6 july

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Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 210

DIMAPUR, TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

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sports, Page 12

Covid vax 8 times less effective against Delta variant, says study

NEW DELHI, JUL 5 (AGENCIES): Delta variant of coronavirus is eight times less sensitive to antibodies generated by vaccines, a new study claims. This could mean that Covid19 vaccines are eight times less effective against the Delta variant compared to the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 first detected in China’s Wuhan. Findings of the study assert that the Delta variant is both more transmissible and better able to evade natural immunity mounted by the immune system of recovered Covid-19 patients. Titled “Sars-Cov-2 B.1.617.2 Delta Variant Emergence and Vaccine Breakthrough: Collaborative Study”, the study was conducted on more than 100 healthcare workers (HCWs) at three centres in India, including Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Scientists from Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease were also part of the study.

Petrol crosses `100 per litre in 9 dists District Tsg

Petrol price per litre

Diesel price per litre

Rs.101.57

Rs.94.24

Kiphire

Rs.101.48

Rs.94.21

Noklak

Rs.101.33

Rs.94.15

Mon

Rs.101.13

Rs.93.88

Phek

Rs.100.88

Rs.93.60

Zbto

Rs.100.87

Rs.93.56

Llng

Rs.100.64

Rs.93.50

Mkg

Rs.100.60

Rs.93.36

Wka

Rs.100.04

Rs.92.84

Kma

Rs.99.40

Rs.92.24

Peren

Rs.98.78

Rs.91.78

Dmu

Rs.98.45

Rs.91.48

DIMAPUR, JUL 5 (PTI): As state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) increased the petrol price for the second consecutive day on Monday, the petrol price has breached Rs.100-a-litre mark in one more district— Wokha. According to IOCL website, petrol price was increased by 35 paise per litre while there was no change in diesel rates. With the latest hike, petrol now has crossed the Rs.100 per litre mark in nine districts—Tuensang, Kiphire, Noklak, Mon, Phek, Zunheboto, Longleng, Mokokchung and Wokha— in Nagaland The hike on Monday is the 35th increase in the price of petrol since May 4.

This is it!

“These days, I’ve stopped watching or reading news. Everthing is about covid, covid and covid,” K Y M C

‘‘

Delta variant is both more transmissible and better able to evade natural immunity mounted by the immune system of recovered patients Researchers found that Delta was the dominant strain among fully vaccinated healthcare workers infected with Covid-19. The respiratory viral loads were also higher in the cases of these healthcare workers compared to those diagnosed with non-Delta variants. “Increased replication could be responsible for generating greater numbers of virus particles, or the particles themselves could be more likely to lead to a productive infection,” says the study. While severe infection was rare among infected

healthcare workers, scientists say breakthrough transmission clusters in hospitals associated with the Delta variant are a matter of concern. Breakthrough transmission, in this case, refers to instances of fully vaccinated healthcare workers testing positive for the Delta variant. The study, which is yet to be submitted for peerreview, goes on to say that the Delta variant of the virus has enhanced spike proteins. This enables the virus to attach itself to the epithelial cells found in the lungs and infect more people compared to the Wuhan strain.

“In the absence of published data on the transmissibility of the Delta variant, we predict that this variant will have a transmission advantage relative to Wuhan-1 with D614G in individuals with pre-existing immunity from vaccine/natural infection as well as in settings where there is low vaccine coverage and low prior exposure,” findings of the study read. This latest study now suggests that re-infection and increased transmissibility played a significant role in the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19. Chairperson of the Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Chand Wattal told news agency PTI, “From this study, it appears that we have miles to go before we sleep in case of Covid-19 pandemics. These mutations are bound to happen if we lower our guard and allow ourselves to fall prey to this virus, giving it an opportunity to multiply.”

CVYS slams Police for blocking, diverting road DIMAPUR, JUL 5 (NPN): Chümoukedima Village Youth Society (CVYS) has expressed strong objection against Nagaland Police at Chümoukedima, for blocking the road towards RP Gate and diverting it to Chümoukedima village since over two months. CVYS through its president Kedovikho Visezo and general secretary Rokovikho Thepa appealed home minister and director general of police to intervene, so that the matter could be resolved at the earliest in having the road immediately cleared for resumption of traffic. CVYS also warned that in the event of failure to accede to its demands it would be compelled to initiate measures deemed necessary in the interest of public welfare

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and citizens’ right of way, and that the police department would be held solely responsible in the resultant fallout. CVYS said the police authorities were using the road to stock construction materials and also preparing mortar in the middle of the road to construct a building. CVYS said this was an “unethical practise” by Nagaland Police and also a blatant misuse of authority in violating citizens’ right of way by blocking and diverting the road. CVYS said initially it was presumed that the diversion was to enable repair of a culvert. However, it said after proper inquiry, it was found not to be and therefore, “an act of dishonesty and trickery” without any consid-

eration for the poor people who have been using the road for their survival since long. CVYS asserted that the RP Gate-Chümoukedima village approach road was not the property of police headquarters. CVYS said the road was constructed by the British prior to India’s Independence and way before the police headquarters was even established, It also said the police was imposing all sorts of restrictions on the road and inconveniencing the public regularly. CVYS said the matter was also highlighted by Chümoukedima Village Council through a representation to DIGP (border and training), with a reminder letter thereafter. However, this did not elicit any positive response.

NH, GNF decry extension of ‘disturbed area’ in Nagaland DIMAPUR, JUL 5 (NPN): Naga Hoho (NH) and the Global Naga Forum (GNF) have criticised the Centre’s decision to extend the “disturbed area” tag in Nagaland under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. NH: While expressing its anguish over the failure of the Government of India (GoI) to lift AFSPA from Naga areas despite repeated appeals by several Naga civil society groups and human rights activists, Naga Hoho accused successive governments in Delhi of remaining a mute spectator on the matter. NH asserted that there was no space for such draconian laws in the largest

democratic country. It said Nagas’ struggle for self-determination could not be equated with “terrorism” or “secessionism” as GoI had recognised the uniqueness of Naga political history and the universal principle that sovereignty lay with the people in a democracy. It further said both Centre and Naga people had agreed to a settlement by respecting the wishes of the people sharing sovereign power and to establish a new relationship for an enduring and lasting relationship between the two sides. It said leaders from India must know that the Indian armed forces had been terrorising Naga people for more than six decades. (Cont’d on p-8)

international, Page 11

Elgar Parishad case: 84-yr-old activist Fr Stan dies in hospital waiting for bail

India to make CoWIN available to all countries NEW DELHI, JUL 5 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered CoWIN, India’s technological platform spearheading its COVID-19 vaccination drive, as a “digital public good” to the world. Addressing the CoWIN Global Conclave via video conference, he said the platform is being made open source so that it is available to all countries. He said vaccination is the best hope for humanity to emerge from the pandemic successfully and noted that India decided to adopt a completely digital approach for the exercise. Indian civilization considers the whole world as one family and this pandemic has made many people realise the fundamental truth of this philosophy, he said. “That’s why, our technology platform for COVID vaccination - the platform we call CoWIN- is being prepared to be made open source so (that) it will be available in any and all countries,” Modi said.

MUMBAI, JUL 5 (PTI): Priest-activist Stan Swamy, arrested under an anti-terror law in the Elgar Parishad case, died at a Mumbai hospital on Monday in the middle of his fight for bail on health grounds. The 84-year-old Jesuit priest—possibly the oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India, as per his lawyer—had been on a ventilator since Sunday after his health worsened rapidly. Dr.Ian D’souza, director of the Bandra-based private Holy Family Hospital, where Swamy was undergoing treatment, and the tribal rights activist’s lawyer Mihir Desai informed a bench of the Bombay High Court of his death following cardiac arrest. The bench, comprising Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar, expressed shock over the news and said it was at a loss of words and hoped Swamy’s soul would rest in peace. S wa my t h e o l d e s t among the 16 accused persons arrested in Elgar Parishad case and, possibly the

Late Fr. Stan Swamy

oldest in India be charged under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the lawyer said. Senior counsel Desai told the HC that he had no grievances against the court and the private hospital where Swamy was treated, but he could not say the same for NIA, which is conducting a probe into the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, and the state prison authorities. Desai claimed the NIA had been negligent in providing timely and adequate medical aid to Swamy, and asked the HC to initiate a judicial inquiry into the circumstances that led to the undertrial activist’s death. He said Swamy was taken to JJ Hospital 10 days be-

fore his admission to the Holy Family Hospital on May 29 but was not tested for COVID-19 at the JJ Hospital. Swamy’s report came out positive for coronavirus when he was tested at the private hospital, the lawyer said. “The NIA did not seek Swamy’s custody even for a single day, but kept on opposing his bail pleas,” he added. Desai pointed out that since Swamy died while being in custody, the state authorities were mandated to conduct a post mortem in accordance with guidelines of United Nations Human Rights Commission. While the HC did not pass any orders initiating a judicial inquiry, it recorded in its order that the amended section 176 (1A) of the CrPC mandated judicial inquiry into every case of death in custody. If the same provision was applicable in the present case, the state and prosecuting agencies would have to comply with the same, the HC said.

Panel on Naga issue Centre should be held accountable: Oppn leaders, activists Opposition leaders Taking to Twitter, se- responsible for his death be to meet on July 9 and activists hit out at the nior Congress leader Rahul arrested. Tamil Nadu state

DIMAPUR, JUL 5 (NPN): Member secretary of the Parliamentary committee on Naga Political issue, Neiba Kronu has informed all members that a meeting of the core committee will be held on July 9 at 11 a.m. at Chumukedima Police Complex, Dimapur. All members have been requested to make it convenient to attend the meeting.

Centre after the death of Jesuit priest and activist Stan Swamy on Monday, saying it should be held accountable for the “ruthless” and “inhuman treatment” meted out to Stan. They termed Swamy’s death a “custodial murder” and alleged that the Centre and the judges who repeatedly denied bail to him had “blood on their hands”.

Gandhi said Swamy deserved justice and humaneness. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said the central government should be held accountable for its “absolute apathy” towards the octogenarian. Left parties too alleged that “inhuman treatment” was meted out to Swamy and demanded that all those

committee of the CPI(M) announced that it would hold state-wide demonstrations on July 8 to protest the injustice that Swamy faced. UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, termed the death of Stan Swamy as ‘devastating’ and said that jailing human rights defenders like him was “inexcusable”.

State records 40 fresh Covid cases DIMAPUR, JUL 5 (NPN): Nagaland on Monday reported 40 fresh Covid-19 positive cases pushing the total caseload to 25,559. According to the Health department, 15 fresh cases were reported from Dimapur, Mokokchung-14, three each in Kohima and Peren, two each in Mon and Wokha and one in Phek. Further, no deaths were reported for the second consecutive day as the death toll stood at 499 (including 14 non-Covid deaths but with positivity). PTI adds: India saw a single-day rise of 39,796 new Covid infections, which took the tally of cases to 3,05,85,229, while the death toll climbed to 4,02,728 with 723 more fatalities, the lowest in around 88 days, according to Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

Niki-led NSCN (K) responds to WC,NNPGs DIMAPUR, JUL 5 (NPN): Responding to the statement by the Working Committee (WC) of the NNPGs, Niki Sumi-led NSCN (K) has clarified that it was not trying to create chaos and confusion or to hamper the longings of Nagas. In a statement issued through its addl. secretary MIP, Pilato Wotsa, the group said it was pertinent to respond to the “baseless statement of the WC, NNPG making senseless allegations against the NSCN/GPRN and against its sincere efforts

to bring about peace and tranquillity as desired by the Naga people.” MIP said that NSCN/ GPRN, in its conviction to uphold the wishes of the people, took a bold step to work for long lasting peace to prevail in the land, and in doing so the NSCN/GPRN came to the negotiating table not for any sort of “surrendering motives” whatsoever as alleged by WC, NNPG or for any other reason but to pave the way to fulfil Naga people’s desire for peace. Keeping in mind one

solution inclusive of all groups as clearly stated by Government of India, the group explained that as an entity representing Nagas and in their interest, it had come out to listen to them and would strive for what they want. Further, Niki-led group said NNPGs as a matured entity was expected to be more amicable and diplomatic in its approach, rather than trying to find fault with others because all groups were ultimately committed for peace to prevail in the

land and uphold the same in the true spirit. It stressed that peace would not be achieved by levelling allegations against one another, but only by taking all stakeholders on board. “Irrespective of tribes or political groups, Nagas at this juncture are committed for ushering in a new dawn of peace and tranquillity in the land by means of finding a solution. Naga people are sensible and intelligent enough to ascertain who is the wolf among the sheep,” the release added. K Y M C


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