April 7, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 121

DIMAPUR, TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

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‘Long fight’ ahead to defeat COVID-19: PM

NEW DELHI, APR 6 (PTI): India’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic will be a long one, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday while exhorting people to not feel tired or defeated and expressing confidence the country will emerge victorious in its fight.

Narendra Modi Addressing BJP workers on the party’s 40th foundation day, Modi also responded to the Opposition’s criticism about his government’s measures against COVID-19, asserting that India’s efforts have set an example for the world and drawn praise from the World Health Organisation and leaders abroad.

“This is going to be a long fight. We don’t have to tire or feel defeated. We have to win in this long battle. We have to emerge victorious. Today, the nation’s goal, mission and resolve are one, and this is to be victorious in this battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” the prime minister said.

India is among the countries which understood the seriousness of COVID-19 and launched a comprehensive and timely exercise to combat it, he said, adding that the country took one decision after another and worked to implement them on the ground.

Modi, who stressed on the need for wearing “face covers” outside the house, listed measures like the thermal screening of international passengers, evacuation of Indian nationals abroad and barring flights from certain countries and ramping up of medical infrastructure taken by his government.

The government, he said, took “proactive” decisions with help from experts and executed them in cooperation with states. “The speedy and holistic manner with which India acted has drawn praise not from within the country but also from the WHO,” the prime minister said and added that India played a “key role” in the holding of SAARC and G-20 meetings.

DPRO clarifies confusion over parallel orders DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Draw attention on the confusion on two prohibitory orders issued by the offices of Deputy Commissioner Dimapur and Commissioner of Police Dimapur, the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) Dimapur has issued clarification to the effect as this could have arisen due to the functioning of Commissionerate system.

DPRO said powers to promulgate prohibitory order under Sec. 144 Cr.PC rested with CP. On the other hand, under Disaster Act, orders pertaining to opening/ closure of all shops dealing with essential commodities rested with DC since presently it was not a law and order situation. Had it been a law and order issue then, the CP is empowered to impose Sec. 144 CrPC, it said. In other districts, where there is no commissionerate, one order is issued by DC as the legislative power of Sec. 144 Cr.Pc also rests with the DC. DPRO said confirmation of the two orders was obtained from both DC and CP, so that public did not view the two orders as authority class/miscommunication between the two offices and also not to be confused as orders were issued in accordance with the law.

DC, CP Dimapur appeal public President, PM, MPs to take pay cut to stay at home

The Union cabinet on Monday decided to cut 30 per cent salary of all MPs for one year, and divert MPLAD funds for two years --nearly Rs 7,900 crores--to fund the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcing the cabinet decision, Union minister Prakash Javadekar also said the President, the Vice President, governors of states have also voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility.

The cabinet gave its nod to an ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30 per cent from April 1 2020 for a year, he told reporters, adding this will include the prime minister and the Union ministers. “Charity begins at home,” he said.

While the salary of all parliamentarians, including ministers, is more or less same at around Rs one lakh per month, there is a difference in allowances between ministers and common MPs. However, allowances have not seen any

cut. A decision of more financial import and likely much political heartburn, is the temporary suspension of the MPLAD (Member of Parliament local Area Development) fund scheme during financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22..

While there are 543 MPs in Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha has 245 members --788 in all. Each MP gets Rs 5 crore p e r a n nu m as MPLAD and for two years it would be nearly Rs 7880 crores while by salary cut the government will save about Rs 29 crores a year.

The money will be put in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) and used for “managing health and adverse impact of outbreak of COVID19” in the country, Javadekar said.

All the revenue received by the government by way of taxes like income tax, central excise, customs and other receipts flowing to the government are credited into the CFI. All government expenditure is incurred from this fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the CFI without authorization from Parliament.

About `7900 crore MPLAD money to fund fight against COVID-19

Screening Status as on Apr 6, 2020: Sl No.

District

Screened

1.

Kohima

249

2.

Dimapur

594

3.

Mokokchung

110

4.

Longleng

0

5.

Peren

0

6.

Phek

7

7.

Mon

58

8.

Tuensang

19

9.

Zunheboto

199

10.

Wokha

24

11.

Kiphire Total

0 1260

DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): The state government informed that 60 samples had been sent for testing till 5 pm on Monday, of which results of 47 samples had been received and all were negative. The results of 13 samples were awaited.

The number of isolation beds, including beds in the designated COVID-19 hospitals, had been increased to 489, while the total num-

No of people quarantined Home QuarSl Quar- antine No. District antine facility 1. Kohima 227 3 2. Dimapur 1077 26 3. Mokokc100 0 hung 4. Longleng 8 0 5. Peren 48 0 6. Phek 15 0 7. Mon 59 4 8. Tuensang 32 0 Z u n h e 9. boto 48 0 10. Wokha 40 4 11. Kiphire 168 0 Total 1822 37

ber of personal protective equipments (PPEs) across the State now stands at over 23,000. The government has also acquired altogether 44,051 N95 masks, which are being distributed in the districts. With more consignments likely to reach the State in the coming weeks, the number of medical equipment and accessories will see a further increase.

Further, the H&FW depart-

Frantic buying in Dimapur as total lockdown partially relaxed Staff Reporters

DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Dimapur city once again, witnessed several hundred frantic residents rushing to markets to buy essential items after the Dimapur district administration partially relaxed the total lockdown enforced from April 1 -5 throughout the district.

The district administration and police commissioner had announced total lockdown on March 31 from April 1-3 and which was later extended to April 5 midnight. Prohibitory order under Sec.144 of CrPC was relaxed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to enable public to buy essentials items in their respective colonies and villages.

Since markets and departmental stores remained completely shut for the past five days, people were seen rushing out to get essential items and, with demands outstripping stock, many food items ran out of stock.

ATM booths were also the scene of frenzied crowds gathering to withdraw cash while traffic congestion was witnessed at various junctions in the town. One youth who had queued outside an

People lined up outside a grocery store in Dimapur, Monday. (NP)

ATM booth told Nagaland Post, that the total lockdown for the past five days had left his family run out of cash.

The youth said he has to queue up observing social distancing to withdraw cash for buying vegetables. “I am worried if the ATMs run out of cash,” remarked another old lady, who complained about having to stand for a long period.

When several of those in queue were asked why they were not utilizing home delivery services, they replied that though the administration had encouraged using home delivery services, the cost of food items had become more expensive.

“These deliveries are not for people like us who don’t have the luxury to

sit at home and pay that much as we are trying to live economically after the lockdown. We don’t know when another complete lockdown will be announced,” explained an old man.

Most of the grocery shops were overcrowded with frantic public rushing to stock up on essentials. While some shops were maintaining social distancing norms, others shops with no spaces were totally packed. “We are living in uncertainty because we are never sure which shops would be opened and what essential items would be available. So, we are left with no option but to stock up everything we find,” said a shopper speaking on condition of anonym(Cont’d on p-5) ity.

Quarantine facilities in the state No. of No. of Sl No. District facilities Beds

NEW DELHI, APR 6 (PTI): The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 111 and the 1. Kohima 3 130 number of infections climbed to 4,281 in the country 2. Dimapur 8 222 on Monday registering a record jump of 704 cases in 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data.

3. Mokokc2 97 hung The active COVID-19 cases stood at 3,851, while 4. Mon 3 80 318 people were either cured or discharged and one 5. Phek 6 61 had migrated, the ministry stated.

6. Wokha 2 60 According to the data updated at 6pm, 28 7. Kiphire 5 31 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours-- 21 from 8. Peren 1 50 Maharashtra, two each from Andhra Pradesh and 9. Longleng 1 50 Tamil Nadu, and one each from Punjab, Gujarat Zunheand Uttar Pradesh. According to the ministry, Ma10. boto 9 33 harashtra has reported the most coronavirus deaths 11. Tuensang 3 450 at 45, followed by Gujarat-12, Madhya Pradesh-9, Total 43 1264 Telangana-7, Delhi-7, Punjab-6 and Tamil Nadu-5.

However, a PTI tally based on figures reported by ment has till now acquired states directly showed at least 137 deaths across the 70 ventilators for taking care country, while the confirmed cases reached 4,678. of COVID-19 patients and Of them, 344 have been cured and discharged. the target is to increase this number to over 300.

Also, a total of 5,040 persons have signed up for In a late night report, a 44-year-old woman ncovid-19 Nagaland app who has a foreign travel history tested positive for till now. In this regard, the coronavirus in Agartala Monday, making it the government once again ap- first case in Tripura, officials said. pealed to all those who had The woman, who is from Udaipur town in entered the State after March Gomati district, is currently undergoing treatment 6 to self-register in the app at the Agartala Government Medical College and with their full details.

GB Pant Hospital, they said.

First COVID-19 case in Tripura

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 6 (NPN): Around 60 former health workers have responded to the health & family welfare (H&FW) department’s appeal for assistance during the current crisis following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Nagaland Medical Council (NMC) vice-president Dr Sashi said it was found during a review meeting three days back that around 60 health workers comprising of retired doctors, nurses and paramedics had responded to the H&FW department’s appeal to assist it in combating COVID-19.

He said the department was trying its best to prevent spreading of the pandemic into the State and making all arrangements and complimented it for putting in best efforts.

He however pointed out that though the department was giving its best, yet there were

so many things that were still required to be done. He stressed that while arrangements were being made for prospective COVID-19 patients, the department should also find alternative for normal patients as they could not be simply ignored.

The NMC vice-president suggested that if anyone tested positive for coronavirus, quarantine centre should be arranged for those doctors, nurses and health workers who would be working on rotation basis.

He lauded the department for reaching out at the grassroots level and exuded confidence that more improvement would be seen in the next few weeks.

Consultant, psychiatrist and Kohima Educational Society chairman Dr P Ngullie, who also volunteered to assist the department, said being a part of the medical profession, it made doctors feel equally concerned in such times.

(Cont’d on p-5)

COVID-19: CM reviews preparedness level Ensure smooth supply of medical oxygen: Govt

Neiphiu Rio being briefed by officials at the control centre. (DIPR)

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international, Page 6

COVID-19: 47 samples test -ve; 13 awaited COVID-19 death toll rises COVID-19: Retd health workers to 111; no of cases 4281 volunteer to assist H&FW deptt

This is it!

“After lockdown, all we can record only are cops on duty and empty streets.”

DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): The deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur Anoop Kinchi and commissioner of police (CP) Dimapur Rothihu Tetseo have appealed to the public to stay at home.

DC urged the citizens not to come out to the street unnecessarily as the nation lockdown was still in force.

DC advised the public to avail the essential commodities from the colony markets during the specified timing (9am to 2pm).

Anoop also appealed to the public to maintain strict social distancing.

Reminding that Section 144 CrPC was still in force in the main town and Highway stretch except those under exemption list, the CP urged the public not to come out in the main road/ national highway.

CP also requested the vehicle permit holders not to misuse the passes issued, saying relaxation was given by the authority only for official purpose. Other vehicles moving out in the main town without permits would be seized, he cautioned.

US braces for ‘9/11, Pearl Harbor moments’: Top doc

DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio visited COVID19 control room at the directorate of health & family welfare (H&FW) here on Monday to assess the preparedness of the department and motivated officers and staff in their efforts in the management and containment of COVID-19. He also visited the State Level Control Room for COVID -19 functioning at State Emergency Operation Cen-

tre here and reviewed the overall management and operation.

On the other hand, H&FW principal director Dr Vizolie Z Suokhrie visited Jalukie community health centre (CHC) and COVID19 Hospital, Dimapur during the day and interacted with medical personnel, administration officials, community leaders and other stakeholders in both the districts.

With regard to the religious gathering at Nizamud-

din, New, the government said continued efforts were being made to identify anyone who might have attended it and not yet reported to authorities.

It therefore once again appealed to those who might be in Nagaland presently and had attended the religious gathering, but not yet contacted authorities, to contact the State Level Control Room on COVID-19 on the numbers 0370-2291120 and 2291122.

Mentioning that the government was seized of the very unfortunate matter concerning a doctor on duty in Dimapur with the police personnel three days back, the update claimed that probe was going on and assured of a suitable and just action in the entire matter.

The government also appealed to the entire medical fraternity of the State

to consider the incident as a rare aberration, not to let their morale down and continue their service with the same zeal and motivation in their fight against COVID-19.

CM lauds media

NEW DELHI, APR 6 (PTI): The Union government on Monday asked the states and union territories to ensure adequate supply of medical oxygen as it is a critical need in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and UTs, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said special attention should be given to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities and medical oxygen during the lock-

down. “There is a critical need to maintain adequate supply of medical oxygen in the country in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and as medical oxygen is also included in the national list and WHO’s list of essential medicines,” he said.

Bhalla also reiterated the exemptions made under the guidelines on lockdown measures. All manufacturing units of medical oxygen gas/liquid, medical oxygen cylinders, cryogenic tanks

for storing liquid oxygen, liquid cryogenic cylinders, liquid oxygen cryogenic transport tanks, ambient vaporisers and cryogenic valves, cylinder valves and accessories are exempted, he said.

The home secretary asked the state and UT officials to take action for the transportation of these items, travel of workers of such units from their homes to factories, so that such units run at full capacity.

State chief minister Neiphiu Rio Monday expressed appreciation to the members of fourth estate for exemplary service in the fight against the pandemic.

Taking to twitter, the chief minister said media was facing immense challenges to report news and voice people’s problems and positively highlight shortcomings.

In a tweet, Rio requested all to appreciate media’s role and extend cooperation wherever required. The chief minister said that media was “crucial and important part- Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules drops third consignment of medical supplies for ners in common our fight.” Nagaland on Monday night, at Dimapur airport.

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Donations for needy continue to pour in amidst lockdown

Jacob Zhimomi along with officials from the three sub- Staff of District Jail, Wokha seen wearing masks District administration handing over ration to stranded An aged woman being assisted to put on a mask by a divisions under Dimapur district. donated by H. Haiying on April 6. (NP) students through DNSU on April 6. (DIPR) district administration official. (DIPR)

DC Zunheboto Peter Lichamo with Kitheka I Khujumi ANPSA members along with district administration 173 CRPF Battalion distributing essential food packets NPP Nagaland state members with Eastern Naga officials at DC office Dimapur. with his donation amount. to the needy. students and district administrative officials.

Anganwadi workers distributing essential foodstuff to Village resident overseeing to the distribution of Members of HS and HYC at the DLC de-addiction centre LCD members at Nishato Colony during distribution of a beneficiary in Chessore. essential commodities to the daily wage labourers.

Tenyiphe 1 with essential supplies. essential commodities.

Home Guards personnel along with the donated items Assam Rifles personnel along with a widow beneficiary for protection. during distribution of basic essentials.

DIMAPUR: Various organisations and agencies continue to undertake donation drives to help the underprivileged and needy with food and other essential commodities during the lockdown.

Jacob donates to three sub-divisions: In continuation to the much needed assistance provided to various sub-divisions under Dimapur district, Nagaland’s PHED minister Jacob Zhimomi has donated masks and sanitizers to three subdivisions, namely SDO(C) Kuhuboto, SDO (C) Dhansiripar and EAC Chumukedima on April 6.

H. Haiying donates protective items to District Jail Wokha: Advisor of Prisons, Printing and Stationary, H. Haiying donated facemasks and hand sanitizers for staff and inmates of District Jail, Wokha during his visit on April 6. In this regard, B. Yanrenthung Kikon, deputy superintendent of jail, District Jail, Wokha has expressed appreciation and gratefulness to the advisor on behalf of all concerned. (Correspondent)

Dimapur district administration helps the stranded and needy: In view of the lockdown necessitated by outbreak of COVID19 pandemic, the Dimapur district administration in collaboration with various NGOs has been distributing free food packets and providing home delivery of essential commodities to stranded students, destitute people, etc throughout the district. According to DIPR report, DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi stated that 221 people in DDSC relief camp, 44 stranded passengers in Youth Hostel and 82 people in State Sports Hostel are being provided regular meals through the community kitchen initiative and 700-800 people are provided food packets and rations of essential commodities on a daily basis through the community kitchen and food bank initiatives. It was also mentioned that on April 6, as part of the community kitchen programme Nagaland People’s Party (NPP) and all Nagaland Private School Association (ANPSA) donated rations of essential

commodities to students of Dimapur Eastern Naga Students Union (DENSU) stranded in Dimapur and 135 students residing in Nagaland University (NU) Hostels in Medziphema.

Further around 100 students in Dimapur town were given relief of essential commodities and distributed through the Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU). DC therefore, appealed all persons interested in contributing to the community kitchen and food bank programmes under DC office, Dimapur to do so by contacting the DC control room at 03862-24850/6009924366 (whatsapp), EAC (development) i/c community kitchen at 9999614871, EAC (Niuland) i/c food bank at 9366993773.

Longleng district conduct distribution drives for needy and wage earners: District administration and civil societies has been conducting distribution drives of essential commodities in Longleng town for the needy and daily wage earners since three days and would be completed within few days.

According to DIPR report, in Tamlu sub-division, the district administration and sub-divisional task force on COVID-19, Tamlu division distributed essential commodities to 23 migrant labourers and 78 local wage earners.

Sakhi One Stop Center and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) in collaboration with district administration also visited old aged people and widowed household on Sunday and distributed free ration, masks and sanitary pads for the young female in the targeted households.

Meanwhile, Housing department, Longleng started construction of temporary toilets for possible Coronavirus patients at the quarantine makeshift located at Lempong School, Longleng.

Boy donates towards COVID-19: Among the numerous donations received by the deputy commissioner, Zunheboto, Peter Lichamo, the most heart warming and generous contribution was made by a seven-year old, Kitheka I Khujumi. A student of class 2 from Little Spring School had donated

Flouting of lockdown order in Kohima

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 6 (NPN): Public movement is still noticeable in Kohima town even after the window period for shopping, which is between 8 a.m to 12 noon is over. Angami Students Union (ASU), Angami Youth Organisation(AYO) and Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) had been extending voluntary help to the police personnel at Razou Point on Monday.

Speaking to our correspondent, one of the volunteer stated that it was very difficult to function in this situation as the public were not cooperative, adding that many public were K Y M C

Kohima town on April 6 after window period for shopping. (NP)

full of excuses. The volunteer recounted how during the window period, public would say they are out for shopping and needed their vehicle to carry the essentials. When the window period was over, they would

give excuse of going to the hospital, added the volunteer.

Expressing on how hard it was to do their job, the volunteer wished that people would understand that restricted movement

was for the welfare of the public. He hoped that the new regulation given by Kohima DC on Monday will help the public to follow the rules more strictly.

Meanwhile an administrator who was recently posted in Mokokchung from Kohima had praised the people there for their cooperation especially with ward task force enforcing lockdown in their respective areas. He also stated that traffic was almost zero except those with permits.

Though the people were still catching up with social distancing, he said that the people were quite cooperative there, compared to few other districts.

his pocket money towards the fight against Novel Coronavirus in the district. Son of Inato Khujumi from Asukhomi village, Kitheka had been saving to buy a bicyle this year but instead decided to donate for a noble cause.

The district task force for COVID-19 Zunheboto wishes him and hope he inspires others by his good deeds.

ANPSA Dimapur distributes food items to stranded students: All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) Dimapur led by its president, Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema, undertook distribution of food items for the students of SASRD, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus and the inmates of Noah’s Ark Children’s Home on April 6. A press release from ANPSA Dimapur unit stated that, the food items were handed over to the ADC, Medziphema, in presence of the district administration officials and ANPSA Dimapur members at the deputy commissioner’s office. The humanitarian programme was initiated as a sense of humanity and concern towards the fellow citizens during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis especially for students who are staying in hostels and are hard hit and suffering during the lockdown due to lack of essential food items.

173 CRPF Bn provides assistance to the needy: 173 CRPF Battalion, Airfield Dimapur under civic action programme “helping hands” in collaboration with Dimapur district administration provided assistance to the poor and needy with food packets for 800 persons daily, distributing sanitizers, mask, soaps, medicines and water through water tanker in Dimapur city, Chümoukedima and Mokokchung. A press release from 173 CRPF Battalion stated that, the unit also assisted Dimapur administration by providing vehicles for transportation of essential food grains to various designated places in the district. The unit commandant Vishnu Gautam further assured that this assistance would be carried out daily till the situation improves.

NU donates to PMNRF & CM relief fund: Teaching faculty and administrative staff of Nagaland University (NU) under the leadership of its vice-chancellor donated Rs.10, 99,137 to Prime Minister’s Nation-

al Relief Fund and Rs.10, 99,137 to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (Nagaland). A press release from NU PRO Peter Ki stated that the donation was a gesture of solidarity when both the central and state governments are on war-footing to fight and contain the pandemic.

NPP Nagaland distributes food items to Eastern Naga students: NPP Nagaland state, led by its president, Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema along with the state executive members, and youth wing members undertook a charitable food distribution programme for around 600 Eastern Naga students who have been stranded in and around Dimapur during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown on April 6. A press release from NPP Nagaland information and publicity cell stated that, the food items were handed over to the president of Dimapur Eastern Naga Students’ Union, Bendang, in presence of the district administration officials at the deputy commissioner’s office. The charity programme was undertaken to forbear a social sense of humanity and love towards fellow human beings during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in true Christian spirit for those people who are hard hit and suffering during the lockdown due to lack of essential food items.

AWW delivers foodstuff at the doorsteps: Anganwadi workers (AWW) under Chessore ICDS project, Tuensang district has also been distributing THR foodstuffs at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries during nationwide lockdown.

Lengrijan village residents distribute essential commodities: Lengrijan village sector 2, lane 5 distributed rice and essential commodities to daily wage labourers residing in the locality, who are affected by the lockdown. A press release from Lengrijan village sector 2 stated that, this initiative was funded by free will donations made by the residents.

HS & HYC reaches out to DLC de-addiction centre: Hindu Society (HS) & Hindu Yuva of Chümoukedima (HYC) reached out to Dimapur Life Challenge (DLC) de-addiction centre (Tenyiphe 1) with rice and essential food stuffs. A press release from HS senior member Rajesh Deb stated that, besides, the joint initiative have identified regardless of caste & religion and distributed ration packages (65 nos) to several families especially the poor widows & daily wage earners. The release stated that this will continue till lockdown and is purely a humanitarian gesture. It also appealed public willing to donate to extend whatever

possible to this platform.

LCD distributes rations to Nishato Colony: Lions Club of Dimapur (LCD) under president Narottam Jha distributed dry rations to Nishato Colony on consecutive second day April 6. A press release from LCD president stated that, 318 families approximately 1600 persons were served on day two.

GBs and youths of Nishato Colony helped during the distributions, by directing public to maintain social distancing. LCD distributed rice, dal, potatoes and salt.

LCD further reached out to rickshaw and thela pullers at Burma Camp, who had no ration. They were also given the essential food items.

Home Guards receive donation of protective items: Home Guards Dimapur received a donation of protective items, including gloves, mask and hand sanitizers from Dr. Roland Lotha on April 6.

Assam Rifles Kohima reaches out to widows and veer naris: Assam Rifles unit deployed in Kohima reached out to widows and veer naris, by distributing basic essentials in order to mitigate their hardship amidst the lockdown. The beneficiaries while being assisted with the basic rations and sanitation items were also advised to abide by the advisories issued by the state government on COVID-19.

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

State

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Visits, meetings, appeals and directives continue in the state

Metsubo Jamir and Dr Longri along with Tuli ADC, SDPO and others at Watiyongpang S. Pangnyu Phom (Right) along with Toshi Wangtung and medical officials during check post border Assam. (NP) the visit.

H. Haiying along with DC, CMO and ADS after Principal director H&FW, Dr. Vizolie Soukhrie speaking Fire personnel disinfecting vehicles entering Nagaland consultative meeting held on April 6. (DIPR) at the meeting on April 6 at Jalukie. (DIPR) state at Khatkhati and Dillai gates, Dimapur on April 5.

DIMAPUR: Legislators, district administration and health officials have been visiting various check gates, hospitals and centres in the state towards preparedness to combat possible outbreak of COVID-19. In addition, there are various measures like disinfecting vehicles entering Nagaland being undertaken along with appeals for public to follow government directives.

Legislators visits Watiyongpang check gate: Minister of Rural Development Metsubo Jamir and advisor National Highways & Treasuries and Accounts Dr Longri, who are also in-charge of Mokokchung district on COVID-19 visited Tuli sub-division and Watiyongpang check gate (Assam-Nagaland border) to see the preparedness on COVID-19 on Monday. At the check gate, the visiting team handed over protective gears including, hand sanitizers, hand gloves and masks to the police and the medical team manning the check gate. The visiting team while at the check gate took stock of the situation and also had discussions with all the concerned, while the various personnel manning the check post also aired their grievances to the team. Team later visited the Tuli CHC where the various protective equipments were also handed over. The visiting team also held a meeting with the Tuli administration and police to take stock on the preparedness of the sub-division on COVID-19. Later the team also visited Impur Hospital and handed over protective gears to fight COVID-19. Taking the advantage of their visit to Impur, the team had a sitting with the ABAM where various preparedness and awareness aspects were discussed. (Correspondent) Legislators visit DoH&FW: Minister of Health & Family Welfare, S. Pangnyu Phom along with advisor IPR, SCERT and Village Guard, Toshi Wangtung visited directorate of Health & Family Welfare for monitoring and supervision on the preparedness of COVID-19. A press release from DoH&FW state IEC bureau stated that, a brief discussion was held with the officials of directorate, wherein Pangnyu encouraged all the staff to work meticulously. While stating that it was the time where medical department has to play a major role in this time of pandemic, he encouraged everyone to be proactive.

H. Haiying holds consultative meeting on COVID19: Advisor of Prison & Printing and Stationery, H. Haying held a consultative meeting with DC Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant, CMO and ADS on April 6 at DC nagalandpost.com Poll (Supply) bungalow Tuensang. AcQ . : Will domestic and cording to DIPR report, the international travel meeting discussed on the by plane after end of ongoing works on preparedlockdown spur COVID ness and preventive efforts 19 infection? of the task force fighting 100% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– against COVID-19. Advisor 90% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– highlighted on his effort to 80% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– distribute masks and hand 70% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– sanitizers to the volunteers 60% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– and VGs guarding the entry 50% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– gate of each villages. He 40% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– also handed over masks 30% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– and litres of hand sanitizers 20% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– to the CMO and District 10% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Hospital.

0% Principal director of A B C H&FW visits CHC Jalukie: 88% A Yes. To assess preparedness and 0% containment of COVID-19, B No. the principal director of 12% C Can’t Say. Health & Family Welfare, Vizolie Soukhrie along Next poll Dr. with other senior officials Q: Are traditional medical treatment effective for visited CHC Jalukie under Peren district on April 6, COVID 19?

CYE of CTBC Changtongya setting up the quarantine People queuing up at the SBI main branch ATM quarter at GHS Changtongya B. maintaining social distance.

and held a meeting with the district administration, Police and CMO staff at CHC Jalukie, conference hall. According to DIPR report, brief presentation on the district preparedness status on COVID-19 report was presented

by DIO Dr. Asangla while action plan for COVID-19 was presented by the DTO-cum-Dy. CMO Dr. Amenla.

Requirements of MO at Mbaulwa PHC and Dy. CMO at the district office was put up by CMO, Peren wherein the principal director assured that once recruitment was done, the requirements of the district will be met.

Principal director suggested keeping 16 to 18 beds in the COVID District Hospital and further made the following points: A comfortable quarantine place for health workers should be set up to quarantine the health workers and the IV grade staffs once they complete their duty period; To utilize PPEs judiciously. More consignments are on the way and will reach the district as soon as the department receives them; To provide triple layer mask to the health workers and IV grade workers; To continue training and mock drill of health staffs, IV grade workers and the police personnel; Makeshift OPD to be taken care properly and the public should not be deprived of treatment of emergency cases; All COVID cases should be treated in the identified COVID Hospital of the district and there will be no interstate transfer of COVID patients.

Ventilators will also be provided soon; An amount of 3 lakhs will be sent to Jalukie CHC by April 7 for setting up of COVID Hospital; More nurses will be deputed at CHC Jalukie from District Hospital Peren and the principal director instructed MS to depute NHM nurses and 4th grade workers from DH Peren by April 7 and more health staffs will be sent when COVID cases arises in the district; Training centres of ICU technique identified in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung. Principal director further requested the Medical department of Peren district to identify health staff and send to the mentioned centres to undergo the training.

Nagaland F&ES disinfects vehicles entering Nagaland: In coordination with DMC and other concerned departments, fire personnel from Fire Station Dimapur (Central) and Fire Station Dimapur (West) have started disinfecting the incoming vehicles against COVID-19 at Khatkhati gate and Dillai gate, Dimapur from April 3. A press release from F&ES deputy SP T. Shilu Jamir stated that this practice will continue.

CYE Changtongya sets up quarantine quarter for public: Christain Youth Endeavour (CYE) of Changtongya Town Baptist Church (CTBC) is helping in setting up quarantine place for public at GHS, Changtongya B. According to DIPR report, the administration and all the task force of COVID-19 in Changtongya are performing well enough for the general public in town. The power department is also doing its best in all the lightning necessary for the quarantine quarter and also trying to cover up the whole area.

Social distancing maintained in Zunheboto: The lockdown situation in Zunheboto is currently under control as people are functioning as per the rules implemented by the district administration. A press release from COVIDIndia media reporter, Bombo K. Yeptho stated that, social distancing is being strictly monitored and maintained all over the district, wherein people buying essential goods, in ATM booth and other places are maintaining a gap of 1 metre between them. Churches were informed to remain closed on Palm Sunday, while people conducted prayer and listened to recorded devotional message in their own homes. Police personnel, district administration, Medical teams and volunteers are highly active and maintaining proper duty. People in the villages are also highly prepared to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, where roads to villages are fully blocked and people not allowed to enter the villages. All kinds of social gatherings in all the villages are prevented, and the government has distributed all medical goods such as masks, soaps and hand sanitizers to the villagers. Only few are allowed to go out of village to buy essential commodities for the people in the village. All essential commodities in the district are currently available on stock and two trucks carrying essential commodities entered the district on Monday. The driver and the handyman were fully sanitized and provided with mask and gloves and proper details taken before they were allowed to enter the village. Not a single person can been seen roaming out after the lockdown started except for emergency services and people on exempted duty.

AKMWP requests citizens to follow directives: Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) has requested its citizens to strictly follow the directives of the government in maintaining social distance and the regulation of the lockdown. A press release from AKMWP president Neibulie Kiewhuo and general secretary, Thejao Sekhose stated that, while answering to the call of 21 days national lockdown for prevention of Coronavirus, another major problem arises in the form of hunger especially for those daily wagers, migrant labourers and above all, stranded students who came to Kohima for their education from far flung areas.

In this given situation, AKMWP lauded the Kohima district administration led by DC Thejawelie Gregory and Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) led by its administrator Kovi Meyase for working 24/7 monitoring in containing the spread of the virus and reaching out essential commodities to the affected person(s).

AKMWP also has the privilege to assist the government by supervising its associate wards under KMC jurisdiction in promotion of social distancing and distribution of essential commodities colony wise. Above all, the AKMWP is humbled to facilitate between the government and the affected student communities to avail the facilities.

AKMWP also stated that it is the responsibility of every individual citizen to contain the spread of the virus.

KMC to assist colonies with water supply: With the lockdown entering the second week in the state and restriction on movement of vehicular as well as human traffic, citizens of Kohima, like everywhere else in the country are beginning to encounter certain hardships due to this enforced regulation.

According to DIPR report, while the government is ensuring availability of essential commodities to all possible extent, the fact that the capital reels under water shortage even in normal times is now increasingly becoming a cause for greater concern.

Towards trying to mitigate this problem and till such period the lockdown continues, the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) shall, from April 7 extend assistance to all the colonies (recognized and unrecognized) within its jurisdiction and: Distribute syntex water tanks of 2000 ltrs capacity to each of the colonies; Supply 2000 ltrs of water free of cost to these colonies (as far as possible on a daily basis, if not on alternate days). The target group shall be the daily wage earners and the poorest of the poor. All wards to: Identify the water receiving points as per the number of such locations listed against their respective wards by the KMC office; Identify genuine beneficiaries; Appoint volunteers to supervise and monitor the distribution of water in a systematic manner so that chaotic scenes are avoided and strict social distancing is maintained at all cost. For any queries or clarifications, one may contact at 9436001089.

Dimapur Police issues traffic advisory: Additional deputy commissioner has informed all colony/village permit vehicles that wholesale market at GS road Dimapur will open from 3 a.m to 8 a.m. A press release from Police/PRO stated that, entry points for vehicular movement are Army Supply Junction and Dhobinallah Point and exit point from MP Road and railway siding towards Tragopan Point.

Further, PRO stated that movement would be strictly enforced, therefore, all have been requested to extend co-operation.

DC Kohima notifies: DC Kohima has issued the following directives for strict compliance of all concerned: Grocery shops; bakeries/vegetable vendors/ pharmacies/shops selling essential commodities are permitted to open only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays during the lockdown period; Only one member of each family shall be permitted to come out of their homes for procurement of essential commodities from the market; Only pharmacies are permitted to remain open on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays; Movement of all vehicles shall be totally restricted except those vehicles which have the explicit permission of this office; However, officials/staff/persons belonging to Medical/Police/ district administration/paramilitary/media/vehicles carrying essential commodities with prior permission/emergency medical cases and are exempted from the purview of this order.

DC Mon directs shopkeepers: Deputy commissioner, Mon Thavaseelan K has directed all shopkeepers within Mon district to issue cash memo to the customers for every purchase. Further, people are advised to ensure receipt of the cash memo. In case of any complaint in regard to price hike, selling above MRP etc it will be mandatory to produce the cash memo as evidence. All are requested to report price hike issues on the following number 8414951445. DC also issued the following regulations for purchase of essential commodities in Mon town with effect from April 6 till further orders. The maximum permissible quantity per day are: Rice 10 kg per family; Dal 1 kg per family; Potato 3 kg per family; Tomato 2 kg per family; Chilli 1 kg per family; Onion 2 kg per family; Oil 1 litre per family; Milk powder 1 kg per family; Sugar 1 kg per family; Tea leaves 1 kg per family. All the shopkeepers are ordered to strictly comply with the above mentioned regulations. Any person/group acting in violation of this order shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian penal Code.

DC Mokokchung issues order: Deputy commissioner (DC) Mokokchung has issued an order stating that the medical superintendent, IMDH Mokokchung has been permitted to procure materials needed for COVID-19 Hospital Mokokchung from any shop in Mokokchung as and when the need arises.

KBC Khezhakeno to distribute food items to the needy: Koza Boys Club (KBC), Khezhakeno will be distributing food items to the old aged persons, widows & needy people of Khezakeno village under Phek district on April 7, due to lockdown against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changtongya sub-division task force COVID-19 helpline 24x7: Administration SDO (C) Moakumzuk Tzudir 9612960148; Medical SMO Dr. Imti Jungshi 9366441556, MO Dr. Wapang 9612098012, MO Dr. Imti 9402988871; CHC, CTN 8974700446; Police O/C Sietuo Kiri 8730848906, 2nd O/C Imkong 8974208320; IPR APRO Meyisusu Jamir 8787467295.

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST April 7

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazy sun and unseasonably hot 40 22 Aizawl

Hazy sun

31 16

Guwahati Hazy sunshine and very warm 35 16 Imphal

Hazy sunshine

32 12

Itanagar A couple of morning showers 28 17 Shillong Hazy sunshine Kohima

A thunderstorm in spots

26 14 26 13

Dimapur Hazy sunshine

34 16

Hazy sunshine

28 12

Tuensang Hazy sunshine

19 9

Hazy sunshine

26 17

Zunheboto Hazy sun, a t-storm in spots

25 10

Mkg Wokha

Aoyimkum Village Dimapur (AVD) following proper social distancing as instructed by the village council maintains Lt Col/Supdt of Police, P. K Mishra distributing food stuff to the needy people at Kezieke Colony on April 6. (NP) the same during purchase of essential commodities from the council hall on April 6. (AVD)

4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXx NO. 121 Dimapur, TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

A

Virus and viral

document marked ‘SECRET’ containing registered mobile subscriber numbers and names of subscribers went viral on social media on March 31,2020. The mobile subscriber numbers were tracked by mobile towers for having travelled near or around what has been termed as ‘hot spot’Nizamuddin area- Delhi, from March 14 to March 21,2020. The document was prepared by BSNL/ MTNL for information to the north east states for the purpose of alerting them to locate and undertake procedures on COVID-19. It may be mentioned that the travellers from the north east had returned to their respective states and duly reported to the health authorities and also filled in the required forms and completed the stipulated 14-day quarantine period. The issue remains that despite no case of any COVID-19 infection, the persons whose names were highlighted in social media, suffered from stigma. Such confidential letters/documents which were supposed to be circulated only within official circles imply that someone had purposely ‘leaked’ on social media with an ulterior motive to defame by causing personal stigma. While social media is a growing global information phenomenon with an open and limitless potential; yet it has not accountability. In many cases, defamatory and salacious matters are posted which cause immense damage to the reputation. Police cybercrime cell should do its job to contain this virus in social media.

On another note, the same Nizamuddin episode in Delhi unmasks another virus that is also going communally viral. Among preventive steps against COVID-19 is social distancing is vital. Thus, when some people ignore it to congregate for a religious occasion; it means they are courting disaster. This what happened in Delhi at the headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat, a religious organisation, where thousands of devotees from India and abroad attended during Ijtema (annual gathering) held from March 13 to 15. Incidentally, the three-day event began the day the Delhi Government issued a general order prohibiting ‘all sports gatherings, including IPL, conferences and seminars beyond 200 people’.

The Tablighi Jamaat acted in a wilfully irresponsible behaviour, that is tantamount to criminal negligence and the government has promptly registered a criminal case against the Tablighi cleric. The AAP government and the Delhi Police also cannot evade responsibility for their belated response.When it was learnt that the Jamaat was to be held, a firm action in mid-March could have prevented the situation from coming to such a pass.The participants of the Jamaat have now acquired notoriety for spiking up COVID-19 infections in several states of India. Even as this coronavirus hotspot has triggered the biggest single-day spike in cases so far, the communal spin being given to the whole affair on social media and by a section of the electronic media is an alarming development. Attributing Islamic terror conspiracy for the spread reeks of malice and mischief. Muslims as a community have been adhering to the advisories and have been forthcoming in doing their mite and therefore, they should not be held accountable for what the Jamaat followers did.

DailyDevotion The Collision of God and Sin

…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree… —1 Peter 2:24 The Cross of Christ is the revealed truth of God’s judgment on sin. Never associate the idea of martyrdom with the Cross of Christ. It was the supreme triumph, and it shook the very foundations of hell.

There is nothing in time or eternity more absolutely certain and irrefutable than what Jesus Christ accomplished on the Cross— He made it possible for the entire human race to be brought back into a rightstanding relationship with God. He made redemption the foundation of human life; that is, He made a way for every person to have fellowship with God. The Cross was not something that happened to Jesus— He came to die; the Cross was His purpose in coming. He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The incarnation of Christ would have no meaning without the Cross.

Beware of separating “God was manifested in the flesh…” from “…He made Him…to be sin for us…”

(1 Timothy 3:16 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The purpose of the incarnation was redemption. God came in the flesh to take sin away, not to accomplish something for Himself. The Cross is the central event in time and eternity, and the answer to all the problems of both.

The Cross is not the cross of a man, but the Cross of God, and it can never be fully comprehended through human experience. The Cross is God exhibiting His nature. It is the gate through which any and every individual can enter into oneness with God. But it is not a gate we pass right through; it is one where we abide in the life that is found there.

The heart of salvation is the Cross of Christ. The reason salvation is so easy to obtain is that it cost God so much. The Cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was opened. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God.

Quotes

A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

W

hile we all know that crows are very bright, few people know about the abilities and intelligence of the pigeon. Pigeons can multitask – do more jobs at the same time – than humans. In an experiment by scientists at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, test groups of humans and pigeons were trained to do jobs like pressing a keyboard once a light bulb came on. They were also put in situations wherein they’d need to stop working on one job and switch over to another. Humans and pigeons switched between jobs at the same speed. In the tests, where the subjects had to wait one second before switching jobs, pigeons were much quicker.

A 2015 study revealed that pigeons can identify cancer and distinguish between malignant and benign growths.

Researchers at University of California, Davis Medical Center, put pigeons in a room with magnified biopsies of potential breast cancers. If the pigeons correctly identified them as either benign or malignant, they got a treat. According to Scientific American, “Once trained, the pigeons’ average diagnostic accuracy reached an impressive 85 percent. But when a “flock sourcing” ap-

proach was taken, in which the most common answer among all subjects was used, group accuracy climbed to a staggering 99 percent, or what would be expected from a pathologist.

The pigeons were also able to apply their knowledge to novel images, showing that the findings weren’t simply a result of rote memorization.”

They ride the metro to get to their feeding stations, getting off at the same place every day. Which means they can count, remember fellow passengers and where they get off and landmarks.

They recognize people who are nice to them and avoid people who are mean, according to an experiment done in Paris in 2011. Researchers of a similar age, build and colour either scared pigeons away or gave them food. They repeated this for several days.

The pigeons knew the feeder from the chaser—even when they swapped outfits—and would flock or run away accordingly. The study team led

by Dr Dalila concluded: “The fact, that the pigeons appeared to know that clothing colour was not a good way of telling humans apart, suggests that the birds have developed abilities to discriminate between humans in particular.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Bewildered and yet resilient Pigeons have extraordinary vision and can distinguish between nearly identical shades of colour.

They can also read the alphabet, if taught. In a 2016 study, scientists showed that pigeons can differentiate between strings of letters and actual words. Four of the birds built up a vocabulary of between 26 and 58 written English words. The birds could even identify words they hadn’t seen before.

They understand abstract mathematical concepts, differentiate between numberlike objects, order pairs, and accurately judge amounts – an ability that they share with only rhesus monkeys.

In the 1950s, psychologist B.F Skinner taught his pigeons to play ping pong – a game that requires a great deal of spatial understanding and dexterity.

In 2017 a research published in Current Biology showed

that pigeons understood the concepts of space and time.

Japanese psychologist Shigeru Watanabe and two colleagues trained pigeons in 1995 to recognize the paintings of Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso and distinguish between the painters. The pigeons were even able to use their knowledge of impressionism and cubism to identify paintings of other artists in those movements and watercolor paintings from pastels.

In a 2009 experiment, pigeons were shown almost two dozen paintings made by students at a Tokyo elementary school, and were taught which ones were considered “good” and which ones were considered “bad.” He then presented them with 10 new paintings and the avian critics managed to correctly guess which ones had earned bad grades from the school’s teacher and a panel of adults. Like humans,

pigeons categorise on the basis of colour, texture and general appearance. Pigeons can differentiate between photographs and even two different human beings in a single photograph.

Pigeons have been found to pass the ‘mirror test’, the ability to recognise their own reflection in a mirror. The pigeon is one of only 6 species, and the only non-mammal, to have this ability.

They are very good parents. They share equally in the nesting duty, dividing the responsibility of incubating their eggs to give the other a chance to eat and rest. You will never see a baby pigeon, because pigeon parents keep their children in their wellhidden nests until their young reach near-maturity. The pigeon parents only reveal their babies to the world once they practically look like adults.

They mate for life and it’s a love that endures. If one is sick, the other will wait by her in public, no matter what the danger to its life.

These swift and smart birds are blessed with navigational expertise, have an exceptional memory for topographical details and excellent hearing and vision. When they come down to eat at

places where people leave food they don’t push and shove each other. You never see them fight. They eat in harmony and everyone gets something. Apart from impressive acrobatics to avoid being eaten, pigeons also do backflips in the air just for fun !

Charles Darwin was fascinated by their intelligence.

He kept them as pets, joined pigeon clubs and wrote about them extensively.

Today they survive in tough cities, endure being starved and killed by ignorant and vicious municipal corporations, persecuted and crippled by passersby and traffic. They carry on wanting to live with humans with a grim persistence. They eat the rubbish we throw and the chasing of our children, the kicks and the blows. And still they come forth to make friends. They could find their way in the countryside – like most birds who have abandoned our urban areas – but they choose to stay. Left to me I would make them the mascots of the city.

Feed them. They represent your soul; bewildered and yet resilient. To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in, www.peopleforanimalsindia.org

Post-mortem NTUCT statement on cancellation of backdoor appointments Rejoinder to ‘Who convened Naga People Convention’ T he determination of the NTUCT to cancelled backdoor appointments most visibly in the case of direct appointment of police constables by completely trampling underfoot the High court order and supreme court order (Uma Devi’s case) respectively had evoked mixed reactions from a certain student Union and Tribal Hoho.

We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all those who have been showering their blessings and solidarity through different medias. We are also grateful to all those who have been upholding us through prayers. The moral support, prayer and financial support had tremendously boosted our morals and encouraged us to take a giant leap ahead. Consistency and persistency are the principle that guides us although ours is a small organization confined to a definite territorial jurisdiction. The NTUCT is constrained to express our profound appreciation particularly to the Lotha Students Union and Lotha Hoho Dimapur district recently for openly supporting the movement started by us in this particular case. We also acknowledge positively the concern shared by them that corruption is happening in every known government departments in the state of Nagaland.

We wish ours is the apex Naga body (NGOs) having enormous resources to crush the so-called corruptions. On the other hand, the NTUCT is sorry to convey to the Lotha students Union and Lotha Hoho Dimapur district that we are not in a position to check corruptions in every department under the State government of Nagaland at the moment. Further we hereby vividly make very clear once and for all that NTUCT is neither against any tribe nor political party. Perhaps NTUCT is grateful to various NGOs presently fighting against corruption in various departments. Likewise, we also invite the concern NGOs to please identify one or two Govt’ department against the same issue for which we are ready to extend our support and solidarity if we all play our part well, then it shall be really worth labelling our people as NAGALAND For Christ. It’s high time we knocked out the tendency of ‘Tribalism feelings.’

Say for instance Dy. CM shri Y Patton is in charge of Home and NTUCT is against the corruption in his department, which does not reflect or portray that we are against the Lothas just because he being a Lotha. The NTUCT termed certain student union and Tribal Hoho alleging those organizations, unions, associations and federations etc fighting against backdoor appointments as targeting only a particular department, which exposed apparent vested interest and ill intention, as very unfortunate.

What do one say or react with: 1. NSF demanding for setting up of NSSB and questioning the authority of NPSC giving its approval for backdoor appointments?

2. CTAN & CEAN demand for cancellation for backdoor appointments by Commissioner and Secretary, Works and Housing department?

3. CTAN & CEAN is also demanding the cancellation of backdoor appointments against the departments of Forest and Soil

and Water Conservation?

4. NPRAAF is constantly fighting against the backdoor appointments in Tourism department and many others?

5. ACAUT and PSAN has filed several court cases against backdoor appointments involving almost every departments? Further, there are many other organizations/associations/unions and federations etc. fighting for various corruption cases prevailing under the State government of Nagaland. Are all these for vested interest and only targeting a particular department? Can we still say that all these are a fight for vested interest and targeting a particular department? Let us develop positive mindset and let the good sense prevail upon the Nagas. To highlight the backdoor appointment in brief NVCO president Shri. Kezhokhoto Savi (advocate) once said that the fight against backdoor appointment is to mete out justice by ensuring “Equality of appointment in matters of public appointment” enshrined as fundamental right in Article 16 of the constitution of India to the man educated/meritorious/qualified/unemployed youths so as to bring about a positive change in public administration and achieve the goals/ideals laid down in the Constitution. It is also the fight against all those employed who have been appointed/recruited in various departments of the Govt. of Nagaland bypassing the constitutional scheme of public employment through the modus operandi of illegal, backdoor, contractual, ad hoc, casual, temporary deputation, irregular, etc. modes of appointment in collusion between the bureaucrats and the politicians.

The Govt. of Nagaland O.M.NO: AR-3/Gen-179/2AO7 (Pt) dated 13th January 2010 on the subject-”irregular appointment of Govt. servants by some appointing authorities” reveals the naked truth about the most unethical ‘department ethics’ that has taken a stranglehold on governance in the State which is stated as follows: “It has come to the notice of the Government that a number of unauthorized appointments have been made by certain Heads of Departments on the eve of their retirements without following the prescribed procedure.

Now, the Government has taken a decision that all those irregular appointments made by them should be immediately cancelled by the concerned Administrative Heads of Depts. and also criminal prosecution of the guilty officials be taken up by filing an FIR in the Vigilance Commission and all payments of pensionary benefits should be withheld till criminal case is disposed off.”

The Apex Court of the country reported in several cases such as; a) “Regularization is not and cannot be the mode if recruitment by any State”...... “regularization cannot give permanence to any employee whose services are ad hoc in nature” b) “The appointment to any post under the state can only be made after a proper advertisement has been made inviting applications from eligible candidates and holding of selection by a body of experts or specially constituted committee whose members are fair and impartial through a written

examination or interview or some other rational criteria for judging the inter se merit of candidates who have applied in response to the advertisements made”....”Any regular appointment made on a post under the Sate or Union without issuing advertisements inviting applications from eligible candidates and without holding a proper selection where all eligible candidates get a fair chance to compete would violate the guarantee enshrined under Article 16 of the Constitution.” c) A landmark judgement passed by the Guwahati High Court Kohima Bench in one of the Sate of Nagaland cases stated as follows: “Appointment made without following appropriate procedure under the Rules holding the field and without advertisement and without inviting applications from open market would amount to infringement of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution and so regularizing a service of the candidate otherwise not appointed by following prescribed procedure would not be valid mode of appointment.

The entry of these appointees into the service having been achieved through backdoor cannot acquire any right and so regularization of their services would amount negating the prescribed procedure at the cost of Article l-4 and 16 of the Constitution of India. Even taking recourse to a scheme framed under Article i.62 of the Constitution to circumvent the procedure prescribed under a statutory rule would be contrary to the constitutional mandate. It is the established law that no regularization is permissible on the strength of a Cabinet decision adopted in exercise of power under Article 162 of the Constitution of India and consequently such regularization is liable to be struck down, d) “That adherence to article 14 and 16 of the Constitution is a must in the process of public employment.” As for the core issue NTUCT has not received any positive response either from the state govt. nor the head of the concern department. Besides, nothing have been heard from the high level committee constituted by the government of Nagaland for a period of two weeks only to submit its report. Had it not been for Covid-19 lockdown we are left with no other option but to approach the court of law to seek justice which we tried to avoid lest a law maker and some senior police officers shall surely face legal consequences. The NTUCT urge upon the government and the home department to immediately response to the people’s demand during the lockdown period. Further we call upon the minister in charge Shri Y. Patton, hon’ble Dy CM of Nagaland to direct the DGP to cancel all backdoor appointments if he is really innocent as claimed. Shri Y. Patton should have resigned long before owning responsibility of all the messes happening under his patronage.

The DGP is directly responsible and guilty of prima facie unless proved acting at the behest of his boss/bosses in view of the evidences available with us so far. We are also fully aware of the minister in charge over exercising his political influence which will be exposed in due course of time at the proper platform.

Akato Sema joint secretary NTUCT and Asoba Yim social and cultural secretary NTUCT

O

n 25th March, 2020 we were perturbed by the above article. It was the morning following the midnight announcement of a country wide lockdown for 21 days to stop the spread of the Corona virus in India. In this moment of global crisis, Mr Thepfulhouvi Solo chose to make another of his virulent contributions.

We felt constrained to respond to his article even as the lockdown continues because it is important to dispel his damaging and misleading message.

While the article appeared like a historical narrative about the formation of the Naga Peoples’ Convention(NPC), he is insinuating that the Nagas in Manipur have not wanted Naga integration and that Muivah and NSCN, instead of struggling to integrate Nagas is trying to control Nagaland state by political trickery.

We are thankful to Mr T Solo for providing the opportunity to respond in the public domain so that the record and perspective is set straight.

Mr T. Solo, a retired bureaucrat, be informed that the Naga National political movement is for a Naga homeland and Naga identity, not for mere statehood for a fraction of the Naga territory.

Mr Sashimeren who time and again insisted Jasokie, to convene “a Naga meeting” was then the Development Commissioner Tribal Affairs in the Assam Secretariat Shillong, a senior Bureaucrat of the Government of India.

Mr Jasokie was the Joint Secretary of Publicity and Information of the Naga National Council, who by then had parted ways with the NNC President A. Z. Phizo and hence also with the Council (NNC). He had no locus standi to call “ a Naga meeting” However “A Naga meeting” was called by Jasokie, at the insistence of Sashimeren, a functionary and agent of India, an act of open defiance and revolt against Phizo and the NNC. The invitation was reportedly sent, as per Jasokie, according to T. Solo, “to all Nagas through Naga officers working in the area. Eventually “only Nagas of Naga Hills and Nagas of Mon-Tuensang of NEFA attended the meeting”.

They were both instruments of the Government of India and their initiative for calling “ Naga Meeting” which led to the formation of the NPC on 26 August, 1957 was an Indian agenda aimed at weakening the Naga National political movement.

The following question therefore arises – Who were the Naga officers through whom the invitation to the

Nagas in Manipur was sent ? Did it reach the leaders concerned?

Is it not obvious then that within a short time in the very same year the Naga Hills District and Mon-Tuensang of NEFA were together formed into a separate Administrative Unit call Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA) and only “Nagas of Naga Hills and Nagas of Mon-Tuensang of NEFA” who attended the Naga People’s Convention were included in the new Administrative unit NHTA ?

There was already a scheme in place and some leaders played God in the unveiling of Naga historical events of that time. It is the same NHTA which was inaugurated as Nagaland, the 16th State of the Indian Union on 1st December, 1963.

Why did Mr Shilu and Chiten Jamir, the products of the NPC and therefore agents of the GOI felt the need to enquire whether the Nagas in Manipur would like to join Nagaland, when the latter had intentionally not attended the NPC, that led to the creation of NHTA ?

Were the opinion of other NEFA Nagas (other than Mon-Tuensang) also taken ? If not why so?

Their mission was charted out to weaken the Naga political movement.

Mr Chiten Jamir, the personal envoy of Shilu had no locus standi nor contact to make such an important enquiry to the Nagas of Manipur except for the fact that Mr M. L. Kampani, who was earlier DC of Kohima, and by then become the Chief Commissioner of Manipur and had probably facilitated Chiten Jamir’s meeting with Nagas of Manipur. Mr Kampani, being a senior bureaucrat of GOI was definitely an enabler and part of the same mission. T. Solo maintains that the Nagas of Manipur preferred to remain in Manipur because Manipur was then already a princely state. This is blatantly incorrect. Manipur was already a Territorial Council at that time having already merged into the Union of India way back on 15 October, 1949, without the consent of Nagas and other tribals in Manipur. We doubt if such a meeting ever took place at all, in the highly disturbed situation obtaining at that time.

And if it did take place the bonafides of Chiten Jamir and his principal and their mission were simply not honoured by the Nagas in Manipur, upholding the directive of the NNC and A Z Phizo not to be associated with the NPC .

(To concluded) L. Adani former president United Naga Council (UNC), K. S. Paul Leo former president UNC and Gaidon Kamei former president UNC

Reader’s Post

Thank you, frontline warriors out there!.

Sir,

South Nagas Union of Nagaland State (SNUNS) would like to express its sincere appreciation and thanks to Medical Professionals, Health workers, Social workers, Law enforcement and others in the inessential services, in this fight against the corona virus. Your dedicated service has defined universality of mankind, obliterated colors of skins, religious descriptions, and geographical boundaries.

“Never was so much owed, by so many, to so few” said Winston Churchill honoring his pilots of World War II. In the global war against the COVID-19, the words aptly apply to the frontline warriors, who do everything to save us. “We too have families, but we can’t stay at home”, says it all. Your sacrifices give us the hope and the confidence that we can and will win this war. It is in the will to win and in the believe that “Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do! ” (Robert H. Schuller) It’s a testing time! Thank you, Frontline Warriors, out there! Count on our prayer support and cooperation. “As you go to work for us, we stay at home for you, to win this war”.

Joe Ngamkhuchung SNUNS President Burma Camp, Dimapur

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

national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Prepare to fight economic impact: PM to ministers

NEW DELHI, APR 6 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Union ministers to prepare plans to fight the economic impact of COVID-19 on war footing and asserted that this crisis is an opportunity to boost the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative and reduce dependence on other countries.

Chairing the first meeting of the council of ministers after announcing a 21day lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak via video-conferencing, Modi indicated a phased emergence from the lockdown and said that “a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots aren’t existing should be made”.

Talking about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, Modi said that the government must work on war footing to mitigate the impact, adding that the ministries should prepare a business continuity plan, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Emphasising the need to strategise for the emer-

Narendra Modi

gent conditions once the lockdown ends, he asked the ministers to prepare a list of ten major decisions and ten priority areas of focus while at the same time identify and implement pending reforms in their ministries.

“Ministries should prepares a Business Continuity Plan and be ready to fight the economic impact of COVID-19 on war footing.

The crisis is also an opportunity to boost Make in India and reduce dependence on other countries,” Modi

told the ministers, according to the statement.

Highlighting the impact on India’s exports, he asked the ministers to submit actionable suggestions on boosting manufacturing and exports and ensure that new sectors and countries are added in India’s export net.

Discussing the impact of COVID-19 on farmers and harvesting of crops, Modi asked the ministers to explore the use of innovative solutions like ‘truck aggregators’ on the lines

of app-based cab services to connect farmers with mandis.

“Welfare of farmers is of high importance. Government would provide all possible help to farmers in the harvesting season,” Modi said and suggested use of technology and encouraging exploration of innovative solutions in agriculture.

Modi also underlined the need to devise a strategy to ensure procurement of tribal products so that the source of income source of the indigenous tribal populace remains intact.

At the same time, Modi told ministers to maintain effective monitoring on supply and availability of food items, to check price rises and black marketing and ensure no crowding at public distribution system (PDS) centres.

Laying emphasis on the effective implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), Modi told ministers to continuously monitor and ensure that the

benefits of it keep reaching the intended beneficiaries in a seamless manner.

PMGKY is a Rs 1.7lakh crore financial package announced by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to minimise the impact of lockdown on economy and poor.

Ministers should remain in touch with state and district authorities, provide solutions to emergent problems and formulate district-level micro plans to combat coronavirus, he said Reiterating that lockdown measures and social distancing norms need to go hand in hand and hand, Modi told ministers to popularize Aarogya Setu app in the rural areas and grass root institutions.

The ministers provided feedback to the prime minister on the steps being taken to meet the challenges in tackling the impact of the pandemic and praised the initiative of lighting lamps, saying people from all corners of the country participated in it.

5 JNU, UGC NET, PhD, Frantic buying in Dimapur as NEET, TTE entrance total lockdown partially relaxed exams postponed

NEW DELHI, APR 6 (IANS): The Ministry of Human Resource Development has decided to postpone entrance exams including JNU, UGC, NET and IGNOU PhD and several others keeping in mind the lockdown.

Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said: “The Director General of National Testing Agency has been advised to postpone the last date for submission of applications for various examinations”.

Nishank said: “This includes admission examinations of Jawaharlal Nehru University UGC NET, IGNOU PhD, ICAR exam, NCHM-G and management course.” The deadline for all these exams has been extended by one month.The Ministry has also directed the CBSE, NIOS and NTA to prepare a revised schedule of examinations. Along with this, autonomous bodies and the NCERT have been asked to prepare an alternative academic calendar.

(From p-1) wholesaler at GS Road said even if they maintained enough stocks, people nevertheless continued to rush frantically since they were afraid that stocks would get exhausted.

Besides other perishable goods, the wholesalers had sufficient stocks of potatoes and onions, adding those who rushed to the markets did not return empty handed.

It was also noticed that hand sanitisers and hand washes were provided to shoppers in certain stores, while workers were seen with gloves and masks on.

The wholesale dealer said that the resultant traffic congestion was due to analogous timing of loading and unloading. In this regard, he hoped that the Dimapur Municipal Council would allot separate timings to prevent congestions.

While buyers said adequate time should have been provided before imposing the total lockdown, traders

opined it was done on an emergency situation. One of them said the lockdown was unavoidable and meant for public safety and it was in the best interest of every citizen to cooperate with the authorities concerned and abide by the law.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Naga families, living near the border area have expressed resentment that they continue to be denied entry into Nagaland.

A resident near Dillai gate told Nagaland Post that they buy all their essential items from Dimapur.

However, police stationed along the border areas have prevented them from entering Nagaland as part of the order to seal the borders.

Several of the affected residing along the border areas, appealed to the district authorities to allow them entry. They said the residents are facing shortages as they wholly depended on markets in Dimapur and that the blockade at the border gate has become a human problem.

Mumbai hospital management to be RSS lauds country’s leadership In fatal hand-to-hand combat, probed after 3 docs, 26 nurses test +ve for response to COVID-19 Special Forces kill 5 Pak terrorists MUMBAI, APR 6 (AGENCIES): The Maharashtra government will soon file a first information report (FIR) against the management of the private Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive for COVID-19 virus over the past week.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said the hospital management appeared to be negligent after a 70 year-old patient admitted for heart surgery tested positive for the virus. “The executive health officer of the BMC will conduct a probe into the incident,” Kakani said.

Meanwhile, the United Nurses Association (UNA), a representative body of health care personnel, alleged that the hospital management and the BMC were underplaying the total number of people who had tested positive for the virus.

According to the UNA, more than 50 people, including 40 nurses originally from Kerala, had contracted the virus.

“Nurses have not been given access to their own reports. Those who were quarantined in the hostel were moved to the COVID ward,” UNA and another representative organization

View of Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai.

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan said in a joint statement.

According to the nurses’ body, two nurses attending on the patient who was diagnosed with Covid-19 first tested positive.

Subsequently, other personnel in the hospital also tested positive.

At least two nurses have been admitted to other hospitals in a critical condition, according to the UNA. BMC officials, however, maintained that only 29 people had tested positive for the virus. However, several more people have tested and their reports were yet to be received, the civic body said. The 26 nurses and the three doctors who tested positive were moved out of Wockhardt hospital

and admitted to various places across Mumbai.

Wockhardt Hospital has now been declared a ‘containment zone’ with no one allowed to enter or exit the premises. At least 270 people including patients, medical personnel and support staff are still present in the building, according to civic officials.

Kakani said swabs of those present in the hospital premises have been sent for tests.

The office of Wockhardt Hospitals chairman Habil Khorakiwala refused to comment on the incident.

Employees answering the hospital’s board number only said that emergency services were not functional and the Out Patient Department has been shut.

Various organisations condemn April 3 incident DIMAPUR: Various organisations have strongly condemned the assault incident of April 3 on senior medical officer and COVID-19 quarantine officer, Dr. Nosezol Reto (Sezo) by the special task force (STF).

NMC: Nagaland Medical Council (NMC) has strongly condemned the incident and demanded a high level magisterial inquiry be constituted to look into the matter and appropriate action be taken. In a condemnation note, the NMC also appreciated the apology tendered by DGP Nagaland on the incident.

Naga Hoho: Naga Hoho in a condemnation note stated that, law keepers must understand the category of exemptions and genuine patients on medical ground.

Naga Hoho further added that in the name of imposition of Lockdown, not sparing a doctor cannot be accepted in any manner. Naga Hoho appealed to the concerned authority to immediately initiate actions against the erring Police personnel and ensure safety to the frontline workers. Further, the hoho appealed to the general public to stay home safe, and to collectively fight against the most dreaded disease.

MMK: Medziphemapfü Mechü Krotho (MMK) in a condemnation expressed pain

and shock at the brutal assault incident. MMK has questioned the keepers/guardians of law and order on the safety and security of the public, when the authority is being abused and misused by the police force. MMK appeals the government to immediately book the perpetrators and take stringent punishment befitting the deed.

MVC: Medziphema Village Council (MVC) in a condemnation note has strongly condemned the assault on a doctor during such a time when doctors are frontline workers against COVID-19. MVC urges the concerned authority to bring justice in the case.

Kidima village agencies: Kidima village comprising of KVC, VDB, KSU, KYO and KWS in a condemnation note stated that such assault was “intolerable and can never be compromised”. They strongly appealed to the higher authority to immediately terminate those erring personnel and bring justice to the victim.

CMK: Chakhromapfü Mechü Krotho (CMK) in a condemnation note stated that the association strongly condemned the act and urged the concerned authorities to take prompt action against the erring police personnel and brief them so that such incidents do not happen in the future.

NEW DELHI, APR 6 (AGENCIES): Lauding the response of the Narendra Modi government to the coronavirus crisis, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Monday said the steps taken by India’s leadership are an example for the developed nations.

Addressing mediapersons via video-conferencing, senior Sangh leader Manmohan Vaidya launched a scathing attack against the Tablighi Jamaat.

Vaidya said the Tablighi leaders did not show responsible behaviour and the way its members behaved with people, especially doctors and nurses, showed their “abnormality”. “They are getting exposed, voices are also coming out (against Tablighi) from their own samaj,” he said.

According to Vaidya, India’s response to the deadly virus in unprecedented circumstances was proof of capabilities of its leadership and of the society to act as an organic unit.

“In many countries people wait for help from the government but in India people are coming forward to help,” he said.

“India and its leadership have set a good example for the so-called developed countries. There were apprehensions about the janata curfew which, I believe, was

Manmohan Vaidya

like testing the waters. Society responded very well to the leadeship and cooperated with it,” he said.

The senior Sangh leader also recounted the work done by two lakh RSS cadres at 26,000 places in the country to support as many as 25.5 lakh families.

Responding to the criticism regarding the migrant labourers, he said to help them is the responsibility of the entire society and not just the government. “These are unprecedented circumstances, we have to first come out of it,” said Vaidya.

Sangh cadres are supporting tribals, nomads, beggars outside religious places that are now shut and also providing fodder to animals and food to monkeys in these places, he said.

“First, we have to come out of this crisis,” he said responding to the economic situation.

New Delhi, APR 6 (AGENCIES): In one of the most brutal encounters along the Line of Control in recent times, a squad of Indian Army Special Forces soldiers eliminated five heavily armed terrorists in a high-altitude snow-bound area in Kashmir. Sadly, all five soldiers were killed in the operation.

Details shared with NDTV indicate that the Army Special Forces were deployed after “footprints were noticed near the Line of Control” on April 1.

The protective fence in the area which prevents terrorists from entering was submerged in snow. Army sources say the area where the incursion took place has a “razor sharp ridge line where all routes are cut off due to high snow levels.”

The group of terrorists “attempted to exploit the inclement weather as it was snowing” for two days in the area, sources said.

Search parties were launched and soldiers of the army made contact with the terrorists at 1 pm on April 1 and recovered five bags but lost contact with the terrorists. Additional troops were brought in and the area was cordoned.

On April 3, soldiers picked up the trail again at 4:30 pm and again at 6:30

pm on April 4, sources said.

Given the terrain and the challenges in the operation, the army called in Para Special Forces, the most highly trained infantry soldiers at its disposal.

“Based on visuals from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, special troops staged forward to the nearest Battalion Headquarters by air [helicopter]” as the battalion remains cut-off because of heavy snow in the area, sources said.

“At first light on 5 April, one squad following the footsteps on the snow failed to realise that they were on a cornice”, they added. The cornice broke

Fire incidents in Kohima, Wokha and Dimapur

and the soldiers of the Special Forces squad fell into a stream.

“As luck would have it, where they fell, the terrorists were sitting right there. This led to a firefight, a close quarter battle at virtually point blank range,” sources said.

Soldiers who lost their lives in the encounter called Op Randori Behak (Kupwara) are: Sub Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, Hav. Davendra Singh, from Uttarakhand, Sepoy Bal krishan from Himachal Pradesh, Sepoy Amit Kumar from Utarakhand and Sepoy Chhatrapal Singh from Rajasthan.

1 youth shot dead Staff Reporter

(From L-R) Fire personnel douse fire at Lerie (Kohima), Purana Bazaar (Dimapur) and Lanzunphen (Wokha)

DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): Two fire incidents were reported in Kohima Monday, but after mobilisation of a quick response team from fire station Kohima South, the fire was brought under control.

According to fire and emergency service (F&ES) department, the first incident reported at Lerie, below Heliport, Kohima at around 12:45pm, but the fire was brought under control at 2:19pm. A few stretches of jungle and fields were destroyed in the fire.

The second incident was reported at 2:40pm from Lerie, near Solid Waste management authority LTD and the fire was brought under control at 3:33pm. The department stated

that the cause of the fire was suspected to be burning of forest by unknown person.

Fire in Dimapur: Following receipt of information on April 4, 2020 at around 3am about the fire incident at Purana Bazaar, near Honda Showroom, the F&ES department mobilised a quick response team from Fire Station Dimapur Central.

The timely response from fire team averted any eventuality and brought the fire under control and also from spreading further.

One furniture house was completely gutted by fire. There were no occupants at the house. The cause of the fire incident was

suspected to be short circuit.

Fire in Wokha: On receiving a call at 8:24pm on April 3, 2020, about fire at Lanzunphen, Merapani Road, Wokha, a quick response team from Fire Station Wokha was mobilised to control the fire. However, the department said that due to difficult terrain and impending darkness, the fire was brought under control only on April 4, 2020. It stated that a few kilometres stretch of forest land, orchard, and plantation of cash crops were destroyed in the incident. The cause of the fire was suspected to be a continuation of the garbage fire. There were, however, no reports of any casualties.

COVID-19: Retd health workers volunteer to assist H&FW deptt

(From p-1)

He appreciated the efforts of the H&FW department and preparedness level thus far to combat the spread of the pandemic into the State. He said though it was still not a war, but preparations were being made to face a ware-like situation and

hoped that the State would be able to ward off the virus threat together.

He admitted that citizens were going through a tough time and many were suffering from anxiety and fears. He, however, reminded them that the lockdown was for a limited duration and think of those on the front-

line combating the pandemic.

Ngullie also urged those on the frontline not to play “oneupmanship” but be humble and have a human approach. He reminded all that it was not just another job that they were doing, but a duty towards humanity.

He opined that the State government must come out with

proper module to help sensitize the people on the frontline, while also suggesting that the government must take decisions on conviction.

Expressing delight at the infrastructure improvements taking place in all district hospitals, he hoped that grants for the State would be judiciously utilised.

DIMAPUR, APR 6 (NPN): The body of a Naga youth who was reportedly shot dead by Assam police on April 5 near Lalmati area, Khatkhati Assam was handed over to the family.

According to reports, Bokajan SDPO John Das had said that one person was killed during an exchange of gunfire.

When contacted, Suburban police station OC Picto Achumi said he had received a telephonic information stating that one person was shot dead in Khatkati area.

Basing on the information, he said Dimapur police contacted OC of Khatkati and learnt that an unidentified body was kept at Diphu medical college for further investigation.

After ascertaining the identity of the person, the family was contacted and the body was handed over to them, the OC said. No further details could be ascertained till the filing of this report.

international

6

US braces for ‘9/11, Pearl Harbor moments’: top doc

WASHINGTON, APR 6 (PTI): Americans are bracing for the “hardest and saddest” week of their lives with tragedies similar to the 9/11 attacks and the Pearl Harbour bombing, the country’s top doctor has warned while the death toll approached the 10,000mark as President Donald Trump expressed hope that coronavirus cases were “levelling off ” in major US hotspots.

Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome Adams’ remarks came a day after President Trump said that the next week is going to be a “very very difficult” time for the country.

He said the coronavirus pandemic rivals some of the darkest moments in the US history, including the two worst foreign attacks on American soil: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. It’s going to be our 9/11 moment; it’s going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire lives.

“And we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through to the other side, everyone needs to do their part,” Adams told ‘Meet the Press’ Sunday talk show on NBC news network.

Jerome Adams The death toll in the Peak in New York is US due to coronavir us expected in the next sixon Sunday crossed 9,500, seven days, during which which is three times more the US authorities are urgthan the number of people ing people to strictly enwho died in the 9/11 terror- force the social mitigation ist attacks. measures including social A total of 2,977 people distancing. besides hijackers were killed Nearly 95 per cent of in the September 11, 2001, the country’s 330 million attacks. When Japan at- population are under staytacked Pearl Harbor and in-home orders.

America officially entered “Ninety per cent of World War II, more than Americans are doing their 2,400 casualties had oc- part, even in the states curred as a result of the where they haven’t had a attack. shelter in place I wish every More than 3.3 lakh governor would encourage Americans have been in- the people in their states to fected by coronavir us. follow these guidelines for Over 4,000 deaths have 30 days, that’s what I want. reported in the New York But I want them to do what state only. they can within their states,” Members of the White the Surgeon General said H o u s e Ta s k Fo r c e o n in a passionate plea to his COVID-19 have predicted countrymen. between 100,000 to 200,000 In addition to declalakh deaths in the next sev- ration of a national emereral weeks. gency, President Trump

has notified major disaster declaration in more than 42 of the 50 states.

“This is going to be a hard week, it’s going to test our resolve. It’s going to be the hardest week of our lives, but I’m confident based on the numbers in Washington and in California and Italy and in Spain, we can get through this, we will get through this. I know the American people will do the right thing and stay-athome,” Adams said.

The US armed forces have deployed more than 50,000 of its soldiers, including 1,000 doctors and nurses in the fight against coronavirus. They have built or in the process of building 30 hospitals.

The US Navy has deployed two of its hospital ships - in New York and Los Angeles - to treat the rush of COVID 19 patients.

Meanwhile Trump, during a press briefing at the White House on Sunday, said the US has so far conducted 1.6 million tests, more than any other country.

“It really is an all-out military operation that we have waged and especially over the last number of weeks. Fifty states and territories have now been approved for major disaster declarations, which is very unusual,” Trump said.

As New York reported

a drop in the number of new infections and deaths, Trump described the dip as a “good sign”, but warned of more deaths as the pandemic neared its “peak” in the US. “In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this pandemic,” he said, expressing hope that coronavirus cases were “levelling off ” in US hotspots.

Reiterating his push for using Hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug in the fight against coronavirus, Trump said the US has procured some 29 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine tablets to be distributed across the country.

President Trump on Saturday said that he has sought help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the sale of Hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in his country, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug.

In the last seven days, Trump has told reporters that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has airlifted critical supplies and protective equipment from the every corner of earth.

“They are coming from all over the planet including from within the United States, where the equipment isn’t as necessary.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Female tiger tests COVID-19 positive for coronavirus in US’ zoo NEW YORK, APR 6 (PTI): Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after developing a dry cough, in what is believed to be the first known case of an animal infected with COVID-19 in the US, raising new questions about human-to-animal transmission of the deadly virus.

The tigress, along with six other big cats, is thought to have been infected by an asymptomatic zoo keeper, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoo, said in a statement on Sunday.

Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions had developed a dry cough and decrease in appetite, it said, adding that all the cats are expected to recover. “Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers,” the CNN quoted the zoo as saying.

“It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries,” it said. The test result has stunned zoo

officials. “I couldn’t believe it,” zoo director Jim Breheny said.

The coronavirus, first detected in humans in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, is believed to have spread from animals to humans, and a handful of animals, including two dogs, have tested positive in Hong Kong.

The pandemic has been driven by human-to-human transmission, but the infection of Nadia raises new questions about human-toanimal transmission.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), no other animals at the zoo are showing symptoms.

The animals were infected by a zoo employee who was “asymptomatically infected with the virus” while caring for them, according to the zoo. The Bronx Zoo has been closed to the public since March 16. Anyone sick with the

coronavirus is being advised to minimise contact with animals, including pets, until more information is known about the virus, the USDA said.

“There is no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of COVID19 to people,” except for the initial outbreak at a food market in Wuhan, China.

In addition, there is “no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats,” the CBS News quoted USDA as saying.

The USDA said “this is the first case of its kind” and “further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19.”

The World Organisation for Animal Health says studies are under way to understand the issue more and urges anyone who has become sick to limit contact with pets.

Trump sends $2.9 million aid; awaits Abe to declare state of emergency as COVID-19 cases surge hydroxychloroquine supply from India NEW DELHI, APR 6 (IANS): The Donald Trump administration has provided $2.9 million to aid India’’s fight against the coronavirus disease.

In an official statement issued by US Embassy in New Delhi on Monday, the US government said that the pandemic financial support was granted to India through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The relief is in addi-

tion to $1.4 billion in health assistance, and nearly $3 billion in total assistance, that the US has provided to India over the last 20 years, the embassy said.

The statement comes a day after President Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to supply the antimalaria drug hydroxychloroquine that is being used to treat Covid-19 patients and as prophylactic by health care workers. The

Crossword

government has imposed a ban on export of the drug since the coronavirus outbreak hit India.

The US as of now has the highest number of the novel coronavirus infection cases in the world. On Monday, with over 337,000 cases of infections, the US was nearing 10,000 deaths. Relatively, India has managed to contain the pandemic with 118 deaths and over 4,300 cases of infections.

TOKYO, APR 6 (IANS): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to declare a state of emergency in the country due to the recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo and other major cities, government sources said on Monday.

Pressure had been mounting on Abe to make the declaration amid a surge in COVID-19 cases recently, with calls for the move from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and the Japan Medical Association intensifying, reports Xinhua news

agency.

The Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists said the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity, with the health ministry rapidly trying to secure more.

A panel of government experts warned recently that the country’s healthcare system could collapse if coronavirus cases here continue to spike.

The healthcare system in Tokyo and four other prefectures is under increased

No. 9546 Yesterday’s solution No. 9545

Su doku

No. 4165 Yesterday’s solution No. 4164

KAKURO

No. 3191 Yesterday’s solution No. 3190

Across 9. Finnish capital (8) 10. Health resort (3) 11. Crowd scene actors (6) 12. Complete failure (6) 13. Natural home (7) 14. Military force (4) 15. Slow down (10) 17. Channel island (8) 18. University department (7) 19. Information (4) 21. Month (6) 24. The Virgin Queen (9,3,5) 27. Flaw (6) 29. Ladder step (4) 30. Seamen (7) 33. Eruption (8) 35. Tall building (10) 36. Continent (4) 37. Agony (7) 38. Baby’s plaything (6) 40. Squalid (6) 41. After deductions (3) 42. Resident (8) Down 1. Intentional (10) 2. Employs (4) 3. Lazy (8) 4. Road (7) 5. Map-making (11) 6. Footballer (6,4) 7. Reach (6) 8. Innocuous (8) 10. Sword (5) 16. Difficult to catch (7) 20. Pale (5) 22. Ape (7) 23. Spy (6,5) 25. Subsequently (10) 26. Pasta (10) 28. Paint (8) 31. Precision (8) 32. Tropical storm (7) 34. Alcoholic drink (6) 35. Penniless, informally (5) 39. Sort (4)

Prior to a state of emergency being declared over the virus, Abe will have to seek the opinions from an advisory panel comprised of medical experts, and the level of emergency will have to meet specific criteria.

If a state of emergency was declared by Abe, the government would have extended powers to instruct people to stay at home on a regional or national basis, Shinzo Abe issue closures to schools, strain and “drastic counter- and restrict the use of locameasures need to be taken tions for mass gatherings. as quickly as possible”, the The government would experts concluded. also have the authority

Libya’s former PM dies in Egypt from COVID-19 CAIRO, APR 6 (IANS): Libyan former Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril died in the Egyptian capital Cairo from COVID-19 at the age of 68, a Libyan source in Cairo said.

“Jibril actually died on Saturday late night, days after his infection with the novel coronavirus,” the source told Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

The late Libyan official, whose death was officially announced on Sunday, spent 10 days at an isolation hospital in Cairo before his death, according to the source.

to demand that supplies deemed essential to combating the spread of the virus be sold to them or requisitioned, and be able to temporarily commandeer private land or facilities for the purposes of providing medical care.

As of Sunday, 143 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Tokyo, a record daily high for the capital, bringing the total to 1,034, with Japan’s health ministry and local governments adding that nationwide cases had risen to 3,531 as of Sunday afternoon.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT 9TH NAP BN (INDIA RESERVE) SAIJANG : NAGALAND

No. 9BN(IR)RO-10/2020-21/33

Dated, Saijang, the 4th April/ 2020

To

No. /Rank : 91578 Constable Name : Phyodemo Lotha S/o : Nchumo Vill. : Wokha PO : Wokha P.S. : Wokha Dist : Wokha State : Nagaland Sub :- REMINDER CALLING NOTICE It is reported that you have been absent from bonafide Govt. duty with effect from 15/02/2020 to till date without leave or permission from the competent authority. In this connection you have been served calling notice vide this Office Order No. 1. 9 BN (IR) RO-10/2019-20/1926 Dated 15/02/2020.

2. 9 BN (IR) RO-10/2019-20/2054 Dated 03/03/2020.

3. 9 BN (IR) RO-10/2019-20/2150 Dated 20/03/2020.

You are therefore directed to report to Battalion Headquarter, Saijang within 7 (Seven) days of publication of this notice, failing which you will be declared deserter and dismissed from the service without serving any further notice and legal action will be taken against you Ex-parte.

DC-369

Commandant 9th NAP Bn (India Reserve) Saijang, Nagaland.

GRATITUDE

The office of the Atoizu Range Students Union is immensely grateful to Er. Picto Shohe MLA 32 AC Atoizu for donating medical aid to the Sub-Divisional Task Force Atoizu headed by ADC Atoizu and to all the village and town surveillance team under 32 AC to tackle the spread of the pandemic outbreak of Covid 19 disease. In a press release stated by the president Aketovi Assumi the medical aid includes 5500 surgical and reusable masks, 200 hand sanitizers and some disinfectant liquids. The union acknowledged the sitting MLA for his generous contribution towards the medical team and to all the Town and village surveillance team at this very point of time.

Aketovi Assumi President, ARSU K-862

northeast

Govt employees to resume work in M’laya

Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 6: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Monday approved to re-open all government offices in the state from April 15 with the end of the nationwide lockdown, but education institutions will remain closed until April 30.

It will allow opening of weekly markets in rural areas, and farmers to resume sowing activities, besides allowing construction works to resume under the MGNREGA and road construction and allied works in the state from April 15.

The Cabinet, which was chaired by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, approved these decisions with an aim to gradually ease the COVID-19 lockdown subject to the ground situation from April 15 in the State.

So far, 78 samples had been tested at NEIGRIHMS laboratory for COVID-19 infection but all yielded

Arunachal youth abducted by China’s PLA yet to be traced Itanagar, Apr 6 (PTI): The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Monday confirmed that a 21-year-old man was abducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army on March 19 from Asapila sector near the McMahon line in Upper Subansiri district.

The whereabouts of the young man, however, is yet to be known, they said.

Inspector General of police (IGP) Chukhu Apa said district superintendent of police Taru Gusar had sent the Nacho police station officer in-charge to the spot, and an inquiry has confirmed the incident.

“The state government will be apprised of it so as to act accordingly as the matter is under the purview of the external affairs ministry,” Apa said.

In a memorandum to Governor B D Mishra on March 27, the Tagin Cultural Society had said Togley Singkam and his two friends - Gamshi Chadar and Ronya Nade - were busy fishing when the Chinese security personnel ambushed them.

“While his other two friends could successfully escape, Togley Sinkam was abducted at gunpoint by the Chinese security personnel,” the memorandum said.

A complaint was filed

by Singkam’s family at the Nacho police station on March 23, it said.

negative results.

“The state cabinet has decided that government employees need to be back to work from April 15. All government offices in the state will start functioning with full staff strength with employees rejoining work from April 15,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told journalists.

At present, only 30 per cent of employees are coming to work, and the rest 70 per cent are staying at home.

However, Tynsong said the Cabinet has decided to continue to shut various private business establishments in the state. “We have also decided to continue to close the educational institutions till April 30. A decision on re-opening will be taken depending on the prevailing situation in the entire north east states,” he informed.

Private vehicles will be allowed to ply and inter-district movement will

be allowed, but inter-state movement will continue to be restricted, he added.

The Cabinet also approved to extend financial assistance under the Chief Minister’s Relief Against Wage Loss Scheme to all wage earners, daily labourers and petty traders (unregistered daily wage earners) who are out of work due to the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’.

2 Shillongites test negative of COVID-19: The test samples of the two individuals from the Shillong who came in contact with a Covid 19 patient from Assam, were found to be negative. The samples were collected yesterday and tested. Meghalaya Health Minister, AL Hek said that both were tested negative.

He also made an appeal to the citizens to not get into the panic zone and follow precautionary measures as the government is working tirelessly to fight the pandemic.

7 Lockdown effective along intl EPFO asks PF NE’s first Covid-19 patient to rectify completely recovered borders in NE: Jitendra Singh members date of birth Earlier, on Saturday, with China, Myanmar, Ban-

Jitendra Singh (File)

Ag a rta l a , A p r 6 (IANS): The ongoing lockdown in the eight northeastern states, including Sikkim, has been effectively enforced along the region’s 5,500 km international borders with five countries, Union Minister for DoNER Jitendra Singh said.

An official press release of the DoNER Ministry quoting the minister said that all the guidelines of lockdown and social distancing have been effectively maintained in all the states specially along the bordering areas.

The Union Home Ministry since March 15 had sealed the northeastern states’ international borders

6 NE states seal borders with Assam GUWAHATI, Apr 6 (Agencies): After Assam reported 26 COVID-19 positive cases, six Northeastern states sealed the interstate borders and barred the general entry from Assam.

Assam shares interstate boundaries with 6 Northeaster states— Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya. All of these six states sealed the borders with Assam as a preventive measure against COVID19. However, emergency services have been put in the exemption list.

So far Manipur reported two, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh reported one Coronavirus positive case each. However, no person from Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Meghalaya tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb while holding a meeting to review the preparedness to deal with the COVID-19 issues, asked the officials to maintain a highest vigil along the inter-state borders with Assam and Mizoram “Except the goods laden trucks and freight trains, nothing should be allowed to enter Tripura from the neighbouring states and across the Bangladesh borders,” Deb told the media.

In Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the inter-district movements have been stopped by the union Home Ministry, there was no question of allowing any movement within the state and from other states.

In Kohima, the Nagaland government has sealed the state’s borders with Assam along Wokha district in the wake of in-

creasing positive COVID19 cases in Assam.

In Mizoram, the state government has further tightened the security along its inter-state borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura following the spike in coronavirus positive cases in neighbouring states. Mizoram Deputy Inspector General (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said that security has been further tightened along the state borders with neighbouring states to check movement of people across the border.

In Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu during a review meeting on Thursday asked the police department to keep vigil of the porous border with Assam besides strict monitoring of all 22 official entry gates to prevent any suspicious access.

Doctor on quarantine goes missing in Mnp Correspondent

IMPHAL, Apr 6: A doctor in Manipur went missing from the quarantine centre where he was put along with all the staff of a private hospital.

Police were searching for the missing doctor, Dr Ayub, consultant of Peace Hospital, Porompat in Imphal East district.

All the doctors, nurses and staff of the hospital were put on quarantine after COVID-19 surveillance team of the state government found out that the second

patient of the virus was first treated at the hospital before he was tested positive.

Dr. Ayub was among the employees of the hospital on quarantine.

As per a written complaint lodged by the additional director of state medical directorate with the Imphal East district police, Dr Ayub was found missing from the centre since April 5.

While stating that his leaving the centre was a risk to the general public, the complaint requested the police to take immediate action to trace him down.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “In Peace, I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, ‘O’ Lord make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 Through this column, we express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and every one who stood with us through physically, materially, financially and morally, constantly supported during the prolonged illness and sad demise of our beloved Late Holuvi Awomi.

Though it may not be possible for us to thank each and every one personally. May God bless each and every one of you abundantly.

We also convey our special gratitude to all.

1. Referral Hospital, Dimapur (CIHSR).

2. East Dimapur Sumi Baptist Church, Purana Bazaar.

3. Surumi Community, Dimapur.

4. Jorphukhuri, Purana Bazaar, Dimapur.

5. Toluvi Village Baptist Church, Dimapur.

6. Sumi Community, Semaguri Village, Dimapur.

Born: 14th August 1959 7. Surumi Community, Toluvi Village, Died: 26th March 2020 Dimapur.

8. Hope Self Help Group, Semaguri Village, Dimapur.

We deeply regret our inability to mention every individual personally but it is our humble prayer that our Almighty God bless you abundantly in return.

DP-2221

K Y M C

Loving Wife, Children, Relatives and Family Members.

gladesh, Nepal and Bhutan and asked the border guarding forces to maintain a strict vigil along the frontiers.

The DoNER ministry release said that the ministry and the NEC had sanctioned Rs 25 crore to eight northeastern states for gap funding to fight the COVID19 outbreak effectively.

“This fund can be utilised on any activity relating to COVID-19 pandemic and not covered under existing central packages. The flexibility of the funds would enable the states to respond quickly. This fund would be in addition to the funds otherwise allocated by the Ministry and the NEC to the northeastern states under the existing schemes,” the release added.

Of Rs 25 crore, Assam received the highest amount of Rs 5 crore followed by Arunachal Pradesh Rs 3.25 crore and Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland got Rs 3 crore each and Sikkim received Rs 1.75 crore.

Dimapur, Apr 6 (NPN): In a move to extend the availability and reach of online services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, EPFO has issued revised instructions to its field offices to facilitate PF members to rectify their date of birth in EPFO records and thus ensuring that their UAN is KYC compliant. The date of birth recorded in ‘Aadhaar’ will now be accepted as valid proof of date of birth for the purpose of rectification, provided that the difference in the two dates is less than 3 years, it informed.

The PF subscribers can submit the correction requests online which will enable EPFO to validate the date of birth of members online with UIDAI instantaneously, stated EPFO in a press statement. EPFO has also instructed field offices to expedite disposal of online requests, enabling PF members in financial distress, to apply online for availing non refundable advance from their PF accumulations to tide over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Correspondent

IMPHAL, Apr 6: The 23year-old girl who was the first COVID-19 patient not only in Manipur but in the entire Northeast was Monday declared completely recovered from the disease.

Manipur has only two COVID-19 confirmed cases so far. The 23-year-old girl who recently returned to Imphal from UK is currently at JNIMS hospital, Imphal while the second patient, a 65-year-old man, who has history of attending a religious congregation in Delhi is undergoing treatment at RIMS hospital.

Manipur government’s COVID-19 Common Control Room Monday declared that the first COVID-19 case of the state was tested and found negative.

“This is the second consecutive negative test in the last two days. She is likely to be discharged soon from JNIMS hospital,” an official release of the control room informed.

hospital authority declared that her latest COVID-19 test result turned out to be negative, subject to re-test after 24 hours.

State health and family welfare minister L Jayentakumar Singh congratulated the doctors and staff of JNIMS hospital after her re-test result turned out to be negative for the virus.

In a facebook post, the minister wrote that the much awaited final result of COVID-19 case test report has come out negative.

He posted “Now she is completely free from nCOVID-19 virus. It’s a huge achievement for the whole medical department in general and the doctors and staffs of JNIMS in particular.”

The minister then wrote, “Let’s continue to fight and endeavour more to ensure that our state is completely free from nCOVID19 spread.” He also reiterated government’s appeal to “Stay home, stay healthy”.

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Late Mr Hekhevi Achumi

Born: 27.11.1998 – Died: 29.03.2020 “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord”.

2 Corinthians 5:8 We, the bereaved family of Late Sergeant (Posthumous) C. Joseph Konyak, S/o S. Chingyem Konyak of Nyahnyu village, Mon District, would like to express our profound gratitude to all the individual and well wishers who stood by us spiritually, emotionally, materially and financially during the pain and sorrow at the sudden demise of our dear beloved on 29th March 2020.

We sincerely convey our special thanks to;1. NSCN/GPRN and Vice Chairman & his family 2. NSCN/GPRN Konyak Region 3. Shri. T.R Zeliang Opposition Leader NLA 4. Shri. Yollow Konyak MLA 5. Shri. Konngam Konyak Ex-MLA 6. Shri. S. Shingnyu Vice-President NPF Central 7. NPF Party Mon Division 8. Wayen Union Dimapur 9. Konyak Union Dimapur 10. Longzang Zen Union Dimapur 11. Wayen Union Tizit 12. Wayen Union Mon Town 13. Nyahnyu Society Mon Town 14. Nyahnyu Students’ Union 15. President, NPF, Nagaland & President, Central Women Wing NPF Party for the condolence messages.

We regret our inability to mention each and every one individually; however it is our humble prayer that Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

– Loving Family & Relatives DP-2224

Died on : 07.04.2019 Ecclesiastes - 11:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Ipu, It’s been a year since you passed away but it still feels like yesterday.

I hope you know how much you meant to us.

We still think about you everyday.

We love you and miss you.

DP-2222

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

From loving Wife, Children, In-laws and Grandchildren.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Psalms 73:28 – “But it is for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all the works”.

Born: 23.01.1960 – Died: 31.03.2020 Words are inadequate to express our heartfelt gratitude to one and all those who stood by us, shared our grief, sorrow and supported us spiritually, physically, financially and materially at the sad and untimely demise of our beloved Late Mapuangshi Aier on 31st March 2020.

We would like to convey our special thanks to: 1. SP Mokokchung and all high ranks and police personnel 2. Police Baptist Church Mokokchung 3. Mopungchuket Union Mokokchung 4. Kibenchang Semchir Telongjem 5. Mokokchung Civil Hospital Doctors & Nurses 6. Mokokchung Lenjem Hospital Doctors & Nurses 7. Neighbours, friends and relatives Loving Wife, Children and Grandson MKC-119

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "We know you'd be with us today if heaven wasn't so far away" We, the bereaved family members and relatives of Late Atomu Wotsa would like to express our earnest gratitude to each and every one who stood by us spiritually, physically and materially throughout the illness and sad demise of our beloved father on 1st April 2020.

We would like to thank and appreciate Thahekhu Village Baptist Church, WSBAK, Alato Baptist Church, Sakipheto Baptist Church, Nepali Baptist Church Thahekhu, Village Community Members, Doctors and Staff of Eden Medical Centre, Faith Hospital, various organisations, friends and well-wishers. We are profoundly blessed to have found strength and solace through your immense love and support.

We fall short of words to acknowledge each of you individually, but it is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God shower His abundant blessings upon you all.

DP-2223

Loving wife, children, in-laws and relatives.

LATE ATOMU WOTSA

Born : 23.12.1962 – Died : 01.04.2020 K Y M C

8

sports

Willian likely to leave Chelsea

Willian

Lo n d o n, A p r 6 (Agencies): Willian has revealed he is likely to leave Chelsea in the summer with some of Europe’s biggest clubs reportedly circling.

The Brazilian winger’s contract expires with the Blues at the end of the season amid interest from two former Chelsea bosses Maurizio Sarri at Juventus and Tottenham coach Jose Mourinho.

While Willian says he wants stay at Stamford Bridge, a disagreement over the length of contract will likely see the 31-yearold begin discussions with other clubs and sign a deal elsewhere.

“I’ve built something fantastic at Chelsea,” Willian told Fox Sports Brazil.

“I’m especially fond of the fans and the people that work there, and I’ve

felt very settled. Everyone knows my contract is up in a few months and it looks like it’ll be difficult to secure an extension. I think it’s unlikely that I’ll renew because Chelsea offered me a two-year deal, I asked for three and it ended there.”

“There were no more talks or negotiations. Chelsea said that three years would be impossible, so at the moment it seems

Serie A season could run to October, says Italian FA boss

ROME, Apr 6 (Agencies): The Serie A season could be extended to September or October, the head of the Italian FA (FIGC) said on Sunday, warning that there could be an “avalanche of litigation” if it was not settled on the field.

Serie A has been suspended since March 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed 15,887 lives in Italy, almost a quarter of the global death total. Several club presidents have suggested that the season should be called off.

“The only serious way to handle a serious emergency of this kind is to complete the 2019-2020 season competitions this year,” FIGC president Gabriele Gravina told state broadcaster RAI’s Domenica Sportiva programme.

“We are working on a whole series of possible

solutions to manage the situation in the best possible way.”

“Could it finish in September of October?

That is one hypothesis. It’s a way to avoid jeopardising not only the 2019-20 season but also the 2020-21 season.”

Gravina explained that if the current season was abandoned, Italian football could suffer “an

avalanche of litigation to which we would be subjected by all those who could be considered damaged in their rights and interests.”

This could include teams who were relegated and those who missed out on European football next season.

He added, “We would really run the risk of the championship taking place only in the courtrooms.”

Last Thursday, UEFA called on leagues around Europe to complete their seasons once football is able to restart.

The European governing body added that if a league was called off, its clubs might not be accepted into the Champions League and Europa League next season.

Gravina added that May 17 was being considered as a possible date for a restart but stressed that this was “an hypothesis”.

unlikely that I’ll extend, but nothing is impossible.

We don’t know what might happen. We might suddenly reach an agreement, but what I can say today is that my contract is up and I’ll be free to negotiate with any club.”

Willian has also been linked with a return to Brazil, but the Sao Paulo-born midfielder insists he wants to remain in Europe.

However, he revealed if he journeyed back to homeland, his first club Corinthians would be the team he wanted to join.

“At the moment I’m not thinking about going back to Brazil and my aim is to stay in Europe,” Willian said.

“I think there’s still scope for me to do that in the current market and continue playing at the top level for a few more years.

My target is to remain in Europe. If I do end up heading back to Brazil, Corinthians would be a great club for me to end my playing career at.”

“It’s where I broke through and I’m very fond of it. I’m a professional and wouldn’t rule any other clubs out, but as I do have a special bond with Corinthians, that would be more likely.”

BWF suspends all tourneys till July New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI): The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Monday suspended a host of its flagship international, junior and para tournaments scheduled from May to July in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It comprises many Grade 2 and 3 events including HSBC BWF World Tour, BWF Tour and other BWF-sanctioned tournaments.

According to a BWF release, the decision was taken in “close consultation and consensus” with the Host Member Associations (HMA) and Continental Confederations (CC).

The most prominent tournament affected during the period is the Indonesia Open 2020 (Super 1000).

Last week, the BWF froze the world rankings and world junior rankings until further notice, with the lists backdated to March 17, 2020.

I am preparing for 2021 Tokyo: Sushil Kumar New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI): “People have this perennial habit of writing me off now and then but it does not affect me,” says veteran wrestler Sushil Kumar, who has not only quashed his retirement talks but is rather bullish about his qualification for next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Already on the wrong side of 30s, Sushil was struggling to qualify for the Tokyo Games but the postponement of the quadrennial event has re-ignited his Olympic hopes.

The Summer Games, originally scheduled for July-August this year, were expected to be a swansong for many athletes including Sushil and veteran tennis star Leander paes but the one-year delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has put a questionmark over their retirement plans.

Set to turn 37 next month, Sushil, though, ruled out retirement.

“I am not going anywhere as of now. I have got more time and more time means better preparation,” Sushil told PTI in an interview.

Making a comeback at the 2019 World Championship, Sushil showed

Sushil Kumar

glimpses of his glorious past with two breathtaking four-point throws before he lost steam and made an early exit.

“Wrestling is such a sport that if you manage to remain injury-free, practice well, set a target and work on that, you can have a shot at that,” added Sushil, the only Indian to win two Olympic medals.

“I am still practising twice a day. Obviously I am not hitting the mat but I am trying to be in shape and God willing I will be able to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics,” Sushil said.

Sushil competes in the 74kg category in which India is yet to lock Olympic quota. But will he be able to

defy age-related issues?

“People were saying the similar things in 2011.

I know how to handle this.

It’s my daily job to manage it.”

Sushil was referring to doubts people cast in 2011 over his ability to repeat his Beijing’s bronze medalwinning show at the 2012 London Games. However, he ended up winning a silver in London.

The delay in Olympics has also brought Sushil’s old foe Narsingh Pancham Yadav in the picture since his four-year doping ban will be over in July and he will be eligible to have a shot at the Olympic qualification.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has

already said it will allow Narsingh to make a comeback.

Narsingh, on his part, said he too is eying a comeback.

All this has led to the wrestling circle in India to anticipate another Sushil vs Narsingh trial bout. The bitterness between the two is still fresh in fans’ minds.

When asked about the expected bout, Sushil said, “We will see when the time comes. What can I say now about this. All I can say is to congratulate Narsingh that he can restart his career. I wish him the best.”

Jitender Kumar is also doing a decent job as he recently won a bronze in 74kg at the Asian Championship.

Vihari picks Rohit as best ODI opener New Delhi, Apr 6 (IANS): With the coronavirus outbreak bringing the world to a standstill, Indian cricketers have taken to social media to interact with fans as they spend 21-day in lockdown. And batsman Hanuma Vihari in a Twitter session named Sachin Tendulkar as his favourite cricketer.

When it came to naming the best captains, Vihari used the diplomatic card and named both current captain Virat Kohli and former India skipper M.S. Dhoni. As for the best opener in ODIs, the Test specialist picked ODI deputy Rohit Sharma.

Earlier, former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody had said that given a choice, he would want to have David Warner and Rohit open the innings for him in T20 cricket. Former cricketers as well as current stars have been constantly interacting on social media ever since the coronavirus outbreak has seen the world come to a standstill.

Replying to a question on Twitter, Moody wrote, “Tough call, but I would be more than happy with @davidwarner31 and @ ImRo45.”

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

‘Messi is no forbidden dream for Inter’

Milan, Apr 6 (Agencies): Lionel Messi is not a “forbidden dream” for Inter and the Serie A giants will rekindle their interest in the Argentine if no contract extension is agreed at Barcelona, claims Massimo Moratti.

The former Nerazzurri president did his best to put a stunning deal in place for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner during his time at San Siro.

Messi left the door ajar for a move to be made, with the South American talking up his admiration for the Italian outfit. That offered Inter hope, but prising an all-time great away from Camp Nou was never going to be easy.

Messi has remained a one-club man, with fresh terms agreed in Catalunya at regular intervals. The 32-year-old is, however, yet to commit his future to Barca beyond 2021, despite the best efforts of the Liga champions.

There is an exit clause in his current terms that will allow him to walk away at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, with the likes of Manchester City and Inter once again being credited with interest.

Moratti, who once lured Ronaldo to Milan from Barcelona, believes

Lionel Messi

there is an outside chance of Messi being talked into joining eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo in Serie A. He told Radio Rai, “I don’t think it’s a forbidden dream at all. Maybe it wasn’t even before this misfortune [the coronavirus lockdown].”

“Messi is at the end of his contract and it would certainly be attempted to bring him home. I don’t know if this situation will change anything, but I think we will see strange things at the end of the year.”

Amid the talk of Messi potentially leaving Barcelona for Inter, speculation is building regard-

ing a switch for Lautaro Martinez in the opposite direction. The highly-rated 22-year-old Argentina international is said to have emerged as a top target for the Blaugrana.

Moratti is a big fan of Lautaro, having seen him record 16 goals in the 2019-20 campaign, and admits that Inter may look to land Messi as part of any deal which takes one exciting talent away from their ranks.

He added, “He is a very good lad, he cares about his career, but as I said before, we have to see if it’s part of an operation for bigger players like Messi.”

Vijender hopes career will resume in 2nd half of 2020 New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI): The planning has gone out of the window thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic but hope is intact for India’s professional boxing star Vijender Singh, who is optimistic of resuming his currently on-hold career in the second half of the year.

Unbeaten in the circuit with 12 wins, Vijender is contracted with Hall of Famer Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions in the US, which has been ravaged by the deadly outbreak with the death toll nearing 10,000.

“I was supposed to fight in May but that is cancelled for now because of the current situation.

But I am hopeful things will improve and I will get to fight later in the year. I think it will work out,” the 34-year-old, who holds the distinction of being India’s first Olympic medallist in boxing, told PTI. “Obviously, I am at a loss but there is nothing that can be done. So, you just make peace with it and wait

‘F1 in very fragile state’ London, Apr 6 (IANS): McLaren boss Zak Brown has said that the coronavirus pandemic has plunged Formula One into “a very fragile state”.

The opening eight races of the 2020 season have been either cancelled or postponed, with major doubts over the 14 remaining ones, as the pandemic continues. “This is potentially devastating to teams, and if (it is devastating) to enough teams then it’s very threatening to F1 as a whole,” Brown told local media on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

“In fact, I could see four teams disappearing if this isn’t handled the right way,” he added.

Former Formula One boss Ber nie Ecclestone has already said that the 2020/21 Championship should be cancelled.

“We should stop the championship this year and start again next year, hopefully, because I can’t see it’s going to be possible to get the right number of races in that count for a championship,” the 89-year-old told BBC Radio.

“There’s got to be eight from memory, and I can’t see them getting that in. It’s a difficult situation.”

for things to normalise,” he added.

The 34-year-old said he is continuing to train at home in Delhi to stay in shape.

“I have everything at home to ensure that I don’t need to step out. I do my training on my own, which is not unusual because I have the luxury of a trainer only when I am in England,” he said.

Vijender’s trainer is Manchester-based Lee Beard, who joins him a few weeks before his fights.

“The idea is to keep my body in shape for whenever the action resumes. I am doing it at home because in any case, you cannot move out,” he said.

The boxer is also an active politician and fought Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket last year.

Vijender has been actively questioning the government response to the pandemic, which has led to over 100 deaths so far in the country. He said it is not just

Vijender Singh during a training session.

his right but also his responsibility as a public figure.

“I have spoken to doctors who tell me that we should be testing more people. I hope it is being done.

We can only hope that the situation doesn’t get worse, look at what’s happening around the world, it’s scary,” he said.

“So I do raise questions on how we are doing. We all should even if it comes with a bit of trolling, we should not stop asking for better,”

he added.

And it’s not that he isn’t doing his bit in the crisis.

“I avoid getting into mass-feeding of people because that would ensure that social distancing goes for a toss, defeating the whole purpose of a lockdown. So what I do is ensure that ration reaches needy families,” he said.

“I am directly in touch with people and reach out wherever there is a requirement,” he said.

German clubs resume training amid tight COVID-19 restrictions

Bayern Munich to train players in small groups to minimise the risk of infection.

BERLIN, Apr 6 (Agencies): Bundesliga clubs returned to team training on Monday, with players split in small groups or pairs and kept at a safe distance amid strict measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

German soccer has been suspended for almost a month and the German Football League (DFL) has said the ban will remain in place for the top divisions at least until April 30.

Clubs, however, were given the all clear from their state authorities and the DFL to resume training this week, with champions Bayern Munich deciding to

train players in small groups to minimise the risk of infection.

“Obviously all health guidelines are being adhered to,” the club said in a statement.

“Obviously the training is closed to the public. FC Bayern are asking fans to continue following guidelines and please do not come to the team’s training centre.”

The Bavarians trained in groups of five but without any contact, just like Borussia Moenchengladbach, VfL Wolfsburg and others.

Bottom club Paderborn also trained in small groups with coach Steffen Baum-

gart saying it was important for the players to be back on the pitch.

“It is important that players get the ball on their feet again,” Baumgart said.

“That is why we have created the training sessions in such a way that ball activities are the focus.”

Weight and fitness sessions will be done individually, he said.

Eintracht Frankfurt trained in pairs.

Despite the training resumption the DFL made it clear last week it was not known if or when the season would resume, and the stop in play has also had major financial effects on clubs.

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