9 Oct 2022

Removal of AFSPA only after peace in NE: Shah

GUWAHATI, OCT 8

(ANI/AGENCIES):

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government would remove Armed Forces (Special Pow ers) Act (AFSPA) only after installing peace in North East India.

“Rahul Gandhi gave Congress an agenda to remove AFSPA from the northeast if they came to power (in 2019), for the sake of appeasement. When it was asked of me, I said we will first bring peace in the northeast and then only will remove AFSPA, which would not happen just for appeasement,” Amit Shah said while addressing a pub lic gathering at the inaugura tion of the newly built BJP office-- Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan in Guwahati.

“‘Rahul baba (referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi) just talks about completely removing the Armed Forces Special Pow ers Act (AFSPA) which is mere rhetoric but the BJP

JDU party MPs, ministers arrive in Dimapur

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN): Ahead of Bihar chief minister Nitish Ku mar’s programme to attend the 120th birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and all Nagaland Bihari Conference to be held at DDSC stadium Dimapur, Janata Dal United (JDU) leaders from Bihar-- three members of parliament, two ministers and one ex-MP, arrived Nagaland. Accord ing to state JD(U), Nitish Kumar will be the chief speaker for the event.

JD(U) said the objec tive of organizing the pro gramme in Nagaland-- by Matri Foundation, Bihari Samaj and Kalyan Samaj and sponsored by JD(U) Nagaland, was to highlight the history of the great con tribution made by Lok Nay ak Jayaprakash Narayan, who stayed in Nagaland with his family, to build a peaceful State during 1947 to 1963. This would enable the people of Nagaland and the younger generation understand the contribution made by Narayan.

The JD(U) leaders from Bihar currently in Di mapur include-- minister of Rural Development Shravan Kumar and minister of Mi nority Welfare Md. Zama Khan including MPs-- Sunil Kumar Pintu, Kaushlendra Kumar, Ramprit Mandal (national general secretary) and Dhananjay Singh (exMP and national general secretary).

government has created an atmosphere in the region leading to the revocation of the Act from 60 per cent of the region where it was earlier applicable,” he said. Shah said Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is working under the guidance of the Prime Minister to establish per manent peace and “the day is not far when the Act will be removed from the entire region”.

“This region is three times the size of UP and it was full of separatist and insurgent movements. The Congress watched silently the attempts to break NE.

Only Modi worked for this place and united the NE. The Congress and those who went for (its) ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, please listen.

This is an example of how Northeast was united with out giving a single lecture,” he added.

Expressing his content ment over the development of Assam and the North East, Amit Shah asserted that the party’s consecu tive rule in the region has ensured an “all-round de velopment”.

“During my Vidyarthi Parishad days, we had never imagined if we would make a government on our own in Assam, but today, the consecutive rule of BJP in the state has been ensuring all-round development,” he said underscoring that instead of arriving in Assam as Home Minister this time, Shah said he has come as a BJP worker.

“I am very happy to day that in the short span of 2014 to 2022, the entire North East and our Assam has started on the path of development today. It is a matter of good fortune for a worker like me that the development of both North East and BJP (here in North East) are going hand-inhand,” he added.

Earlier, Shah along

with BJP president J P Nad da inaugurated the party’s new headquarters in the presence of Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state party head Bhabesh Kalita, Tripura chief minister Manik Saha, and others.

Nadda also virtually laid the foundation stones of nine district party of fices while Shah pressed the remote to do the same for 102 BJP regional offices in the state.

The foundation stone of the party building was laid by Shah as the then party president in 2019.

The six-storeyed BJP office, spread over 95,000 square feet, will have stateof-the-art facilities, complete with a guest house and a modern media centre. The building can accommodate 5,000 people, party sources said. The new structure, val ued at Rs 25 crore, has been built with donations from party workers, another top party leader added.

hampered by court orders:

on

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN):

A day after the All Na galand Adhoc Teachers Group (ANATG)-2015 de cided to call off the ongoing agitation, after both the state government and agitating teachers decided to set up a High Powered Committee (HPC) to examine the mat ter, advisor School Educa tion & SCERT, KT Sukhalu said the government could address the issue of service regularization only after the court vacates the order ban ning all ad hoc employees from being regularized.

Speaking to media per sons on the sidelines of the 25th anniversary celebration of Nagaland Government Higher Secondary School Employees Association (NGHSSEA) at Niathu Re sort on Saturday, the advisor said that since it was legal matter the government has asked the agitating teachers to give some time so that the

Lack of truthfulness the bane of Naga society: Dr SC Jamir

Correspondent

KOHIMA, OCT 8 (NPN):

Veteran Naga politician, for mer governor and chief min ister Dr. SC Jamir, lamented that the acute shortage of truthfulness in the Naga society today was a bane of Naga society as against in the past when Nagas were known for being Godfearing and seeped up in the virtues of truthfulness.

He said this while speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Kohima Ongpangkong Telongjem (KOT) at Molu Ki, here on Saturday.

The veteran Naga leader who is the only liv ing member of the Naga

People’s Convention (NPC) which formulated the 16 Point Agreement in 1960 that formed the basis for creation of Nagaland state, also questioned whether the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly were true to the oath which they had taken in the name of God. Amid the confusion in society, Dr. Jamir said their commitment to the cause of the Nagas was also questionable.

At present, he said peo ple were witnessing that Na gas were not truthful in their actions because they were in denial of what was written and agreed upon. Be it the churches, the government, the society or the individual,

everyone is in a lost state of mind Dr. Jamir said.

He asked whether the Framework Agreement was signed in the spirit of truth fulness and understanding and if not why?

While pointing out that negotiations for Naga solution had been going on for over twenty years and

the same has been written, read, revised front and back before it was signed, Jamir questioned why nothing has materialized? He said negotiations are conducted not just to discuss but to take action.

He further called upon all to remain steadfast and realize the commitment of ‘clean election’ for the up coming election.

The other guest, and CEO IDAN, and former chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir, mentioned that KOT was formed on August 2, 1972, as a result of the po litical unrest in the state. He said KOT was the outcome of the sense prevailing then for a united front to cope

Gov, CM greet on Eid-E-Milad

with the political upheaval.

He also called upon the gathering to rethink and imagine a life that was not at all dependent on the government, review the im plications of Article 371 A in the present day, and work towards empowerment of women in Naga society.

Earlier, delivering presidential address, KOT president, Jongpongtoshi Longkumer, acknowledged the contributions of the pioneers. He said any or ganization or a community reaching a milestone was an opportunity to look back on the things that were achieved and find ways to tackle chal lenges in the coming days.

government could examine in what way it can address the issue.

“We cannot attract the contempt of court. It will be an embarrassment for the government if we decide to regularise the service,” Sukhalu said.

Advisor has, however, said he was happy that the agitating teachers have come to understand the nature of the case. “I hope that within this given time we would be able to address this issue,” Sukhalu said.

Asked whether the ad hoc teachers were appointed

demand

through RMSA, advisor said they were purely state teachers and not recruited under RMSA or SSC.

Advisor admitted that the teachers were directly appointed and not recruited through interview.

“In a way, I would say that it is not the right pro cess. It should be through proper interview system because there are many edu cated people who are also seeking for a job,” Sukhalu stated. He, however, said that since they have been appointed and had been serving sincerely for the past 10 to 15 years, they do have reason in asking the government to regularize their service.

He said that the High Powered Committee (HPC) has been constituted and state government was in touch with advocate general and examining all legal as pects in what ways the issues could be addressed.

Power outage in parts of

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN): Power department has informed that there would be shutdown of pow er supply in and around Dimapur town in a phased manner from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. starting October 1128, 2022.

In a press release, Di mapur electrical division executive engineer Y Akito Sema informed that the pro posed shutdown was in view of dismantling and shifting old existing electrical lines to the newly constructed 11 kV Trunk line in Dimapur town area.

As per the schedule of shutdown, the areas un der Nagarjan & Supermar

ket feeder including Half Nagarjan, KK, United, Moa and D Colony would be affected on Oct 11 &12, Oct 15 &17 an Oct 20 &21; areas under Khermahal feeder including City Tower, Tata Parking & Khermahal would be affected on Oct 13 & 14, Oct 18 & 19 and Oct 22 & 24; areas under Purna Bazar & Airport feeder including Purana Bazar, Padam pukhuri, Aoyimti, Eralibil, along NH-29 area would be affected on Oct 25 & 26 and areas under Notun Bosti feeder including Nu ton Bosti, Ao Khel, Sema Khel, LRC, Naga Cemetry, Nepali Bosti would be af fected on Oct 27 & 28.

Apex court ruling on witness statement

NEW DELHI, OCT 8

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN):

Rising People’s Party (RPP) on Saturday released an 11-point “education manifes to”, to undertake a complete overhaul/reform of what it termed as the state’s dirti est department (Education department), once the party comes to power in the State.

Emphasizing the need for reforms in the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), RPP assured to minimize manipulations in the interview stage, adding that the current interview marks in NCS exam would be slashed from 55 to 25, similarly with other exams.

It also assured to enact

a law where all vacant posts in the departments would be compulsorily requisitioned to NPSC/NSSB, which was not being done in the present system. RPP said all MCQ answer keys (prelims and mains) for both civil and technical exams would will be declared within 15 days after the exams. To induct domain experts as board members of the NPSC, where there will be no room for failed politicians or party workers in the board.

To compulsorily ensure that NPSC maintains a fixed annual calendar for conduct of exams. In order to reform the NSSB, RPP assured to

do away with the interview system in NSSB.

The party has also promised to set up Teach ers’ Selection Board (TSB), since the present selection of teachers up to Higher Secondary level fall neither under NPSC nor NSSB.

After the written stage, RPP said there would be an arduous interview stage where the interviewers will be a set of empanelled uni versity professors, whose po sition would be on rotation basis and for a fixed period. RPP said assured to identify all ghost and proxy teachers and initiate action.

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN): Nagaland governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi and chief minister Neiphiu Rio have extended greetings on the occasion of Eid-E-Milad.

In his message, Prof. Mukhi said Eid-E-Milad, celebrated to commemo rate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, was a sacred occasion. He prayed that “this auspicious occasion continue to usher us towards virtue, peace and unity.”

Rio also extended good wishes to all on the occasion. “May it bring blessings of peace, harmony and wellness in everyone’s life,” Rio said.

(PTI): The Supreme Court has held that statement of a witness, including crossexamination, has to be re corded either on the same or the following day and there should not be any ground for adjournment on this.

The apex court, which was hearing two pleas seek ing quashing of bail grant ed by the Allahabad High Court to two persons in a murder case, was informed that it took almost three months to conclude record ing of statement of one of the prosecution witnesses.

“The mandate of law itself postulate that exam

WSYF

Joint Christian Forum (NJCF), Naga Christian Fo rum, Manipur; Don Bosco Society; Naga Mother’s Association; Naga Hoho; Nagaland Tribes Council; Tenyimi Peoples’ Organiza tion; United Naga Council; Central Nagaland Tribes Council; Global Naga Fo rum; Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation; Naga Students’ Federation and All Naga Students Association, Ma nipur.

other as people of common belonging in the moment for the future.

“Heretofore, the public in sincere trust await the fulfillment of the ‘Septem ber Joint Accordant’ by the signatories in ‘letter and in spirit’,” they said.

support to the “September Joint Accordant” signed by the NSCN (I-M) and WC, NNPGs on September 14, 2022.

The organizations in cluded FNR, Nagaland

The signatories af firmed that they have come together with a realization that Naga people must change by acting in hope and acknowledging one an

Further, they affirmed that the Naga public will render their whole hearted assistance to “this reconcili ation process” for the NSCN (I-M) and NNPGs to find common ground and mutu ally agree on a relationship of cooperation based on the Naga historical and politi cal rights in order to move forward.

ination-in-chief followed with cross-examination is to be recorded either on the same day or on the day fol lowing,” a bench of justices Ajay Rastogi and C T Ravi kumar said.

“In other words, there should not be any ground for adjournment in record ing the examination-inchief/cross-examination of the prosecution witness, as the case may be,” the top court said in its order passed on September 30.

During the hearing before the apex court, the bench was informed that there are three eye-witnesses according to the list of wit

nesses and charge sheet has been filed in the case.

The bench was also told that statement of one of the prosecution witnesses has been recorded and it took almost three months to conclude.

In its order, the apex court noted that it would like to observe that the trial judge may take a note of the top court’s judgment in reference to section 309 of the CrPC.

Section 309 of the CrPC deals with power to postpone or adjourn pro ceedings. The bench has posted the matter for hear ing after six weeks.

WSYF said the meet ing deliberated on the issue of the so called Lamhai Namdi village claiming the land of Kiyevi village and the indifferent attitude of the State Government

towards the struggle and worries of people of Kiyevi Village.

The house also re solved that it would neither take away even an inch of land “which does not right fully belong to us nor will we let any encroachers take away even an inch of land which is rightfully ours.”

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN):

Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) on Saturday adopt ed a two-point resolution, reaffirming its three-week deadline served on the state government in its September 21 statement, under Western Sumi Hoho.

According to WSYF media cell, the resolution was adopted during an

emergency meeting held on October 8 at Kiyevi village, attended by 10 Western Sümi areas and 16 units under WSYF.

Dr.

KT Sukhalu

WHPCD observed in Longleng district

DIMAPUR: Longleng district observed “World hospice and palliative care day” on October 8 at Phom Baptist Christian Associa tion (PBCA) headquarters, Longleng, Convention Hall.

In a press release, chief medical officer (CMO) Longleng office informed that this was first of its kind programme observed in the district through the initiative of CMO Long leng, Dr. Obangjungla in partnership with Pallium India and PBCA.

In the keynote ad dress, CMO Longleng, Dr. Obangjungla expressed desire to create palliative home care service in the district and also highlight ed the gathering on the significance of the “world hospice and palliative care

AWO informs: Angami Women Organisation (AWO) has informed Ko hima town beneficiaries under the assistance to destitute women, depart ment of Women Resource Development that other than those having account in SBI and NSCB, backlog fund for 2019-2020 would be disbursed on October 10-12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at AWO Ki, D block Kohima. All beneficiaries have been asked to bring their bank passbook, Aadhaar card and destitute card.

RALH informs on Tokhu Emong: Ralan Area Lotha Hoho has informed that

day”.

Dr. Obangjungla stressed on compassion, comfort and care to the terminally sick members of the family through pal liative care approach with the community coming together. With this, she also noted that Home Based Palliative care would soon be initiated in the district.

PBCA executive sec

retary, N. Tialemba Phom while embracing palliative care concept added on that ministry of the church was quite relevant to the pallia tive care approach and this home care ministry should be taken with compassion and commitment by the at tendees and also the church ministers.

Coordinator North East Pallium India, Rontu

Sangma gave a relevant education to the attendees and also emphasised on the home-based palliative care setting in the district.

The event was attend ed by civil society leaders of the district, functioning unions of the district, 11 ward officials, students from different academic in stitutions and well-wishers operating in different hu

NEWS IN BRIEF

a combine Tokhu Emong celebration of all 19 villages would be held on November 7. In this regard, RALH has requested all the vil lages under its jurisdiction not to organise any pro gramme coinciding with the combine Tokhu Emong celebration.

Postal deptt informs: Department of Posts has informed that “National Postal Week” would be cel ebrated from October 9-13 in Nagaland and Manipur divisions.

FGN informs: Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) has informed that Naga National Council

(NNC) and FGN would be observing the “71st Mar tyr’s Day of the Naga Na tion” on October 18, 10 a.m. at Transit Peace Camp, Kohima. All fellow Nagas have been requested to par ticipate and observe the day together.

AANWS meeting: All As sam Naga Welfare Society (AANWS), a conglomera tion of different Naga tribes permanently settled in As sam, held its central execu tive meeting on October 8 at the Guest House of Jorhat Ao Baptist Church prem ises. Naga Representatives from Tinsukia, Mergherita, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Rengma

Naga Hill (Karbi Anglong), Dimahasao and Barak Val ley regions participated in the meeting.

NPP Dmu dist organise camp: National People’s Party (NPP) Dimapur dis trict executive committee organised a medical camp on October 8 at Aoyimkum Council Hall, which was availed by 58 villagers.

MDBA organises activi ties: As part of its yearlong golden jubilee proclama tions, Mokokchung District Bar Association (MDBA) interacted with Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) on the topic, “Rights of the Disabled Persons” on Oc

Kohima police destroy drugs worth Rs. 35 lakh

effort in seizing illegal items in the future and lauded the police for their proactive work.

The destruction was livestreamed during the regional meeting on “drug trafficking & national secu rity” under the leadership of home minister, Amit Shah, who joined from Guwahati.

The drugs were de stroyed in the presence of representatives from district administration, churches and colony leaders.

manitarian works attended the event.

Earlier in a separate event, with an objective to equip community towards palliative care, a palliative care training for volunteers was conducted on October 7 at PBCA headquarters, Longleng. The release in formed that as palliative care, an interdisciplinary team consists of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psy chologist, physiotherapist, social workers, volunteers, chaplains and care givers.

The training was im parted subsequently after training the doctors and nurses and the church lead ers of Longleng. Resource person for the training was co-ordinator NE, Pallia tive India, Rontu Sangma and CMO Longleng, Dr. Obangjungla.

tober 4-5 at Mongsenyimti Village, Chuchuyimpang Village and Longjang Vil lage respectively. MDBA also visited the district jail on October 6 and interacted with the inmates.

Workshop held in Peren: Tourism department on Sat urday organised a workshop on “tourism and hospital ity” at Peren Town Hall in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Peren Township.

King chilli originated from Zeliangrong area: T.R. Zeliang

DIMAPUR: United Dem ocratic Alliance (UDA) chairman and former chief minister, T.R. Zeliang has claimed that “king chilli originated from the Ze liangrong area” and that Peren district produces the “best quality” though it was grown in other areas as well.

According to a DIPR report, Zeliang was speak ing as special guest at the “King Chilly Festival (Chaiberatsi Ngyi)” organ ised by Puilwa Lui Council at Puilwa New Village, Peren, October 7.

“King chilli is a na tive crop of Nagaland and is believed to have origi nated from the Zeliangrong area,” said Zeliang. He added that the chilli was so famous particularly among the Zeliangrong people that it has so many different names such as—Chaibera-tsi (Zeme), Chaha-ra-

tsi (Zeme), Chai-thiu-rasi (Liangmai), Saptingsai-su (Rongmei), etc.

Also known as “Naga Mircha or Raja Mircha and Ghost Pepper”, he stated that “king chillies” from Peren district were considered to be of the “best quality with superior taste, aroma, flavour, and pungency as compared to others coming from other areas.”

Zeliang said a consign ment of “Naga Mircha” sourced from the Tening area of Peren district was exported to London in July 2021, which “speaks volumes about the supe rior characteristics of Naga Mircha grown in Peren district”.

Stating that there are

various ways in which these chillies could be marketed, Zeliang said there was a huge scope for business ventures for people of Peren.

He also informed that the World Bank adopted only two districts in Naga land (Peren and Tuensang) for Nagaland Rural Liveli hood Project (NRLP).

In a short speech, Er. Picto Shohe, MLA high lighted developmental ac tivities and lauded Puilwa Lui for organising the event.

Earlier, keynote ad dress was delivered by Puil wa Lui Council, president Chizam Kenrang while women organisation, Puil wa New presented cultural songs and dances.

PBCA members, officials and staff from the CMO office along with speakers and others.

T.R. Zeliang along with members of the council and others. (DIPR)

KOHIMA,

Kohima police personnel destroying the seized items on Saturday. (NP)

WEATHER FORECAST OCTOBER 9

Sensitisation programme on mental health enters day 8

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN):

The sensitisation pro gramme on mental health entered the eighth-day, at CTC hall, Chümoukedima, here, on Saturday.

The 10-day campaign is being organised by Com munity Mental Health Pro gramme (CMHP) Prodigals’ Home and state commis sioner for Persons with Dis abilities (PwDs), supported by district administration, District Mental Health Pro gramme (DMHP), District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and Gracious Life Foundation.

‘Spreading awareness at grassroots need of the hour’

Speaking on the im portance of mental health, as resource person for the programme, senior medi cal officer (SMO), DMHP, Dr. Temsuyanger stressed that spreading awareness at grassroots level was the need of the hour. He highlighted the significance of “World Mental Health Day”, which will be celebrated on Octo ber 10, on the theme “make mental health and well-be ing for all a global priority”.

Dr. Temsuyanger stat

ed that an impact should be created while observing the significance of this year’s theme and that a prior focus should be made on obstacles in creating awareness.

Pointing out that the state comprised of only four government psychia trists, Dr. Temsuyanger sug gested that the goal should be to train medical officers (MOs) and community men tal health officers (CMHOs) in order to attend to patients with mild psychiatric ail ments.

‘Churches play mas sive role in mental health awareness’

Special guest of the event, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Chümouke dima, K. M. Munesh stated that the young generation were the most affected,

which also led to substance abuse. She stated that they were not contributing to the society due to lack of infra structure, low employment generation in the state and lack of advancement which she said, hampered their mental health.

The DCP stressed on the need for timely interven tion, informing the right au thority, NGOs and that the churches played a massive role in addressing mental health illnesses and creating awareness at large.

At the programme, a short speech was also de livered by DDLSA panel lawyer Rokovitsu Khate.

Earlier, invocation was offered by Chümoukedima

Ao Baptist Church Arogo associate youth pastor Lima Jamir and welcome address

was delivered by Prodigals Home director K Ela.

Awareness talk on mental health at ICFAI

An awareness talk on “mental health” was jointly organised by the Health Club of ICFAI University Nagaland in collaboration with CMHP of Prodigals’ Home, Dimapur on Oc tober 6 at the University auditorium.

In a press release, IC FAI University stated that resource person, CIHSR Nagaland, clinical psychol ogist Imlibenla Mongro spoke on depression and stress, which she said, could affect all age groups. She stated that stress could affect all parts of lives, includ ing emotions, behaviours, thinking ability and physi cal health and depression, another serious condition, negatively affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves.

At the programme, ICFAI registrar, Rupanka Bhuyan delivered welcome address while CMHP, Prodi gals’ Home, project director K. Sani highlighted various social and community-based activities undertaken by Prodigals’ Home in Chü moukedima district.

Workshop on first level checking of EVMs & VVPATs

DIMAPUR: A workshop on first level checking of Electronic Voting Ma chines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) for the district election officers (DEOS) and deputy DEOs (FLC-incharge/FLC supervisors) was conducted on Saturday in the conference hall of the Forest Office Complex, Dimapur.

In a press release, chief electoral officer (CEO) Nagaland, V. Sha shank Shekhar informed that a full day workshop was organised by the Elec tion Commission of India in connection with the upcoming general election

to Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) 2023. Resource persons for the workshop were under secretary, O. P. Sahani, sec tion officer, Pawan Bhattar

NYKS Zunheboto organises mega event

DIMAPUR: One day mega event under the ban ner “Yuva Utsav, Yuva Samvaad-India@2047” was organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) Zunheboto, under the ministry of Youth Af fairs and Sports, govern ment of India on October 8 at Town Hall Zunheboto on theme, “sense of duty among the citizens”.

According to a DIPR report, the fest saw compe titions under various cate gories including young art ists camp (painting), young writers camp (poem), pho tography contest, declama tion contest and cultural folk song (group event).

The event began with a formal session wherein, youth convention resource

persons, EAC Zunheboto, N Nyamok Konyak spoke on various government sponsored schemes while advisor, ZAPO, Kikheto Muru with clinical psy chologist DMHP, Atolimi Khujumi and DPO DAP CU Zunheboto, Hokishe Chophy spoke on various other topics while interact ing with the attendees.

Earlier, the pro gramme commenced with invocation by Pastor Te nyimi Church, Vechulo Doulo; DYO Zunheboto delivered the keynote ad dress and ADC Zunheboto, Moakumzuk Tsudir ex horted the attendees while Khekivi Yeptho and Katolu G. Yeptho enlightened the programme with special presentations.

KLST celebrates golden jubilee

neering” and “transforma tion”, Along said it could only be achieved through “unity and co-operation” which was enshrined in the theme of KLST.

and assistant section of ficer, Satish Kumar from the ECI and deputy CEO and national level master trainer for EVM-VVPAT, R. Mhathung.

During the workshop, the resource persons gave presentations on EVM technical and adminis trative safeguard, FLC process, doubt clearing on entire management and handling of EVMs/ VVPATs in election pro cess.

EVM/VVPAT En gineers from Electronic Cooperation of India Lim ited (ECIL), Hyderabad led by DGM, PC Man dal and technical officers,

Vadicherla Dinesh Datta and Sourav Mandal gave presentation on use of Pre FLC-Unit (PFLCU) before conduct of FLC process, demonstrations on symbol loading in VVPAT using Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) and hands-on demonstration on EVMs and VVPATs.

DIMAPUR: Kohima Lirmen Senso Telongjem (KLST) on October 5 cel ebrated its golden jubilee at Capital Convention Center, Kohima with a grand pre sentation by the Kohima Lirmen Students’ Union.

In a press release, KLST jubilee committee stated that special guest, minister of Higher Educa tion and Tribal Affairs,

He said “critical phi losophy” was required in the society and that the people should be” bold enough to point out wrong from right by accepting the critics of others”.

Stating that the society was in need of “social engi

Earlier, KLST presi dent, T. Ngangshimeren Longchar welcomed the members and invitees while a prayer was said by KABA associate pastor, Imsutoshi Lemtur. A message was de livered by Bendangpokyim; KLST treasurer, L. Mayang Aier spoke on the inception of KLST and its 50 years journey; Kohima Lirmen lar Telongjem enthralled the audience with a tradi tional song and Menang kokla Imchen presented a special song; greetings and salutation were delivered by many unions and councils while vote of thanks was delivered by convenor of the 50th KLST jubilee plan ning committee, Moame ren Imchen.

State level ‘Science Fair 2022’ held in Dimapur

DIMAPUR: Director ate of school education (DoSE) organised a state level “Science Fair 2022” on October 7 at Bethesda Higher Secondary School, Dimapur (BHSS) with principal director DoSE, Thavaseelan K as special guest.

In a press release, the department stated that while addressing the stu dents, the principal director emphasised on eight tenets of life and encouraged them to treat others with respect, to take responsibil ity, work hard and to have faith in God.

The panel of judges for 2022 “Science Fair” included chief mentor, In novation Hub and Space Education Centre, Na galand Science Centre,

Onongoto Soleho, teaching faculty at SD Jain Higher Secondary School Dima pur Vetho Lohe and teach ing faculty at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Singrijan Ayeto Swu.

Altogether, 11 par ticipants from 11 districts participated in the science seminar while 30 partici pants from 10 districts par ticipated in the exhibition.

In the state level sci ence seminar, Tsupongla Shillen of Minister’s Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School, Kohima bagged the first prize while Jennifer Dukru of Bishop Abra ham Memorial School, Phek and Shelly K Kiba of Olympic Higher Secondary School, Zunheboto bagged the second and third prizes

respectively.

In the state level sci ence exhibition (individ ual category), Kumdang Naro of Wela Foundation School, Tuensang bagged the first prize while Jem menaro Walling of Bridges Academy, Changtongya, Mokokchung and Vebulu Shijoh of Bishop Abraham Memorial School, Phek received the second and third prizes respectively.

In the group category, Sourav Das and Suman Das of BHSS, Dimapur re ceived the first prize while Archita Ghosh and Viani of St. Mary’s Higher Sec ondary School, Dimapur and Thungdy Tonen and Welen Monyu of Wela Foundation School, Tuen sang bagged the second and third prizes respectively.

Dr. Temsuyanger (L) and K. M. Munesh (R) speaking at the programme on Saturday. (NP)

A stretch of 1 km at Perizie Colony, High School, Kohima, was repaired

chairmanship of Hetuo Solo,

support

Colony members

Temjen Imna Along exhort ed the gathering to adorn the rich cultural tradition of their society.

Temjen Imna Along speaking at the programme in Kohima, on October 5.

The workshop on first level checking of EVMs & VVPATs in progress on Saturday.

GUWAHATI, OCT 8 (PTI): Union Home Min ister Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that seizing nar cotics alone cannot make the country drug-free and enforcement agencies must aim at destroying all chan nels between traffickers and final consumers.

Addressing the re gional meeting on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ here, the home minister said under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, a target to destroy 75,000 kg narcotics was set but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, so far over 1.5 lakh kg nar cotics has been destroyed, which is more than double the target set.

He said, the prime minister has a dream to make the country drug-free and for this, coordinated effort is necessary between central and state agencies.

The security of the nation can only be ensured if drug trafficking and all related channels are de stroyed as insurgency, arms smuggling, and other antinational activities are linked to trafficking, he said.

kg drugs destroyed in NE in virtual presence of Shah

“Insurgency along with arms trade and drug trafficking are two sides of a coin,” he said.

The home minister urged the law-enforcing, health, revenue, and social revenue departments to adopt a twin-pronged ap proach for ensuring that drug trafficking is stopped.

“We must be harsh with the traffickers while at the same time the victims must be dealt with sensi tively,” he said.

Shah said considerable efforts have been made to tackle the issue in the Northeastern states, where drugs enter from the neigh bouring countries, but “it is not enough”.

He urged the chief ministers, chief secretaries, and director generals of police of the Northeastern states to adopt strategies both “from top to bottom and vice versa so that the results percolate to the low est level and the problem of trafficking can be eradicated from the roots”.

Shah expressed con cern over all the seven states in the region facing alarm ing levels of drug abuse

which is more than the average in India.

He directed the state and central agencies to take effective steps on the coun try’s borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh to curb cross-border trafficking of drugs. “Drug trafficking is a borderless crime and bet ter coordination between all Drug Law Enforcement and Intelligence agencies and bordering districts of the northeastern states is es sential to tackle it,” he said.

We have to go beyond catching the “faces” like drug abusers and distribu tors involved in any seizure and nab the masterminds

who send drugs from out side the border to India, he added.

The Union home minister further said a drug syndicate was also func tioning in the region with evidence of involvement of Nigerian nationals com ing to light which must be curbed effectively.

Cases of drug traffick ing should be investigated thoroughly from its source to destination to crackdown on its entire network, he added.

A total of 1,257 drug trafficking cases were reg istered between 2006-2013 which increased by 152 per cent to 3,172 between

2014-2022 while the total number of arrests during the same period increased by 260 per cent to 4,888 from 1,362, he said.

During 2006-2013, 1.52 lakh kg of drugs were seized which doubled to 3.30 lakh kg between 20142022 while drugs worth Rs 768 crore were seized during 2006-2013, which increased by 25 times to Rs 20,000 crore between 2014-2022, he said.

The central govern ment and its agencies have taken several initiatives to strengthen the existing mechanism to curb traf ficking and these include

M’laya, Assam mountaineers’

GUWAHATI, OCT 8 (PTI): BJP president J P Nadda on Saturday claimed no other party in the country has the “ideology, intention and strength” to fight the might of the saffron party, which is “on the rise”.

Addressing a party workers’ meet here after inaugurating the new of fice of the Assam BJP, Nadda asserted that his party is fighting against all the “family-led parties” in every state.

“No party has the ideology, intention, and strength to fight the BJP. No party can organise such a large public rally as what BJP is doing with only its workers’ meet. Nobody can stop this party,” he added.

BJP Assam president Bhabesh Kalita had on Thursday announced that around 40,000-45,000 booth workers would assemble at Veterinary College Play ground in Khanapara to listen to their leaders.

Giving examples of dozens of states and Union Territories like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Nadda said, “We

J P Nadda

are fighting against fami ly-oriented parties every where.”

He also mentioned Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of Odisha and YSR Congress of Andhra Pradesh in the list of family-run parties al though these two had earlier supported several decisions of the NDA government in Parliament. Nadda claimed that the Narendra Modi government brought As sam and Northeast into the mainstream, whereas the Centre during the Congress tenure had looked down on anyone from the region go ing to meet them as “some one from a different land”.

“Modi started Act East Policy and the Assam gov ernment under the leader ship of Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma

implemented the develop ment projects. The picture of Assam and Northeast is changed today,” he added.

The region was once known for bandhs, agita tion, insurgency, bomb blasts, and dead bodies, but peace has returned to the Northeast due to the “visionary leadership” of Modi, Nadda asserted.

BJP is the only na tional party that enjoys mass following as it is a party with principles and values, Nadda claimed after inaugurating the party’s new state office here.

The BJP has grown from strength to strength due to the hard work, dedi cation, thoughts, values, and principles of its founding fa thers and the determination of the party cadre to follow the same, Nadda said.

“We have over 300 MPs in the Lok Sabha, 1,053 MLAs, 170 mayors, and thousands of ward and panchayat members across the country and our aim is to continue to work and strengthen the party with the help of ‘karyakartas’ (workers) and ‘karyalays’ (offices),” the BJP president said.

GUWAHATI, OCT 8 (AGENCIES): After days of search and rescue opera tions for the victims of the Uttarakhand avalanche, the teams have found the bod ies of Assam’s Deepshikha Hazarika and Meghalaya’s Tiklu Jyrwa.

The mountaineers have been missing since October 4 from Mount Draupadi Ka Danda-II in Uttarakhand.

The body of 35-yearold Tiklu Jyrwa from Meghalaya who went miss ing in the incident has been recovered. A resident of Up per Lumparing, Jyrwa was a member of the Megha laya Sport Climbing and Mountaineering Associa tion (MeSCMA).

Condoling the death of the mountaineer, Megha laya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma tweeted, “We are in touch with the family and

are facilitating the transpor tation of his mortal remains to Shillong. My prayers for his family and loved ones during their hour of grief. May the departed Rest In Peace.”

Hailing from Guwa hati’s Rajgarh in Assam, Deepshikha Hazarika is the daughter of Golap Haz arika. Hazarika’s family members have reached Ut tarakhand and her body will be brought back to Assam after the postmortem.

Rohini Kumar Bhui yan, the father of moun taineering in Assam, died in a snowstorm on her way back from the 6,940-me tre-high Kedarnath dome peak on October 5, 1979.

In 2012, mountaineer Rabi ndra Lal Das died of highaltitude sickness during the 6,162-metre-high Gang stang summit expedition.

restructuring Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) for effective coordination between the central and state agencies along with a development of NCORD Portal, an all-in-one portal for all types of drug-related information.

Development of Na tional Integrated Database on Arrested Narco Offend ers (NIDAAN) database by the NCB in collaboration with the ICJS, establish ment of Nar-K9 pool as a national asset at NCB Imphal and a 24x7 dedi cated and toll-free national narcotics helpline named MANAS is also being pre pared, he said.

Standardised training modules on NDPS sub jects and publication of a compendium of important NDPS court judgments have also been planned.

The Ministry of Home Affairs under the “assistance to states/UTs scheme” has allocated Rs 17,29,74,130 for strengthen ing the drug law enforce ment mechanism of states of Northeastern region , he said. Empowerment of border guarding forces

BJP aims 12 of 14 LS seats in Assam for 2024: Himanta

GUWAH ATI, OCT 8 (PTI): The BJP has set a target of winning 12 out of 14 seats in Assam in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sat urday.

Addressing a party workers’ meet here, Sar ma said the BJP will start working from now to make Narendra Modi India’s prime minister for the third consecutive time. “Assam has 14 Lok Sabha seats and we won nine last time. This time, we will have to win at least 12 seats,” he said in presence of BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“We will not stop till the Lok Sabha polls. We want to see Narendra Modi as prime minister for the third time,” he added.

In the 2019 Lok Sab ha elections, three seats were won by Congress, one by AIUDF and one was bagged by an Independent.

Referring to the recent ban on Popular Front of India (PFI), he said that the government has resolved to permanently eliminate fundamental groups from the soil of Assam.

-- BSF, Assam Rifles and Sashastra Seema Bal -- un der the NDPS Act 1985 to carry out search, seizure and arrest has also been planned, he said.

Sharing of satellite images for destruction of illicit cultivation, funds for upgradation of the exist ing capabilities of forensic laboratories in the region and an amount of Rs 90 lakh has been sanctioned to Mizoram for procure ment of mobile forensic vans, he said. Creation of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in states as a single nodal point for all narcotics related issues and restruc turing and strengthening of NCB for increased presence have also been taken up, he said. Apart from the NCB Guwahati zonal unit, three new zones at Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura have been approved while a new regional office will come up at Guwahati, he added.

Before the meeting, approximately 40,000 kg of drugs were destroyed in the Northeastern region under a special campaign against narcotics.

Protection from flood key for development: Shah

The average annual loss due to the disaster in Assam is to the tune of Rs. 200 crore, according to a State government website Union Home Minis ter Amit Shah has asked the Assam government to devise a long-term plan to protect the northeastern State from flood so that more development can take place.

Almost every year, three to four waves of flood ravage Assam. The average annual loss due to the disas ter is to the tune of Rs.200 crore, according to a State government website.

“Protection from flood is a key requirement for the development of the State and attracting significant private investment. The State government must go beyond short-term plans and come up with a longterm plan, which would provide protection from flood for decades to come,” Mr. Shah said chairing a meeting here on Friday.

AR in Manipur nab four with drug worth Rs 9.58 crore

Correspondent

IMPHAL, OCT 8: A total of 1,729.662 kg of con traband drugs seized by Manipur police in 57 cases were disposed of here on Saturday.

The drugs were dis posed of following a deci sion taken at a regional meeting on ‘Drug Traffick ing and National Security’ chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in As sam’s Guwahati today.

After the meeting at tended by chief ministers and DGPs of eight north east states, 40,000 kgs of seized drugs were destroyed

at designated places across the eight northeast states simultaneously.

In Manipur, the dis posal of the drugs was carried out at the Shija Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility at Lamdeng of Imphal West district around 4 pm.

The drugs destroyed in Manipur included 6.319kg of Heroin powder, 18.619 kg of WY (Amphetamine tablets), 1,704 kg of con traband Ganja, 595 gram of Spasmo Proxyvon (SP) tablets and 129 gram of N-10 tablets.

The drugs were de stroyed in the presence of

many senior officers of the state police following all formalities.

State police IGP Zone1 Themthing Ngashangva said that the drugs de stroyed today were related to 57 major drug haul cases registered in different police stations across the state.

The disposal was done simultaneously with seven other states of the northeast after the regional meet ing on Drug Trafficking and National Security, he informed.

The meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah was attended by chief ministers and DGPs

of all northeastern states, he added.

The regional meeting reportedly discussed the drug scenario in the north eastern region and ways to mitigate it.

State chief minister N Biren Singh attended the meeting along with state DGP (in-charge) P Doungel.

Various agendas per taining to examining the drug situation in the north eastern region and potential solutions were brought up during the meet, Manipur chief minister wrote in his Facebook page.

He further wrote that the meeting was anoth er step towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India free from drugs.

In another post, Singh also wrote that the war on drugs in the state will now get intensified as both the Central and state govern ments have started adopting various new techniques as well as technologies to eradicate drugs from the state.

He also mentioned Shah’s remark on the use of drones and satellite technol ogy to identify poppy culti vation areas in Manipur, in another post

AIZAWL, OCT 8 (AGENCIES): With the resettlement of displaced Mizoram’s Bru people in progress in Tripura, more than 1,800 names of Bru voters have been deleted from Mizoram electoral roll, an election official said on Saturday, reports East Mojo.

David Liansanglura Pachuau, Mizoram joint chief electoral officer, said a total of 1,829 Bru voter names have been removed from the state’s voter list following their enrolment in Tripura electoral roll.

He said the names of 1,736 voters had been de leted based on the corre sponding deletion requests received from Tripura,

while the rest 93 had been deleted based on scanned forms.

The Brus originally hailed from nine assembly constituencies in Mamit dis trict which shares a border with Tripura, Kolasib dis trict which shares a border with Assam, and Lunglei district which shares a bor der with Bangladesh.

Of the 1,829 Bru vot ers, 1,614 belonged to the Mamit district, 187 from Kolasib, and 28 from Lun glei.

According to the Mizoram election depart ment, as many as 11,759 Bru voters, including 5,751 female voters, who have been allowed to re-settled in Tripura were enrolled in

Correspondent

IMPHAL, OCT 8: Troops of Assam Rifles nabbed four alleged drug smugglers in two separate operations in Manipur’s Tengnoupal and seized 6.55 kg of con traband drugs worth over Rs 9.58 crore in the inter national market.

Three of the smugglers who came on two twowheelers were nabbed by the troops of Tengnoupal Battalion of Assam Rifles in an operation acting on specific information on Saturday.

During the operation near a pineapple farm at Khudengthabi, the troops stopped three individu als coming on two twowheelers and upon checking found 4.127 kg of brown sugar packed in 100 soap cases and 2.133 kg WY

tablets in two packages in their possessions.

The seized narcotics were together assessed to be worth Rs 9.24 crore, the release said.

In another instance, troops of the same battalion nabbed a drug smuggler with 290 gram of brown sugar during a check of a vehicle (Eeco Van) at its permanent check post at Khudengthabi along NH102 on Friday.

The 290 grams of brown sugar packed in seven soap cases was found concealed under the driver’s seat. The seized narcotics were assessed to be worth Rs. 58 lakh.

The recovered drugs along with the smuggler and the vehicle were handed over to Moreh police station for further investigation, IGAR(S) said.

the Mizoram voter list.

Sources from Tripura said that the process of re settlement of about 35,000 Bru voters is in progress.

Worth mentioning here that thousands of Bru voters had fled to Tripura following ethnic tension triggered by the murder of a Mizo forest officer by the erstwhile Bru militant in 1997. Since then they have been living in transit camps for more than two decades.

The first repatriation attempt in November 2009 was not only scuttled by the murder of a Mizo villager by the Bru militants but also triggered another round of exodus.

The Centre as well as the governments of Mizoram and Tripura had made at least 9 attempts to repatriate the Bru tribals from Tripura between 2009 and 2019.

On January 16, 2020, the Centre, governments of Mizoram and Tripura, and representatives of several Bru organisations signed an agreement according to which over 35,000 displaced Bru tribals, who failed to return to Mizoram during repatriation, would be resettled in Tripura.

Correspondent

IMPHAL, OCT 8: A cadre of NSCN(U) surrendered to the Assam Rifles in Mani pur’s Ukhrul district along with four Chinese hand grenades. He also possessed a pair of uniforms, a release of the IGAR(S) claimed on Saturday.

The release said that the cadre surrendered to the Somsai Battalion in Ukhrul district on Friday in presence of Manipur police at Somsai. Security forces complimented the cadre for his decision and wished that all those who have chosen the wrong path return to mainstream and live a happy and peaceful life, the release added.

Drug smugglers nabbed by troops of Assam Rifles in Manipur s Tengnoupal district. (NP)

found

Deepshikha Hazarika (Left) and Tiklu Jyrwa (Right)

Manipur

Amit Shah with G. Kishan Reddy and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma during a meeting on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ with CMs and DGPs. (PTI)

AAP will sponsor Ayodhya trip: Kejriwal in Guj

DAHOD, OCT 8 (PTI): If voted to power in Gujarat, the AAP government will bear the entire expenses of people who want to visit Ayodhya for Lord Ram’s darshan, Delhi Chief Min ister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday amid a row over his cabinet colleague purportedly denouncing Hindu deities.

He also said Aam Aad mi Party will win the up coming Gujarat elections, due in December this year, because it is working for the people and “for God”. Ke jriwal’s invocation of Lord Ram in the poll-bound state came against the backdrop of a video clip purportedly showing Delhi Social Wel fare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam at an event where hundreds took a pledge to convert to Buddhism while denouncing Hindu deities went viral.

Addressing a rally at Dahod on the first day of his two-day visit to Gu jarat, the AAP national convener said the Delhi government has launched a similar scheme wherein devotees of Lord Ram are taken to Ayodhya for free in a special train.

“Lord Shri Ram’s temple in Ayodhya will get ready next year. Who all want to visit the temple? All of you want to do so. But the trip, stay, food and lodging is very costly, isn’t it? And if you take your entire family, then it costs a lot,” he said.

If we form a govern ment in Gujarat, we will take you for a free darshan of Ayodhyaji, he said.

“In Delhi, a special train leaves with Ram Bhakts. People’s travel, food and lodging are free of cost. They are picked up from

their homes and dropped back after the trip, he said.

Kejriwal said he visits the Delhi railway station when the train leaves for Ayodhya and also receives the devotees when they re turn. “They bless me a lot upon return,” he said.

Notably, banners terming Kejriwal as “antiHindu” and showing him wearing a skull cap surfaced in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara cities on Saturday.

Along with Kejriwal’s pictures, some banners car ried lines like “I consider

Delhi Excise policy: ED seizes Rs 1 cr cash after raids

NEW DELHI, OCT 8 (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate has seized about Rs 1 crore in cash after raids conducted in connection with a money laundering investigation into the alleged irregu larities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, official sources said Saturday.

The searches were launched on Friday at about 35 locations in Del hi-NCR, Punjab and Telan gana’s capital Hyderabad.

About a crore cash has been seized from a location during the raids conducted against liquor businessmen, distribution companies and linked enti ties, sources said.

Some digital devices

and documents were also seized, they said without disclosing the locations of all the recoveries.

Premises linked to a director of a Delhi-based TV news organisation, who is also on the board of a Telugu daily, a citybased businessman whose company imports and dis tributes various alcoholic beverages and a former Punjab MLA were also searched by ED officials, they said. The federal agen cy has conducted more than 103 raids in this case till now and last month arrested Sameer Mahan dru, a liquor businessman and managing director of liquor manufacturing company-Indospirit.

The money launder ing case stems from a CBI FIR that had named Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as an ac cused among others.

The scheme came un der the scanner after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the imple mentation of Delhi’s Ex cise Policy 2021-22.

He had also suspend ed 11 excise officials in the matter. The ED has questioned AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak and min ister Satyendar Jain, who is lodged in Tihar Jail, while the CBI questioned a num ber of people and arrested businessman, Vijay Nair.

Hindu religion as mad ness”, while some others had an “anti-Hindu Kejri wal go back” message.

At the rally, the AAP leader reiterated his party’s commitment to providing a daily allowance of Rs 40 for the upkeep of cows, if it comes to power in Gujarat.

Kejriwal said eradicat ing corruption will be the top priority of AAP after winning the Gujarat elec tions.

“All the MLAs and ministers have looted the state. They say the govern ment has incurred a loss. Where is all the money going? ...When AAP forms a government, we will re cover every single money from them,” Kejriwal said.

He also reiterated that the money saved by uproot ing corruption will be used to provide free electric ity and quality education, healthcare and other facili ties to the public.

“Both these parties (BJP and Congress) hurl abuses at me and ask why Kejriwal provides free ‘re vadi’ to people. The BJP and Congress are against freebies because they will have nothing to loot if such

measures are implemented by AAP,” he alleged.

Kejriwal claimed that the Gujarat chief minister gets 5,000 units of electric ity free.

“If any leader says it (welfare) should not be free or (providing anything for) free is wrong, then that leader is a crook,” he said without taking any names.

Kejriwal also listed the AAP’s “guarantees” including providing quality education and healthcare facilities to the people of Gujarat, creating 10 lakh government jobs and giving Rs 3,000 monthly unem ployment allowance.

He also promised Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat, rice, cha na, groundnut and cotton, as well as 12-hour electricity during the day for farming activities and arrangement for irrigation, besides the compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for crop loss.

“It is people’s blessing that this small party won Delhi and Punjab (elec tions). We will win Gujarat. Because we are working for the public, God, doing the work of righteousness and virtue...,” he said.

Banners showing Kejriwal wearing skull cap surface in Gujarat cities

targeting the AAP and Ke jriwal were destroyed by the party workers.

Banners saying “antiHindu Kejriwal go back” were seen in Dahod town, where the Delhi CM and his Punjab counterpart Bhag want Mann were to address a public gathering on Satur day. These two AAP leaders have started their two-day Gujarat visit from Saturday.

NEW DELHI, OCT 8 (PTI):

The New Delhi-Va ranasi Vande Bharat Express was taken out of operation on Saturday after it suffered a snag in a traction mo tor that jammed its wheels and damaged their perfect roundness, a situation offi cials described as “flat tyre”.

The officials said the semi-high speed train left New Delhi station at its scheduled time of 06.00 AM but it had to be withdrawn at Khurja station in Uttar Pradesh, just after travelling about 90 km.

All the 1,068 passen gers had to be deboarded and shifted to a Shatabdi Express rake brought from Delhi for their onwards jour ney, which started around 12.40 pm. ‘’Varanasi Vande Bharat rake (Train no. 22436) has suffered a failure due to bearing defect in Traction Motor of C8 coach between Dankaur and Wair stations of North Central Railway,” the Railways said in a statement.

“The bearing jam was

rectified with assistance of NCR team. However, due to development of a flat tyre of 80 mm, the train has been moved at a restricted speed of 20 kmph up to Khurja...A detailed investigation of the failure will be done af ter taking the rake back to maintenance depot,’’ the statement said.

A traction motor is an electric motor used for the propulsion of a system such as locomotives, electric or hydrogen vehicles, elevators or electric multiple units.

Traction motor bear ings are key to the safe op eration of high-speed trains, but they are also the most vulnerable component of the motor. An undetected bearing failure may cause serious accidents.

Hence, any fault in the traction motor may force the train to be suspended or induce safety accidents.

Officials said the train crossed Dadri station of North Central Railway at 06.38 hours. When it was hurtling past the level cross

ing gate no 146, the gateman working there felt some fric tion in the 7th compartment from the rear SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) of the train and immediately re ported the brake block jam.

The train, cruising at around 100 kmph, was then halted at Wair Station (Bu landshahar) at 7:30 am, 67 km from Delhi.

Later, after inspection of the wheel by the onboard technical staff, the train was taken 20 km further to Khurja Railway Station at a controlled speed.

“At aorund 12:40, all the 1,068 passengers were deboarded and shifted to a Shatabdi Express rake which was brought from Delhi for their onwards jour ney,” an official said.

Senior Section Engi neer, Carriage and Wagon, V K Meena said the Shatab di Express began the onward journey after a four-hour wait by the passengers.

The Vande Bharat Ex press was being repaired to take it to Delhi, he said.

AHMEDABAD, OCT 8 (PTI): Banners terming Del hi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as “anti-Hindu” and showing him wearing a skull cap surfaced in several prominent cities in Gujarat on Saturday, the day the AAP leader is on a visit to the poll-bound state to cam paign for his party ahead of the Assembly elections.

Along with Kejriwal’s pictures, some banners car ried lines like “I consider Hindu religion as mad ness”, while some others had “anti-Hindu Kejriwal

go back” message. These banners cropped up in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara cities, a day after a controversy erupted over a video clip showing Aam Aadmi Par ty’s Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam at a “religious conversion” event where hundreds could be heard taking an oath denouncing Hindu deities. The Bharati ya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the minister and accused the AAP of hurting the sentiments of Hindus. In Rajkot, the posters

The banners carried different sentences, includ ing, “I consider Hindu religion as madness”, “I will not believe in Brahma, Vishnu, Ram and Krishna” and “I will not do ‘shrad dha pind daan’ or any other Hindu ritual”. However, all the banners had a common sentence - “These are the words and culture of AAP.”

The AAP has po sitioned itself as a main contender of the BJP in Gujarat, where Assembly elections are slated to be held soon.

On Friday, the BJP said that people will teach AAP a lesson in the upcoming Assembly elections over its Delhi minister Gautam tak ing oath denouncing Hindu deities.

Creation of a weapon system branch approved: IAF Chief

CHANDIGARH, OCT 8 (PTI): The central gov ernment has approved the creation of a weapon system branch for the officers of the Indian Air Force, which would save it Rs 3,400 crore in flying training, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said here on Saturday.

He announced that IAF is also planning on induction of women Ag niveers starting next year.

Delivering his address at the air force station here on the occasion of 90th anniversary celebrations of the IAF, Chaudhari said that the key to success in multidomain operations is to have “flexible, robust and redundant command and control structures” which will allow a joint force to dominate across domains.

No single service can

win a war on its own. Work is in progress to “enhance jointness” among the three services, he said. On the occasion, a new pattern of combat uniform for IAF personnel was launched.

On creation of a weapon system branch, he said this is

RPP vows overhaul...

(From p-1)

The party also said that commu nitization of teaching/SMCs will be discontinued, adding that the SMCs have become dens of corruption.

Further, RPP said teachers’ ser vice rules would be suitably amended and litigations would be a thing of the past.

It also assured fix a ceiling on admission/monthly fees for all private schools and colleges in the state.

Besides doing away with the post of principal director of DoSE and making the director as the HoD, RPP said post of yoga teacher in all government schools introduced by NDPP-BJP coalition would be abol ished. “Factors responsible for alien cultural imprints will be stamped out,” it added. While assuring to highlight Naga history/NE personalities in the NBSE curriculum, RPP said, based on Mudaliar Commission, it would initiate diversification of curriculum–skill based - as per the aptitude of the student from class 8 onwards.

(From p-1)

the first time since Indepen dence that a new operational branch is being created.

The new branch will essentially man the special ised streams of surface- tosurface missiles, surface-toair missiles, remotely piloted aircraft, and weapon system

operators in twin and multicrew aircraft, he said.

Creation of this branch would result in savings of more than Rs 3,400 crore due to reduced expenditure on flying training, he said.

Chaudhari inspected a ceremonial parade that was held at the air force station here Saturday morning to mark the IAF anniversary. It was followed by a marchpast. Ensign formation per formed by 3 Mi-17V5, and led by Wing Commander Vishal Jain, did a fly-past when the IAF chief arrived.

Air-Officer Command ing-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran, senior officers from the three services and Ministry of Defence, and veterans, were among those present on the occasion.

The IAF chief not ed that advent of drones, swarm drones, hypersonic weapons, and space-based ISR systems has added a new dimension to war fight ing. “To effectively handle the full spectrum, artificial intelligence is being used for a quicker decision making and analysis of big data. I am happy to report that sev eral projects are well under way to utilise the potential of automation, data analyt ics, and artificial intelligence to transform our operational philosophy,” he said.

Nearly 80 military air craft and helicopters will participate later in the day in an Air Force Day fly-past at the Sukhna Lake complex here, an event which will be attended by President Drou padi Murmu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

WSYF reaffirms Sept 21 statement, deadline

“We will in any way protect and guard our land,” WSYF stated.

In his presidential address, WSYF president Mughavi Awomi reminded that the Sümi pioneers, with a great vision for the coming generation, took the initiative of creating WSYF in 2007 to “stand for and protect the rights of the Sümi brothers and sisters.”

Mughavi maintained that the WSYF had been writing to the state government highlighting the issue and plight of Kiyevi village. However, he said the government, apart from issuing two orders, had never taken keen interest on whether the orders were wholly being implemented or not. Re minding about the three-week ultimatum, which would end on October 13, Mughavi cautioned that if the government failed to take any steps, WSYF would take the issue in its hands and should not be held responsible. Mughavi

accused the government of creat ing tribalism within the Naga community, and for shifting its responsibilities by earlier inviting 14 tribes and recently asking the CNTC and Tenyimi to resolve the issue.

He said that this was not a land dispute, as the land rightfully belonged to the people of Kiyevi village. However, he said “the land owner cannot plough their own land while the encroachers are fully developing with the help of the security forces placed by the state government.”

Blaming the state govern ment for its inability to settle the issue, Mughavi also accused the government of being “discrimi native and bias against the Sümi tribe”. He said if the orders were implemented properly, then peace and order would have long been established in the tensed area and the Naga brothers and sisters would be living in peace and har mony with each other. Meanwhile,

in the meeting, WSYF said a mother sadly narrated the struggle, pain and the fear they have been living in within their own village area, and afraid of their children getting harmed by the encroachers while playing around the fields.

In the meeting, assistant GB Yevito Zhimo also narrated the history of Kiyevi village and how they were living in harmony with each other before the issue arose.

Another assistant GB of Kiyevi village, Zheshito Swu lamented that despite writing to the state government since the illegal estab lishment of Lamhai Namdi village in June 13, 2019, they were yet to receive any response.

Earlier, the meeting was chaired by WSYF general secre tary Bohoi Yeptho while WSYF official Ikatoli Achumi recorded the meeting details. Kiyevi village pastor Howoto Shohe invoked God’s blessings and WSYF vice president Otoka Yeptho delivered the vote of thanks.

12 dead, 43 injured as bus catches fire after hitting truck in Nashik

NASHIK, OCT 8 (PTI):

Twelve passengers, includ ing a two-year-old child, were killed and 43 others injured as a private bus trav elling to Mumbai caught fire after hitting a trailer truck in Nashik city of Maharashtra early on Saturday, police of ficials said.

The accident took place at Nandur Naka on Nashik-Aurangabad high way around 5.15 am when the sleeper bus was coming from Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra, they said.

Prime Minister Nar endra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the bus tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each de ceased and Rs 50,000 each

families of the dead and said the medical ex penses of the injured would be borne by the state govern

hit a trailer truck going to Pune at an intersection near Mirchi Hotel on Nashik-Au rangabad highway. Soon af ter ramming into the truck, the bus caught fire in which 12 passengers died and 43 others suffered injuries,” a police official said.

The deceased included a two-year-old child, he said, adding that the bus was completely destroyed in the incident.

On being alerted, the police, fire brigade and other agencies reached the spot and launched a rescue op eration and the fire was doused off. However, the bus was completely gutted in the incident, the official said. Some eyewitnesses said the fire was so intense that they could not do any thing to save the passengers for some time and had to stand there helplessly.

ment. The CM visited the spot and the District Civil Hospital, where most of the patients were admitted. He said a detailed inquiry into the accident will be carried out. “A luxury bus travelling to Mumbai from Yavatmal

The injured persons were admitted to the District Civil Hospital and some private medical facilities in Nashik, city Police Commis sioner Jayant Naiknavare said. Before catching fire, the bus also hit a mini cargo van, due to which the latter got overturned, he added.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, “Anguished by the bus tragedy in Nashik. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is pro viding all possible assistance to those affected.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal speaks during a public meeting in Dahod. (PTI)

Banners calling Arvind Kejriwal “anti-Hindu” & showing him wearing skull cap surface in Gujarat cities.

IAF Chief V R Chaudhari performs a salute during 90th anniversary celebrations of IAF. (PTI)

Vande Bharat suffers jammed wheels, ‘flat tyre’; Shatabdi sent for passengers

Passengers of Vande Bharat Express train being shifted to another train, following a delay of four hours after Vande Bharat Express train was stopped at Bulandshahr.

Charred

Land and rights

What

Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has refocused attention were over controver sies that have arisen with the government’s proposed Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZ) passed by the state assembly on March 24 2014 and the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) which would determine who is and who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland. On the issue of NSDZ, after the house adopted the resolution, Nagaland Post on April 1 commented on whether that would infringe upon the traditional rights of tribal community lands as protected under Article 371A. The government sought to amend land laws or as described, the current land tenure system in the foothill areas and turn them into cadastral areas after which the government will issue pattas to the landowners and next these patta lands will be acquired by the government and issued to outsiders. This newspaper’s report woke up several organ isations who began to question the motive behind the innocuous move. NTC reacted by expressing total opposition against dispossession of land to the original landowners as protected under Article 371A. NTC on 2018 held a consultative meeting with various tribes and they resolved to object the government move by infringing upon Article 371A. While the state government’s proposal remains unchanged and temporarily shelved after a hue and cry from tribes of Nagaland, the NSDZ awaits implementation in the foothills of eight districts (Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Niuland, Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Peren) to serve as panacea for urbanisation and industrialisation. Meghalaya and Mizoram, which also have adopted their respective urbanisation and industrialisation policies, have on the other hand, reaffirmed the customary ownership of land of the indigenous inhabitants. The plea for the NSDZ is phrased with the words ‘urbanisation and industrialisation’; while the driving force is believed to be enabling outsid ers to take permanent possession of land for oil and natural gas operations. The other issue is about tackling illegal immigrants through extension of In ner Line Permit (ILP) under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873 to Dimapur district. However this meant that enforcement of ILP can only be done by identifying who is and who is not an indigenous inhabitant . In order to frame rules the government had on July 10, 2019 set up Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN). Later on July 28, the government constituted a three-member Banuo Z.Jamir Commission for RIIN to go into the whole issue and submit its recommendations. Meanwhile, the state government extended the Inner Line Per mit (ILP) system to Dimapur on December 10,2019 making it mandatory for “every non-indigenous person” who entered the then Dimapur sub-division under Kohima district after November 21, 1979, to obtain an ILP within 90 days. Dimapur became a dis trict in 1997. NTC pointed out that despite the RIIN commission having submitted its recommendations by end of 2019 nothing has come out of the govern ment even three years since. What is problematic is that in 1978 the government had issued a notifi cation No.AR-8/8/76 dated Kohima April 28,1978 where December 1,1963 was the cut-off date and year for identifying indigenous status.On the other hand the Land Revenue Department issued a no tification No.LR/2-118/76 dated 21/11/1979 where those who entered Dimapur subdivision prior to November 21,1979 had to obtain ILP. These are is sues that need to be addressed through an informed debate instead of the usual consultative meetings which have led to the impasse.

DailyDevotion

Coming to Jesus

Come to Me… —Matthew 11:28

Isn’t it humiliating to be told that we must come to Jesus! Think of the things about which we will not come to Jesus Christ. If you want to know how real you are, test yourself by these words— “Come to Me….” In every dimension in which you are not real, you will argue or evade the issue altogether rather than come; you will go through sorrow rather than come; and you will do anything rather than come the last lap of the race of seemingly unspeakable foolishness and say, “Just as I am, I come.” As long as you have even the least bit of spir itual disrespect, it will always reveal itself in the fact that you are expecting God to tell you to do something very big, and yet all He is telling you to do is to “Come….”

“Come to Me….” When you hear those words, you will know that something must happen in you before you can come. The Holy Spirit will show you what you have to do, and it will involve anything that will uproot whatever is preventing you from getting through to Jesus. And you will never get any further until you are willing to do that very thing. The Holy Spirit will search out that one immovable stronghold within you, but He cannot budge it unless you are willing to let Him do so.

How often have you come to God with your re quests and gone away thinking, “I’ve really received what I wanted this time!” And yet you go away with nothing, while all the time God has stood with His hands outstretched not only to take you but also for you to take Him. Just think of the invincible, unconquerable, and untiring patience of Jesus, who lovingly says, “Come to Me….”

Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority Introduction: Mental wellness is a lifelong process and a proactive strategy to strengthen our mental, emotional, social, and psy chological resources. On one level, mental wellness is about prevention; coping with life’s adversity; and being resilient when we face stress, worry, loneliness, anger, and sadness. Mental wellbeing is an integral part of our overall health. Society often thinks of health as something biological and physical: the condition of our bodies, how healthy we eat, the physical exercise we do. A key component of health is missing from this, though. It’s mental wellbe ing, which encompasses our inner workings and the way we describe how we are in our lives. Mental wellbeing, in general, is the state of thriving in various areas of life, such as in relationships, at work, play, and more, despite ups and downs. It’s the knowledge that we are separate from our problems and the belief that we can handle those problems.

Mental Health a Global Priority: Whilst the pandemic has, and con tinues to, take its toll on our mental health, the ability to reconnect through World Mental Health Day 2022 will provide us with an op portunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and im prove mental health. Many aspects of mental health have been challenged; and already before the pandemic in 2019 an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disor der. At the same time, the services, skills and funding available for mental health remain in short supply, and fall far below what is need ed, especially in low and middle income countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis for mental health, fuelling short-and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions. Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic.

At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has wid ened. Growing social and economic inequalities, pro tracted conflicts, violence and public health emergen cies affect whole popula tions, threatening progress

towards improved well-be ing; a staggering 84 million people worldwide were forc ibly displaced during 2021. We must deepen the value and commitment we give to mental health as individuals, communities and govern ments and match that value with more commitment, engagement and investment by all stakeholders, across all sectors. We must strengthen mental health care so that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable and quality services and supports.

Stigma and discrimina tion continue to be a barrier to social inclusion and ac cess to the right care; impor tantly, we can all play our part in increasing awareness about which preventive men tal health interventions work and World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to do that collectively. We envision a world in which mental health is valued, promoted and protected; where every one has an equal opportu nity to enjoy mental health and to exercise their human rights; and where everyone can access the mental health care they need.

The nature of Men tal Health: After a history of much misunderstand ing and stigmatization of mental ill-health, there is an understandable move to DE stigmatize people who experience mental ill-health whether transient or long term. But this itself has resulted in some confusion. Mental health is too often conceptualized as either entirely organic (eg genetic, biological or brain chemis try factors contributing to etiology) or entirely social (the result of stressors such as work stress, poverty or discrimination). This is an oversimplification. Social determinants and stressors and organic causes can work together in different ways to bring about or sustain men tal health challenges.

Mental health problems play a part in chronic physi cal conditions (eg Cancer, HIV, heart disease, diabetes) and in the development of healthy or unhealthy life styles. Poor mental health also has an important con nection to worklessness.

Mental health problems which are unresolved can be the cause of people needing to leave work or finding it difficult to get into work, and worklessness itself can bring about depression and other problems. Ensuring good

mental health for all across the life course, especially in the workplace, is good for the economy. There is a large and growing evidence-base demonstrating effective ap proaches to the promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illness.

More recently, the rise of concepts such as mental wellbeing, resilience and recovery, with increasing bodies of knowledge behind them, have meant that it is time to revise significantly our common views of what mental health is made up of.

Mental Wellbeing and resilience: A relatively new concept of mental wellbeing has been the subject of much research and discussion.

It is not just the absence of mental ill-health but is a manifold of both states (which includes happiness/ satisfaction) and attributes which may be partly attitu dinal and partly skill based. This range of psychological attributes includes confi dence, optimism, agency-the ability to look after and man age oneself, and to be able to have and make meaning ful choices for oneself and manage ones emotions. Key to wellbeing is resilience-the ability to address and man age stressors and situations which may affect our sense of wellbeing and stay well during times of challenge. Mental Health is therefore best seen as something which comprises a spectrum from healthy to coping to unwell. People may move along that spectrum in both directions across their life.

Good mental wellbeing, not just the absence of men tal ill-health or the ability to cope with mental ill-health, is important to healthy and productive lives. Positive psychological functioning including resilience under pins academic achievement in education, workplace and personal relationship success and the ability to cope with life stressors. There is also a very strong link between social isolation and poor mental health. Bullying, victimization and denying people the value and integ rity of their identity can all have seriously deleterious impacts on mental wellbeing. Living in good relationship to self, others and (in an eco logical perspective of mental health) creation can all be conceptualized as crucial to, and outcomes of, positive mental wellbeing. This is a dynamic, not a static state.

Recovery: Recently, an increasing focus on re covery has developed in

mental health services and movements, comprising both clinical recovery (the resolution of symptoms, and their underlying causes where possible and the abil ity to function well) and personal recovery which can mean anything from living independently to flourishing as much as possible over the life course, despite knowing that intermittent crises or long term life with a mental health condition may occur. Recovery signifies the com mitment to be as whole as possible, to adjust to the reality of one’s health and to live meaningfully and hopefully. It is clear that we face a significant set of chal lenges in our society today.

Financial austerity in mental health services, a growing set of stressors across the life course from education through workplace to retire ment, the increasing loneli ness of many and constant social tensions between vari ous populations mean that a commitment to create the conditions where people and populations can be whole remains a major challenge. For those in mental health systems, the fragmentation of the system may serve to keep people dependent on services rather than support their journey to flourishing.

Conclusion: Our men tal health is not, as once believed, a function of purely individual characteristics or ‘character’ in a moral sense; rather it is determined by a whole range of influences almost all of which are out of our control including but not limited to genetics, parenting, schooling, social position, discrimination and so on. It should follow from all of this that a purely indi vidual focused and illnessfocused concept of mental health is inadequate given what we now know. This population approach, in creasingly being known as Public Mental Health, can be described as Public mental health as “the art and science of improving mental health and wellbeing and prevent ing mental illness through the organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private, communities and individuals.” Core to public mental health will be the idea that mental health and mental wellbeing should be at the heart of all we do, and that there can be ‘no health without mental health.

Rev. Fr. C. Joseph Counsellor St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous) Jakhama

Making India a manufacturing hub

India’s GDP growth rate is at present a commend able 13.5% but per capita income has not seen a con comitant rise. Unemployment rate according to CMIE stands at 7.6% and India also lacks robust health and educational facilities. The GDP share of the latter is a meagre 3%. The other nations which have taken a grand leap to induct themselves in the exalted de veloped countries’ status have focused more on betterment of public infrastructure to enhance human capital by providing clean air, water, food and also given laudable thrust on the manufacturing sector.

India also has a huge potential in the manufacturing sector but a number of deter rents like dearth of requisite skill, non-performance of rural sector, lack of export capaci ties, poor marketability, lack of private investment impedes the sector from utilising its optimum efficacy.

Off late, government has attributed significant impor tance in this sector through visionary programmes like Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, PLI scheme and Gati Shakti Scheme as well as increas

ing expenditure for capital infra by 35% to Rs 20 lakh crore. The Gai Shakti scheme encompassing 7 sectors like airways, road, railways, ports, waterways, mass transport and logistics infrastructure posits to synergise rail and road transport with multi modal transport system en suring last-mile delivery to reduce logistics cost for timely completion of projects with accentuated accountability. When it is integrated with PLI scheme comprising auto mobiles, electronics, textiles, thereby enhancing exports, inviting foreign companies to set up units in India and also to promote local manufactur ers to expand their business and augment employment.

There are almost 86,000 start ups currently with more than 100 unicorns, MSME has huge potential, especially in textiles sector. To improve the entire value chain of MSME and start-ups, schemes which refinances MFI, NBFC, pri vate banks with an aim to encourage greenfield and brownfield projects in the non-farm sector, Stand-up scheme, recently formulated DESH Policy with an aim to revolutionize the SEZ, would

be pivotal and thereby would expedite productivity of the manufacturing sector. DESH policy overhauls the norm of focusing on increased exports in the first 5 years, giving im petus to the domestic units, redistributing empty spaces to the operational units, proper surveillance, diversifying SEZ to include chemicals, automo biles, textiles and electronics apart from IT, inviting global anchor firms, etc.

Emergency credit linked guarantee scheme SFURTI, ASPIRE which endeavours to reorganise artisans and crafts men into clusters, to provide technical support, mentoring through technology business incubators and livelihood incu bators to scale up their market access, Atal Community In novation Centres to provide mentoring and training in underserved areas to scale up viable business models are commendable schemes curated specifically to ignite entrepreneurship potential in the rural sector.

When this will be supple mented with highly skilled and fit human capital the transfor mation to the elite developed status will be seamless and much smoother.

he Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is growing rapidly in NE through education.

World Mental Health Day 2022 Imposition of Hindi in NEI T

Initially, RSS attempted to build local rela tionships through Bengali settlers and Bihari and Marwari traders, sensing an opportunity in the friction between the local ethnic population and the migrants. But by the 1970s, the RSS had realized it would not be enough to engage the “outsiders”; it needed to establish links with the local populace. They found that educating the locals with ideology alone could penetrate the region. This is the reason why we have many RSS-run schools.

Several Vivekananda Kendras are operating in the region for “cultural expansion”. Today we have Shakhas, Vivekananda schools, Balwadis, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, tuition cen tres, study circles, vocational training centres, and hospitals. In addition, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA), which worked among tribal people, ran hostels, nursery schools, and coaching centres, held medical camps and sent tribal teams to outof-State sports events.

In recent years, RSS has claimed that it has played a significant role in powering the BJP’s electoral successes in many states of North East region. Most states in NE are under BJP Govern ment or BJP coalition Governments. It has grown steadily in the Northeast, demonstrating persis tence, adaptability, and pragmatism.

The RSS is “reworking” the region’s religious lines and targeting Bangladeshi Muslims. Accord ing to Ram Puniyani, RSS-BJP-Modi Government wants to bring in a Hindu nation trampling upon the values of the Indian Constitution. For example, they are working very hard to abolish article 370, Uniform Civil Codes.

The recent announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 10, 2022 while chairing the 37th meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee to make Hindi a compulsory subject in all Northeastern states up to Class 10 has elicited mixed reactions. Over 200 dialects have been carefully preserved in the region’s unique linguistic mosaic. Various po litical and non-governmental organizations have emphasized the importance of developing and maintaining indigenous and regional languages for overall integration.

While the political parties in the Northeastern region are divided on the Hindi learning issue, linguistic experts and political commentators said that while teaching in English and Hindi, local and indigenous languages must be given equal priority for their promotion and practical use. At a time when ethnic communities have been striving for the promotion of their language, including as a medium of instruction, making Hindi a compulsory subject up to Class 10 is seen as a move contrary to their linguistic aspirations.

CPI-M Central Committee member, veteran tribal leader, and former Tripura tribal welfare and forest minister Jitendra Chaudhury told IANS that the BJP government, at the behest of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is trying to impose Hindi on all communities. “If the BJP government at the Center continues to insist on imposition of Hindi on all communities, it would affect the na tional integration of the country. Moreover, such an attempt is against the unity in diversity and the philosophy of India’s freedom struggle”.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha Member Sushmita Dev, who hails from Bengali-dominated southern Assam, told IANS that the imposition of Hindi is an RSS agenda. “Instead of protecting and promoting the local languages of the Northeast, the BJP with a motive is trying to impose Hindi”, she said. Thus we see from the above that Hindutva ideology has already penetrated deeply into the regions through various means and forms, mainly through mediums of education. India should stand together to protect unity and diversity.

Dr. Imtisangba Longchar Pastor, Chümoukedima Ao Baptist Church mimtisangbalongchar1234@gmail.com

Under the Jal Jeeven Mis sion almost 56% of rural household have access to drinking water and under the Ujjwala yojana almost 54% of rural population have access to clean cooking fuel. Transport by air is increasing at the rate of 13% denoting seamless migration of workers. Women are also participating in the economy, 53% of bank ac counts under Jha Dhan are of women and they are also the lead loanees of Mudra.

Recently there have been talks about rolling out urban employment scheme on a national basis emulating the model of Rajasthan govern ment.

As far as health is con cerned, a public health policy digressing from a doctor cen tric approach and focusing on improving the access of basic amenities like clean wa ter, diet, environment taking into account urban planning, environmental regulations, clean water, climate, smart agriculture. while formulating the policy is imperative.

All these things must work in tandem with centrestate cooperation and interministerial dependency.

Neelakssi Banerjee

Reader’s Post

Unethical practices of a Govt office under Niuland District Headquarter

Sir, In recent times it has come to our Forum (Niuland Area Citizen Forum-NACF) knowl edge that a certain Department under Niuland District Head quarter has been harassing its employees for some monetary favour and the matter is being deliberated and brewing in social media. NACF in no way support such maladministration by any government servant whatsoever and vehemently condemn such illegal and unethical practices. Government servants and officials are expected to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in government, by demonstrating the highest standards of professional competence, efficiency and effectiveness, upholding the Constitution and the laws, and seeking to advance the public good at all times. Such practices only denigrate the Good Governance and stump the Govern ment policy of “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” further introducing trust deficit to the political and democratic process. In this regard it is reminded that as a Citizen’s Forum, NACF shall not shy away but will voice out for such issues in public interest and urge the concern department to apologies unconditionally to the aggrieved employees and take counter measures to eradicate such misdemeanour.

Kakishe

Demo, GST aimed at poor, small biz: Rahul

BELLUR/MANDYA (KARNATAKA), OCT 8 (PTI): Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the BJP’s poli cies of demonetisation, GST and farm laws are weapons aimed at India’s poor and small businessmen.

Addressing a rally at the end of the 30th day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said the BJP has destroyed businesses with its polices. “Demonetisa tion and GST, both these are weapons. The farm laws that are applied here, is a weap on. These are not policies. These are weapons aimed at India’s poor, at India’s labourers, at India’s small and medium businesses, and they are very effective weapons,” he said. Gandhi earlier met a young differently-abled per son and walked with him.

The Congress leader alleged that the BJP was cre ating two Indias, one having the richest of the rich and the other with millions of poor. “We started the Bharat Jodo Yatra because we see

tremendous problems in our country. We see an ideology that is spreading hatred, an ger and violence throughout our beautiful country. We see massive levels of unem ployment in Karnataka and in the rest of the country, and we see a tsunami of price rise,” he said, attacking the government.

Gandhi said he spoke to a few experts on educa tion. He said a teacher asked him, “Why our way of life, our history, our culture, our language Kannada is under attack? Why is the glorious history of the people of

EC freezes Shiv Sena symbol

NEW DELHI, OCT 8 (AGENCIES): The Elec tion Commission on Sat urday (October 8, 2022) froze the Shiv Sena symbol amid the tussle between Uddhav Thackeray faction and Eknath Shinde camp, reports Zee News. The poll body passed an interim order, saying that neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the symbol bow and arrow, reserved for ‘Shiv Sena’.

Following the order, now neither the ruling Eknath Shinde government nor the Uddhav Thackeray camp will be able to use the ‘bow and arrow’ poll symbol in Andheri East bye polls.

According to the EC’s order, both the fractions shall be allotted such dif ferent poll symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols notified by the poll watchdog for the purposes of the current byeelections.

“Both groups shall also be allotted such different symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols notified by the Election

Commission for the pur poses of the current byeelections. Accordingly, both groups are hereby directed to furnish, latest by 1pm on 10th October,” EC said in an order.

The Commission can allocate the name and sym bol to both factions from the options submitted. The interim order came on Sat urday on the Shinde fac tion’s request seeking it be allocated the symbol as the Andheri East assembly by poll is approaching.

The Uddhav Thacker ay-led Shiv Sena termed the EC’s order barring the rival factions of the party from using the party name and election symbol in the And heri East assembly bypoll as “injustice.”

The poll body should have taken a decision in a holistic manner rather than passing an interim decision for the bypoll, said Ambadas Danve, Leader of the Opposition in Maha rashtra Legislative Council who owes allegiance to the Thackeray group. “This is injustice,” he told PTI.

Karnataka, the history of Basava ji being rubbed out from our text books? Which force is attacking Basava in Karnataka?”

The Congress leader said he had been meeting farmers throughout the yatra. He said ragi farmers are not getting MSP even though they are supposed to.

Last year, the MSP was Rs 3,377 a quintal but farm ers got only Rs 2,000, Gan dhi claimed. This year, a restriction of five quintals an acre has been imposed, he added. The former Congress chief also questioned why

farmers were being charged GST. He said money was disappearing from the com mon people’s pockets and going to someone else.

“The second-richest man in the world is close to the prime minister of

India. He never used to be the second-richest in the world. In fact, he was not even on the list. Suddenly, this man climbed the list of the world’s hundred richest persons like a rocket,” Gan dhi said.

No intention of making Hindi alone national language: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said there was no intention of making Hindi alone the national language and threaten the identity of regional languages like Kannada.

Rahul Gandhi said this during his interaction with representatives of many educational institutions and teach ers on Friday. “There was a discussion with Rahul Gandhi about the identity of Kannada. Then, he said everyone’s mother tongue is important. We respect all languages. Ev eryone has a right in the Constitution,” said senior leader of the party and former Minister Priyank Kharge to reporters while briefing them on the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“Therefore, he (Rahul Gandhi) clearly stated that there was no intention of making Hindi alone the national language and threatening the identity of your language (Kannada),” said Kharge, who is also Congress’s State media cell in-charge. He said those who participated in the interaction confirmed that they were not related to the Congress party, but were participating in the yatra to save the Constitution. Rajeev Gowda, chairman of AICC Research Department, said most of the participants in the interaction raised the issue of problems in the education sector since the BJP government has come into power and the implementation of NEP (National Education Policy).

Neither Shashi Tharoor nor Kharge can

Gandhi

TURUVEKERE (K’TAKA), OCT 8 (PTI):

As Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor fight it out for the Congress chief’s post, Rahul Gandhi on Sat urday described both as people of stature and un derstanding, and asserted that it was insulting to sug gest that either of them can be remote-controlled by the Gandhi family as party president.

Addressing a press conference here during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said lakhs of people have joined the yatra as they are tired of the type of politics being done under the BJP and the prevailing unemployment, price rise and economic inequality.

A day after Gautam Adani pledged huge invest ments in Rajasthan, Gan dhi, who has often accused the Modi government of favouring the industrialist, said the Congress govern ment in the state has not given any preferential treat ment to the businessman,

and asserted that he is not against corporates but mo nopolies.

Asked about criticism from certain quarters that the next Congress president could be remote-controlled by the Gandhi family, the former party chief said, “Both the people who are standing (in the polls) have a position, have a perspective and are people of stature and people of understand ing. I don’t think either of them is going to be a remote control (chief) and frankly, this tone is insulting to both of them.”

Asked why he did not

contest the polls, Gandhi said his reasons are there in his resignation letter that he gave while quitting the party chief’s post in 2019.

Elections to the Con gress president’s post will take place on October 17 and results will be an nounced on October 19.

Gandhi said by nature he believes in ‘tapasya’ and wanted an element of suf fering in this communica tion to people through the Bharat Jodo Yatra which seeks to cover a distance of about 3,500 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir on foot.

BJP mocks Gehlot for calling Adani ‘bhai’; says tight slap on top brass

JAI PUR, OCT 7 (PTI):

The BJP on Friday mocked the Congress after Rajast han Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lavished praise on Gautam Adani, the indus trialist Rahul Gandhi often picks to allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi helps only big businessmen.

Gehlot, however, hit back saying the Congress has never been against in dustries.

Adani, chairman of the Adani Group and currently the richest Asian, was seated next to Gehlot at ‘Invest Ra jasthan’, an event organised by the Congress-run state to attract investment.

Adani announced a whopping Rs 65,000 crore investment in the state over the next five to seven years - setting up a 10,000 MW so lar power facility, expanding cement plant, and upgrad ing the Jaipur International Airport.

During his address, Gehlot addressed the busi ness tycoon as “Gautam bhai” and congratulated him for becoming the world’s second richest person.

Even as Gehlot show ered praise on Adani, se nior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, without naming the business magnet, put up a tweet saying the Centre was waving loans amount ing to several crore rupees of “capitalist friends” while the others were living a life of debt.

“Yesterday, I met a woman. Her farmer hus band died of suicide as he had a debt of Rs 50,000.

One Bharat: Loan to capi talist friends at 6% interest and loan waiver of crores.

Second India: A life full of debt and hardships at 24% interest to Annadata. ‘Two Indias’ in one country, we will not accept it,” he tweet ed, recalling an incident

from his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Taking a dig at the Congress, BJP state presi dent Satish Poonia shared a 47-second clip showing Rahul Gandhi attacking Adani and Finance Minis ter Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament.

He said while Rahul Gandhi accuses the Centre of favouring Adani and Ambani, the chief minister of Rajasthan favours the two business tycoons.

“Kal tak jo tha virodi, aaj bana manmeet, dhan ki jagi ummeed to badli apni reet,” (the one who was be ing opposed until yesterday has come close today, with hopes of cash inflow, they changed their view).

BJP MLA and former minister Vasudev Devnani shared a picture of Gehlot seated with Adani at the summit, saying it was a “tight slap” on the face of the Congress high co m

crores of Rajasthan citizens during the last days

“The ‘rare photo’ of chief minister@ashok gehlot51 ji with Adani, whom Congress prince @ RahulGandhi keeps cursing, at #InvestRajasthaSummit today is a tight slap on the face of the Congress high command,” he said.

Responding to the criti cism, Gehlot asked whether businessmen who joined a political party did not invest in states ruled by other par ties.

“Many businessmen join a party, so do not they invest in other states? Those who are raising questions should say this,” Gehlot said in a statement.

Rahul Gandhi with Siddaramaiah during the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in Tumakuru district, Saturday. (PTI)

Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge.

mand. In another tweet, Dev nani shared a video in which Gehlot is seen congratulat ing Adani for his stellar success.

He tweeted in Hindi, “The chief minister, who constantly attacks the cen tral government by taking Adani’s name, is not tired of praising him in front of

Gautam Adani and Ashok Gehlot at the ‘ Invest Rajasthan’ event.

Rising food, crude prices fuel inflation in India

NEW DELHI, OCT 8

(IANS): Inflation in India has been on the rise consis tently for the past several months and various reasons can be attributed to it such as soaring food and oil prices, among others.

However, most impor tantly, the sharply depreciat ing rupee against the dollar is one of the most significant reasons behind it.

India’s retail inflation rose to 7 per cent in August from 6.71 per cent in July and this was due to higher food prices. In fact, retail inflation has been beyond the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance limit of 6 per cent for eight months in a row.

A rise in food prices has led to a spike in retail inflation and this is evident from the fact that inflation in food basket was 7.62 per cent in August, up from 6.69 per cent in July and more than double from 3.11 per cent in August 2021.

Earlier this year, crude

oil price had touched $130 a barrel. However, in Sep tember, it slid to less than $85 per barrel. But now they may rise again as OPEC+, the group of oil-producing nations, has decided to cut down oil production.

Rising oil prices direct ly impact inflation in India. This can be gauged from the fact that India imports more than 85 per cent of its oil requirement.

As crude oil prices start to rise, imports will also go up, which in turn will widen the current account deficit (CAD).

Widening CAD will further weaken the rupee, as in the face of widening deficit, the country will be forced to sell rupee and buy dollars.

Lack of truthfulness the bane of Naga society: Dr SC Jamir

(From p1)

He also encouraged the gathering to seize the moment and reflect on what they have achieved so far so the celebration would not be in vain.

Ongpangkong Mungdang president, Li pokmeren Jamir, also highlighted the plight of the living conditions of people in Mokokchung. He urged the gathering to contribute to the advancement of the town in their individual capacity.

To mark the occasion, the two oldest citi zens of KOT in Kohima were also felicitated.

Earlier, invocation was given by KABA pastor, Temjen Sempo, special number by Ko hima Ongpangkongtsür Telongjem & Kohima Mangmetong Senso Telongjem while vote of thanks was proposed by K Bendangtoshi Kichu

Other who gave short speeches included by Tir OM, Lipokmeren Jamir, Tir KAT, Chubalepzuk and Tir Tiasola, Kohima Ong pangkongtsür Telongjem.

Ongpangkong range is one of the most prominent ranges of the six ranges in Mokok chung district with 18 villages under its banner.

A weak rupee has fu elled inflation in India.

The RBI on September 30 had decided to hike the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.4 per cent and focus on withdrawal of accommoda tion to keep inflation within tolerance limits.

In order to control in flation, the RBI has been hiking repo rates since May this year. Last week, the cen tral bank had also retained its retail inflation forecast for the current financial year at 6.7 per cent.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI had observed on Sep tember 30 that inflation is projected to remain above the upper tolerance level of 6 per cent through the first three quarters of 2022-23.

(From p-1)

He expressed hope that once those issues were ad dressed, their case would be considered.

Meanwhile, earlier speaking at NGHSSEA 25th anniversary celebra tion, Sukhalu acknowledged the commendable service of the higher secondary school teachers in bringing out good results for the state as well as the government.

Exhorting the teach ers, advisor said that to morrow’s leaders were in their hands of the teachers, adding that tomorrow’s leaders will be a reflection of what teachers have done today. “Tomorrow’s lead ers will speak about your works,” he stated. Deliver ing a short speech, com missioner and secretary school education & SCERT, Kevileno Angami, lauded the ANATG-2015 for call ing off the agitation. She said that school education department was like a body with many parts, wherein if one part did not work fine, the whole body was affected.

Commending good results of higher secondary level, she urged all not to be satisfied with it but work

Bandhan Bank’s collection efficiency rises to 97 per cent

KOLKATA, OCT 8 (PTI): Band han Bank on Saturday said its collection efficiency ratio (CER) increased to 97 per cent, excluding NPAs and including restructured accounts, at the end of the second quarter of the current fiscal. The bank’s CER stood at 96 per cent at the end of the first quarter of the 2022-23 financial year.

Its collection efficiency ratio at the end of the July-September period of FY’23 for microlend ing increased to 95 per cent as compared to 94 per cent which it registered at the end of the previ ous quarter, a spokesperson of the private lender said.

The ratio for other advances stayed at 99 per cent both in the first and second quarters of FY’23.

As per the initial disclosures of the bank, loans and advances at the end of the second quarter

stood at Rs 99,374 crore, reflecting a rise of 22 per cent year-on-year, while its total deposits increased by 21 per cent to Rs 99,365 crore at the end of September 2022 from Rs 81,898 crore in the similar pe riod of the previous year.

CASA (current account, savings account) ratio at the end of the second quarter fell to 40.8 per cent as compared to 44.6 per cent in the same period last fiscal.

Retail to total deposits of the bank also declined to 74 per cent during the second quarter of the current financial year as compared to 84 per cent in the year-ago period.

Bulk deposits of the bank at the end of the September quarter increased to Rs 25,705 crore as against Rs 13,111 crore in the corresponding period last year, the spokesman said.

harder.

Also, delivering short speech, principal director school education, Thavas eelan K spoke on the en rolment in government schools. He pointed out that only 38% go to government schools in the state and the rest to private schools. In other states such as Goa, he said they have around 68% going to government schools, and the rest opting private schools because of not getting seats.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by NGHS SEA finance secretary, Pipi Chishi Kinimi, invocation was given by Life Square Church Chümoukedima, pastor Kenei Kiso, presiden tial address was delivered by NGHSSEA president Karen Yepthomi and vote of thanks was proposed by NGHSSEA vice president, Khriezosietuo Suohu. A brief history of NGHSSEA was also delivered by direc tor school education, Won thungo Tsopoe and special song by PGTs of Rüzhükh rie. It may be mentioned that the state currently has 44 government Higher Second ary Schools with a total of 670 employees.

Nili Motors launch New Tata Harrier

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN): Nili Motors (Tata) has launched the New Tata Harrier in Kohima EMO on September 28 along with The New Tata Tiago and The new tata nexon #Jet Edition on October 1 at Nili Motors Dimapur and Nili Motors EMO Chumuke dima.

Special guest S Adharii Mao (branch manager) and Hekali Chishi (senior associ ate) of SBI Kohima along with the general manager of Nili Motors unveiled the

New Tata Harrier at Ko hima EMO. New Tata Tiago and the New Tata Nexon #Jet Edition were unveiled by special guest Mughashe Assumi (RMSE), Yanpot hung Kithan (CSO) and Richard Abraham (CSO) of SBI Dimapur along with the general manager of Nili Motors at NILI Motors Dimapur Showroom and Chumukedima EMO.

Tata Motors Passenger Ltd. launched the new #Jet Editions exclusively in three models – Nexon, Harrier

and Safari. These editions were launched on the theme of Business Jets.

These specials editions have been created with those in mind, who love the con cept of apulance, luxury and the exclusivity that a business jet offers.

The New #Jet Edition comes in dual-tone star light exterior colours with the premium oyster white ventilated leatherette seats with bronze deco stitched and jet embroidery on front head rest.

Hackers steal over $100 mn from crypto exchange Binance

NEW DELHI, OCT 8 (IANS): World’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance has confirmed that hackers have stolen more than $100 million from its platform.

The Binance Block chain, also known as BNB Chain, said that a total of 2 million BNB tokens -- worth nearly $568 million -- were initially stolen by the hacker.

However, the company suspended the BMB Chain which resulted in more than $100 million being vanished, while the rest of the tokens couldn’t be transferred by the cybercriminals.

Binance CEO Chang peng Zhao said in a tweet that the company estimates the impact of the breach to be between $100 million and $110 million.

“The issue is contained now. Your funds are safe. We apologise for the inconve nience and will provide fur ther updates accordingly,” Zhao posted late on Friday. The exploit was through a sophisticated forg

ing of the low-level proof into one common library.

The company said that it will give $1 million for each significant bug found by researchers in the BNB

Chain.

“There is a bounty for catching hackers, up to 10 per cent of the recovered funds,” the company an nounced.

“A new on-chain gov ernance mechanism will be introduced on the BNB Chain to fight and defend future possible attacks,” it added.

There has been a series of attacks on targeting vul nerabilities in cross-chain bridges on crypto exchanges in the recent past.

LAND FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

KOHIMA

LAND

Land For SaLe

Officials at the launching of new Tata Harrier in Kohima.

Crimea bridge blast cuts of Russia with Crimea

MOSCOW, OCT 8 (AFP): Russia on Saturday said three people were killed after a truck exploded on its bridge linking Crimea to mainland Russia - a symbol of its annexation of the peninsula - without immedi ately blaming Ukraine.

The blast ripped through the 19-kilometre bridge - hugely important to the Kremlin - more than seven months into Mos cow’s Ukraine offensive.

Dramatic social media footage showed the bridge on fire with parts plunging into the water.

“According to prelimi nary information, three people were killed,” Russia’s investigative committee said in a statement.

It said the bodies of a man and a woman had been pulled out of the water after the bridge had partially collapsed.

Moscow said they were likely to be passengers of a car that was driving near the exploded truck and that their identities were being established.

It also said that it had identified the owner of the truck as a resident of Rus sia’s southern Krasnodar re gion, saying his place of resi dence was being searched.

Russia said the blast

Missile tests are ‘self-defence’ actions: N.Korea

SEOUL, OCT 8 (IANS):

North Korea stressed on Sat urday that its latest missile tests were “regular and selfdefence” actions against US military threats, taking issue with a UN aviation agency’s condemnation of its recent ballistic missile firing.

In a statement, North Korea’s National Aviation Administration (NAA) said: “The missile test launch by the DPRK is a regular and planned self-defensive step for defending the country’s security and the regional peace from the US direct military threats that have lasted for more than half a century.”

The DPRK is the acro nym for the North’s official name, the Democratic Peo ple’s Republic of Korea, re ports Yonhap News Agency.

The International Civil Aviation Organiza tion (ICAO), a specialised UN agency handling af fairs related to international air navigation, formally described the North’s con tinued launching of ballistic missiles over or near inter national air routes without prior notice as a serious threat to the safety of civil aviation.

The North, however, claimed its missile testing did not pose any threat or harm to the safety of civil ian aviation or neighbouring countries.

set ablaze seven oil tankers transported by train and col lapsed two car lanes of the giant road and rail structure.

“Today at 6:07 am (0307 GMT) on the road traffic side of the Crimean bridge... a car bomb ex ploded, setting fire to seven oil tankers being carried by rail to Crimea,” the national anti-terrorism committee said.

The bridge, personally inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, is a vital transport link for car rying military equipment to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

It is hugely important to the Kremlin, and Mos cow had maintained the bridge crossing was safe despite the fighting.

While some in Moscow hinted at Ukrainian “terror ism”, state media continued to call it an “emergency situation.”

Ukraine’s presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak earlier took to Twitter post ing a picture of a long sec tion of the bridge half-sub merged.

“Crimea, the bridge, the beginning,” he wrote.

“Everything illegal must be destroyed, every thing stolen must be re turned to Ukraine, every thing occupied by Russia must be expelled.”

The Ukrainian post office announced it was pre paring to print stamps show ing the “Crimean bridge -- or more precisely, what remains of it”.

The Kremlin spokes man said Putin had ordered a commission to be set up to look into the blast, Russian news agencies reported.

Officials in Moscow stopped short of blaming Kyiv.

But an official in Rus sian-installed Crimea point ed the finger at “Ukrainian vandals.”

Another in the neighbouring Kherson re gion said repairs could “take two months”.

And the spokeswoman of Russia’s foreign ministry said that Kyiv’s reaction to the blasts showed its “terror ist nature.”

‘Undisguised terrorist war’

Some officials in Mos cow and in Russian-oc cupied Ukraine called for retaliation.

“There is an undis guised terrorist war against us,” Russian ruling par ty deputy Oleg Morozov told the RIA Novosti news agency.

A Russian-installed of ficial in the occupied Ukrai nian Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, said: “Every one is waiting for a retalia tory strike and it is likely to come.”

There have been sev

Pak Army chief calls for regional peace

ISLAMABAD, OCT 8 (PTI): Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday emphasised the need for regional peace and developing a mechanism for resolving all bilateral issues peacefully among countries as he warned that the “price of status quo will be devas tating for all of us”.

What could possibly be his last address at the prestigious Pakistan Mili tary Academy in Kakul as he is set to retire by the end of November, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said that the “world has changed, so should we as the price of status quo will be devastat ing for all of us.” Without naming any country, the 61-year-old Pakistan Army chief stressed the need for regional peace and develop ing a mechanism for resolv

ing all bilateral issues peace fully. “We must give peace a chance by developing a mechanism to resolve all our bilateral issues peace fully. Moreover, as opposed to fighting each other, we should collectively fight hunger, poverty, illiteracy, population explosion, cli mate change and disease,” he said. “The world has changed, so should we as the price of status quo will be devastating for all of us,” he said. In his address,

Gen. Bajwa said that “in our quest for peace, we have extended sincere and allout efforts to evolve good neighbourly relations with all our neighbours and re gional countries…We are trying our best to break the political logjam which has denied the countries of South Asia to move forward and resolve all regional and bilateral issues in a peaceful and dignified manner.”

The Army chief said that the people of South Asia, like the rest of the world, deserved prosperity and better living conditions, which was only possible through sustained economic growth, development and above all, lasting peace.

“Therefore, we must strive hard to keep the flames of war away from the region,” he said.

We are much safer here: Indians in Canada

TORONTO, OCT 8 (IANS): As India witnesses an alarming rise in cases of hate crimes racism, and vandalism across North America, students and Indians in Canada say they feel much safer and that there is no rise in crimes against them.

“There is no rise in crime against Indians in Canada. It is extremely peace ful. Overall, it is much safer in Canada for Indians than it was in the previous century when our forefathers came. Canada is a peaceful nation,” Balbir Gurm, com munity activist and founder of Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships, told IANS.

The New Delhi-Ottawa ties have been under duress lately due to the recent

vandalisation of Hindu properties and religious shrines, hate crimes, and a refer endum to garner support for the secession of ‘Khalistan’ from Punjab in India.

Last month, the BAPS Swamina rayan temple in Canada was defaced with anti-India graffiti, and in July, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at a Vishnu Temple in the Richmond Hill neighbourhood of Canada was desecrated.

Indian-origin Sikh Joti Singh Mann, a radio host based in Brampton, was at tacked by three people in August this year, and Kartik Vasudev, a 21-year-old student from Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead in To ronto as he stepped out of a metro station in April.

Taliban expel schoolgirls who are

puberty

KANDAHAR, OCT 8 (IANS): In recent weeks, the Taliban have carried out inspections of girls’ schools in the Kandahar province and expelled hundreds of pubescent female students, media reported.

They have joined the estimated 3 million girls in Afghanistan who are being deprived of an education.

Since seizing power last year, the militant group has barred girls who are 13 or older or above the sixth grade from attending school, RFE/RL reported.

The expulsions in Kandahar are part of the Taliban’s enforcement of its deeply controversial ban, which has fuelled protests inside the country and at tracted international con demnation.

According to the Tali ban’s extremist view of Islamic Sharia law, girls

who have reached puberty must be segregated from male students and teachers.

The militants have claimed that, due to a shortage of female teachers, they can not permit pubescent girls to attend school. Before the Taliban takeover, many girls’ schools were already segregated.

The Taliban have not given exceptions to girls

who started school late, had to repeat school, or have learning disabilities, RFE/ RL reported.

Fawzia, a 15-yearold who was in the fifth grade, was expelled from her school in Kandahar’s Daman district last month.

She said the Taliban kicked out more than 100 girls from her school alone after carry ing out an inspection.

eral explosions at Russian military installations in the Crimean peninsula.

If it is established that Ukraine was behind the latest blast, alarm bells may sound with the bridge so far from the front line.

The blasts come after Ukraine’s recent lightning territorial gains in the east and south that have under mined the Kremlin’s claim that it annexed Donetsk, neighbouring Lugansk and the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The Moscow-installed head of the peninsula, Ser gei Aksyonov, called on Crimeans to remain “calm” as authorities appeared to downplay the blasts.

“I call on everyone to clam down and not spread fake information,” he said on Telegram. “The situation is being controlled, profes sionals are working on the ground.”

He said rail links to Russia had been halted and added that authorities had set up food and heating points to help stranded driv ers.

Authorities also tried to calm fears of food and fuel shortages in Crimea, which is fully reliant on the Russian mainland since Moscow annexed it in 2014.

American dream gone wrong, says family of Indian-origin murder victims

New York, Oct 8 (IANS):

“American dream gone wrong”, says the family of the Punjab-origin Sikh family of four, including an eight-month-old infant, who were murdered in California

Their immigrant dream ended when eightmonth-old Aroohi Dheri, her parents Jasleen Kaur, 27, and Jasdeep Singh, 36, and her uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, were violently kidnapped from their truck ing business in Merced on Monday and found mur dered on Wednesday.

The family said in an online fundraiser on gofund me.com: “As immigrants to America, they worked tirelessly for 18 years to achieve safety, security, and community for themselves and their families.”

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office verified on Friday that the fundraiser was indeed the family’s and the only one authorised by them after it had issued an alert about the possibility of unauthorised appeals.

The family’s gofund me page said that they all lived under one roof with Randhir Singh and Kirpal Kaur, who were the par ents of Amandeep Singh,

and Jasdeep Singh, and the wife of Amandeep Singh, Jaspreet Kaur and their chil dren, six-year-old Ekam and nine-year-old Seerat.

The two brothers were “the primary bread earners for the family (and) support ed their elderly parents”, the appeal said.

As of 8.45 p.m. in Cali fornia on Friday, the appeal had received $102,238 from 1,070 people.

The appeal has a goal of $250,000 to support the education of Ekam and Seerat and “provide finan cial relief” to Jaspreet Kaur and the elderly parents.

The gofundme page gave a picture of a tight-knit, happy family now shattered by the tragedy.

The family said on the gofundme page that Aman deep Singh “routinely do

nated food to the local food bank and found comfort in his faith, never missing Sun day service in the temple”.

Jasdeep Singh and Jasleen Kaur married three years ago in India and were re-united two years ago in the US after her immigra tion came through.

“They were barely starting to make memories together as a family with their baby,” the family said.

“Aroohi loved to run around the house in her walker and was a joyous child” much loved by her grandparents and cousins, they added.

Randhir Singh and Kir pal Kaur were “overjoyed” by the birth of their grand daughter and “recently trav elled to India to plan a Lohri celebrating Aroohi’s arrival in the family”, they said.

Mourners pray for children at Thai temple

UTHAI SAWAN, OCT 8 (AP): Grief-stricken fami lies prayed on Saturday at a Buddhist temple filled with children’s keepsakes, flowers and photos of the smiling toddlers who were slain as they napped on blankets at a day care center in northeast ern Thailand. Coffins con taining the 36 killed, 24 of them children and most of them preschoolers, were re leased on Friday and placed inside Wat Rat Samakee and two other temples in the town nestled among rice paddies in one of Thailand’s poorest regions.

Several mourners stayed at Wat Rat Samakee overnight in the tradition of keeping company for those who died young.

“All the relatives are here to make merit on behalf of those who died,” said Pensiri Thana, an aunt of one of the victims, referring to an important Buddhist practice. She was among those staying the night at the temple.

“It is a tradition that we keep company with our young ones. It is our belief that we should be with them so they are not lonely.”

The massacre left no one untouched in the small town, but community of ficials found helping others was helping assuage their own grief, at least momen tarily.

“At first, all of us felt so terrible and couldn’t ac cept this. All the officials

feel sad with the people here. But we have to look after ev eryone, all these 30 victims.

We are running around and taking care of the people, giving them moral support,”

Somneuk Thongthalai, a lo cal district official, said. A mourning ceremony will continue for three days before the royal-sponsored funerals, which will culmi nate in the cremation of the bodies according to Bud dhist tradition.

No clear motive may ever be known for Thai land’s deadliest mass killing after the perpetrator left the day care center Thursday and killed his wife and son at home before taking his own life.

Late Friday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida visited hos pitals where seven people wounded in the attack are being treated. The monarch met with family members of

the victims in what he said was a bid to boost morale.

“It is a tragedy that this evil thing has happened,” the king told reporters in a rare public appearance.

“But right now, we have to think of what we can do to improve things to the best of our ability.”

Outside the Young Children’s Development Center in Uthai Sawan,

bouquets of white roses and carnations lined an outside wall, along with five tiny juice boxes, bags of corn chips and a stuffed animal.

At Wat Rat Samakee, mourners and those try ing to lend them support crowded the grounds.

“It was just too much. I can’t accept this,” said Oy Yodkhao, 51, sitting Friday on a bamboo mat in the oppressive heat as relatives gave her water and gently mopped her brow.

Her 4-year-old grand son Tawatchai Sriphu was killed, and she said she wor ried for the child’s siblings. The family of rice farmers is close, with three generations living under one roof.

Police identified the attacker as Panya Kamrap, 34, a former police sergeant fired earlier this year be cause of a drug charge in volving methamphetamine.

An employee at the day care told Thai media Pa

F ELICITATION

With immense pride and honour, the Lotha Students' Union, Padumpukhuri Village would like to convey our heartiest congratulations to Miss Elizabeth V Lotha, daughter of Mr and Mrs. Vandamo Tungoe for securing the post of Junior Engineer in the recently declared NPSC result.

We wish and pray that God will continue to guide you as you enter in your new venture.

W ORDS OF GRATITUDE

Sd/W ILLIAM K IKON President, LSUPV Dimapur : Nagaland

Crimean Bridge: A fire sparked by a car bomb broke out on a key road and rail bridge.

The family was identified as Aroohi Dheri, her mother Jasleen Kaur, her father Jasdeep Singh, and her uncle Amandeep Singh.

A relative cries outside the the site of the attack on the Young Children’s Development Center, Saturday. (AP/PTI)

Representational image.

Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa

Priyanka criticized for ‘activism of convenience’

Tom Cruise could walk Space Station for upcoming film

I find it therapeutic to express myself on Twitter: Elon Musk

masochist”.

Musk, however, said that “I’m not doing Twit ter for the money. It’s not like I’m trying to buy some yacht and I can’t afford it”.

After doing every pos sible daredevil stunt on the Earth, real life action star Tom Cruise could well be off to his next destination - this time the International Space Station.

A

ctress Priyanka Cho pra, on Friday, made headlines when she lent her support to the “cou rageous women” of Iran and encouraged everyone to “add your voice to this critical movement.”

While many in India have lauded the actress for taking a stand, there were many others who asked,”Has anyone heard Priyanka Chopra speak up on any pressing issue in India?”

Going by the latest Twitter trends, the actress has been on the receiving

end for her alleged “activism of convenience.”

Calling the actress a ‘hypocrite’ for not speaking up during the hijab row in the country, another trend ing tweet read, “@priyanka chopra your activism of convenience is pukeworthy. This means nothing when you choose to look away from the plight of hijabi women in India who are denied education for wear ing a piece of cloth over their head, harassed by hindutva goons and state. You are a Hypocrite!” Another said, “Priyanka Chopra’s con

cern for Iranian women is hugely appreciated, but her silence on Bilkis Bano and the state enabled persecu tion of Muslims, especially marginalised women in her home country, India is worth introspection?”

“Celebrities can’t gain woke points by speaking about issues outside of their country, while simultane ously ignoring similar issues that are rampant in India,” said another.

A viral tweet read, “Priyanka Chopra comes out in support of everyone except Indians.” (HT)

The ‘Top Gun: Maver ick’ actor could be blasted off into space to perform a spacewalk for an upcom ing film, becoming the first civilian to do so, reports Mirror.co.uk.

Universal chairwom an Dame Donna Langley hinted at the future mov ie, which would see the 60-year-old Hollywood ac tor making history at the International Space Station if all goes to plan. The Brit ish film executive, 54, said that Tom would be flown into space before disem barking from the rocket. All of this would be caught

How to Improve Your Circulation

W hy You Need Good Blood Flow

It’s hard to believe, but your body holds about 60,000 miles of blood ves sels. Along with your heart and other muscles, they make up your circulatory system. This network of roadways carries blood to every corner of your body. But when your circulation is poor, it slows or blocks the blood flow. That means the cells in your body can’t get all the oxygen and nu trients they need.

Signs of Poor Cir culation

When your limbs can’t get enough blood, your hands or feet may feel cold or numb. If you’re light-skinned, your legs might get a blue tinge. Poor circulation also can dry your skin, turn your nails brittle, and make your hair fall out, especially on your feet and legs. Some men may have trouble getting or keeping an erection. And if you have diabetes, your scrapes, sores, or wounds tend to heal slower.

Snuff Out Tobacco

Nicotine is the active ingredient in cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco. It harms the walls of your arteries and thickens your blood so much, it can’t get through. If you smoke, quit. It can be hard to stick with it, but your pharmacy or doctor’s office can help.

Control Your Blood Pressure

If it’s too high, it can cause arteriosclerosis, a condition that hardens your arteries and can help choke off blood flow. Aim for 120 mmHg over 80 mmHg or less, but ask your doctor about the best numbers for your age and health. Check your read ing at least once a month. You can buy a home blood pressure monitor or use a kiosk at your pharmacy.

Gulp It Down Blood is about half water. So you need to stay hydrated to keep it moving. Aim for 8 glasses of water a day. You’ll need to drink more if you exercise or if it’s hot outside.

Stand Up at Your Desk

Sitting for hours at a time isn’t great for your circulation or your back. It weakens leg muscles and slows the blood flow in your legs, which could cause a clot. If you’re a desk jockey at work, con sider a standing desk in

stead. It may take a little while to get used to, but getting on your feet works the valves in your leg veins, sending blood up to your heart.

Relax and Twist Yoga is a low-impact exercise that can jumpstart your blood flow. When you move, it brings oxygen to your cells. When you twist, it sends blood to your organs. And upsidedown positions shift blood from the bottom half of your body up to your heart and brain.

Hit the Wall (in a Good Way)

Not a yogi? When your ankles or feet swell, try the legs-up-the-wall yoga pose. Also called viparita karani, it’s an easy way to send your blood in the other direc tion. Lie on the floor or on a yoga mat, with your left or right shoulder close to the wall. Turn your body so you can put your feet up, and scooch your bottom against the wall. Stretch your arms out on the floor with palms down for balance.

Pump It Up Aerobic means “with oxygen.” So when you run, bike, walk, swim, and do similar exercises, you take in more oxygen and move it to your muscles. This gets your blood pumping, makes your heart stronger, and lowers your blood pressure. Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes, 5 to 7 days a week. Break it up into small chunks if needed. If you walk, know that moderate to intense speeds -- at least 3 miles an hour -- offer the best health benefits.

Cop A Squat

This form of strength training not only gets your blood pumping, it also helps lower your blood sugar and helps with back pain. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides. Now slowly bend at your

hips and knees, but keep your back straight, like you’re sitting in a chair. As you return to the starting position, bend your arms for balance.

Compress Your Socks

Put your wardrobe to work. Compression socks put a bit of squeeze on your legs so your blood doesn’t hang around too long. Instead, it’ll move back up to your heart. Ask your doctor which length and amount of pressure are best for you.

Eat More Plants and Less Meat

Let’s face it: There’s no downside to a balanced diet. Eat lots of fruits and

vegetables. Stay away from saturated fats that can be found in red meat, chicken, cheese, and other animal sources. Steer clear of too much salt. That will help keep your weight in a healthy range and your cholesterol and blood pres sure in check -- and your arteries clear.

Brush Your Body, Not Just Your Hair

Sweep your blood in the right direction. Take a body brush with stiff, flat bristles and stroke on your dry skin. Start with your feet and work your way up, using long motions on your legs and arms. Make circles on your belly and lower back. Dry brushing also gets rid of dry skin. Do it every day, right before your shower.

Sip or Soak

It’s a temporary fix, but a bath is a great way to kick-start your circulation. Warm water makes your arteries and veins open a bit wider, letting more blood through. Hot water or tea does the trick as well.

Medically reviewed by Dany Paul Baby, MD

on camera for the film. It would be one of the many amazing things the ‘Top Gun’ star has done for the silver screen - from learning how to fly planes, abseiling down the tallest building in the world and scaling cliffs.

“We have a great project in development with Tom that does contemplate him taking a rocket to the Space Station”, Donna explained to the BBC, quoted by Mir ror. “And hopefully he will become the first civilian to do a space walk outside of the International Space Sta tion,” she added.

She also shared a few details about Tom’s charac ter in the secretive blockbust er: “He will play a downon-his-luck guy who finds himself in the position of being the only person who could save Earth.” (IANS)

Ben Kingsley to star in ‘Violent Cases’adaptation

Oscar and Grammy winning English actor Ben Kingsley has been signed to star in a feature film adaptation of ‘Violent Cases’. This will be the first ever graphic novel from Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, reports Variety.

Kingsley will play the osteopath. Kingsley said, quoted by Variety: “I’m delighted to be working with this fantastic team on ‘Violent Cases’, which for me is about the power and importance of storytelling, about how we negotiate the shadows cast by the father figures in our lives and above all about the right of our inner child to be heard”.

The feature will be led by writer Mike Carey, director Colm McCarthy and producer Camille Gatin and produced by Scary Monster, Lakesville Productions and Foton Pictures. As per Variety, Carey has also worked on ‘Lucifer’ and other books in the Sandman universe, which Gaiman also cre ated.

(IANS)

T

esla CEO Elon Musk has said that he finds it vaguely therapeu tic to express himself on Twitter and the platform is a way to get his messages out to the public.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the world’s richest man said: “I play the fool on Twitter and often shoot myself in the foot and cause myself all sorts of trouble.”

“Aren’t you enter tained?” Musk replied with a roar of laughter when asked why a serious guy with serious ideas indulges in silly Twitter games that could also cost his follow ers dearly.

According to the re port, he is a serial tweeter to his more than 108 mil lion followers “who flouts convention, revels in outra geous outbursts, fights with regulators and staff, and taunts competitors”.

“It is fair to say that Musk is obsessed with Twit ter, so much so that he’s been embroiled in an epic on/off buyout of the plat form that has captivated Wall Street and the tech industry for months,” the report said.

According to Musk, “Twitter is certainly an invitation to increase your pain level.”

“I guess I must be a

“But I think it’s im portant that people have a maximally trusted and in clusive means of exchang ing ideas and that it should be as trusted and transpar ent as possible,” said the Tesla CEO. A US judge in the Twitter-Elon Musk case has now put the trial on hold till October 28, as both the parties deliberate on how to close the $44 billion takeover deal.

The stay was granted over the protests of Twit ter’s lawyers.

Twitter has received a letter from Musk to go ahead with their original deal of $54.20 per share (or $44 billion).

In a new filing with the US Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC), Musk’s legal team has also asked the court to adjourn the trial and all other pro ceedings. However, the deal still may not go through.

(IANS)

Mr. Khetoho Zhimo

Mr. Hushito Zhimo Chairman Chairman NPF Party Zhekiye Unit NDPP Party

Apropos to the publication issued by the NPF Party in Nagaland Post dated 25th Sept. 2022 wherein Mr. Ahoto Zhimo, Ex-Chairman NPF party and Mr. Hotoshe Zhimo, Ex-Secretary NPF party, Zhekiye Village Unit, 36 A/C Satakha had joined NDPP to support Shri G. Kaito Aye Hon’ble Minister. However, with our strong faith and confidence in the dynamic and visionary leadership of Shri Zheito Chophy, we hereby withdraw our support to Shri. G. Kaito Aye Hon’ble Minister and pledge to fully support Shri. Zheito Chophy former candidate NPF and intending candidate of 36 A/C Satakha for the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election 2023.

The NPF party Zhekiye Unit also welcome Mr. Hushito Zhimo, Chairman NDPP party Zhekiye Unit alongwith 21 new households who have resolved to extend their fullest support to Shri. Zheito Chophy under the dynamic leadership of Shri. Shurhozelie Leizietsu, President NPF Nagaland and Shri. Kuzholuzo Neinu (Azo), leader of NPF Legislature Party.

Ahoto Zhimo

Hotoshe Zimo Ex- Chairman Ex-Secretary NPF Party Zhekiye Unit NPF Party

Women’s Asia Cup: India beat B’desh by 59 runs

SYLHET, OCT 8 (PTI):

Shafali Verma once again showed her match-winning prowess with an attractive 55 off 44 balls as India out-batted Bangladesh by 59 runs to win their fourth match and clinch a semifinal spot in the Women’s Asia Cup T20 here on Sat urday.

After an indifferent batting show in the de feat against Pakistan, the ‘Women In Blue’ put up a much improved perfor mance scoring 159 for 5, largely due to a 96-run opening stand between Sha fali and stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana (47 off 38 balls).

Credit should also go to Jemimah Rodrigues, whose 35 not out off just 24 balls helped the Indian team score nearly 160.

Bangladesh managed 100 for 7 at the end of 20 overs and never looked like being in the hunt for a victory.

With 8 points from five games, India are on top of the seven-team table with a match left in the round robin stage.

Having never chased a total beyond 142 in their entire T20I history, Ban gladesh did try their bit but could never force the mo

mentum against a solid In dian bowling attack which kept things tight.

After a shoddy field ing effort against Pakistan, it improved by a couple of notches on the day as there were no easy runs in store. The hosts couldn’t even score 50 in the first 10 overs and scoring more than 110 runs in the back-10 was vir tually impossible for them.

None of the Indian bowlers were off target for the better part with Sneh Rana (1/17 in 3 overs) and Deepti Sharma (2/13 in 4 overs) being parsimonious as ever. Even Shafali’s loopy leg-breaks (2/10 in 4 overs) seemed unplayable.

The slowness of the track also meant that spin ners could vary the pace

and most of the balls were not coming onto the bat.

The two openers Far gana Hoqie (30 off 40 balls) and Murshida Khatun (21 off 25 balls) could add only 45 in the first nine overs and Bangladesh actually were thrown out of the contest at that stage.

Earlier, Shafali showed why she is one of the most destructive batters in this format as she struck five fours and two huge sixes. En route her fourth halfcentury in T20Is, Shafali also completed 1000 runs in the format.

With the elegant skip per Mandhana for com pany, the duo added 96 in just 12 overs. Mandhana as usual peppered the field with six crisp boundaries.

RAJKOT, OCT 8 (AGEN CIES): Punjab’s Chahat Arora erased one of the longest standing records from the books as she pow ered her way to gold in 100m breaststroke on the final day of the swimming events of the 36th National Games at the Sardar Patel Aquatic Complex here on Saturday.

Chahat, who set the national record (1:13.61s) in the event at the recent National Championships in Guwahati, warmed up by equalling Sajani Shet ty’s 25-year-old mark by clocking 1:17.35s in the heats which was held in the morning, Sportstar re ported. In the final, Chahat was in a league of her own

as she destroyed the field early and with a strong finish sank the old record with a timing of 1:14.42s. The Maharashtra duo of Jyoti Patil and Aarati Patil came second and third respectively. ``I am happy that my hard work has paid off. I was confident of breaking the record here as I had set the national mark in Guwahati nationals.

Goa to host 37th National Games in October 2023

NEW DELHI, OCT 8 (PTI): Goa will host the 37th edition of the Na tional Games in Octo ber next year, the Indian Olympic Association con firmed on Saturday. The Goa state government has conveyed to the IOA its in-principal approval to host the next edition of the National Games. In a let ter to Ajit Roy, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Goa, IOA Secretary Gen

AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers: India thrash Myanmar 4-1

AL KHOBAR (SAUDI

ARABIA), OCT 8 (IANS):

Indian football team made it a hat-trick of wins in their ongoing AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers cam paign after defeating Myan mar 4-1 in their match at the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium, here on Friday.

All four strikes for In dia came in the later part of the first half as captain Vanlalpeka Guite and for ward Thanglalsoun Gangte scored two goals apiece to take their side to another comprehensive victory.

The first half began as a battle of attrition with no major chances being cre ated. Both sides looked to build up from the back and control possession. The first shot on target came in the 21st minute through Korou Singh, who shot from the edge of the penalty area but it did not have sufficient power. Six minutes later, the first breakthrough came as Guite’s free-kick from long range beat everyone in the penalty box and flew past the goalkeeper into the net. The goal sparked the game into life as India proceeded to score three more goals

in a 12-minute spell. Lalpe khlua was brought down in the penalty area in the 32nd minute and Gangte was on hand to slam home a power ful spot-kick. Two minutes later, Guite added his sec ond as Korou intercepted the Myanmar goalkeeper’s pass and the Indian skipper latched on to the loose ball and finished tidily.

A teasing cross from the right found an unmarked Gangte inside the penalty area three minutes from the break, but his shot went over the crossbar. However, the forward registered his second goal of the evening

in the 44th minute after finding the goalkeeper out of position and beating him with an instinctive finish from outside the box.

India picked up from where they left off in the sec ond half, creating a flurry of attacks and posing questions to the opposing defence.

At the hour mark, against the run of play, Myanmar pulled a goal back as Htoo Wai Yan’s shot took a deflec tion and found the back of

the net. Head coach Bibiano Fernandes made a series of changes as India continued to have the attacking mo mentum. In the 70th min ute, substitute Boby Singh squared the ball to Gangte, who finished with aplomb but the goal was ruled out as the winger was offside in the build-up.

The match eventually drew to a close with the 4-1 scoreline in favour of the Indian side.

eral Rajeev Mehta wrote: “IOA is pleased to note the whole-hearted support of the Government of Goa to host the 37th National Games in Goa in 2023, hence conveying IOA’s ap proval to orgainse the 37th National Games in Goa.

“The Goa delegation may receive the IOA flag in the Closing Ceremony of the 36th National Games on 12th October, 2022 in Surat, Gujarat.”

Washington replaces Chahar in ODI squad

RANCHI, OCT 8 (PTI):

Washington Sundar on Saturday replaced injured Deepak Chahar in India’s squad for the remaining two ODIs against South Africa.

The second ODI will be played on Sunday here with the Proteas leading the three match series 1-0. “The AllIndia Senior Selection Com mittee named Washington Sundar as replacement for Deepak Chahar for the re mainder of the ODI series against South Africa.

“Mr. Chahar had a stiffness in his back after the third and final T20I against South Africa in Indore and did not feature in India’s Playing XI in the first ODI in Lucknow,” said the BCCI in a statement. “He will now head back to the National Cricket Acad emy (NCA) and will be monitored by the Medical Team there.”

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN): Rongmei Baptist Men Fellowship (RBMF) of Rongmei Baptist Church Association Nagaland or ganised the 7th “Gospel Sports Meet” under the theme “Witnessing Christ” from October 6-8, 2022 at Elohim Rongmei Bap tist Church, New Jalukie, Peren.

The inaugural pro gramme on October 7 was graced by Nagaland Ze liang People Organisation (NZPO) general secretary, Kingudi Joseph as guest of honour and on October 6, youth secretary ZBA,

Kebau Riame was the guest speaker for the evening wor ship service.

On the third day, foot ball semifinal matches was conducted. The gospel sports meet culminated on October 8 with Kuchi R Zeliang, Entrepreneur & Media Director, Father’s House Church, Dimapur as special guest at the closing ceremony.

Altogether 11 and 12 teams from different Churches and Fellowships of RBCAN participated in the Gospel Sports Meet held in the the discipline of football and volleyball.

Around 300 par ticipants from different churches and fellowships of Rongmei Baptist Church Association Nagaland at tended the three-day long Sports Meet. Baptist Men Fellowship, Elohim Rong mei Baptist Church Team B emerged as the champi ons in football and Baptist Men Fellowship, Rongmei Baptist Church Mhainamtsi Team B as runners-up.

In volleyball, Baptist Men Fellowship, Elohim Rongmei Baptist Church Team B and Team A won the champions and runnerup award respectively.

We

Bor-Lingri,

Members of Nagaland Basketball Association (NBA) with the selected junior boys and girls basketball teams for the upcoming Junior National Basketball Championship (Zonal - NE) to be held from October 14-17, 2022 in Shillong, Meghalaya.

Special guest at the closing ceremony with football finalists.

Indian women’s team player Shafali Verma plays a shot during the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 cricket match

Chahat Arora

Indian players celebrate after scoring a goal.

ISL: Bengaluru FC beat NE Utd 1-0

BENGALURU, OCT 8 (AGENCIES): A late header from defender Alan Costa ensured a trium phant return for Bengaluru FC to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium as the side edged NorthEast United FC 1-0 on Saturday.

The 87th minute goal came from a corner as the 6’3” Brazilian towered above the defence to meet fine ball from Javi Hernan dez, Sportstar reported.

But the match ended in acrimony when an injurytime equaliser from Jon Gaztanaga was ruled out for offside, much to the chagrin of the coach Mark Balbul, who was sent off for protesting.

It was a part-tepid, part-lively performance from BFC. From the out set the idea was to exploit the pace of N. Sivasakthi and Roy Krishna. Longrange passes from Suresh Wangjam and Prabir Das to the two forwards were a constant feature.

But the first oppor tunity arrived in the 14th minute following a mazy run on the left flank from Naorem Roshan, whose cut-back Sivasakthi sent inches wide. Minutes later,

M.S. Jithin missed a oneon-one for the visitor.

The encounter, thought, soon slipped into a contest of half-chanc es. Frenchman Romain Philippoteaux’s was a mes merising presence in the No. 10 role for NorthEast, but his teammates disap pointed. BFC’s initial pop too fizzled out quickly.

The game, how ever, sprang to life after the hour mark when BFC head coach Simon Gray son introduced creator Hernandez, and then the pacy winger Udanta Singh by withdrawing defender Aleksandar Jovanovic.

The pressure soon told, with Costa’s goal sending the nearly 20,000

Pankaj wins record 25th world title

KUALA LUMPIR, OCT 8

(PTI): India’s leading cueist Pankaj Advani on Saturday claimed his 25th world title after outclassing compatriot Sourav Kothari 4-0 in the 150 up billiards final at the World Championships here on Saturday.

Advani manoeuvred his cue like a magician’s wand as he entertained the spectators who showed up in large numbers.

In the first frame, Ad vani made his intentions clear that this title was his from word go. He opened the proceedings without any delay to secure the first frame with a 149 break while his opponent, who is still seeking his maiden IBSF World title, had yet to score a point in the 150-up format. The best-of-seven summit clash saw Advani compete fiercely to ensure he completed a billiards Na tional-Asian-World golden trifecta in the same calendar year for a record fifth time.

The second frame went Advani’s way after Kothari failed to capitalise with the limited chances given to him by his worthy opponent. With the help of a 77 break,

Pankaj Advani

Advani was halfway home with a 2-0 lead. There on, Advani turned on the heat, mesmerising the Malaysian crowd with some fine bil liards.

Advani’s craftsman ship saw him make the tour nament’s highest break of 153 in the third bringing himself one frame away from familiar glory.

In the fourth frame, Advani proved yet again why he is the man to beat in the 3-ball sport as he put together exquisite breaks of 86 and 60 unfinished to put the last nail in the coffin and seal the deal. Kothari’s forgettable final, witnessed a total of 72 points scored by

him while Advani amassed over 600 points to defend his title for a fifth year in a row. Due to the pandemic, the event last took place in 2019 and got revived after a three-year gap.

An elated Advani said,”It’s a dream to defend a world title for five times in a row. Truly pleased with how I’ve played and won every billiards event I par ticipated in this year. Feel honoured to bring to my country yet another gold medal at a world level.”

Advani’s last world title came over 12 months ago in Qatar where he won the IBSF 6-Red Snooker World Cup.

fans into raptures. North East’s Parthib Gogoi near ly poured cold water on BFC’s celebrations but his stunning on-the-turn shot clattered off the cross bar. There was more drama in store, but BFC was not to be denied.

SUNDAY’S MATCH Hyderabad Vs Mum bai City: 7:30 pm

Verstappen takes pole position in Japanese GP

SUZUKA (JAPAN), OCT 8 (IANS): Reigning For mula One champion, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the pole position at the Japa nese Grand Prix, enhancing his chances of wrapping up the 2022 world title this weekend, as he edged out the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in qualifying on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Dutch man led after the opening Q3 runs and his initial time of 1 minute 29.304 seconds was just quick enough to seal top spot. He finishing 0.010 seconds clear of Leclerc and 0.057 seconds up on Sainz, as team-mate Sergio Perez completed the top-four, ac cording to formula1.com. However, a potential setback awaits Verstappen as the stewards will be taking a look at an incident involving the Dutchman and Lando Norris in the early stages of Q3, after the reigning champion darted left at the exit of 130R on a slow lap, forcing Norris to take avoid ing action as the McLaren built up speed.

Tsitsipas edges Rublev to enter Astana Open final

ASTANA (KAZAKH

STAN), OCT 8 (IANS):

World No.6 Stefanos Tsit sipas reached his sixth tourlevel final of the season on Saturday when he earned a comeback win against An drey Rublev at the Astana Open, here. In front of a lively crowd at the ATP 500 event, the Greek upped his intensity and aggression as the match went on to overcome the fifth seed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 10 minutes.

“I hit with a lot of variation and mixing and it went my way towards the end. I stayed completely within my game. There were a few things I worked out,” Tsitsipas said. “I kept pursu ing those shots with a lot of passion and determination. It was not easy, being set down. Have to deal with a very good opponent on the other side of the net made it an extremely physical battle. I am pleased with myself for being so determined to make it work so well,” he added. With his victory, Tsitsipas has improved to 6-4 in his ATP head-to-head series against the World No.9 and will next face Novak Djokovic or Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final.

Futsal: Aphuyemi FC, Proper V in final

Correspondent

KOHIMA, OCT 8 (NPN): Aphuyemi FC Zunheboto and Proper V FC Mon entered the final of the Second Nagaland State Futsal Champion ship played at Reiphinyü Badze, Vürie, here on Sat urday.

The final match will played on Sunday.

The three-day cham pionship was organised by Kohima District Foot ball Association (KDFA) under the aegis of Naga land Football Association (NFA).

In the first semifinal, Aphuyemi FC Zunhe boto beat Vanguard FC Tseminyü 8-4.

The match ended 4-4 till the first half however in the second half Aphuyemi scored four more goals and cemented their victory. Aphuyemi remained as the only unbeaten team so far in tournament with four wins.

In the second semi final match, Proper V FC Mon defeated Nimok FC Phek 12-4.

For the semifinals matches, AYO finance secretary, Rocus Rino, was

the match patron. In the league matches for both the groups -Group A, Aphuyemi won all the matches to top the table with 9 points followed by Proper V FC with two win and a loss.

In Group B, Nimok Power FC topped the table on better goal difference (+9) with six points and Vanguard in second place with six points and goal difference of +3.

Zasivi FC Kohima lost their last match against Vanguard 5-1 to bow out of the tournament with +2 difference and six points.

Puiteing FC tops PDFL points table

DIMAPUR, OCT 8 (NPN): Puiteing FC moved to the top of the Peren District Football League (PDFL) 2022 with a 4-0 thrashing of Northern Zeme Sports Association (NZSA) at Jalukie ‘B’ vil lage ground on Saturday.

Barak FA, Native Feathers and Lekie Mtei FC also won their respec tive matches.

Puiteing FC contin ued dominant run but were made to wait till 40th min utes to open their account. It was Wibonjibou who drew the first blood in the 41st minute and a minute later scored the second goal. After the breather, Paolenngam added two more goals in the 63th and 65th minutes. A spirited NZSA continued to try and attack, but could not break the strong defence line up of Puiteng and had to concede defeat.

Earlier, in the first match, Barak FA defeated Prime FC 1-0. Barak FA, who overcame season fa vorites Native Feathers on Thursday, dominated the game.

Barak made several

Haaland scores again as Man City go top

LONDON, OCT 8 (AFP): Manchester City swept to the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 rout of Southampton as Erling Haaland extended his in credible scoring run to 10 successive games, while resurgent Chelsea eased to a 3-0 victory against Wolves on Saturday. Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez all netted for Pep Guardiola’s side before Haaland added his customary goal to seal yet another one-sided success at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland has scored an astonishing 20 goals in his first 12 competitive games since his 51 million pounds ($56 million) move from Borussia Dortmund.

Fuelled by the Nor way striker, City are the first club to score at least three goals in nine con secutive top-flight home matches since Wolves in 1959.

The champions are now two points clear of second placed Arsenal ahead of the north London club’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

Guardiola’s remark able team have only lost

one of their last 37 league games as they chase a fifth English title in the last six seasons.

City have scored 24 goals in their last six games, winning eight of their last nine games across all com petitions.

In stark contrast to City’s blistering form, Southampton’s fifth suc cessive defeat added to the mounting pressure on boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

City opened the scor ing in the 20th minute

as Joao Cancelo weaved through the Southamp ton defence, evaded James Ward-Prowse’s challenge and fired through the legs of keeper Gavin Bazunu.

Phil Foden doubled City’s lead as he ran onto Kevin De Bruyne’s pass and clipped a deft lob over Bazunu into the far corner after 32 minutes.

Riyad Mahrez put the result beyond doubt in the 49th minute, the Algeria winger meeting Rodri’s cross with a clinical volley

from a tight angle. Inevita bly, Haaland wasn’t to be denied and he finished off Cancelo’s pass with a typi cally ruthless close-range effort in the 65th minute.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea racked up a third win in new boss Gra ham Potter’s four games since replacing the sacked Thomas Tuchel.

Potter made seven changes after the midweek Champions League victory over AC Milan, with Reece James, Raheem Sterling

and Pierre-Emerick Au bameyang among those rested.

Chelsea 3-0 Wolves

Showing the depth of their squad, Chelsea took the lead when Kai Havertz netted three minutes into first half stoppage-time with a looping header from Mason Mount’s pin-point cross.

Christian Pulisic put Chelsea in complete con trol with a cute finish after exchanging passes with Mount in the 54th minute.

Armando Broja grabbed his first goal for Chelsea with a 20-yard drive in the 90th minute.

After their splutter ing form at the end of Tuchel’s reign, Chelsea are up to fourth place, although Brighton would go back above them with a win against Tottenham in Saturday’s late game.

Managerless Wolves, who sacked Bruno Lage earlier in the week, remain in the relegation zone after a third successive defeat.

Bournemouth put under-fire Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers back on the hot seat with a 2-1 win at Dean Court.

unfruitful attempts mostly by its captain Kenumdi in the early part of the first session. They were rewarded when Chrakung scored the lone goal in the 19th minute.

The game became more intense as Barak FA continued with the attack ing mode while Prime FC tried for equaliser. But Barak hold on to secure

three crucial points.

Native Feathers stunned Nsong Area Sports Association (NASA) 5-1 in the second match. Right from the first whistle, Na tive Feathers dominated the game but could not make any breakthrough.

After some unsuccess ful attempts, Lungmedau opened the account in the 40th minute. Khiuwangbo

Kaurintah scored the sec ond and the third goals in the 57th and 86th min utes. Khankinwi added the fourth in the 59th minute. In the 70th minute, Helu ingim scored a solitary goal for NASA.

Khankinwi of Native Feathers then sealed the deal in the 71th minute.

In the fourth match, Lekie Mtei FC thrashed Benreu FC 3-0.

After a goalless 40th minute of play, Lekie Mtei drew the first blood when Hainsiugongbe Kenn con verted a spot kick in the 43rd minute.

Lungneuying made it 2-0 in the 60th minute and top scorer of the league, Haileuyibe Iranggau scored the third goal.

Earlier, EAC Wiridin graced the day-4 opening match as the chief patron.

OCTOBER 14 MATCHES

Barak FA Vs Nsong

Area SA - 7 am

Northern Zeme SA vs Prime FC - 9 am.

Native Feathers vs Benreu FC - 12:30 pm Lekie Mtei vs Puite ing FC 2:30 pm

Chakhesang Open Wrestling on Nov 4

Correspondent

KOHIMA, OCT 8 (NPN):

The Second Chakhesang Open Naga Wrestling Championship 2022 will be take place on November 4 at Pfütsero.

Announcing this at a press conference at Naga land Olympic Association complex, Saturday, Chakhe sang Wrestling Association (CWA) president, Vekhozo, said some players from other States have confirmed their participation.

Wrestlers from Karna taka, Jharkhand, Manipur and New Delhi will be tak ing part alongside promi nent local players including reigning champion of the 1st edition of the champi onship, Kezhavizo Thevo, NWA reigning champion 2022 and Open champion 2021, Venuzo Dawhuo, Pfusato Tetseo, Vekutho Soho among others.

The free registration forms will be shared through WhatsApp and interested players can submit duly filled up forms to any CWA officials.

For more queries one can contact 700510-04434 or 96123-67421. With a prize pool of Rs 4.6 lakh, the

The championship will be preceded by the Peace Marathon and 1st Open U-14 Naga Wrestling Championship which will be held on November 3.

The marathon will be organised by Kalos Society Pfütsero and will commence by 8 a.m. at Sakraba and Porba respectively for men and women categories and culminate at Sports Com plex Pfütsero, soon followed by the U-14 championship at 11 a.m. In the U-14 cat

egory players will be limited to only 32 and will be admit ted on first come first basis.

The top four position holders of the category will receive cash rewards and ci tations. Players for the U-14 category should be born on or after November 3, 2008.

CWA officials and others during the press conference at Kohima on Saturday. (NP) winner will walk away with a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh, the first, second and third runners-up will be richer by Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively while the four losing semifinalists will each receive Rs. 10,000.

For the marathon, reg istration fee will be Rs 250 for both the categories.

The total distance to be covered will be 21 km for men and 15 km for women.

In marathon, winners in both the categories will re ceive Rs. 15,000 each while the second, third, fourth and fifth finishers will receive Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,000, Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 3,000 respectively and consolation of Rs. 1,000 each will be given to ten run ners from each category.

Action in the match between Puiteing FC and Northern Zeme SA. (PC - PDFA)

Alan Costa of Bengaluru FC celebrates after scoring the winning goal. (ISL)

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in action. (Reuters)

Match patron, organizers and players in Kohima on Saturday. (NP)