behavior of state machinery vitiating free and fair elections.

CEC Sushil Chandra underscored that strict action would be taken against such erring officials.

He added that expenditure observers will be deployed for strict vigil to ensure inducement-free elec-

tions in the state.

Chandra also elaborated on ECI’s cVIGIL App mechanism for registering complaints for prompt redressal of MCC violations as also the toll free number 1950.

The commission further assured the representatives that ECI will ensure measures like webcasting/ videography, deployment CAPF personnel and Micro Observers wherever necessary in identified vulnerable polling areas, to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling.

The commission highlighted that for the first time in the state, the option of a postal ballot facility for absentee voters and senior citizens over 80 years, PwD electors and Covid-19 suspects or affected persons.

The postal ballot facility was an optional facility and ensures total secrecy of voting, the commission said.

Re presentatives of candidates will be present during the process and the total procedure will be videographed.

In the state, 14,565 persons with disabilities and over 41,867 senior citizens (80+) have been mapped.

Subsequently, the commission discussed the administrative, logistics, budget, law & order and election related arrangements with the state chief secretary and state police nodal officer.

The commission also reviewed the overall poll preparedness and law and order matters with the chief secretary & director general of police.

During the review meeting, the commission emphasized focus on the conduct of safe elections with 100% vaccination of all polling staff, proper sanitization and social distancing at the polling stations.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

NE to have tourist circuit trains

GUWAHATI, JAN 5 (PTI): Tourist circuit trains will be introduced in the northeast, covering all prominent locations of the region, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.

According to a release issued by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Vaishnaw, who visited Guwahati on Tuesday, also said that a study to increase rail connectivity in the northeastern states was underway.

Promoting the rich heritage of northeast and showcasing its beautiful culture to the entire world has been an endeavour of the Railways, Vaishnaw said.

He pointed out that five Vistadome services have already been introduced towards the goal of giving tourism a boost in the region.

He added that studies are being conducted to establish strategic railway lines to highlight the beauty of northeast, and start more passenger, intercity and Jan Shatabdi Express-like trains.

The release said the minister also underlined that electrification of railway track has been completed up to Guwahati and further work is in progress.

Maintaining that there was no shortage of funds, Vaishnaw said Rs 7,000 crore has been allocated this year for the ongoing railway

Manipur chief minister Biren Singh receives railway minister who conducted an aerial survey of railway projects.

projects in northeast.

Vaishnaw, who also holds the communications, electronics and IT portfolio, stated that work to provide high speed Internet in the entire region is going on.

“An out-of-the-box experiment was conducted for 10 GB internet connectivity from Coxbazar international landing station (Bangladesh) to Agartala through BSNL.

The experiment has been extremely successful and now we will be further extending this,” he said. The minister stated that efforts to equip every village of northeast with digital telecom connectivity are in progress.

“Scientific survey and GIS mapping are on to identify locations for telecom connectivity in every village,” he added.

Imphal - Moreh new railway line project sanctioned The Northeast Frontier ( NFR) has announced that the ministry of railways has accorded sanction for the Final Location survey of the Imphal – Moreh section of about 111 Kms for the construction of a new BG line connecting India and Myanmar.

A press release by Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Guneet Kaur stated that in this regard, minister of railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, upon his visit to Imphal on January 5, conducted an aerial inspection of railway projects and ordered the survey for new line up to Moreh.

Once constructed, the new line will be of strategic importance and will form an important part of the proposed Trans-Asian Railway which will connect India with South East Asia on rail network, NFR CPRO stated.

Around 1.5 lakh children in 15-18 yrs likely to receive COVID vaccine doses: Mizoram minister

AIZAWL, JAN 5 (PTI): Around 1.5 lakh children between 15 and 18 years of age in Mizoram are expected to be inoculated during the ongoing phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive for this group of beneficiaries, Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana said on Wednesday.

At least 446 children in this age group have received the first jab in the

Mizoram logs 443 new COVID cases

AIZAWL, JAN 5 (PTI): Mizoram on Wednesday reported 443 new COVID-19 cases, recording a positivity rate of 13.38 per cent, a health official said. The state had reported 347 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with a positivity rate of 15.66 per cent, he said. Among the new patients are 88 children and 21 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, he added.

There are 2,162 active cases in the state at present, while the toll rose to 553 as one more person from Aizawl district died.

Aizawl district reported the highest number of new cases at 134, followed by Serchhip (122) and Mamit (51), the official said. The state has so far reported 1,42,691 COVID-19 cases.

Of them, 1,39,976 have recovered, including 112 in the last 24 hours.

northeastern state since the beginning of the nationwide inoculation programme on January 3. “District immunisation officers will make vaccination plans in their respective areas. The number of beneficiaries is believed to be around 1.5 lakh,” Lalthangliana said.

He urged people to strictly follow COVID appropriate behaviour to contain the spread of the dis-

ease. State immunisation officer Dr Lalzawmi said only 28 selected beneficiaries between 15 and 18 years were inoculated on Monday, the first day of the vaccination drive for this group of people. She also said 13.21 lakh vaccine doses have been administered to eligible beneficiaries in the state since the commencement of the inoculation drive on January 16 last year.

in the court of

PrinciPal District & sessions JuDge DimaPur : nagalanD

notice S/No 1002/2020 NoTICe INvITINg CLaImS/objeCTIoNS of oTheR CLaImaNT(S) foR ISSue of SuCCeSSIoN CeRTIfICaTe uNDeR PaRT-1 of INDIaN SuCCeSSIoN aCT 1925 Whereas application under Succession act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate/pension benefits of Late hupavelu K. Khalo has been applied by Shri Keweko Khalo, h/o Late hupavelu K. Khalo, R/o h/No 197, 7th mile, Dimapur, Nagaland for possession of: 1. PPo No. 111402885 2. SbI a/C. No. 20076508256 Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the pension benefits/estates of the said deceased may if she/he so desire appear in this Court on or before within a period of 30 days from the date of publication. given under the hand and seal of the Court on this the 17th Dec, 2021.

PRINCIPaL DISTRICT & SeSSIoNS juDge DImaPuR : NagaLaND DP-68/22 in the court of

PrinciPal District & sessions JuDge DimaPur : nagalanD

notice

S/C No. 1003/21

NoTICe INvITINg CLaImS/objeCTIoNS of oTheR CLaImaNT(S) foR ISSue of SuCCeSSIoN CeRTIfICaTe uNDeR PaRT-1 of INDIaN SuCCeSSIoN aCT 1925 Whereas application under Succession act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate/pension benefits of Late Kholie angami has been applied by Smti Katoli, W/o Late Kholie angami, R/o h/No 1451, model Colony, Purana bazar, Dimapur, Nagaland for possession of: 1. PPo No. Pen/com-14752/NL/S/16560 Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the pension benefits/estates of the said deceased may if she/he so desire appear in this Court on or before within a period of 30 days from the date of publication. given under the hand and seal of the Court on this the 17th Dec, 2021.

PRINCIPaL DISTRICT & SeSSIoNS juDge DImaPuR : NagaLaND DP-67/22

Declaration

(clarification/Public notice) Registration No. 30/2022

Date : 05/01/2022

To whom to all these presents shall come, we the undersigned, on behalf of all the family members and relatives of Shri. Limakumzuk Imsong, son of Late Imkongnucha Imsong, resident of Dimapur : Nagaland do hereby declare as under: That it has come to the knowledge of our family members and relatives that Shri. Limakumzuk Imsong has been indulging in monetary transactions and borrowing etc., at his own capacity, with various individuals and societies/group.

That all such monetary transactions and borrowing etc., carried out by Shri. Limakumzuk Imsong, were done without the knowledge of the family members or relatives, which is intolerable and inexcusable.

That any individual, groups or societies etc., involved or indulging in any monetary transactions, borrowing etc., with Shri. Limakumzuk Imsong shall be doing so at his/her or their own risk/peril, for which none of our family members or relatives shall be held responsible or liable.

Witnesses: Declarant Temjensola Imtisashi Imtichang DP-53/22

notary Public

Bulli Bai case: 3 arrested, more could be involved the app, had been created to promote the app’s website on social media, the senior police official said.

“During the technical analysis, we collected information about the followers of the app and launched a hunt for the accused,” he said.

Bengaluru-based Vishal Kumar Jha, a second-year engineering student, was one of the five followers of the handle, Nagrale claimed.

If any person wants to share information about the case, he or she can contact Mumbai cyber police, he said. Nagrale expressed displeasure about comments made by some “local authorities” outside Maharashtra about the case.

“Some local authorities have given some versions, which I feel, was not required. They were not aware of the details of the case. Generally, we don’t speak about cases in other states,” he said.

“If you don’t have proper information, then you should not issue a statement on it,” Nagrale added.

Asked about other similar complaints, he said, “If any complaint comes to us, it may be from any com-

munity, we will take immediate cognizance of it.”

The Mumbai police commissioner refused to comment when asked if the accused in the case were also involved in the ‘Sulli Deals’ case (where a similar website targeting Muslim women had been created).

“I will keep the discussion (limited) only about the case registered with Mumbai Police, and the case mentioned is being investigated by Delhi Police.

The investigation is threeday-old and I can not say whether both the cases are connected,” the commissioner added.

The police will find out who was the mastermind, what was the motive and whether the arrested accused got paid and who paid them, Nagrale said.

The app was hosted on the open-source software platform GitHub. It was later blocked by the platform upon receiving complaints.

While there was no actual `auction’ or `sale’, the purpose of the app seemed to be to humiliate and intimidate the targeted women, many of whom are active social media users.

CDS’s chopper crash: cloud, low visibility led to mishap

3 JeM terrorists killed in Pulwama

MUMBAI, JAN 5 (PTI): Three people have been arrested so far in connection with the `Bulli Bai’ app which targeted Muslim women by putting up their images online for `auction’, Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said here on Wednesday.

Some more people were likely to be involved in the matter, he told reporters. Police were also probing why some of the Twitter handles which promoted the app used Sikhsounding names, he said.

The Mumbai top cop also expressed displeasure about comments made by officials in other states about the case.

Mayank Rawal (21) was nabbed from Uttarakhand in the early hours of Wednesday in the case, police had said earlier.

Shweta Singh (19) was arrested on Tuesday from the same state, while engineering student Vishal Kumar Jha (21) was held from Bengaluru on Monday.

“The probe is on and anyone involved in the crime directly or indirectly will be arrested and prosecuted. As the investigation is of sensitive nature, we will not be able to share more details,” Nagrale

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 ( AGENCIES): Twentyeight days after a helicopter crash killed India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the Tri Service Inquiry Report submitted to defence minister Rajnath Singh has reportedly indicated that a sudden cloud cover over Coonoor led to the “unintentional collision with a mountain,” reports News18.com.

In the 30-minute presentation to Rajnath Singh, the inquiry team headed

by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, the Indian Air Force’s senior most helicopter pilot, detailed the circumstances that led to the crash that killed all 14 on board on December 8, 2021.

Singh has survived at least a couple of crashes.

The MI 17 V5 tragedy is reportedly being put

Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale addresses the media regarding the ‘Bulli By’ app issues, Wednesday. (PTI)

said. The cyber cell of Mumbai Police will go to the root of the matter, he assured.

The accused created a web-based app called `Bulli Bai’ and posted photos of women from a particular community alongwith messages that could hurt their sentiments, the police commissioner said.

When asked if Sikh names were used by social media handles which promoted the app, Nagrale said it seemed that such attempt was made.

Some of these handles had names such as `Khalsa Supremacist’, `Jatinder Singh Bhullar’, `Harpal’, `Sage’, he said.

“As per the status of the handle (linked to the app), it says Bulli Bai is a community driven open source app by Khalsa Sikh force. So why this is there, that is part of our investigation,” the commissioner said. “It is too early to say exactly what was the aim of the entire exercise,” he added.

Mumbai Police registered a First Information Report after receiving a complaint about the app on January 2, following which investigators started technical analysis of the app and the related twitter handle, Nagrale said.

This Twitter handle, bearing the same name as

File photo of the spot where the Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed.

down to Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), one of the most common causes of air crashes in bad weather, especially in hilly areas. It usually occurs when flights are getting ready to land.

While the Indian Air Force (IAF) is mum on the findings of the inquiry, sources said there was no technical failure or sabotage. The findings are based on the examination of the accident site, locals’ version,

5

NATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

mobile video of the helicopter flying into the mist and decoding of the black box.

The Sulur airbase air traffic controller has told the inquiry team that there was no distress call from the pilot, said sources. Seven minutes before landing at the Wellington Helipad, they lost contact with MI 17 V5. This is roughly the time when a group of tourists filmed the helicopter, which was flying low, entering an

envelope of cloud. A couple of minutes later, they heard a crashing sound.

Vikramjit Singh, a veteran defence commentator, said there should have been specialized avionics and equipment on-board to give pilots more situational awareness while flying in low-visibility conditions.

“The MI 17 V5 only has an altitude meter. It lacks ground proximity warning systems. The pilot’s decision to fly visual in instrument conditions was a recipe for CFIT.” Both the pilots of the helicopter were the top grade of the IAF with competence and clearance to fly in low-visibility conditions.

The Tri Service Report has also made some important recommendations, including a relook at the standard operating procedure (SOP) for flying VIPS.

S R I NAG A R , JA N 5 (IANS): Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, including one Pakistani national, have been killed in an ongoing encounter with the security forces at Chandgam area in Pulwama district, officials said on Wednesday.

“Three terrorists of terror outfit JeM including one Pakistani national killed. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two M-4 carbine and one AK series rifle recovered. A big success for us,” the J&K Police, quoting Inspector General Police Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar, tweeted.

The gunfight took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.

Indians are succumbing to hatred: Kharge on Bulli Bai row

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (IANS): After an 18-yearold girl who is allegedly the mastermind behind the notorious “Bulli Bai” app, was held by a Mumbai Police team from Uttarakhand, the Congress on Wednesday attacked the BJP and the RSS. Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, “It’s distressing to see 18-21 year olds committing crimes sparked by the radicalism of RSS and BJP’s ideology.”

Kharge said the youth are succumbing to hatred.

“Instead of excelling in education & employment, they have become pawns in the hands of BJP-RSS. A generation of Indians are succumbing to hatred,” he said.

The Mumbai police have arrested three persons in the case, two from Uttarakhand and one from Bengaluru, who are in their early twenties while the girl is a teenager.

The Bulli Bai controversy cropped up on January 1, when the photos of a number of women of a particular religion including of journalists, social workers, students and famous personalities were posted as “available for booking”.

An official said that both the boys and the girl will be confronted with each other.

The latest controversy came six months after the “Sulli Deals” issue.

Both names are derogatory terms for women of the particular religion.

GitHub had provided space to Sulli Deals and this time too, the offending app was created on the platform. After the controversy, GitHub has removed the user from its hosting platform.

But by then, Bulli Bai had sparked a nationwide controversy.

The app was also being promoted by a Twitter handle with the name @ bullibai, with the display picture was of a Khalistani supporter.

This twitter handle was endorsing the Bulli Bai app saying the women can be booked from the app. This handle was also promoting Khalistani content at the same time.

When Sulli Deal controversy came up appeared, two FIRs were lodged against unknown persons, but the culprits behind it were never traced or arrested.

SP leader found murdered BALRAMPUR (UP), JAN 5 (PTI): Samajwadi Party leader Firoz Pappu was allegedly killed by unidentified assailants near his house Firoz Pappu here, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place when Pappu (35), former chairman of Tulsipur nagar panchayat, was returning home on Tuesday night when the assailants slit his throat, they said.

Considering the gravity of the situation, a large number of police personnel have been deployed in the area and senior officials, including commissioner and DIG, rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

According to police, Pappu was returning home after campaigning for the upcoming UP elections when the incident took place. The family rushed him to the community health centre, Tulsipur where the doctors declared him brought dead.

As soon as the news spread, a large number of his supporters and Samajwadi Party leaders, including former minister S P Yadav, reached the hospital.

Akhilesh objects to ‘farq saaf hai’ ad L U C K N OW, J A N 5 (IANS): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has raised objection to Uttar Pradesh government advertisements that show ‘antisocial elements’ wearing red caps and holding them responsible for all problems before 2017.

In a statement, Akhilesh described the Yogi Adityanath government’s ‘Farq Saaf Hai’ campaign as gross misuse of funds for political publicity of the ruling BJP. The Samajwadi president said that he would ensure that this splurging of public funds was probed and officials involved are brought under its ambit.

“Information department’s mandate is to publicise development projects and schemes of the government. Instead, they are releasing advertisements showing people wearing

Akhilesh Yadav

red caps to explain how the situation has changed for the better. This is pure political publicity. The Samajwadi government of 2022 will ensure that a thorough probe is conducted to assess the extent to which public money has been wasted on such political publicity and will also look into the role of the officials involved,” Akhilesh said.

The former Uttar Pradesh CM’s statement came in connection with the publicity campaign in which

the ‘bad man’ is shown wearing red caps identical to the one worn by all SP functionaries including Akhilesh Yadav, party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and all party leaders.

The SP chief said ever since the BJP has formed the government, all that the party has done is to blatantly misuse the government machinery for everything except welfare of the people.

“Since the BJP formed the government in 2017, public funds have been spent on publicity of the party,” he stated.

Akhilesh said the BJP regime was riddled with disturbing instances of crime against women. Farmers were crushed under the wheels of a jeep and despite involvement of a minister in the entire conspiracy, no action has been initiated against him.

NEET-PG admissions: SC says need to end uncertainty

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it is important to put an end to uncertainty in connection with NEET-PG admissions, as the Centre requested it to allow counselling, which is on hold currently against the backdrop of objections raised regarding income criterion of Rs 8 lakh for economically weaker sections (EWS).

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted before a bench, headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, that the government would not accept any position whereby the OBC or EWS aspirants, whether pre or post the exercise is deprived of something, which is legitimately due to them.

Mehta emphasised that the quota dates back to January 2019, and it has been

implemented across the country. “We are at a point where counselling is stuck.

We need doctors in this difficult situation, and we, as a society, cannot go into reservation and lengthy arguments,” he said. He added that like any other report, any intelligent mind can point out errors in the report, and the question would be whether the poorest of the poor is over-inclusive, and added they are not.

He urged the court to allow the counselling to begin, and in the meantime, it could consider the objections.

The bench, also comprising Justice A.S. Bopanna, asked senior advocates Arvind Datar and Shyam Divan, representing the petitioners, their views on Mehta’s suggestion on commencement of counselling.

“Need to put an end to this

uncertainty,” it noted.

The petitioners’ counsel insisted that the rules of the game should not change.

During the hearing, Divan argued that postgraduate admissions must be completely merit-based and reservation must be minimal and referred to Supreme Court judgments which hold that there should be no reservation in superspeciality courses.

Datar submitted that there are two difficulties for letting the counselling.

“If the counselling is done based on the report, then our plea is dismissed at the threshold. When your lordships say allow counselling, does it mean allowing admissions on Rs 8 lakh limit?”

Divan added that in many courses, postgraduation is the end of the road, which means super-special-

Pune police take custody of Kalicharan

PUNE, JAN 5 (PTI): The Pune police on Wednesday said they have taken the custody of Hindu seer Kalicharan Maharaj from their Raipur counterparts in connection with a case pertaining to alleged inflammatory speeches registered against him and five others here in Maharashtra. Following the transit remand granted by a court at Raipur in Chhattisgarh, the religious leader was being brought to Pune where he will be produced in a court later in the day, officials said. “We have taken the custody of Kalicharan

Kalicharan Maharaj

from Chhattisgarh Police and he is being brought to Pune,” an official from Khadak police station said.

The Pune police had registered the case against Kalicharan Maharaj, rightwing leader Milind Ekbote, Captain Digendra Kumar (retired) and others for alleg-

edly making inflammatory speeches during an event here and hurting religious sentiments.

Later, the case was registered against the seer and others at Khadak police station under IPC Sections 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging religious feelings of any class), 298 (deliberate intention of wounding religious feeling of any person) and 505 (2) (false statement, rumor made in place of worship, etc, with intent to create enmity, hatred or ill-will).

ity in some departments.

He added, therefore, the principle of super-speciality will apply to postgraduate courses too.

The top court will continue to hear the matter on Thursday.

The Centre has told the top court that Rs 8 lakh income criterion for determining the EWS is much more stringent than the one for the OBC creamy layer.

The Centre has accepted the report of a threemember panel constituted to revisit the EWS criteria.

The panel, in its report, said: “Firstly, the EWS’s criteria relates to the financial year prior to the year of application whereas the income criterion for the creamy layer in OBC category is applicable to gross annual income for three consecutive years.”

The panel added, “Secondly, in case of deciding the

OBC creamy layer, income from salaries, agriculture and traditional artisanal professions are excluded from the consideration whereas the Rs 8 lakh criteria for EWS includes that from all sources, including farming. So, despite being the same cut-off number, their composition is different and hence, the two cannot be equated.”

The panel comprised former Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Prof V.K. Malhotra of ICSSR, and Principal Economic Advisor to the government, Sanjeev Sanyal. The panel was set up on November 30.

The top court is hearing writ petitions challenging 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10 per cent reservation for EWS in all-India quota seats for postgraduate medical courses.

No. 16/19/2021-M-1

Government of India

Ministry of Culture

Applications are invited from eligible officers for appointment to one post of Director (Exhibition & Public Relations), Group-'A', Gazetted, Non-Ministerial in Pay Scale of Rs. 12000-375-16500 (Pre-revised) [6th CPC-PB-3, Rs. 15600-39100/- plus Grade Pay Rs. 7600) (7th CPC-Level12 of Pay Matrix)] by transfer on deputation (including short term contract)/transfer in the National Museum, New Delhi, a Sub-Ordinate Office under Ministry of Culture. Applications in the prescribed format should reach to Shri Arun Kumar, Under Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Room No. 210, D Wing, 2nd Floor, Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110001 so as to reach him within a period of sixty days from the date of publication of this advertisement in Employment News. Complete details regarding eligibility conditions, educational qualifications and experience, application form, RRs etc. attached to the post are available on the website of this Ministry at www.indiaculture.gov.in The post has already been advertised in the Employment News on 18th December 2021. davp 09101/11/0031/2122

PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY B-14/A, CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI BHAWAN, QUTAB INSTITUTIONAL AREA, KATWARIA SARAI, NEW DELHI - 110016.

ENGAGEMENT OF “MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES” IN PFRDA ON CONTRACT BASIS Applications are invited for filling up three (03) posts of Management Executives in PFRDA purely on contract basis for a period of three (03) years. The complete details of eligibility criteria, mode of selection, remuneration and application form etc. are available on PFRDA’s website at www.pfrda.org.in and also on the website of National Career Service at www.ncs.gov.in.

2. Any corrigendums/ addendums/ notices (if any) relating to this vacancy notification shall be issued only on the website of PFRDA. 3. The last date for receipt of applications is 28 January 2022 (Friday).

Sd/GENERAL MANAGER Please visit our website (Admin & HR) www.pfrda.org.in for complete information and schemes regulated and administered by PFRDA or scan the QR code

davp 15102/12/0022/2122

NORTH EASTERN INDIRA GANDHI REGIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES, MAWDIANGDIANG, SHILLONG -793018.

Advertisement No. NEIGR-E.III/15/2014/Pt.IV dated the 15th November, 2021

Applications are invited from eligible candidates for filling up the following Group 'B' & 'C' posts on direct recruitment.

Eligible candidates are requested to submit their applications in the prescribed format along with attested copies of certificates & testimonials, two copies of recent passport size photograph, Demand Draft of ` 500/- (Rupees five hundred) for General & OBC candidates and ` 250/- (Rupees two hundred and fifty) for SC, ST& EWS candidates being the application fee in favour of the Deputy Director (Admn), NEIGRIHMS payable at Shillong. PwD candidates are exempted from payment of application fee. The application fee once deposited will not be refunded. Candidates working in Govt. /Semi Govt./Public Sector Undertaking/Autonomous Institutions/Organizations are requested to submit their applications through proper channel.

Candidates should note that mere fulfilling of the minimum requisite qualifications & experience bestows no right on them to be called for written test. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for written test as the Institute deemed fit. Only Indian citizens need to apply. Candidates applying for the post reserved for Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) category must submit a valid Income and Asset Certificate in the prescribed format issued by any of the specified competent authorities.

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Last date of submission of Applications is one month from the date of publication of this advertisement in the Employment News Sd/Deputy Director (Admn) NEIGRIHMS, Shillong davp 17119/11/0014/2122

6

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

VOL. XXXII NO. 30 DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

Re-discovering nature

D

iscovery of a rare sisorid dwarf catfish at Milak river and some of its tributaries in Mokokchung by a team of researchers from Fazl Ali College Mokokchung and scientists from other parts of India during the last part of December 2021 has re-confirmed the urgency for protection of the entire eco-system in Nagaland. The team have named the discovered fish species as pseudolaguvia vespa and brings the total number to 24 for the same species. The specific name vespa is derived from Latin, meaning wasp, in reference to the alternating chromeyellow and brown stripes on the body resembling a wasp. Similar species have also been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh and accordingly recorded. There are roughly 197 catfish species in India, out of which 125 are found in the Northeast. Nagaland is known to be the least explored among North eastern states in terms of ichthyology - the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish – and the present discovery signifies so, the team said. Nagaland, like most of the states in the north east, are blessed with rivers flowing down the hills and teeming with marine life.

However over the past many decades the wanton use of bleaching powder, lime and explosives for fishing has indeed caused irreparable damage to the rivers and their eco-system. In the bid to catch large fishes, smaller fish like pseudolaguvia die off as a bycatch.

The discovery of pseudolaguvia vespa at Milak river also serves as a reminder that unless something drastic is done to prevent total destruction of the river aquatic life Nagaland will soon become a wasted land.

With some people holding on to the rights provided under Article 371A but minus the responsibilities, it has become a very difficult task for preservation and conservation of the fragile ecosystem. Nagaland’s ecosystem has been under attack due to rampant and illegal tree felling, poisoning of rivers for fishing; illegal poaching that has driven many animal species to extinction and encroachment on denuded lands to establish homesteads. This newspaper has been highlighting the need for conservation and environmental protection since 1991. It is heartening that at long last, a few NGOs are taking up many noteworthy projects to save the flora and fauna. Among those which have been highlighted include the protection of Amur Falcons at Wokha and later Mokokchung and Longleng districts. The specific sites where these migratory birds swarm are – Changtongya (Mokokchung district) community land and Doyang Catchment area (Wokha district). Earlier, several thousand Amur Falcons used to be slaughtered in Doyang area but later due to initiatives by some people the slaughter has stopped and the hunters became protectors. This change has brought about a huge impact on the bird and also earned Wokha dubbed as ‘Amur Falcon Capital’. Another NGO that continues to play an amazing role in nature preservation as well as sustainable development is the Lemsachenlok (A Thinking, working, Planning, Fund raising Society) organization, formed by churchman-turned bio-diversity conservationist- Nuklo Phom. This NGO has brought immense transformation in the lives of the villagers. Another NGO that has also won accolades in conservation from Nagaland is Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary. The KNCTS is also an example of community commitment which has brought not only benefits to the village but also to the state by way of tourism. Therefore, nature conservation is one area where people especially the village councils need to get seriously involved for the soci-econo9mic benefits of the present and posterity.

DailyDevotion The Life of Power to Follow

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” —John 13:36

“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).

Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “…He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22).

No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.

All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them.

When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit” — the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Quotes

“In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.”

~ Anne Frank

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

O

The Plague in India called AFSPA

n the fateful night of the 4th of December 2021, as the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland was being celebrated with pomp and splendor, an old enemy crept in through the darkness of the night and as dawn broke over the village of Oting in the northern district of Mon, news spread like wildfire that innocent civilians were shot dead by the Indian Military (21 Para SF).

The Hornbill Festival was called off a few days later, and rightly so; stand we will, we must, but as one, as united Nagas. Not surprisingly, this caused a growing fire of hatred as its first wave of reactions, and understandably so, all through the history of men hitherto, killing has always infuriated someone or the other and bred retaliation as a result of which, the cycle of hatred continues.

Protests, marches and agitations of all sorts began doing the rounds and of course, condemnations poured in from all corners of society, for as a society, maybe it is at times such as these when we ought to leave our differences behind to unite and condemn when it is rightfully our place to do so. And amongst the people taking part in all of these acts and movements made towards injustice, there are some, if not many, who have suffered the same injustice, whose families have had to bear the brunt of acts of impunity committed upon them, whose ancestors had to suffer, maybe not knowing their descendents will

I

have to suffer all the same.

And these people, their numbers grow, with every passing incident, their numbers grow. There is a fire that has been burning for a very long time, and with every passing incident like the one at Oting on the 4th of December 2021, the flames of this fire are kindled further. And thus so long as the injustice stands, so does our message, that in this remote Northeastern corner of India in a place called Nagaland, “the people have not forgotten”. And if injustice is to remain standing, so should our message,“the people will not forget”.

Oting and AFSPA “The eight coal miners who were returning home in a pickup truck at around 4:10 PM in the evening of the 4th of December were ambushed and 6 of the were killed while 2 were critically wounded

by Security Forces (reportedly, 21 Para Special Forces based in Assam) apparently without any attempt for identification”, read the Official Spot Report submitted to the Government of Nagaland by government officials. We later find out that the Army Personnel were loading the dead bodies onto another truck, and this is when some of the other villagers (who had come to check on their fellow villagers as they had not returned to the village and because they heard gunfire) came upon the Army. On finding the dead bodies of the coal miners, violence broke out between the

villagers and the Armed Personnel and 7 more villagers were killed as the Army resorted to firing at the infuriated villagers.

For any educated person reading this piece of information stated above, this news must be absolutely shocking, but to the Naga people, this is nothing new.

And why is it that this is allowed to happen? Why is it that it is okay for the Armed Forces (who are supposed to safeguard the lives of the citizens) to kill innocent civilians returning home from work?

And as W. Wangjin noted, it is also baffling to think that in the explanation which the Indian Army gave, they stated that the mission in Oting was carried out after “credible information” was provided from intelligence sources.

However, at the same time, to complete their excuse, they stated that the whole accident was a case of “mistaken identity”, the same message which was also conveyed by the Home Minister (Amit Shah) in both the houses of the Indian Parliament. This is a completely paradoxical statement and what had actually happened, we may never know.

This piece of writing will not be a criticism of the Army, but rather an attempt to bring the “enemy” to light, which is in this case, the law imposed by the Indian Union known as AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act). This law was imposed in 1958, about five years before the state of Nagaland even came into existence. This

law, termed as “draconian”, “undemocratic” and “inhumane” by many, has, very evidently, been weaponized as a tool of oppression, a clear representation of the dark side of the Nehruvian Model of a “United India’’. This act has played a big part in institutionalizing state sponsored violence and further militarization of the state while granting complete impunity to the Armed Forces, who have in many cases used this law as an excuse to carry out severe human rights violations on innocent civilians; all of this has been internalized in the lives of the people of Nagaland and the North East as a whole. There may be some who would argue about the relevance of its imposition and the necessity of its existence, but what they cannot hide is that it is oppressive in nature nonetheless.

Traditional Attires and Naga Sovereignty On the eve of the 5th of December, one could see candle light marches and gatherings in protest in every district all around the state and in every community that recognized themselves as “Nagas”.

Men and women, young and old, all coming together in unison, black flags everywhere and everyone dressed in their respective traditional clothing. This sight of seeing people putting on their traditional attires - shawls, waistcoats, etc, brings along with it, a very deep connotation, one that opens up the viewers mind to the very unique socio-political situation

which Nagas find themselves in. What I am referring to here, is the Theory of Social (cultural and political) Identity. Generally speaking, Nagas today (a fairly large number of them) bring out their old trunks and suitcases and get their traditional attire only during events such as cultural festivals, jubilee celebrations, tribal meets and events, fashion shows, etc. What does a protest or a funeral or a situation of that sort have to do with bringing out traditional attires and wearing them in large numbers? What does AFSPA have to do with traditional attires?

The people may not have realized it themselves, but the answer is something ver y simple and basic which is discussed every now and then, and not some complicated quantum mechanics equation.

These traditional attires of ours give us something of great importance, called “identity”, our identity as a people, as people different from those who are not us. This then goes on to bring out the concept of “us” vs “them”. The feeling that,“we are different, that we are not them, and they are not us, and more importantly, that this is our land, and that they are not from here, they do not belong here.” The people may not know, but there is a subconscious feeling of Nationalism that comes alive every time an “Oting” is inflicted upon the people. And it is known to everyone that this incident is not something that has happened just once,

regardless of whether the center treats it as an isolated incident of a disaster of an army operation or not, the people certainly will not look at this in the said manner. This is because the people know this has not happened for the first time, and as I mentioned before, there is a fire that has been burning for a long time, and everytime injustice is inflicted upon the Naga people by the Indian State, this fire manifests itself in various different ways.

Be it the Konyak Union (as well as various other tribal bodies) calling for non-cooperation with the Indian Army, or be it the attack by the public on the Assam Rifles camp in Mon district, be it the imposition of bandhs on all Naga inhabited areas which was imposed by the NSF alongside almost every other major tribal and civil organizations, NGOs, etc in Naga inhabited areas, the list goes on. These are all manifestations of the concept I mentioned earlier, the manifestations of the concept of how “we” will not allow “them” to have “their” way in “our” land. Even after 74 years of Nagaland being a part of the Indian Union, there exists an inherent feeling of nationalism and to an extent, separatism (although not in its complete form).

Of the list I mentioned above, the last point, if elaborated, will provide us with a perfect example to give further evidence to my claim.

(To be concluded) Vinolen John

Justification of creation of new Chümoukedima district

n recent times after the declaration of new districts of Chumukedima and Niuland some communities are forcefully trying to craved themselves out of the new district of Chumukedima by giving reasons which are baseless and therefore to set right the history the following clarifications are brought to the notice for your kind authority.

1. History tells us that when Sukhapha the founder of the Ahom Kingdom left Mong Mao in Yunnan to present day Assam, he traversed the Patkai Hills for 13 years and encountered the Nagas for the first time in 1227 AD. With his huge army he was able to penetrate the Naga country and made them pay tributes till he reached Namrup and as per oral narration, like the rest of the Naga villages, the Chümoukedima people had also paid tributes at that time. According to the Buranjis(the chronicle of the Ahom Kings), during the reign of Sukhapha from 12281268, the Nagas were in frequent clash with the Ahoms but they were kept largely under control by granting revenues and free Lands to the Angami Nagas on the understanding that they will not make marauding raids into the plains and their borders were left undisturbed. In the Burajis account, Sukhapha is said to have encountered a kachari group who were forced out of a place called Mohung (Mohung Dejao) after losing it to the Angami Nagas.

2. Following the battle between the Dimasa and the Ahom Kingdoms, as per the oral narration the Dimasa Raja and his subjects initially migrated and settled around Medziphema and Rüzaphema valley and it can be seen that there were remnants of man-made lakes (“Dimazie” translates in English as Dima’s Lake). Having found that the area is insufficient for settlement, it is said that the Kachari king had moved to the Chümoukedima peaks at Tsiedukhru where there are still remnants of whetstone, earthen and clay wares to be found. According to the folklore, one Angami Warrior Thezhü-u from Kiruphema had already settled at Tsiedukhru and made alliance with the Dimasas and

he alongwith 30 warriors from Chümoukedima assisted the Dimasas for establishing Dimapur Kingdom after taking the consent from Chümoukedima people. It is said that Thezhü-u and the 30 warriors had lived amongst the Dimasa people for a considerable period and Thezhü-u even married the Dimasa King’s daughter but he along with some of the Angami settlers return to their native village and shortly after that the Dimasa Kingdom was attacked by superior Enemies (Ahoms) and they were forced to abandon Dimapur. It may be noted that the Dimasa remnants have sculptures of traditional Angami Spear and Daos and the Dimapur Gate was even referred as “Thezhü-u Kharu”(Thezhü-u Gate) by the Angamis.

3. While the above details are based mostly on oral narrations passed down by Ancestors, there is no dearth of written records beginning with the first British expedition to the Naga Country in 1832 when Captain Pemberton and Jenkins endeavoured to open a communication between Manipur and Assam through the Naga Hills and they were met with great hostility from the Nagas. Thereafter, in 1835, the attention of the British Government was drawn to the marauding Angami Nagas who frequented the North Cachar and exacted dreadful plunders upon the British Subjects, following which the British Government made forays to the Naga Hills in order to protect their interest in Assam and Manipur.

4. It may be noted that “Samaguting” is the mispronounced term for Chümoukedima and it has been clarified in the book written by Varrier Elwin’s “The Nagas in the Nineteenth Century” where in page 29, it was mentioned clearly that “I say Samaguting as it has become the common appellation but correctly speaking it should be Chumookodima” (1874, Jan 23rd). It also mentioned how Chümoukedima people received yearly tax in the form of salt and cattle from people located as far as Nowgong (Nagaon) and this was confirmed by ER Grange, who 1840 while writing about

the Kacharis mentioned in page 218 that in and around presentday Manja area (Mahong Dijao), “The Cacharees here (Bokolea), till within two years past, have been obliged to pay tribute to the Nagas of Sumoogoding, to preserve peace. The tribute consisted of a cow or bullock, and one maund of salt per annum.”.

5. Another author Alexander Mackenzie in his book,”The North-East Frontiers of Bengal” gave reference about ER Grange’s second expedition to the Naga Hills in 1840, and it mentions how the expedition resulted in burning of five villages and capture of eleven Naga prisoners. In the page 106 it was mentioned that “Soon after Mr Grange had returned from the hills the second time, the two Ganw Boorahs of Samoogooting came down and entered into written engagements to be friendly, expressing a wish to settle on the plains. Lands east of Mohang Dijooa were promised them, and the Naga prisoners were all released, but it does not appear that any active steps were taken to induce a Naga immigration to the plains.”. In the same book, Alexender Mackenzie, wrote about the occupation of Chumukedima and he mentioned how all “Angami Nagas visiting the plains of Assam were to be furnished with passes… as they passed through Sumoogooting, where they were also to leave their spears”. In a footnote, the author also states that the “boundaries of the District of the “Naga Hills” were thus fixed in 1867 –”Eastern Boundary – The “Doyeng” or “Rengmah” river.”Northern Boundary – A line from the confluence of the “Doyeng” and “Dhunseery” river along the “Dhunseery” for a distance of six miles, thence up the Nambar Nulla to its source and across country to a point on the “Doeegooroong” nulla, thence along it northwards for a distance of 7 ½ miles, from which point it takes a due westerly course to a point on the “Kolleeanee” river along which it runs for a distance of 28 miles.

The “Southern Boundary – A line along the crest of the Burrail range from the source of the “Rengmah” or the “Doyeng” to

the small western feeder at the source of the “Dhunseery” river.

The “Western Boundary – A line from the crest of the “Burrail” range down the “Dhunseery” river for a distance of 26 miles, thence across the Hills to a point on the “Loongteng” river and along it to its confluence with the “Doyeng” river; across the Hills to the “Gungah Ghat” on the “Kopilee” rivers; and along it to the junction of the “Kopilee” and the “Doyeng” rivers”.

6. Now, it is a historical fact that the Ahoms themselves chased away the Kacharis and ransacked their capital Dimapur. But, the Ahoms made no attempt to occupy Dimapur.

In fact, Dimapur, in whatever array or disarray it was post Ahom-Kachari imbroglio in the 16th century, found mention and gained prominence only when the colonial powers, to appease the “wild” marauding Angamis who made frequent attacks on the tax-paying villages, released several Angami Naga prisoners and agreed to set up a “salt market” at “Dheemapore” way back in the mid 19th century.

And if one were to go through the maps and descriptions of the early British officials who made daring expeditions to these wild and barbarous, uncharted regions of the world in their attempt to find routes to Manipur from Assam in the 19th century, present-day Assamese zealots would cringe and feel 2-feet small when they find that villages from present-day Bakolia were paying “tribute” to the Chümoukedima as far back as 1838.(Excerpt from Sabastian Zumvu Article titled “Naga-Assam boundary-Paying the price of silence).

7. There is very little written records to prove the existence of any tribe in between the Angami area and Assam state prior to the World War-II. Before the advent of the Britishers to Naga Country, it is established beyond any doubt that Chümoukedima people controlled and received tributes from all the areas now in present Karbi Anglong,Assam and the tributes were exacted even some 30 years after the British advent in 1832. In 1851, Tularam Senapati, the Principle Chief of

North Kachar Assam, recorded that the Nagas controlled most of the areas of Cachar. As late as 1912, the British Government recorded that the Boundary of the then Naga Hills extended much beyond the present boundary of Nagaland. There is several such recorded history to establish that the present Dimapur and beyond belonged to Chümoukedima.

8. It may be noted that the thick virgin forests in the foothills of the Naga Hills were part of Naga Hills but they were constituted into reserved forests by the then British Government around the first Quarter of the 19th century with the verbal negotiations and understandings of the Nagas particularly of Chümoukedima Angamis. These areas were then for administrative convenience, controlled from Sibsagar District since the administrative machineries was better available in the Sibsagar District and the Naga Hills was then made a part of Assam by the British. Therefore, all forest areas at the Foothill of the Angami country belonged to the Angamis likewise to the Zeliangs, Rengmas and Lothas in their respective borders with Assam.

In view of the fact that history is solidly on our side, the Chumukedima people will not tolerate any attempt to distort history and the Chumukedima people therefore request your kind authority not to entertain any request to change the boundaries of the newly created district of Chumukedima. Incase any attempt is made to change the boundaries of the newly created district of Chumukedima comprising of comprising of administrative area of Seithekima EAC Circle, Dhansiripar Sub-Division and Medziphema Sub-Division, the people of Chumukedima will go to any extend to cancel the newly created district of Chumukedima and Niuland and revert back to the original district declaration of Dimapur on 2nd December 1997 with Chumukedima as the district headquarter of Dimapur.

Sedevikho Tsukru Joint Secretary, Chumoukedima Village, Council.

Zeno Kire, Head GB. 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.

Covid: Govt issues revised guidelines for home isolation patient concerned and hence generic sharing of prescriptions should be avoided, the revised guidelines stated.

According to the guidelines, patients under home isolation will stand discharged and end isolation after at least seven days from testing positive and no fever for three successive days, but they shall continue wearing masks.

Asymptomatic contacts of infected individuals need not undergo Covid test and monitor health in home quarantine, the guidelines stated.

“Information floating through social media mentioning non-authentic and non-evidence-based treatment protocols can harm patients.

Misinformation, leading to the creation of panic and in turn undertaking tests and treatment that are not required, has to be avoided.

“Do not rush for selfmedication, blood investigation or radiological imaging like chest X ray or chest CT scan without consultation of your treating medical officer,” the guidelines read.

The revised guidelines also specified that the district administration under the overall supervision of the State Health Authority shall be responsible for monitoring patients under home isolation.

Listing responsibilities of grass root level surveillance teams, the ministry said the teams (ANM, sanitary inspector, MPHW etc) shall be responsible for initial assessment of the patient and whether the requisite facilities are there for home isolation.

The health worker should contact the patient daily, preferably in-person or over telephone/ mobile, and obtain the details of temperature, pulse, oxygen saturation, patient’s overall wellness and The teams may also provide home isolation kits to the patient/caregiver as per the policy of the state government.

The kit may contain masks, hand sanitisers, paracetamol along with a detailed leaflet to educate patients and family members in local language.

The surveillance teams shall also undertake patient education on the disease, its symptoms, warning signs, COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and need for vaccination for all eligible members.

Listing the responsibilities of district/sub-district control room, the guidelines stated that they will be made operational and their telephone numbers well publicised so that people under home-isolation may contact the control rooms for seamless transfer of patients through ambulance from home to the dedicated hospital.

“These Control Rooms shall also make outbound calls to the patients under home isolation to monitor their status and the district administration should monitor all cases under home isolation on a daily basis,” the guidelines stated.

According to the guidelines, asymptomatic cases are laboratory-confirmed cases who are not experiencing any symptoms and have oxygen saturation at room air of more than 93 percent.

Clinically assigned mild cases are patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms with or without fever, without shortness of breath and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 93 percent.

The patient should be clinically assigned as mild/ asymptomatic case by the treating Medical Officer to be eligible for home isolation.

Further, a designated control room contact number at the district/sub district level shall be provided to the family to get suitable guidance for undertaking testing, clinical management related guidance, assignment of a hospital bed, if warranted.

“Such cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for selfisolation and for quarantining the family contacts,” the guidelines said.

Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/ kidney disease and cerebrovascular disease shall only be allowed

home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer, the guidelines said.

Patients suffering from immune-compromised status (HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy) are not recommended for home isolation and shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer, they added.

The guidelines said the patient should stay in a wellventilated room with cross ventilation and windows should be kept open to allow fresh air to come in.

A patient should at all times use a triple-layer medical mask and they should discard the mask after eight hours of use or earlier if the mask becomes wet or is visibly soiled.

In the event of a caregiver entering the room, both caregiver and patient may preferably consider using N-95 mask and it should be discarded after cutting them to pieces and putting in a paper bag for a minimum of 72 hours, the guidelines said.

COVID-19: Cong cancels marathon BJP, Cong lock horns over PM’s races, big rallies in poll-bound UP ‘security breach’ in Punjab (From p1) DIG (Ferozepur) Inderbir Singh said around 100 farmers suddenly arrived on the spot and blocked the road.

A decision was taken to take the PM’s convoy back to Bathinda airport after protestors started gathering on the other side of the flyover which could pose a huge security risk, he said.

Protesting farmers had blocked roads at several other places including Tarn Taran, Faridkot and Amritsar. In the statement, the home ministry said that in

view of the contingency plan the Punjab government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which were clearly not deployed.

The ministry also asked the Punjab government to fix responsibility for the lapse and take strict action, the statement said.

Chief Minister Channi claimed that there was a sudden change in Modi’s programme and he was scheduled to take a chopper to his destination.

“We respect our Prime Minister,” Chani said and

Little star Hr. sec. school Midland, Dimapur

1

Hindi Teacher

1

2

Office Assistant

1

States asked to share more intel...

(From p1) The IB informed the panel that the MHA, along with the IB, was contemplating to extend the connectivity of SMAC to the districts.

“So, the IB is picking up districts in a phased manner because there is an issue of connecting them with the lease line, encryptors, etc.

Further, At the MAC level, the meeting of all these agencies is convened almost every day where intelligence of the last 24 hours is brought on to the table, discussed and follow-up action is devised or agreed upon,” the report said. The IB Director had told the committee that there have been few instances where some State

agencies have hesitated to share their intelligence inputs with the MAC. A statement issued by the MHA said the meeting was to review the prevailing threat scenario in the country.

“Highlighting the continued threats of terrorism and global terror groups, terror financing, narco-terrorism, organised crimeterror nexus, illicit use of cyber space, movement of foreign terrorist fighters, the HM stressed upon the need for better coordination and synergy among the central and state security agencies in countering the everchanging counter terrorism and security challenges,” said the statement.

2 ½ Mile Darogapathar, Dimapur-797115, Nagaland

“CANCER CLINIC”

Qualification Graduate in the concerned subject with B.Ed Graduate with PGDCA/BCA

Dr. Mithu JP, Senior Oncologist (AIIMS Delhi) on 8th January, 2022 for consultation & surgery;

Application with Resume, Passport size Photo and necessary documents from HSLC onwards should reach the undersigned on or before 10th of January 2022. Candidates with relevant experience will be preferred.

Contact : 7630856643/248507 Principal LsHss dp-66/22

Cambridge SChool lingrijan

Cancer of stomach, esophagus, colon, thyroid, nose, skin, kidney, gallbladder, liver etc.

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For more information : 7005373705, 8415055995

ADmISSION GOING ON for Class LKG to 10 (Hostel attached for both boys & girls)

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No. of Post

Penal Code (IPC) was added to the FIR. It noted that there is no medical report about the injuries to policemen in the remand report submitted to the lower court.

The high court issued a notice to the state government to submit all the details and adjourned the hearing to February 7.

Bandi Sanjay and 16 others were booked by the police under eight sections for violation of Disaster Management Act and other charges, including preventing policemen for discharging their duties and causing injuries to them.

The arrests had led to strong protests from BJP. The party had called for state-wide protests for 14 days.

dc-01/22

Name of Post

Bandi Sanjay

OLIVE CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTRE

Applicants are invited for the post of : sl. No

added “there was no security lapse of any kind and there was no situation of any attack...There was a sudden change in PM’s travel plan from Bathinda to Ferozepur. BJP should not politicise the issue”.

According to the laid down rules, an alternative arrangement during a VVIP’s visit has to be ensured, officials in the know of the rules said, adding “if a VVIP is scheduled to travel by air within a state, an alternate route through land has also to be ensured in case of exigencies”.

Drivers NeeDeD

Hope Academy, Dimapur is Hiring Bus Drivers 10 Nos.

General instructions/ Terms and Conditions Should have valid driving license Should have pleasant personality Should be willing to work under instructions of the school Should have proof of work experience if available Preferably staying around 4th Mile and 5th Mile Area of Dimapur • Salary is negotiable Apply Now!

Please Contact - 8974669165

Hope Academy, Naga United Village, 4th Mile, Dimapur, Nagaland.

Contact: 6909244315/ 7630005841/ 9612612020

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• • • • •

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PATKAI HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL Chümoukedima-Seithekema BPO Patkai – 797 103, Nagaland

VACANCY k-2428/21

MUMBAI, JAN 5 (PTI): In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Mumbai civic body has made rapid RT-PCR test mandatory for all the international passengers landing at the international airport here, as per revised guidelines.

The guidelines, issued last week, were effective since Monday, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Tuesday.

Earlier, the RT-PCR test was mandatory only for international travellers arriving from ‘countries at risk’.

On Tuesday, Mumbai reported 10,860 new COVID-19 cases, up 34.37 per cent from a day ago and highest daily count since April 7, 2021, while two more patients succumbed to the infection, as per the civic body.

The BMC official said passengers testing positive for coronavirus in the rapid test will then have to undergo routine RT-PCR test, while the negative passengers will be allowed to leave, but they will need to observe mandatory home quarantine for seven days.

“All international passengers who test positive in the rapid RT-PCR test shall undergo routine RT-PCR test at the airport itself,” the revised order said.

If the routine RT-PCR test is positive, then the sample will be sent immediately for genome sequencing and the passenger will be sent to institutional quarantine.

“If this sample (routine RT-PCR) test is negative, then the passenger will be allowed to go home for mandatory home quarantine for a total period of seven days,” as per the revised guidelines.

weather can be the reason behind the move.

Congress spokesman Ashok Singh told PTI that the party has decided to go for small gatherings through ‘Nukkad Natak’ and doorto-door campaigns to reach out to the public ahead of the assembly polls.

Notably, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu and its legislature party leader Aradhna Misra had recently written to CEC Sushil Chandra, saying political parties should be encouraged to hold smaller meetings.

HYDERABAD, JAN 5 (IANS): Telangana High Court on Wednesday granted bail to BJP state chief and MP Bandi Sanjay who was arrested three days ago for staging a protest defying Covid curbs.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan ordered the release of Sanjay on personal surety.

The high court set aside the orders of a Karimnagar court, which had sent the MP to judicial custody for 14 days.

Sanjay was arrested on the night of January 2 in Karimnagar when he was staging a protest against a government order relating to transfer of government employees and teachers. Police foiled the protest for defying curbs in view of Covid-19 situation.

During the hearing of Sanjay’s bail petition, the court noted that he was arrested at 10.50 p.m. and an FIR was registered at 11.15 p.m. It asked how the FIR was registered in such a short time.

The high court also sought an explanation as to why section 333 of Indian

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Rapid RT-PCR must for intl passengers landing in Mumbai

thon race for girls scheduled at Azamgarh, Varanasi, Ghaziabad and Aligarh have been cancelled.

Congress spokesman Lallan Kumar said on the instruction of general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, the party has cancelled its big poll rallies till the COVID-19 situation improves.

M e a n w h i l e, C h i e f Minister Yogi Adityanath’s rally in Noida scheduled for Thursday has also been cancelled, and no specific reason was given for the same. However, sources close to him said inclement

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LUCKNOW, JAN 5 (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday cancelled its four marathon races listed this week and also decided not to hold any big rallies in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh amid rising cases of the novel coronavirus infection.

Party sources said apart from the infection scare, the decision also took into account the recent stampedelike situation in Bareilly where the party-organised marathon, as part of its election campaign, had left three girls injured.

Accordingly, the mara-

Telangana HC grants bail to state BJP chief

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NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (PTI): The Union health ministry on Wednesday said home isolation of COVID-19 patients will end after at least seven days from testing positive and no fever for three successive days, in revised guidelines for home isolation of mild or asymptomatic cases.

Also, there is no need for re-testing after the home isolation period is over.

Earlier, the duration of home isolation ended after 10 days of onset of symptoms.

It also advised people not to rush for self-medication, blood investigation or radiological imaging like chest X-ray or CT scan without consultation of treating medical officer.

Underlining that steroids are not indicated in mild disease and should not be self-administered, the ministry said overuse and inappropriate use of steroids may lead to additional complications.

Treatment for every patient needs to be monitored individually as per the specific condition of the

7

NATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

Applications are invited for 1 post of Assistant Teacher in Patkai Higher Secondary School (High School Section).

Requirements: 1. B.Sc. with good academic record from matriculation onwards Preference will be given to those with teaching experience and B.Ed. Applications (online/offline) attached with academic testimonials from Matriculation onwards must reach the office of the undersigned on or before 13/01/2022.

Only prospective candidates will be called for interview.

Principal Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) Chümoukedima-Seithekema BPO Patkai – 797 103 Dimapur, Nagaland.

Email: patkaicollege@gmail.com Ph – 8729801678/6009014535

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KAKURO

No. 4765 Yesterday’s solution No. 4764

No. 3789 Yesterday’s solution No. 3788

PoST VACANCy Female

: Teaching cum Warden Qualification : B.Sc, B.Ed Salary : 10,000 Location : Dimapur Contact : 8415855466

 B.A, B.Ed  B.Sc, B.Ed  B.A (D.El.Ed Montessori trained) Location: Dimapur

Location : Razhü Point, Kohima Salary : 3000/For further information Contact : 8256977765 7005065947 k-22/22

WANTED

1. Hair Dresser/Stylist 2. Beautician 3. Helper/House Keeping Requirements are for a salon in Kohima. Interview will be conducted on 4 to 7 Jan. 2022.

UrgENT oPENiNgS (JoBS) * UK Voice Process * Sales Advisor- Outbound * Candidates must have good communication skills * 10+2 & Graduates (Experienced/Freshers)

Contact @ 9077455098

AFFIDAVIT (Correction of names) I, nO. 14705381y Rank nK name : Erenbemo Lotha, Unit 1 st naga Regt., VillagePongidong, in the district of Wokha, nagaland do hereby declare that my daughter name E. Shanjobeni Lotha written in my service record should be read as Shanjobeni E Lotha (i.e. as per birth certificate) through an Affidavit Regd. no. 003/2022, Date 04/01/2022.

Deponent wc-04/22

(Correction of names) I, NO. 14705381Y Rank NK Name : Erenbemo Lotha, Unit 1st Naga Regt., VillagePongidong, in the district of Wokha, Nagaland do hereby declare that my wife name Esther Odyuo written in my service record should be read as Esther Lotha (i.e. as per birth certificate) through an Affidavit Regd. No. 002/2022, Date 04/01/2022.

Deponent wc-03/21

 Warden For girls hostel  Cook for hostel For Reputed Institution in East Dimapur Contact No.: 9862572386 9436013903 DB-05/22

Please contact : 8787373052 7628863510

K-02/22

LAND For SALE at DArogAPAThAr ViLLAgE

Land for saLe 4 Lane touched, Niuland road touched and Xelhozhe Village and old Showuba Any size of plot for residential and commercial.

30 pura above, 4 Lane touched also available only genuine Buyer Contact : 8413815281/9402411860

LAND For SALE

Prime Location at Dimapur Interested person may kindly Contact: 8132807224

For SALE

Land with house Purana Bazar

near zion Hospital Rs. 28,00,000/- lakhs Contact: 9089388037 7085829927

1. 98.5 x 71.5 sq ft 2. 69 x 62.5 sq ft No Brokers Contact: 6909682422

LAND For SALE

at Dimapur, Town Area (40 x 40) Rs. 13,60,000/Interested person may kindly Contact: 9362619411

LAND For SALE at 1. Padumpukhuri (50x60) rs. 9,90,000/2. Sethekima ‘A’ (6 Bighas, Slope & Plain Mix) rs. 65/sq. ft Interested person may kindly Contact: 8974848301

LAND For SALE

LAND For SALE

1. 14 Bighas Dry Land Any type of Farming site rs. 60 per sq. ft 2 minutes walk from 4 Lane 2. 8 Bighas Rubber plantation (7 years plantation) 3 minutes walk from 4 Lane rs. 180 per sq. ft 3. 9½ Bighas Paddy Field rs. 45 per sq. ft Contact: 9362359493

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SALES girL

M.A (Education) - 1 Post Montessori Trained - 1 Post P.U. (Any Stream) - 1 Post Bus Driver - 1 Post Office Assistant - 1 Post Contact: 6009202406 7005620336 DP-60/22

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Open free Demat Account and Get 5 Kg Aashirvaad Atta and Rs. 300/- for trading for free.

Bonus : Free Course on Stock Market Contact : 8009273852 7630830965

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JAnUARy DHAMAKA WITH PAISA SAMBHALO

Contact No: 8837373140 9612612020

Phone No: +919856309638, +919863413019

DP-23/22

No. 10143 Yesterday’s solution No. 10142

ACROSS 9. Type of paint (8) 10. Snow runner (3) 11. Comment (6) 12. Amble (6) 13. Green gemstone (7) 14. Herb (4) 15. Area around Liverpool (10) 17. Happening (8) 18. Musical instrument (7) 19. Information (4) 21. Breathe in (6) 24. GMT (9,4,4) 27. Shooting star (6) 29. Reject as false (4) 30. Month (7) 33. Flaw in a law (8) 35. Higher education institution (10) 36. Leave out (4) 37. Tedium (7) 38. West Indian music (6) 40. Domed roof (6) 41. Do wrong (3) 42. Noisy quarrel (8) DOWN 1. Small amount (10) 2. As well (4) 3. Perfidious (8) 4. Meantime (7) 5. Falling to pieces (11) 6. Forecast (10) 7. Entertained (6) 8. Novel (8) 10. Vegetable (5) 16. Hide (7) 20. Pale (5) 22. Abominable (7) 23. Sympathetic (11) 25. Barge-like vessel (6,4) 26. Ultimately (10) 28. Huge (8) 31. Light-hearted (8) 32. Sack (7) 34. Snake (6) 35. Beneath (5) 39. Taunt (4)

in Kohima 2300 Ltrs Price : 1300/-

3rd Mile Chekiye Village

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of the contract agreement.

The DRI officials had received intelligence input that M/s Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited (Xiaomi India) was evading customs duty by way of undervaluation, following which an investigation was initiated by DRI against the company and its contract manufacturers. During the investigation, searches were conducted by DRI at the premises of Xiaomi India, and the issue of remitting royalty and licence fee to Qualcomm USA and to Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd came to light.

AT PADUMPUKhUri 1. Rs. 270 per sq. ft.

Any SIzE AVAILABLE 2. 135 x 130 Rs. 350 per sq. ft.

NegotIable Contact No : 9862128679 8014690505

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LAND For SALE at old Showuba Area (204 x 243) Mobile. No.: 8258096631

DP-50/22

Su doku

party of Xiaomi India) were not being added in the transaction value of the goods imported by the firm and its contract manufacturers.

Investigations further showed that Xiaomi India is engaged in the sale of MI brand mobile phones and these mobile phones are either imported by the company or assembled in India by importing components of mobile phones by contract manufacturers of Xiaomi India. The MI brand mobile phones manufactured by the contract manufacturers are sold exclusively to Xiaomi India, in terms

Mekokla Baptist ChurCh WoKhA, NAgALAND

LUCKy DrAW (SrP) PoSTPoNED Due to uncertain situation, the self reliance project Which is scheduled to draw on 24th Dec’ 2021 has been Postponed to 15th May 2022.

“Inconvenience regretted”

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Crossword

the ministry said. “After completion of the investigation by the DRI, three show cause notices have been issued to M/s Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited for demand and recovery of duty amounting to Rs. 653 crore for the period April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020, under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” the finance ministry said.

During the investigations, it further emerged that the “royalty and licence fee” paid by Xiaomi India to Qualcomm USA and to Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd, China (related

WATEr SUPPLy

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ing investigations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) indicated that neither Xiaomi India nor its contract manufacturers were including the amount of royalty paid by the firm in the assessable value of the goods imported by the company and its contract manufacturers, which is in violation of the customs law.

By not adding “royalty and licence fee” in the transaction value, Xiaomi India was evading customs duty, being the beneficial owner of such imported mobile phones, the parts and components thereof,

First Driving institute Admission going on

db-06/22

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (PTI): Chinese phone maker Xiaomi’s India unit has been slapped with a Rs 653 crore notice for alleged evasion of import duty, as per an official statement.

A show-cause notice has been slapped on Xiaomi India following recovery of documents during searches on its premises that indicated remittance of royalty and licence fee to US and Chinese firms under contractual obligations, the union finance ministry said on Wednesday.

Xiaomi did not immediately offer any comment.

Evidence gathered dur-

subsidised foodgrain supplies of similar quantity under the National Food Security Act. PMGKAY was launched as part of the economic response to Covid-19 in April 2020. In the current fiscal, PMGKAY is being implemented during May-March (2021-22).

Because of less provisioning of food subsidy budget for FCI against the expenses by FCI, the corporation was forced to avail loans from various sources such as the NSSF, short term loans, bonds and cash credit limits sanctioned by the banks.

The fiscal crisis faced

by FCI reached an alarming level by the end of 2019-20, when total outstanding dues of FCI rose to `2.43 lakh crore against the finance ministry’s allocation of Rs 75,000 crore to FCI under food subsidy budget.

However, in the revised budget estimate of 2020-21, the finance ministry made provisions for Rs 3.44 lakh crore under food subsidy expenses to FCI against the budget estimate of only Rs 77,982 crore. This enabled FCI to pay back the entire Rs 3.39 lakh crore worth of loans availed from NSSF since 2016. So, the total interest expenditure of FCI in FY22 will be Rs 4,153 crore against Rs 29,068 crore incurred in the previous fiscal.

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India slaps Rs 653 cr import duty evasion notice on Xiaomi

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (AGENCIES): The finance ministry is set to clear almost the entire food subsidy dues to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the current fiscal before the year-end, despite an additional expenditure obligation of Rs 1 lakh crore under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

Last year, the Centre extinguished its humongous off-budget liabilities to National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) on account of a decade-long mechanism where FCI used to take loans from NSSF. The move was part of an effort to clean up the Centre’s own and the corporation’s balance sheets and end a vicious cycle of debt FCI had got into.

Sources told FE that the ministry allocated more than Rs 1.45 lakh crore to FCI as on December 31, 2021, against estimated food subsidy budget of Rs 2.28 lakh crore – including spending on PMGKAY – for 2021-22. The rest of the subsidy expenses would be provided before March 31, 2022, so that FCI’s balance sheet remained clean, they added.

Under the PMGKAY, an additional foodgrain of 5 kg per person per month is being supplied to more than 80 crore beneficiaries free of cost, besides highly

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Shillong Chamber Choir’s founder...

(From p-1) He returned to India in 2001 and founded SCC here.

He came under the National and International limelight after the SCC won the India Got Talent TV reality show in 2010. The Choir also won Gold I three categories in the 6th World Choir Games held at Shaoxing China in July 2010.

The choir also performed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for former US President Barack Obama and the then first lady Michelle Obama during their visit to India in 2010.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015 for his contribution towards arts. Nongynrih won several other national and state awards like the U Tirot Sing Award in 2011, Forbes Person of the Year in 2010-11, Indian Chamber of Commerce Musician of the Year in 2010-11, CNN IBN Special Achievement Award for Indian of the Year in 2010-11 and others. Over the years he collaborated with several top artists of the country including Ustad Zakri Hussain, Amitabh Bachan, Usha Uthup, Hariharan, Shankar Ehsaan Loy and others.

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (IANS): Around 65 lakh individuals have enrolled for the Centre-backed pension scheme, Atal Pension Yojana, so far in FY22.

The Centre’s flagship social security scheme was launched in 2015 with an objective of providing income security in old age.

Over the past six-and-ahalf years, 3.68 crore people have enrolled under the scheme, a Ministry of Finance statement said on Wednesday.

“This feat of bringing the most vulnerable sections of the society under the coverage of pension was possible only with the untiring efforts of public and private banks, regional rural banks, payments banks, small finance banks, co-operative banks, postal department and the support extended by the state-level bankers’ committees,” said Supratim Bandyopadhyay, Chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), which administers Atal Pension Yojana.

In FY22, the Centre aims to take the enrolment to 1 crore.

“In addition to achieving one crore enrolment during the current financial year, going forward we have the task of achieving pension saturation in the country and we shall continuously undertake proactive initiatives for achieving it,” Bandyopadhyay said.

The pension scheme can be subscribed by citizens in the age group of 18-40 years having a bank account.

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Nayar said. The issuance was down 15 per cent during April 2021 – January 4, 2022, led by 21 states/UTs today, which was just 2 per cent lower-than-indicated for the week in the revised auction calendar as Punjab only partially accepted bids and Haryana did not accept its Rs 500 crore greenshoe option.

The revised auction calendar issued by the RBI on January 3 has pegged the market borrowing by 26 states (except Manipur and Odisha) and two Union territories at Rs 3.2 lakh crore, up from Rs 3.1 lakh crore indicated on December 31.

The upward revision in the Q4 auction calendar is on account of Madhya Pradesh, which has increased to borrow Rs 11,500 crore in Q4 compared to nil in the calendar issued on December 31.

in rupee while central bank remains aside from intervening,” said Dilip Parmar, Research Analyst, HDFC Securities.

The market is also positioning for better dollar inflows this quarter amid big bang IPOs plans, Parmar added.

Dollar index reversed gains taking cues from fall in US Treasury bond yields ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes.

“USD/INR expected to trade lower in coming days and could find near term support around 74 before heading towards medium-term trend line support of 73.70 while on the higher side 74.70 becomes the resistance,” Parmar noted.

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the 10-year loans hardened by 10 bps to 7.13 per cent today from 7.03 per cent last Tuesday, Nayar said.

Meanwhile, the benchmark 10-year G-secs (G-sec; 6:10 GS 2031) yield rose by 4 bps to 6.52 per cent from the last auction. Accordingly, the spread between the 10-year weighted average SDL and 10-year G-sec yield widened to 61 bps from 55 bps, she added.

Gross SDL issuance is pegged at Rs 7.9 lakh crore in FY22, just 1 per cent lower than the FY21, while the net issuance is estimated at Rs 5.8 lakh crore for FY22, which is 11 per cent lower than the last year, adjusting for the expected redemptions of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in the current fiscal. The net SDL issuance is projected at Rs 5.8 lakh crore in FY22, a decline of 10.9 per cent from Rs 6.5 lakh crore in FY21,

MUMBAI, JAN 5 (PTI): The rupee surged 23 paise to close at 74.35 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, tracking gains in domestic equity markets.

At the interbank forex market, the local unit opened up at 74.54 against the greenback and witnessed an intra-day high of 74.30 and a low of 74.55.

It finally settled at 74.35, a rise of 23 paise over its previous close.

In the previous session, the rupee tumbled 30 paise to close at 74.58 against the US dollar.

“Rupee erased previous day’s loss on stronger domestic equities and the weaker dollar index. Dollar selling on behalf of big corporates also added strength

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NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (PTI): The cost of debtfunds for the states has touched the highest level so far this fiscal with the weighted average cut-off crossing the 7.16 percentage points at the latest auctions, up 11 bps over the past week, reflecting the hardening yields even for the government securities.

The hardening of the rates at the first auction of the quarter comes in the wake of the expected large supply of debt from the states, as indicated for Q4 at Rs 3.2 lakh crore, up by Rs 10,000 crore. Nine states on Tuesday raised Rs 18,900 crore at the latest auction of state development loans.

The auction was just 2 per cent lower than the indicated amount for this week, which is among the highest drawdowns so far this fiscal year, Aditi Nayar, the chief economist at the rating agency Icra said in a note.

Even though the weighted average tenor remained unchanged at 12 years in line with the last auction, the weighted average cut-off rose sharply by 11 bps to 7.16 per cent from 7.05 per cent, reflecting a large supply for the quarter.

On the other hand, the weighted average cut-off for

Rupee jumps 23 paise to close 65 lakh enrolled for Food subsidy: Govt to at 74.35 against US dollar Atal Pension Yojana clear all FCI dues for FY22 so far in FY22

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States paying through the nose for debt

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

BUSINESS

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INTERNATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

to upgrade its defence capability Omicron: Hongkong bans flights from India inPaklightneeds of regional security matrix, says Army

BEIJING/HONG KONG, JAN 5 (PTI): Hong Kong on Wednesday reimposed some of its toughest COVID-19 restrictions, banning flights from eight countries including India until January 21, in a bid to arrest the rising number of Omicron cases.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced that travellers from eight countries -- Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US, including via transit -are banned from returning to the city for two weeks starting Saturday, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

Hong Kong is reimposing some of its toughest COVID-19 restrictions across the board covering social activities and international travel, setting a 6-PM curfew on all dine-in services and banning flights from eight countries as it braces for a fifth wave of infections amid Omicron fears, the Post report said. Hong Kong, a major aviation hub and financial centre, is a

of medicine, estimated that it would take at least three to six months to fully control the epidemic if there was a community outbreak.

“If so, the plan to open the border will once again fail,” he said, amid a pending scheme to resume quarantine-free travel with mainland China. On Wednesday, Hong Kong reported 38 COVID-19 cases, pushing the official tally to 12,799, with 213 related deaths, the Post report said.

India on Wednesday saw a single-day rise of 58,097 new coronavirus infections, the highest in around 199 days, taking the total tally of cases to 3,50,18,358. The active cases were recorded above 2 lakh after around 81 days, according to the health ministry.

The country’s death toll has climbed to 4,82,551 with 534 daily fatalities, the data stated.

A total of 2,135 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected, out of which, 828 have recovered or migrated, the ministry added.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 5 (PTI): Pakistan needed to upgrade its defence capability in the light of regional security matrix and the defence procurement by India, the Army said on Wednesday.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar made the remarks during a press conference in response to a question about reports regarding induction of China made J-C10 fighter jets in the Pakistan Air Force.

“Keeping in view the regional security matrix, Pakistan security needs to enhance its capacity,” he said, adding that the induction of J-C10 was not an extraordinary development but part of augmenting national security.

“This is a step aimed to enhance the air force fleet…Our adversary is continuously procuring latest equipment,” he said in an apparent reference to India buying Rafale jets and other defence equipment including Russian made S-400 anti-aircraft surface-to-air missile system.

Pakistan has acquired

Maj Gen Babar

a full squadron of 25 multirole J-10C fighter jets from its all-weather ally China in response to India’s purchase of Rafale aircraft, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said last week.

When asked about reports regarding India deploying the S-400 surfaceto-air missile system on the border with Pakistan, Maj Gen Iftikhar said, “we are aware of the threat matrix on the other side…We have taken measures and we are prepared.” The spokesman also said that Pakistan’s air defence system was one of the best in the world because a lot of up-gradation has been done in it during the past few years.

Iftikhar said that under the ceasefire agreement signed with India, the situation along the Line of Control remained largely peaceful, improving the lives of locals living in the area.

“At the same time, the blame from the Indian military leadership and false propaganda points to a specific agenda to remove global attention from” Kashmir, he said.

He also rejected allegations against Pakistan regarding infiltration.

Responding to a question about the fragile economic situation and its impact on the security, Maj Gen Iftikhar said that there was no impact and Pakistan was ready to face all security challenges despite the ongoing economic challenges.

On ceasefire with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), he said that talks with the TTP were held on the request of the interim Afghan government but the group came up with certain conditions which were not acceptable, leading to collapse of talks.

Special Administrative Region of China. Lam said that the tougher rules were necessary with the city on the verge of a wider coronavirus outbreak following the community detection of an unlinked Omicron case.

“There has been rapid change in the pandemic situation which has caused us to be worried. We will announce today fast, decisive and precise measures to cut the transmission chains,” Lam told reporters at a press conference.

The two-week ban on passenger flights will be effective until January 21.

Travellers who were recently in those countries or had transited through them will be barred from returning to the city for two weeks.

She said that the measures were vital for preventing imported cases – especially infections carrying the highly transmissive Omicron variant – from spreading further in the community and to prevent public hospitals from being overloaded with COVID-19 patients.

Lam said she hoped affected businesses would understand the “decisive, swift and sharp” action taken to

curtail the virus.

“We will take bold and stringent measures so that within a very short period of time we can contain the Omicron variant,” she said.

Leading microbiologist Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, declaring that a fifth COVID-19 wave was “technically” underway, said that a number of untraced cases were appearing in the community with health officials still scrambling to pin down their origin.

Fellow gover nment adviser Professor Gabriel Leung, dean of the University of Hong Kong’s faculty

Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, UAE join Security Council

Poland to build wall on its border with Belarus

UK PM Boris Johnson hopes to ‘ride out’ Omicron wave

UNITED NATIONS, JAN 5 (AP): The UN Security Council got five new members as Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates formally took up the posts they won in an election in June.

Ambassadors on Tuesday made brief remarks, installed their countries’ flags alongside those of other members outside the council chambers, and posed for a group photo — wearing face masks and standing apart, in an acknowledgment of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The flag ceremony is a tradition that Kazakhstan started when on the council in 2018.

The 15-member council is the UN’s most powerful body. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are

permanent members, with veto power.

Other members are elected by the 193-member General Assembly for staggered, two-year terms that are allocated by global regions.

Estonia, Niger, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam finished their terms Friday.

Countries often campaign for seats for years.

Winning gives them a say on peacekeeping missions and the council’s other approaches to conflict hotspots, plus a strong voice on overarching issues of international peace and security. Council members also can convene meetings on security topics of particular interest to them, and smaller countries get to share a prominent platform with world powers.

WARSAW, JAN 5 (IANS): The Polish government has signed deals with several local companies to build a wall along its border with Belarus, Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik said on Tuesday.

The barrier is being built on the basis of a law on border security that came into force last October, Xinhua news agency reported.

The law was voted through parliament as a reaction to large numbers of migrants attempting to cross into Poland from Belarus.

The barrier will consist of 5-metre tall steel posts with barbed wire on top, stretching for over 186 km.

At a cost of around 1.6 billion zloty ($395 million), the barrier is slated to be completed by June this year.

LONDON, JAN 5 (PTI): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday recommended to his Cabinet that England does not need to impose further lockdown restrictions as he hopes to “ride out” the Omicron wave of COVID-19, which hit another daily record high with 218,724 infections.

In the first Cabinet meeting of the New Year, Johnson laid out his plans to continue with Plan B measures which include mandatory face coverings, work from home where possible guidance and COVID vaccination certificate checks for larger events.

Jo h n s o n a l s o a n nounced plans for 100,000 critical workers to take daily tests from January 10 in order to keep infections under closer check and address the issue of large-

scale self-isolating staff absences.

“As our NHS moves to a war footing, I will be recommending to Cabinet that we continue with Plan B,” Johnson said during a Downing Street briefing on Tuesday evening.

“We have a chance to ride out this Omicron wave without shutting down our country once again. We can keep our schools and our businesses open, and we can find a way to live with this virus,” he said.

There is speculation that the requirement for confirmatory PCR tests to follow positive lateral flow antigen tests could be scrapped. It has been reported that health officials have drawn up plans to limit PCR tests to those with symptoms, allowing those who are asymptomatic – about 40 per cent of

Boris Johnson

cases – to return to work more quickly. People who test positive on lateral flow home testing kits will still need to isolate for at least seven days.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) so far requires everyone in England to take a followup PCR test if they receive a positive lateral flow result and then count their isolation period from the date of the PCR result.

“We continue to review PCR availability and continue to make more PCR booking slots available every day,” the UKHSA said.

There are also reports that compulsory pre-arrival tests for international travellers coming to England may be scrapped, with the travel industry urging the government for change as they have no real impact given the extremely high rate of Omicron transmission within the community.

A UK government spokesperson said that they keep all measures “under review”, adding that the temporary testing requirements were introduced to “prevent additional Omicron cases from entering the UK, stopping people from passing it on to others if they are infected”.

Meanwhile, the UK’s

National Health Service (NHS) continues to face added pressures with up to 12 trusts having to suspend some less urgent treatments amid staffabsences due to COVID-19.

“The NHS is under huge pressure. I won’t provide a definition of what being overwhelmed would constitute because I think that different trusts and different places, at different moments, will feel at least temporarily overwhelmed,” admitted Boris Johnson, when asked about the pressures.

Reiterating his message for people to come forward for the vaccines, the UK prime minister warned that it would be an “absolute folly” to say the pandemic is over even though it seemed that Omicron “is plainly milder” than other variants.

Kazakhstan declares state of emergency in protest-hit city, province Pak Oppn attacks Imran Khan for false information on funding

As he spoke, police in Almaty used tear gas and stun grenades to stop hundreds of protesters from storming the mayor’s office, a Reuters correspondent reported from the scene.

The oil-rich country’s

government announced late on Tuesday it was restoring some price caps on liquefied petroleum gas, after the rare protests reached Almaty following a sharp rise in the price of the fuel at the start of the year.

Taiwan air force stages drill to intercept Chinese planes CHIAYI (TAIWAN), JAN 5 (AGENCIES): Taiwan air force jets screamed into the sky on Wednesday in a drill simulating a war scenario, showing its combat readiness amid heightened military tensions with China, which claims the island as its own.

Before takeoff, flight crews at a base in the southern city of Chiayi - home to U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets that are frequently scrambled to intercept Chinese warplanes - rushed to ready aircraft as an alarm sounded.

The exercises were part of a three-day drill to show Taiwan’s battle readiness ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday at the end

12 F-16V fighter jets perform an elephant walk during an annual New Year’s drill in Chiayi, Taiwan, January 5. (Reuters)

of this month. Tensions across the sensitive Taiwan Strait have been rising in the past few years, with Taiwan complaining of repeated missions by China’s air force near the democratic island.

Chinese military aircraft frequently fly into the southwestern part of its air

defence identification zone (ADIZ), airspace around the island that Taiwan monitors and patrols.

“With the very high frequency of Communist planes entering our ADIZ, pilots from our wing are very experienced and have dealt with almost all types

of their aircraft,” Major Yen Hsiang-sheng told reporters, recalling a mission in which he was dispatched to intercept Chinese J-16 fighters late last year. China has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan has termed China’s activities as “grey zone” warfare, designed to both wear out Taiwan’s forces by making them repeatedly scramble, and also to test its responses.

In a new year message for China last week, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said military conflict is not the answer. Beijing responded with a stern warning that if Taiwan crossed any red line it would lead to “profound catastrophe”.

producer, Tengizchevroil.

The Chevron-led (CVX.N) venture said output had not been affected.

In Almaty, police appeared to have taken control of the main square shortly after deploying flashbang grenades, according to online video streams from the area. But explosions were heard for hours on nearby streets and in other parts of the city. Videos published online showed torched police cars in the city, as well as armoured vehicles moving through one of its main thoroughfares.

On Tuesday evening, the government announced it was restoring the price cap of 50 tenge (11 cents) per litre, or less than half the market price, in Mangistau province.

NEW DELHI, JAN 5 (IANS): Opposition parties have lambasted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for reported non-disclosure of millions of rupees in election funds, as brought to light by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the ongoing foreign funding, Friday Times reported.

The report, issued by a scrutiny committee of the ECP, indicated that PTI provided “false information” about their funding to the constitutional body. A bank statement from the State Bank of Pakistan showed that the party received Rs 1.64 billion in funding, of

PUBLIC APOLOGY/DECLARATION Regd. No. 1/2022

Date: 5/01/2022

I, Mr. Imnaakhum Longkumer, aged about 33 years, son of Mr. M Longkumer and permanent resident of Changki Village, District, Mokokchung, PIN- 798601, Nagaland, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows: 1. That I had created fake Facebook and Instagram accounts under the name of jenren_lkr @ Temjenrenla Longkumer @ aren.

Longkumer,90281.

2. That I have been operating the fake accounts by uploading her pictures without her knowledge and consent.

3. That I have been operating the fake accounts for the past 3-4 years.

4. That because of my actions, I have caused undue harassment, embarrassment and torment to Temjenrenla Longkumer during the said time.

5. That I am truly sorry for my actions and nothing will compensate for what I have put her and her family through.

6. That I deeply regret my actions and further, I give my word that such a thing will never be repeated.

7. That for which I hereby, give a Public Apology to Termjenrenla Longkumer and her family members.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I sign this Public Apology/Declaration on this the 5th day of January 2022 at Kohima, Nagaland.

Solemnly declared before me by the deponent DEPONENT IMNAAKHUM LONGKUMER

DC-xxxxx

NOTARY PUBLIC, KOHIMA: NAGALAND

which more than Rs 310 million remained unreported and unaccounted for, according to the report.

A chorus of members from various opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), condemned the ruling party’s concealment of funds and called for immediate

further investigation.

In a statement, PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that Imran Khan, “not only stole and hid but also plundered the pockets of the people and indulged in their hard work and hard earned money.”

PDM spokesperson Hafiz Hamdullah released a statement reiterating that the ECP’s findings, “revealed the theft of Imran and PTI”.

Office Of the

Sümi cOuncil unity Village Dimapur – 797112 : nagaland

felicitatiOn The Sumi Council Unity Village extends our heartiest congratulations to P James Swu ncS on being promoted to Additional Deputy Commissioner, Government of Nagaland. The Council prays that the God Almighty continue to give him good health and wishes him the best on his higher responsibilities.

Sd/Khekishe Aye Chairman, SCUV

Kenneth Aye Secretary, SCUV

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A police car on fire as riot police prepare to stop protesters in the center of Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan. 5. (AP/PTI)

Many Kazakhs have converted their cars to run on LPG, which is far cheaper than gasoline as a vehicle fuel in Kazakhstan because of price caps. But the government argued that the low price was unsustainable and lifted the caps on Jan. 1.

Price spike After the price of the fuel spiked, rallies involving thousands of people erupted on Jan. 2 in the town of Zhanaozen, an oil hub and site of deadly clashes between protesters and police a decade ago.

Demonstrations spread to other parts of surrounding Mangistau province and western Kazakhstan, including provincial centre Aktau and a worker camp used by sub-contractors of Kazakhstan’s biggest oil

Office Of the

SukOmi kuqhakulu DimaPur estd. 2000

felicitatiOn The Sukomi Kughakulu Dimapur (SKD) extends heartiest congratulations to the following bonafied members.

1. er. kuhoi Zhimo on his promotion to the post of SDO PHED, Rural Division Dimapur.

2. n. kughavi Sumi, promoted to the rank of ABSI, 6th NAP Bn. Tizit.

We wishes the best in their future endeavors and pray that the Almighty God bless them with more wisdom and good health as they shoulder in their new assignments.

Sd/g.tosukha chophi President, SKD

D. kheshito General Secy., SKD

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ALMATY, JAN 5 (AGENCIES): Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has declared a two-week state of emergency in the Central Asian nation’s biggest city Almaty and in the western Mangistau province where protests turned violent, his office said early on Wednesday.

The move includes an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, movement restrictions, and a ban on mass gatherings, according to documents published on the president’s website. “Calls to attack government and military offices are absolutely illegal,” Tokayev said in a video address a few hours earlier.

“The government will not fall, but we want mutual trust and dialogue rather than conflict.”

INFOTAINMENT

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NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

Gadot ‘didn’t want to win’ Kolkata International Film No celebrity presenters for GalMiss Israel competition Festival postponed over Covid scare controversy-hit Golden Globes G T

T

he Golden Globes 2022 will have no celebrity presenters when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announces this year’s winners on January 9.

Variety.com has obtained a copy of an email from the Globes talent booker that was sent to several publicity agencies inquiring about their clients participating in the show, reports the publication.

However, sources say, no celebrities have agreed to take part.

The Golden Globes will move forward with a small event on January 9

that will not only award the best performances in television and film for 2021, but also on recognising the importance of supporting diverse creatives across the industry,” the letter said.

“The event this year will celebrate and honour a variety of diverse, community-based programs that empower inclusive filmmakers and journalists to pursue their storytelling passions.”

The HFPA has financially supported important underserved organisations for decades and will continue to invest in the future leaders of our industry.”

No details were provided about how the winners will be revealed or where the Globes will take place.

“The event will have limited guests and with strict Covid-19 protocols that include not only proof of full vaccination, but also a booster shot and a negative PCR test,” the email said.

The organisation’s President, Helen Hoehne and sur prise presenter Snoop Dogg announced the nominees for this year’s awards during a livestream on the Globes’ YouTube page on December 13.

The HFPA has yet to announce its official plans for the January 9 ceremony.

The network NBC canceled the annual telecast this year after the HFPA came under fire for lack of diversity among its membership and unethical business practices.

Since then, 21 new members have been added to help diversify the organisation and new bylaws have been passed. (IANS)

al Gadot “didn’t want to win” the Miss Israel beauty pageant that made her famous.

The 36-year-old actress - who was just 18 when she took the crown in the 2004 contest and has since gone on to star in blockbusters such as ‘Wonder Woman’ and ‘Red Notice’ - admitted that she initially entered the competition because she had some time before taking up military service and “never thought” she would win.

She said: “I’m not the type of girl to do beauty competitions. But I had some time before my military service, and I was like, “That’s going to be nice to tell my grandkids that Grandma competed in Miss Israel.” And then I won. I was like, “Holy s**t.

Now what?” I didn’t want to win. I never thought I would.”

The ‘Fast & Furious’ star then went on to explain that sudden fame as a result of winning the pageant became “too much”, quipping that “didn’t try to impress” or “play by the book” when it came

to competing in the Miss Universe follow-up competition.

She told InStyle: “I was so naïve. I was only 18, and to become a celebrity and have paparazzi around, it was too much for me. When they sent me to Miss Universe, I said, “Never again. I’m not even taking chances.” And they go, “You have to wear evening gowns for breakfast.”

It was so ridiculous; I didn’t play by the book. I just did my thing, and I didn’t try to impress them. I was like, “English, no. Me no speak.

Very hard language.” And then I didn’t make the first cut!”

(Contactmusic)

he Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), which was supposed to commence on Friday, has been postponed indefinitely considering the rising cases of Covid-19 in West Bengal.

The KIFF was scheduled to be held between January 7 and 14.

A release issued by the state Information and Culture Department said, “After assessing the present Covid situation in the state, and taking into consideration the possibility of further contamination of Covid among the cine lovers and citizens, and also owing to the fact that a number of cine personalities attached to the film festival committee and many others have been affected by Covid, the state government, upon careful consideration to the safety of the citizens, has decided to temporarily postpone the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival scheduled to be held from January 7-14.

The next date of the festival will be communicated in due course.”

T h e d eve l o p m e n t

comes just a day after the organisers of KIFF announced plans to go ahead with the event by capping the capacity of the venues t 50 per cent.

During a press conference on Tuesday, the organisers had said that the one-week event will start from Friday and will feature 200 shows of 180 films. As part of the event, the films were supposed to be screened in 10 different theatres across the state capital.

The festival that was supposed to be opened

virtually by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had Finland as the focus country this year. It was supposed to be opened with Satyajit Ray’s 1970 film ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’.

On Tuesday, West Bengal had reported 9,073 fresh Covid cases, an increase of over 49.27 per cent in a single day, with Kolkata accounting for more than half of the infections. The state also logged 16 fresh fatalities on Tuesday that pushed its overall Covid death toll to 19,810.

(IANS)

Mo Gilligan to donate BRIT Awards hosting fee to charity

M

Wangyat Wangsu released “Cry from the hills” music video which was written in honour and memory of dearest brothers whose lives were mercilessly cut short by the extraordinary high-handedness of the state and its law at Oting, Mon. The song is an expression of farewell to the 14 lost souls, projecting the emotions of untold pain and inconsolable grief that will be remembered in the hills for the longest time.

Video links at https://youtu.be/jINZty1JUlQ

o Gilligan is donating his fee for hosting the 2022 BRIT Awards with Mastercard to charity.

The 33-year-old comedian has taken over from Jack Whitehall as the compere for the annual music awards ceremony, which returns to The O2 arena in London on February 8.

And the British funnyman has announced he will be giving his paycheque to the maternity charity Five x More, an organisation “committed to changing Black women and birthing people’s maternal health outcomes in the UK.” Mo wrote on Instagram this week: “Last year I had the year of my life it was amazing so I’m starting how I finished, I’m starting it by hosting the 2022 @brits

award & I’m extremely excited to be donating my @brits fee to @ fivexmore_.

“They do amazing work in the community and when t h e spotlight is on me it’s only right I shine it on others. Give these ladies a follow to see the ammazing work they do for maternal health. (sic)” Sharing his excitement to be hosting the BRITs, Mo said in a previous statement: “It’s an absolute privilege to host the 2022 BRIT Awards.

I’m truly honoured to be asked. We’re already in the extensive planning stages and all I can say is, I promise we’re going to give it all we’ve got to create an incredible night for music fans e v e r y w h e r e.

Let’s go!”

A d e l e leads this year’s nominations, with four nods.

The London-born star is shortlisted for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Best pop/R&B categories after releasing her new album ‘30’ in November.

Adele is joined on four nominations by Dave, Ed

TikTok testing ‘repost‘ button to share clips

S

hort video platform TikTok is reportedly testing a “repost” button in its app that allows users to quickly re-share a clip with their followers.

According to Engadget, the new feature which the company described as an early test is not available to everyone yet, though it appears to be cropping up for some users over the last several days.

“Currently, we are ex-

N

ew animal research offers a compelling explanation as to how the Omicron variant causes less severe disease than some of its predecessors: It seems to settle in the nose, throat and windpipe, rather than traveling down to the lungs.

“It’s fair to say that the idea of a disease that manifests itself primarily in the upper respiratory system is emerging,” Roland Eils, a computational biologist at the Berlin Institute of Health, who has studied how coronaviruses infect the airway, told The New York Times.

More than a dozen research groups have been observing the Omicron variant in lab settings using animals this past month.

They have been infecting cells in Petri dishes with Omicron and then infecting the animals.

More than six studies have found Omicron is milder than the Delta variant and others. While previous variants have scarred K Y M C

perimenting with a new way for people to share TikTok videos they enjoy,” a TikTok spokesperson was quoted as saying in a statement.

The feature appears as a yellow “repost” button alongside the app’s other sharing features.

TechCrunch reported that reposting a clip won’t publish it to your profile but it will push the video to the “For You” feeds of your friends.

You can also add a brief comment that will appear with the clip, so your friends can see “why you reposted this video,” the report said.

While TikTok has long been known for users endlessly remixing and re-sharing each other’s clips, the repost button is the first time the app has had something akin to a retweet -- the ability to quickly re-share a video from your feed as it is, it added.

(IANS)

Sheeran, and Little Simz.

Dave is in contention for the Best hip-hop/grime/ rap, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year and Album of the Year gongs.

Ed - who released ‘=’ in October - has also been nominated for the Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year accolades, as well as the Best pop/R&B gong.

Little Simz is up for the Best hip-hop/grime/rap, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Best New Artist awards.

Meanwhile, the Best International Artist accolade will be contested by Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift.

Olivia - who released her debut album, ‘SOUR’, in May - has enjoyed a

meteoric rise this year, and she’s also been nominated for the Best International Song award.

Elsewhere, the Best International Group gong will go to one of Abba, BTS, Maneskin - who won the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year - Silk Sonic and War On Drugs.

Holly Humberstone has already been announced as the winner of the coveted Rising Star award, following in the footsteps of artists such as Adele and Sam Smith.

The upcoming ceremony will feature a new selection of gender-neutral categories, after the organisers decided to scrap the best male and female categories and create a broader group of nominees.

(Contactmusic)

Chris Evans in talks to play musical star Gene Kelly in film

Why Omicron infections are milder?

the lungs and caused breathing difficulties in humans, several studies with mice and hamsters have found that the variant caused much milder symptoms. This included research in Syrian hamsters, which had been found to become severely ill with other variants, the Times reported.

“This was surprising, since every other variant has robustly infected these hamsters,” Dr. Michael Diamond, a virologist at

Washington University and a co-author of that study, told the Times.

A large consortium of Japanese and American scientists released a report on their hamster and mice studies last week: Their findings included that the animals infected with Omicron were less likely to die, in addition to losing less weight and having less lung damage.

While Omicron present in the noses of the hamsters was the same as

in animals infected with an earlier variant of the coronavirus, Diamond’s team found Omicron levels in the lungs were one-tenth or less of the level of other variants. It should be noted that research conducted in animals isn’t always replicated in humans.

Meanwhile, another study has gleaned more information about the virus using bits of tissue taken from human airways during surgery. University of Hong Kong researchers studied the 12 lung samples, finding that Omicron grew more slowly than previous variants.

While this could shed light on why people infected with Omicron seem less likely to be hospitalized than those with Delta, the question will need more research to verify the findings.

Omicron has more than 50 genetic mutations, some of which can enable a coronavirus to grab more tightly onto cells, past research has shown, and

others of which can let it evade antibodies.

Once coronavir us reaches the lungs, immune cells can overreact, killing off not just infected cells but uninfected ones. They can also produce runaway inflammation, scar the lung’s delicate walls and move into the bloodstream, triggering clots and damaging other organs.

Dr. Ravindra Gupta, a virologist at the University of Cambridge, suggests a molecular explanation for why Omicron doesn’t appear to thrive in the lungs.

A protein called TMPRSS2, carried by many cells in the lungs, doesn’t grab onto Omicron well.

That means Omicron does not effectively infect those cells as vigorously as Delta, something that both Gupta’s lab and a team from the University of Glasgow have independently discovered, the Times reported.

Cells higher in the airway tend to not carry that protein and coronaviruses can also slip into cells that don’t

make the protein.

“It’s all about what happens in the upper airway for it to transmit, right?” Gupta told the Times. “It’s not really what happens down below in the lungs, where the severe disease stuff happens. So you can understand why the virus has evolved in this way.”

But Diamond stressed it’s still premature to say that TMPRSS2 is the key to understanding Omicron.

And the studies don’t yet answer why the variant is so good at spreading from one person to another.

“It could be as simple as this is a lot more virus in people’s saliva and nasal passages,” Sara Cherry, a virologist at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, told the Times.

The variant also could be more stable in the air or better infect new hosts.

“I think it’s really an important question,” Cherry added.

Cara Murez

H

ollywood star Chris Evans is in talks to step into the shoes of legendary actor Gene Kelly in a developing film project.

The upcoming movie is produced by John Logan, variety.com has confirmed.

According to a source close to the project, the untitled film is based on Evans’ original idea in which a 12-year-old boy who works on the MGM Lot in the 1950s finds an imaginary friend in Kelly while working on his newest film.

Kelly is best known today for his performances in films such as ‘Cover Girl’, ‘Anchors Aweigh’, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor; ‘On the Town’, ‘An American in Paris’, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, ‘Brigadoon’ and ‘It’s Always Fair Weather’.

Though a studio is not yet attached to the project,

Evans is set to produce the film alongside Logan, who is also writing the script.

Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman will produce through their company TStreet Productions, as will Mark Kassen.

Evans, who is best known for playing Steve Rogers/Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has a stacked 2022 ahead of him.

His current projects include the animated film ‘Lightyear’, in which he voices iconic ‘Toy Story’ character Buzz Lightyear.

He is also starring in ‘The Gray Man’, the Russo Brothers’ latest directorial effort about a former CIA agent-turned-fugitive (Ryan Gosling) who is hunted down by his former colleague (Evans).

Ana de Armas, Dhanush, Michael Gandolfini, RegeJean Page and Billy Bob Thornton round out the film’s cast. (IANS) K Y M C

11

SPORTS

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

1st Test: B’desh secure historic 8-wkt win over NZ Barty outlasts Gauff but Sabalenka,

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, JAN 5 (IANS): Bangladesh secured a historic victory over New Zealand, crushing the hosts by eight wickets with pace bowler Ebadot Hossain claiming six second-innings wickets on Day 5 of the opening Test at the Bay Oval here on Wednesday.

Records tumbled in Tauranga as Bangladesh dominated the day, claiming 12 vital World Test Championship points as the tourists clinched their first win against New Zealand in New Zealand in any format of the game.

This was arguably Bangladesh’s finest Test win, with the tourists breaking the hosts’ -- who are the reigning World Test champions -- 17-match unbeaten streak at home.

This was also Bangladesh’s maiden Test win over New Zealand in 16 attempts and also the first over a top-five ICC-ranked team away from home.

For New Zealand, it was the end of their eight-series winning run on home soil since 2017 and also ended their 17-match

Bangladesh’s players celebrate their win during play on day five of the first cricket test between Bangladesh and New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. (AP/PTI)

unbeaten run in home Tests.

Finishing with a second innings spell of 6/46, Ebadot Hossain was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’, as the tourists chased down a target of 40 for the loss of two wickets.

With a bowling average of 81.54 from 10 Tests coming into the match,

Ebadot realised his potential in a rampage across the final two days, finishing with seven wickets for the match. Taskin Ahmed joined Ebadot to bundle the hosts out for just 169 early in the day, finishing with 3/36.

New Zealand’s batters had no answer for Bangladesh’s reverse swing, with

Ross Taylor (40), playing his final Test at the venue, providing the only resistance as the hosts secured their sixth win away from home in 61 Tests.

As Ebadot beat Taylor’s defences to send New Zealand spiralling at 154/6, the hosts crumbled to be bowled out for just 169. Rachin Ravindra (16)

was surrounded by four players to be dismissed for a duck.

Bangladesh’s bowlers were backed by a clinical fielding effort, as Shoriful Islam and sub-fielder Taijul Islam took stunning catches to all but seal Bangladesh’s win -- their first away Test win over a topfive ranked team and just their sixth victory abroad from 61 attempts.

Bangladesh made easy work of the 40 required in 16.5 overs to seal a historic win, in spite Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah.

Bangladesh had not previously won any of their 43 matches in New Zealand across all three formats, while the result also ends the Kiwis’ eightseries home win streak that stretched back to 2017.

Brief scores: New Zealand 328 and 169 in 73.4 overs (Ross Taylor 40; Ebadot Hossain 6/46, Taskin Ahmed 3/36) lost to Bangladesh 458 and 42/2 in 16.5 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 17, Mominul Haque 13 not out) by eight wickets.

Maria Sakkari crash in Adelaide

ADELAIDE, JAN 5 ( AG E N C I E S ) : Wo r l d number one Ash Barty was plagued by unforced errors but displayed plenty of fight on her return to the WTA Tour, as she rallied from a set down to beat American Coco Gauff 4-6 7-5 6-1 at the Adelaide International on Wednesday.

Barty, the 2020 Adelaide champion, last played competitively at the U.S. Open in September before heading home to Australia and appeared rusty at times in the contest before mounting a brilliant comeback to reach the quarter-finals.

A delicate drop shot from the baseline helped Gauff break for a 2-1 lead in the opening set and although the 17-year-old failed to build on the early advantage, she capitalised on a number of loose errors

by Barty to close out the set.

Barty saved four breakpoints in the opening game of the next set before world number 22 Gauff sealed a break to go up 4-2 but the local favourite clawed her way back to force a decider.

Ash Barty She raced ahead 5-1 after a scrappy start to the final set and completed the victory with a powerful volley.

Earlier, world number 100 Kaja Juvan beat second seed Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(6) 6-1 while Shelby Rogers knocked out Maria Sakkari 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4.

World number two Sabalenka, a semi-finalist at last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open, struggled on serve, making 18 double faults, and committed 49 unforced errors.

Juvan won a tight first set after trailing 2-0 and

saved a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreak, before racing ahead 3-0 in the second to storm to victory in an hour and a half.

Rogers beat Sakkari in straight sets in the second round at Wimbledon last year and looked on course for a repeat, but lost seven straight games after being 2-0 up in the second set.

World number six Sakkari forced the decider but Rogers hit back to close out the win and set up a clash with seventh seed Elena Rybakina, who secured a 6-3 6-4 victory over Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova.

Indian hockey goalkeeper Sreejesh nominated 28th SWA 1st Lt. Rev. Fr. John Larrea SDB volleyball tourney ends for World Games Athlete of the Year 2021 award wrestling meet

BENGALURU, JAN 5 (IANS): Indian men’s hockey team’s ace goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has said that nomination for the World Games Athlete of the Year 2021 award is special as it recognises great team work and “our Olympic performance”.

“I am so honoured to be nominated and this truly goes for the team. It’s because of their hard work that we are being recognised world-over. The credit of

all this success also goes to Hockey India for their support, without them none of this could be possible. Now it’s up to the fans to choose the deserving winner for this award,” stated an elated Sreejesh who is currently in SAI, Bengaluru for the ongoing National Coaching Camp.

Sreejesh was instrumental in India’s incredible performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 where the team ended

17th Nsong village block tournament underway DIMAPUR, JAN 4 (NPN): The 17th Nsong Village block tournament kicked off on January 5 at Nsong Village with PS to Advisor, Water Resource, Namri Nchang, Iteigong Kauring as the special guest.

According to DIPR report, Iteigong spoke on the importance of sports and urged the youth to be more discipline and added that the government is working hard to promote young talents from the State.

The special guest also spoke on the various developmental activities that the people from the area have witnessed under

the leadership of Namri Nchang, he called upon the village members to be more optimistic in judging what is right and wrong and abstain from spreading false propaganda. He urged the people to be united to face challenges and encouraged the leaders of the village and its area leaders to seriously take up the Tening- Lekie road issue.

The programme was chaired by president Nsong Village youth organization, Samhing Riame, welcome address by vice president NVYO, Tarai Riame, invocation was pronounced by Ipetsing Pame and vote of thanks was delivered by Kugiak Newme.

on January 7

DIMAPUR, JAN 5 (NPN): The 28th wrestling meet of Secheku Wrestling Association (SWA) is set to be held at January 7 Thetsumi Village with MP Rajya Sabha, KG Kenye, as the special guest and vice president, All India Traditional Wrestling and Pankration Federation (AITWPF), Musonyi Domeh as the guest of honour.

A press release issued by SWA president Kuhusheyi D. Vadeo, the day long meet will feature both senior and under 16 years wrestling competition.

The champion in senior category will fetch a cash of Rs. 80,000/while second, third and fourth position holders will walk home richer with Rs. 60,000/-, 40,000/- and 30,000/- respectively.

The under 16 years category winners will be awarded cash prize of Rs. 15,000/-, 10,000/-, 7000/and 5000/- respectively.

The reigning champion Venuzo Vadeo will be the torch bearer of the meet.

There will be business hour on 6 January at 5 pm where all the unit presidents have been asked to mandatorily attend the same and submit house budget without fail.

The hosting village Thetsumi will be responsible for providing accommodation, firewood, vegetables etc to the unit.

WCC: Salix CC and Royal Strikers Tsumang register wins

Players and match officials before the match on Wednesday.

DIMAPUR, 5 JAN (NPN): Salix CC and Royal Strikers Tsumang have won their respective matches at the ongoing 26th edition of Winter Cricket Challenge (WCC) Wokha, on January 5 in Wokha.

The first match was played between Salix CC vs Juggernauts. Juggrenauts won the toss and opted to bat first making a target of 100 runs in 18.3 overs all out. Romokhon’s 13 runs and Anil Sharma’s 23 runs K Y M C

were the main contributors.

Salix CC while bowling in the form of Hemari Teron claimed 3 wickets restricted to 12 runs in 4 overs delivery and Waisong claimed 2 wickets in 3.2 overs delivery with a restriction of 15 runs. Salix CC defeated Juggernauts in 19 overs (104 runs 9 out) by one wicket where Naisong 40 not out and Nchumthung 14 runs took the team to victory. Mhachamo claimed 4 wickets, restricted 14 runs

in 4 overs and Sanjip in his 3 overs claimed 3 wickets, 10 runs. Naisong was adjudged the man of the match for his unbeaten knock of 40 runs and 2 wickets while bowling. In the 2nd match, Royal Strikers Tsumang vs Hornbill CC, Royal Strikers won the toss and opted to bat first making a target of 146 runs all out in 19 overs.

Aman 47 runs not out, Akash 47 runs, Renben Murry 14 runs contributed to the team score.

Hor nbill CC while bowling, Vikato in his 4 overs delivery claimed 4 wickets and restricted 9 runs and claimed a maiden over and Monju in 4 overs delivery, 24 runs claimed 2 wickets. Hornbill CC were restricted to 105 all out in 20 overs while batting where Viketoulie 40 runs and Ango 13 runs could not help the team to win. Royal Strikers Tsumang of Amar in 4 overs, 10 runs claimed 3 wickets and Laxman 4 overs 9 runs claimed 3 wickets.

Royal Strikers Tsumang won the match by 45 runs where man of the match was awarded to Amar for his knock of 47 runs not out and 3 wickets haul in 4 overs while bowling.

THURSDAY’A MATCHES

1St match - PWD vs GAPYOCC 2nd match - Tritons vs Blitzkreing

Champion teams with special guest, guest speaker and others.

DIMAPUR, JAN (NPN): The first edition of Lt. Rev. Fr. John Larrea SDB volleyball tournament organised by Lotha Catholic Youth Association (LCYA) at Montfort School, Baghty Town concluded on January 5, 2022 with district agriculture officer Mon, K. Renphamo Lotha, as the special guest and department of social welfare, superintendent Wokha, Wobenthung J Patton, as the guest speaker.

In his address, the special guest lauded the LCYA executives for organising the tournament and bringing unity among the community.

Re n p h a m o L o t h a briefed on the profile of Lt. Rev. Fr. John Larrea and encouraged the participants to follow the footsteps and qualities of Fr. Larrea.

While mentioning that sports lead to happy life, he encouraged the

youths to identify one’s own hidden talents and make the best use of it by exposing their gifted talents beyond far and near.

He also encouraged the participants to live a true and worthy catholic life following the good qualities of Lt. Fr. Larrea and in hand serving the community and the people in need.

The guest speaker Wobenthung J Patton in his address congratulated the LCYA executives and the participants for their milestone achievement in organising and participating in the first edition of Lt. Rev. Fr. John Larrea SDB volleyball tournament.

He stated that sports bring closeness and unity among the people therefore he exhorted the participants to share their ideas, talents and knowledge through sports.

Wobenthung J Patton expressed that through

sports one’s character and identity is made known and urged the participants to work together as a team bringing unity among the people. He also mentioned that through sports, leadership is built and ideas are being implemented, achieving a successful - coordinated team.

He maintained that sometimes opportunity could be misused and negativity could overcome the

of Lt. Meyisungkum Lkr Longsa

One year has passed since you left us. It’s the body that dies not the soul.

You will always be with us in our hearts. We miss you always.

From, your loving Wife, daughter and relatives

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Born : 4th Aug. 1978 – Died : 31st Dec. 2021

We, the bereaved family members of Lt. Temsusenla Longkumer would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone who have supported us morally, physically, financially and spiritually at her untimely demise.

Though, we are unable to repay each and everyone, may the Almighty Lord bless each and everyone abundantly. dp-70/22

Loving Husband & Relatives

community therefore he encouraged the participants to stay strong in their faith giving service to the church and the community and people in need.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Sukumbeni Patton and Shenti Humtsoe, special song was presented Lily R Murry, and vote of thanks was delivered by general secretary Lotha Catholic Youth Association, Mhonbemo Humtsoe.

1 St Death anniverSary

DP-13/22

PR Sreejesh

a 41-year-long wait to stand on the podium. The 24 athletes nominated for this award from 17 countries have been recommended by their respective international federations and in Sreejesh’s case, the FIH has recommended his name for the award for his outstanding efforts in the year 2021.

Earlier in the year, Sreejesh was also elected as the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award and was also conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award by the Government of India for his exemplary career in hockey.

In 2019, Indian Women’s Hockey Captain Rani became the first from India to win the World Games Athlete of the Year with 1,99,477 votes. This will be the Ninth edition of the IWGA initiative that recognises and honours an athlete or a team for their outstanding performance in 2021, or for their social commitment or particularly fair behaviour.

Born on : 18.11.1986 Died on : 06.01.2021

OBITUARY

Born : 15.10.1970 – Died : 02.01.2022 We, the bereaved family of Late Pinku Chettri, would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to each and every individual, unions, Colony Panchayat, friends and neighbours who stood by us physically, spiritually, financially and morally during his prolonged illness and sad demise on 2nd Jan’2022.

Our special thanks to Rev. Dr. T Nyekha, Pastor Christian Life Church & Director, Youth Mission for his sympathy and kindness shown towards us.

Please accept our deepest gratitude. God bless you all abundantly.

Shraddha (last rites) will be held on 14.01.22 at his residence, Upper Chandmari from 2 pm to 5 pm. k-20/22

Loving Family Members & Relatives K Y M C

12

SPORTS

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

SA v IND, 2nd Test: SA require 122 runs to win Hyderbad FC hold ATK Mohun Bagan 2-2 JOHANNESBURG, JAN 5 (IANS): South Africa captain Dean Elgar was gutsy in leading the way for his team with the bat as South Africa finished at 118/2 in 40 overs at stumps on day three of the second Test against India at the Wanderers here on Wednesday.

With two days left in the match, South Africa need 122 runs to level the series while India look for eight wickets to script their maiden series victory in the ‘Rainbow Nation’. Resuming from 34/0 at tea, Aiden Markram continued his nice nick from the second session, driving Shardul Thakur through point.

But Thakur bounced back by rapping Markram on pads twice for lbw calls and then beating him on the fifth ball. Thakur closed the over by trapping Markram lbw with a nip-backer and smashing his back leg.

Ke e g a n Pe t e r s e n creamed boundaries through the off-side off Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah while Elgar held up one end and was happy rotating the strike. The 46-run stand off 104 balls for the second wicket was broken

by Ravichandran Ashwin, trapping Petersen lbw with the one turning in sharply from outside-off and going past his glance to be hit high on knee-roll.

With Rassie van der

South Africa’s Dean Elgar bats during the 2nd Test between India and South Africa.

Dussen steady at the crease, Elgar continued to take blows to his body but was dislodged from the crease.

Elgar was hit on the right shoulder after he took his eyes off while trying to duck a Bumrah bouncer. He was also smashed on the gloves from Thakur before taking another hit on shoulder from Shami. Elgar and van der Dussen saw out time till stumps to leave things interestingly poised.

Earlier, India were all out for 266 after cameos from Shardul Thakur and Hanuma Vihari took the lead past 200 with a stand of 111 runs between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane setting the base for India to pose a tricky target

for South Africa. For the hosts, Rabada, Jansen and Ngidi took three wickets each.

Resuming from 82/2 on day two, Pujara continued his impressive run, hitting Jansen for two fours through on-side. On the other hand, Rahane slashed Jansen with a drive through mid-off followed by a beautiful uppercut over deep point.

South Africa were unable to find consistent lines and lengths, leaking runs as Rahane continued to smash Rabada for boundaries. They also missed a chance of Rahane at 43 when Markram at second slip and Petersen at gully went for the catch lobbing

off the gloves. Markram made a late dive but the ball dropped in front of him.

Pujara reached his fifty in 62 balls while two overs later, Rahane brought up his half-century with backto-back boundaries through point and gully off Duanne Olivier. After the first hour of play saw the partnership between Pujara and Rahane crossing the 100-run mark, South Africa bounced back in the second hour.

Rabada provided the first breakthrough, getting one to kick off from a length and Rahane edged to keeper Kyle Verreynne, breaking the partnership off 144 balls. Pujara survived an lbw appeal off Olivier but was trapped lbw by Rabada with a big inswinger hitting him flush on the pads. Pujara took the review but couldn’t change the decision.

Rabada then dismissed Pant for a three-ball duck.

After being beaten outside the off-stump, Rabada rattled Pant by hitting him on the gloves through a ball which bounced a bit.

On the very next ball, Pant stepped out to slog but gave a feather edge behind to Verreynne.

Ravichandran Ashwin hit some boundaries but was caught down the leg side by Verreynne off Lungi Ngidi. Thakur got off the mark with a four off his

second ball and post lunch, came out all guns blazing, hammering boundaries through cover and point off Jansen. Thakur continued to deal into boundaries, a top-edge on hook went over Verreynne for a six while the next two boundaries were lofted and pulled towards the on-side.

Thakur’s scintillating knock ended when he pulled Jansen’s short ball but picked out Keshav Maharaj at deep square leg.

With some byes and noballs, India’s lead swelled past 200. Jansen then strangled Shami down leg for a duck. Vihari and Jasprit Bumrah took a four and six respectively off Rabada but in the next over, Ngidi took the latter out with a top-edge flying to Jansen at point.

Ngidi ended India’s innings by ratting Siraj’s off-stump, as 82 runs came off the last four partnerships, giving South Africa a target at a place where they have never chased anything above 220.

Brief scores India: 202 and 266 in 60.1 overs (A Rahane 58, C Pujara 53; K Rabada 3/73, M Jansen 3/67, L Ngidi 3/43).

South Africa: 202 and 118/2 in 40 overs. (D Elgar 46 batting, A Markram 34, R Ashwin 1/14, S Thakur 1/24).

F A T O R DA , J A N 5 (AGENCIES): David Williams scored the fastest goal in the Indian Super League’s history but Javier Siverio’s late strike ensured Hyderabad FC moved to the top of the table riding a 2-2 draw against ATK Mohun Bagan in a rip-roaring encounter at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday.

Wi l l i a m s, p l ay i n g ahead of Roy Krishna who started on the bench, took just 12 seconds to score before Bartholomew Ogbeche continued his goalscoring spree with an equalizer in the 18th minute. An own goal from Asish Rai (64th) almost poured cold water on Hyderabad’s hopes of going top of the tree before substitute Siverio flicked a loopy ball inside the box into the goal.

Hyderabad edged past Mumbai City FC on goal difference. Both teams have 16 points from nine games.

ATK Mohun Bagan moved to the third spot with 15 points from nine outings.

ATKMB raced a 1-0 lead inside the first minute, Williams racking up his record goal with a powerful strike from outside the box that went in kissing Hyderabad keeper Laxmikant Kattimani’s gloves after Hugo Boumous set him up.

The experienced Kattimani could have done better.

But at the other end, Amrinder Singh committed

Bartholomew Owogbalor Ogbeche of Hyderabad FC celebrates a goal during ISL match. (PTI) an even worse blunder in the 18th minute when he failed to hold on to a simple catch and the ball fell to Ogbeche.

The Nigerian in-form striker made no mistake, slamming the ball into an open net to net his ninth goal of the campaign.

Amrinder was at fault once again as he passed the ball to Ogbeche where he should be cleared but the Hyderabad marksman could not make the most of it.

ATKMB suffered a setback when Carl McHugh had to be replaced just on the cusp of halftime after the Irish midfielder suffered a concussion and had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. Before halftime, Boumous picked up his fourth yellow card meaning he will miss the next game.

The second half saw Hyderabad put up a solid defensive display until Williams dribbled past Akash

Mishra and crossed for Joni Kauko who nodded inexpertly at the far post off a slight deflection from Asish Rai. The goal was adjudged as an own goal by Rai. Having taken the lead for the second time in the game, the Mariners kept pushing for that insurance goal as Liston Colaco came close to scoring from a crisp Williams reverse pass.

Juan Ferrando added teeth upfront with the introduction of Roy Krishna in the 72nd minute in place of Williams who capped off a superb display.

Just when it looked like ATKMB would scrape through, Siverio made sure Hyderabad went top of the heap with an opportunistic strike.

THURSDAY’S MATCH Jamshedpur Vs Northeast United Time: 7:30 pm

Novak Djokovic needs to prove LeBron James, Malik Monk rally Lakers past Kings exemption or go home: Aus PM SYDNEY, JAN 5 (AGENCIES): Novak Djokovic needs to prove that he has a genuine medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination when he lands in Australia or he will be “on the next plane home”, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday.

The world No. 1 announced on Tuesday he received an exemption to play in the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne and said he was heading to Australia.

Tennis Australia and the Victorian state government said Djokovic was one of a “handful” of successful applicants among 26 people who sought exemptions from being vaccinated, but had not received any special treatment in the anonymous application process. “We await his presentation and what evidence he provides us to support that,” Morrison told a media conference after

Novak Djokovic chairing a meeting of state leaders about dealing with record levels of COVID infections in the country. “If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home.

There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.”

The federal government, which has responsibility for international borders and visas, was not part of the exemption process. Morrison said there had been nu-

merous exemptions granted to people who had been able to support their application.

“So the circumstances are not unique, the issue is whether he has sufficient evidence to support that he would qualify for that exception,” he said. The decision to grant Djokovic an exemption to the tournament sparked sharp criticism in Australia, where more than 90% of people over 16 have had two vaccine doses against COVID-19. Melbourne had the world’s longest cumulative lockdown to contain COVID, and an outbreak of the Omicron variant has sent case numbers to record levels. “I think lots of people in the Victorian community will find this to be a disappointing outcome,” acting Victorian Sports Minister Jaala Pulford told a media conference earlier on Wednesday after news of Djokovic’s exemption.

LOS ANGELES, JAN (AGENCIES): LeBron James and Malik Monk combined for 55 points, including five 3-pointers in a fourth-quarter rally that allowed the host Los Angeles Lakers to overtake the Sacramento Kings 122-114 on Tuesday night.

James finished with a game-high 31 points and Monk had 24 as the Lakers won a third straight to open a five-game homestand.

De’Aaron Fox scored a team-high 30 points and Buddy Hield tallied 26 for the Kings, who lost for just the second time in their last five games.

The Lakers trailed 9689 with 8:11 remaining before riding 14 points from James and 11 from Monk in a 33-18 finish. James hit a pair of 3-pointers and Monk three as part of the flurry.

After James and Hield had split four consecutive lead-changing 3-pointers, Monk and Tyrese Haliburton exchanged two-point

hoops. Monk gave the Lakers the lead for good, 112110, with a 3-pointer with 2:50 to go.

Raptors 129, Spurs 104 Fred VanVleet scored 24 of his 33 points in the first half and had seven assists as Toronto defeated visiting San Antonio.

VanVleet, who was 7 of 14 on 3-point attempts, has scored more than 30 points in each of the past three games as the Raptors have improved their record to .500 for the season, at 17-17.

Pascal Siakam added 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the Raptors, who have won three straight. Gary Trent Jr. contributed 21 points.

Former Raptor Jakob Poeltl scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who have lost four in a row. Devin Vassell and Joshua Primo each scored 15 points.

Grizzlies 110, Cavaliers 106 Ja Morant scored 26

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 to propel visiting Memphis to a win over Cleveland.

Morant, the Western Conference Player of the Week, made several crucial

plays in the waning moments to send Memphis to its season-high sixth straight win.

Cleveland’s Darius Garland recorded 27 points and 10 assists in his return

from a four-game absence due to health and safety protocol. Jarrett Allen collected 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have lost four of their last five games.

Spain seal ATP Cup SFs spot SYDNEY, JAN 5 (IANS): Pablo Carreno Busta earned his third consecutive win of the season, overcoming Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-4 to book Spain’s place in the semi-finals at the ATP Cup in Sydney on Wednesday.

Following Chile’s victory over Norway, Spain needed just one win in its final Group A tie against 2020 champion Serbia to secure a place in semi-finals, where it will play Poland.

In the No. 2 singles match, Carreno Busta, who defeated Alejandro Tabilo and Viktor Durasovic earlier this week, played aggressively against Krajinovic, firing 30 winners and breaking three times to triumph after 80 minutes.

“It was the best match of the group,” Carreno Busta said in his on-court interview. “I am close to 100 per cent. Today I played very well, very aggressively, very solid. I feel very comfortable on court, so it is going well.”

In a dominant performance, Carreno Busta stepped inside the baseline and demonstrated great footwork to dictate with his forehand on Ken Rosewall Arena to improve his ATP Head2Head series record

against Krajanovic to 2-1.

“I was very focused on trying to do my best,” Carreno Busta added. “I know Filip is a great opponent. He is very aggressive on return, but I think I served well and I was very solid from the baseline and I dominated more than him, which was the key.”

In the second match of the tie, Roberto Bautista Agut laid down a marker, moving past Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-4 to give Spain an unassailable 2-0 lead against Serbia.

“I had to play very well,” Bautista Agut said in his on-court interview. “It was very intense. We had to play a lot of rallies because both of us made a lot of returns, so we had to play every point. I am very happy to have won the match in two sets today.”

The World No. 19, who is making his third ATP Cup appearance, won 90 per cent (28/31) of his firstserve points and played consistently from the baseline to triumph after 84 minutes.

With his victory, Bautista Agut has maintained his perfect record against Lajovic, extending his lead in their ATP Head2Head series to 5-0.

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