Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVII No. 119
Russia subway blast was suicide: officials
ST. PETERSBURG, APR 4 (AGENCIES): A 22-yearold suicide bomber born in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan was behind a blast on the St. Petersburg subway that killed 14 people, Russian investigators said Tuesday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Monday afternoon attack, which came while President Vladimir Putin was visiting the city, Russia’s second biggest and Putin’s hometown. Russia’s health minister on Tuesday said the death toll had risen from 11 to 14 and said 49 people are still hospitalized. Authorities did not say whether the suicide attacker was included among the14. The City Hall said there were several foreign nationals among those killed and injured, but would not offer details. The foreign ministry of the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan said one of its citizens was killed in the attack.
Prominent social worker dies
D I M A PUR, APR 4 (NPN): Imnaonen Jamir, a prominent senior citizen and social worker, Lt. Imnaonen passed away on Tuesday. He was 93. Funeral service of late Imnaonen Jamir of Akhoya village would be held at DABA Multipurpose Hall, DABA main Church, Duncan Bosti Dimapur on April 5 at 9am, family sources said. Born on September 12, 1923, late Imnaonen served as the general secretary of Naga National Council (NNC) from 19501956. Before joining the Naga movement, he served as headmaster of Suruhuto Middle English School (1945-46) and later served as office assistant National High School, Mokokchung (1948-49). He also served as the convenor sessional president and started the Akhoya Senso Mongdang. Late Imnaonen Jamir was also the founding member of Fazal Ali College, Mokokchung, English KG School Mokokchung, Tuli College and Clark Theological College. In 1955, late Imnaonen started the Konyak Tribal Council and Phom Tribal Council and also served as chairman Ao Tribal Council from 1962-1965. NPCC condoles: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has expressed deep pain at the passing away of late Imnaonen Jamir. In a condolence message, NPCC president, K. Therie, said late Imnaonen was a prominent political leader, who joined the Congress party and remained
‘Gas attack’ kills 58 in Syria town
EC refutes Kejriwal’s EVMs allegations
Bhutia reinstated as AIFF advisor
international, Page 9
national, Page 5
sports, Page 12
CM for removal of ‘backward’ tag
MON/DIMAPUR, APR 4 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu on Tuesday called upon the Konyak community to do away with the “backward” tag and move forward with the rest of the tribes. Addressing the Aoleang Monyu festival of the Konyak tribe, as the chief guest in Mon, CMO media cell said Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu maintained that Nagas should live as one family and that there should not be backward or forward tribe. Labelling with the ‘backward’ tag would only affect the psychological feelings of dependency among the people, he added. He therefore called upon the younger generation to work in a way that the “backwardness” tag is removed and let the Naga people move forward as one family. Referring to the ULB poll issue, Dr. Liezietsu lauded the Konyak people for their cooperation with the Government, even though the election was declared null and void. He urged those who had par-
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Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu clad in Konyak traditional attire.
ticipated to have patience since the government was seriously working out ways on how best it can be compensated and the future course of action. Further, Dr. Liezietsu also announced the state government had declared the Mon-Namtola road as a national highway, for which he said the works would be carried out during the current financial year-to connect several others
roads with the hational highway. However, the chief minister rued that despite the government spending huge amounts of money, the workmanship could never be up to the mark. Therefore, he called upon that the public leaders to supervise the contractors for better quality development and to see that the money is used judiciously. Speaking on the Aoleang festival, the chief minister said such festival was a time to invoke God’s blessing for health of the people and for the crops. Stressing on the need to preserve one’s culture, Dr. Lieziestu said though the world was changing fast, the Konyak’s should keep the institution of Angh pure and preserve its sanity and order, as this was their identity. He also said “with the advent of Christianity for sometime Nagas could not give due importance to the development of our culture, but now we have started to recapture our culture which is a very encouraging. And every Naga is incomplete without their festival, their
culture and traditions.” Earlier, inaugurating the Konyak Union office building, the chief minister said Konyak Nagas, being one the biggest tribes among Naga tribes, should work for the unity of the Nagas. He said that Nagas have been scattered to other parts of the country as well as to other country (Myanmar) by the British for their own administrative conveniences. However, he said we need to integrate all the Nagas living outside the state through democratically means and that we need to maintain good relationship with our neighbours. NEC Energy Pvt Ltd. director, Sapu Battacharya graced the festival as special guest. The programme was chaired by L Tongang Konyak, while the invocation prayer was pronounced by Rev. Honlong Yanlem principal MTC and introductory note delivered by S Manlip Konyak. Highlights of the event include cultural extravaganza by various troupes from different villages.The Aoleang Monyu festival was organised by Konyak Union.
Fire at Kohima Science College
Remnants of the Kohima Science College laboratory. (NP) Correspondent
KOHIMA, APR 4 (NPN): A fire broke out at the 56year old, Kohima Science College Kohima on wee hours on Tuesday, where two laboratory rooms – Chemistry and Physics were reduced to ashes. Principal of the college Dr. I. Anungla Aier told Nagaland Post that the fire broke out around 12.30 am. The inferno was contained after 3 a.m, she said. The exact cause of the fire could not be ascertained, however, it was suspected that worn-out electricity
wires was behind the fire, which is now more than half a century. No casualty was reported. Though police were yet to make detail assessment report, it was estimated that around Rs. one crore was destroyed in the fire. Aier said some rooms were damaged as they have to break the doors and windows in the process of trying to save the instruments. According to staffers, timely intervention by four fire engines saved the whole college building from being burnt. Major lab for M.Sc, B.Sc honours and chemistry
research lab were reduced to ashes as the old building structure brunt like a paper. The principal also said that the building has become old and wiring was not done for more than half a century. She also said that the unfortunate incident took place when National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC) team was to visit the college next week, and the staff and students were making preparation for the visit. Aier also said that since it was raining during that hour, there was also possibility that the fire broke (Cont’d on p-8)
Extreme weather to continue: NSDMA Assam gets Rs 40K cr Manipur alleges encroachment by Myanmar army DIMAPUR, APR 4 (NPN): Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Home Department, has advised the public to be alert as the extreme weather, storm and incessant rain would continue for a week. In a press release, the commissioner and secretary, Khrienuo Metha, said the NSDMA- Home Department through its Emergency Operation Unit collated weather data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data and the local weather data from the Soil & Conservation Department. Metha said NSDMA has analyzed the recent weather event across Nagaland and the northeast region. She said the comparative weather data from the year 2010-2016 for the month of March-May has recorded a similar pattern of weather events (Source: Soil & Conservation Dept.). Further, the commissioner and secretary said the recent weather event through the Satellite Imaginary Analysis of IMD and ISRO indicated the formation of heavy cloud across the NE region due to which it has triggered storm and heavy rainfall across Nagaland.
The evidence of the extreme weather, which has affected the state in past few days, had been reported from various District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), Metha said. According to the NSDMA release, the Zunheboto DDMA has reported landslide in Zunheboto town and Pughoboto town due to heavy and incessant rain. The landslide has affected houses and damaged properties. Similarly, NSDMA said Dimapur DDMA has also reported that properties were destroyed and some houses roofs were blown away by the storm in Chumukedima on April 3, 2017. It said the situational report was being collated by NSDMA- Home Department in coordination with various DDMAs. NSDMA said detailed damage assessment report was being coordinated in the DDMAs to be submitted to the government. Meanwhile, the commissioner and secretary said that the cooperative analysis made on the weather event by NSDMA indicated the need for an integrated approach to adaptation of climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at all level.
expressway project
GUWAHATI, APR 4 (PTI): The first express highway project in the northeast region will be developed along the Brahmaputra river in Assam at an estimated investment of Rs 40,000 crore, Union Road Minister Nitin Gadkari said today. “Northeast is our priority. We are going to develop the first express highway of North East in Assam along the banks of Brahmaputra. This 1,300 km-long express highway is likely to incur an investment of Rs 40,000 crore,” Gadakari said. Making the announcement at the closing ceremony of the Namami Brahmaputra festival here, the minister requested the Assam Chief Minister to carry out land acquisition work for the modern road. “The land acquisition has to be done by the state. The sand the soil coming from the dredging of Brahmaputra will be utilised for construction of the road,” Gadkari said. He said that the express highway will be axis-controlled and vehicles will be able to ply at very high speed. The Centre will dredge the Brahmaputra river from Sadia in Upper Assam to increase navigational channels up to Chittagong port in Bangladesh.
Correspondent
IMPHAL, Apr 4: Manipur government has apprised the Centre of recent encroachment into Indian territory (Holenphai village of Tengnoupal district) by Myanmar army. Myanmar army intruded into Holenphai village on March 4 last and vandalized a saw mill. Manipur based NGOs who conducted spot visits at the border village after the recent incidents alleged that the Myan-
mar Army was continuing its activities on the Indian side. Considering the growing tension, Manipur home department, on April 3, wrote to Ministry of External Affairs to intervene and take necessary steps to stop cross border activities. In the letter, which was also forwarded to the Home ministry, Manipur government alleged that Myanmar army had encroached upon the Indian Territory near BP 76 at Holenphai village in Tengnoupal district.
Liquor ban on highways: States divided on political lines
NEW DELHI, APR 4 (AGENCIES): The states which have or have not sought a relook at the Supreme Court’s verdict banning liquor vends within 500 metres of national and state highways, seem to be divided on political lines, even (Cont’d on p-8) as the Centre has “unequivocally” supported the order. The apex court order passed last week also recorded that eight states, which are ruled by parties other than the BJP, had rushed to it for modification of the December 15, 2016 verdict. The states which had approached the apex court for modification of its verdict were Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Sikkim, Telangana, Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh. Besides, the union territory of Puducherry has also sought changes in the “Look Mom, as a nature judgement. lover I respect its lawLater, Andhra Pradesh don’t fight it.” withdrew its application
This is it!
DIMAPUR, wednesday, april 5, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00
saying the state government has accepted the last year’s judgement. Eighteen states have preferred not to file any application against the verdict. While the Centre through senior advocates Ajit Kumar Sinha and A K Panda had “unequivocally asserted that the union government stands by the judgment rendered by this court on December 15, 2016”, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Tamil Nadu government, had assailed the directives for doing away with vends along 500 metre radius of national and state highways. “The judgment rendered by this court has transgressed the limitations on the constitutional power conferred by Article 142,” Rohatgi had said. Various contentions for modification of the order raised by the Attorney General were not agreed to
by a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar which said that “the error, in the submission of the Attorney General, lies in comparing national and state highways”. “Moreover, it is urged that even if the prohibition were to apply to both national and state highways, an exemption ought to be provided for the location of liquor shops in municipal areas through which the state highways traverse. “Alternately, it was urged that a smaller prohibition in terms of distance would be appropriate in relation to state highways. The Attorney General has confined his submission to the state highways only,” the bench noted. While expressing disagreement with the state governments’ contentions, the bench said, “The state excise rules contain enabling provisions. They pro-
vide for a discretion for the grant of liquor licences. No individual has a vested right to obtain a licence”. “There is no fundamental right to carry on business in liquor since as a matter of constitutional doctrine, Article 19(1)(g) does not extend to trade in liquor....,” the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and L N Rao, said. The apex court on March 31 had partially modified its December 15, 2016 verdict by exempting hill states of Sikkim, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh and areas having a population of up to 20,000. During the arguments before the apex court, the Madhya Pradesh government had filed an affidavit saying the verdict “has been accepted by the state government, following a resolution by the council of ministers on January 16, 2017”. K Y M C