7 Feb 22

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXII No. 62

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00

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INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9

Lata Mangeshkar, India's legend passes away Govt declares 2-day national mourning MUMBAI, FEB 6 (PTI): B h a r a t ’s ‘ r a t n a ’ L a t a Mangeshkar was cremated with full state honours here on Sunday, her life and death testimony that end of an era is not always a cliché and sometimes carries a ring of truth that imprints itself into lasting memory. She was 92.

The Government of India has declared national mourning for two days in memory of the iconic singer Lata Mangeshkar. The national flag will fly at half mast from February 6 to February 7 throughout India.

There will also be no official entertainment in this period.

The Maharashtra government also announced a public holiday as well as one-day mourning on Monday as a mark of respect to melody queen Lata Mangeshkar. A statement from the chief minister's office informed about the one-day mourning and the public holiday. Mangeshkar, whose voice stirred millions of hearts everyday and who will forever be counted as one of India's greats with an

State logs 34 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths DIMAPUR, FEB 6 (NPN): Nagaland on Sunday recorded 34 fresh Covid-19 positive cases while two more patients succumbed to the infection.

Of the fresh cases, 23 were from Dimapur, 10 in Kohima and one in Phek, taking the total Covid-19 caseload to 34856.

Further, two more patients succumbed to the virus in Dimapur, pushing the death toll to 743 (including 4 non-Covid deaths but with positivity).

As on February 6, a total of 14,19,164 personsn had been inoculated against Covid-19 (803300 first dose and 615864 second dose) while 15241 received their booster dose.

A total of 49889 teenagers also received their first dose of Covaxin.

Meanwhile, India on Sunday reported 1,07,474 new Covid cases in a span of 24 hours, taking the nationwide caseload to 42,188,138, the Health ministry said.

Further, a total of 865 new deaths were also reported taking the toll to 5,01,979.

This is it!

“Even after budget presentation, the govt continues to modify it every week.”

K Y M C

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays his last respects to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, at Shivaji Park, in Mumbai, Sunday. (PTI)

estimated 25,000 songs in an almost eight-decade career, died in Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital on Sunday morning due to multiple organ failure.

Flames licked the rapidly darkening sky as her brother Hridyanath Mangeshkar lit the funeral pyre at Shivaji Park and a nation held its collective breath as it were, many searching through their mental -- and digital -- songbooks to identify their favourite Mangeshkar number.

The haunting strains of “Rahein na rahein hum, mehka karenge”, “Ae mere watan ke logon” and “Nam gum jaayega” played in the backdrop as politicians, film stars and the many thousands whose lives she had

touched with her music paid their last respects to her.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also in Shivaji Park to pay tribute to the singer whose name was written into legend long before she took her last breath.

Also, there were chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, MNS supremo Raj Thackeray and actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

Earlier in the afternoon, as a flower-bedecked cortege went from her Peddar Road home to Shivaji Park, surging crowds of mourners walked along, many thousands lined the 10-kilometre route and millions tuned into their screens -- to say goodbye to the woman who had been an integral part of their

lives and to fuse into memory a moment in contemporary history.

Mangeshkar, one of India’s most well known and well loved personalities who voiced songs for actors down generations, died at 8.12 am, almost a month after she admitted to hospital with mild Covid symptoms, her doctor said. She was also diagnosed with pneumonia.

The Indore-born Mangeshkar is survived by her siblings Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridaynath. Her coffin was draped in the tricolour and placed on the hearse draped in white flowers with a giant photograph of the singer known as “Nightingale of India”, “melody queen” or simply “Lata didi”.

CONDOLENCES

As millions mourned her and said thank you for your music, the tributes came pouring in with President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi leading a heartbroken nation in remembering her.

But hers was an appeal that transcended boundaries. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapakse and Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari were among those who condoled the death of the singing maestro.

“Lata-ji's demise is heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over. In her vast range of songs, rendering the essence and beauty of India, generations found expression of their inner-most emotions. A Bharat Ratna, Lata-ji's accomplishments will remain incomparable,” Kovind said.

The prime minister said he is “anguished beyond words”. “The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people,” he said in a tweet.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said she remained the “most beloved voice of India for many decades” and added that her immortal golden voice will continue to echo in the hearts of her fans. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio also took to twitter and expressed pain by the news of the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar.

“Indian cinema and music will never be the same again.

My heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.

May the departed soul rest in peace,” Rio tweeted.

U-19 WC: India outclass England; clinch record-extending 5th title SPORTS, PAGE 12

No reason to delay CoI, SIT reports: Konyak CSOs DIMAPUR, FEB 6 (NPN): Konyak Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Sunday asserted that there was no reason for the Central and State governments to delay the reports of Court of Inquiry and SIT respectively on the Oting incident when top officials of Indian Army and the Centre had already officially admitted the mistake and expressed regrets.

In a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind, which was sent through Mon deputy commissioner and copies of which were marked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of opposition in Lok Shaba, Union home minister Amit Shah, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi and chief minister Neiphiu Rio, they said that when the involvement of 21 Para commandos and jawans was evident and accepted by the government, the law must take its own course.

They demanded also that all officers, special commandos and jawans involved must be arrested immediately and their names shared in public domain to ensure transparent trial.

They stressed that the

Say, will continue to abstain from national day events till justice delivered; demand repeal of AFSPA assurance to take appropriate action against the culprits of Oting killings by top Central government officials, including Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane, should not be fictional.

Following the Oting incident, they said the onus was now on the Central government to show to people of the Northeast and to the global community what India really was, and that it was its responsibility to act on the matter.

The CSOs also declared that they would continue to abstain from national day celebrations until justice was delivered to the victims of the Oting massacre adding that there was no alternative to and substitute for justice.

They also reiterated

their demand for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 at the earliest.

The CSOs further asserted that they would continue with their non-cooperation against the Indian Army and warned Konyak citizens that violating this directive would be dealt with as per Konyak customary laws. No matter how much the forces might connive to suppress the movement for justice, they said the Konyaks would stand firmly on the side of history that respected, honoured and valued the lives of 14 innocent brothers lost at Oting and aftermath.

They insisted that the government must be unequivocally on the side of the victims by delivering speedy justice.

Mentioning that they were deeply anguished and that their sorrow did not subside since the December 4 and 5 incidents at Oting and Mon district, the CSOs stated that it was unimaginable how soulless the perpetrators were.

They said resentment against Indian Army and the government inaction

(Cont’d on p-8)

Pochury community to pursue dist demand DIMAPUR, FEB 6 (NPN): A consultative meet of Pochury community under the aegis of Pochury Hoho on Saturday pledged to tirelessly pursue the issue of a separate district with oneness cutting across party lines till the goal was achieved.

In a statement, Pochury Hoho president Chonpa Jerry and general secretary Sierhosie said that the long-pending demand for a separate district was side-lined and neglected by the State government, which pained the hearts of the members of the community.

The meeting thanked legislator Yitachu for showing his deep concern and supporting the hoho’s demand

in this regard. The House also expressed gratitude to Pochury Gazetted Officers' Forum (PGOF) and Meluri Village Council for assuring to give financial assistance and intellectual inputs to the district demand, besides appreciating MAPO for assuring to provide sufficient land if any requisition was made by the government for setting up district headquarters.

It was also decided that the draft paper by PGOF would be submitted to the government through Meluri ADC with reference to earlier memorandum and submit the same on February 15 as part of the silent procession.

As the memorandum

Rainfall likely over NE states

DIMAPUR, FEB 6 (NPN): The India Meteorological Department has predicated widespread rainfall with thunderstorms likely over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and the Northeast including some parts of Nagaland in the next few days.

According to AccuWeather report, the temperature in Tuensang and Noklak dropped to 1°C

by Sunday night, while in Zunheboto and Phek the temperature dipped to 2°C,

Kohima at 4°C while Dimapur recorded 13°C. Under the influence of a feeble western disturbance, rainfall or snowfall is very likely over the Western Himalayan region including the North East in the next two-three days. According to Met department, some areas of Himachal Pradesh, north Rajasthan, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura will experience dense fog during the next 2 days.

Railways cancel 749 trains NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Cold wave continues to grip the northern parts of India even as foggy conditions led to 749 trains being cancelled. Dense fog and low visibility also led Indian Railways to change origin stations of 34 trains and short terminate 32. “The trains have been cancelled due to due to operational reasons and weather condition,” railways said.

India Meteorological Department has warned of widespread rainfall with thunderstorms over sub-

Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and Northeast India during the next 24 hours, PTI report stated.

Most of the cancelled trains run between Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Gujarat among others.

Railways requested passengers to check train details at https://enquiry.indianrail. gov.in/mntes or NTES app before planning their trip.

would be signed by all VCCs and head GBs of every village along with all frontal organization, the meeting directed all VCCs and head GBs to reach the Hoho’s conference hall on February 15 at 10 am along with their seals.

It was also decided that the draft paper of PGOF would be submitted to hoho office before February 12.

The House also decided that further action plan on district demand would be initiated by Pochury Hoho. Representatives of PGOF, PMA, PSU, PGBU, PIL, PPO, KAPO, MAPO and office bearers and executive members of Pochury Hoho took part in the consultative meeting.

Organizations object to shifting of EAC Longshen Hqs DIMAPUR, FEB 6 (NPN): Tangnyu Village Council (TVC), Sheanghah Chingnyu Council (SCC), Yuching Village Council (YVC) and stakeholders of Longshen town have warned that if the proposal for shifting EAC headquarters from Longshen was approved by the State government, there would be unrest among the stakeholders who had been together for the last 40 years.

A joint statement issued

by Tangyin, Gangnan, Yoakjun and Hojan on behalf of TVC, SCC, YVC and stakeholders of Longshen town respectively, said that land donor villages of Tangnyu and Sheanghah Chingnyu had a “customary agreement”, which had already been submitted to Spot Verification Committee of Longshen area. They cautioned that if the EAC headquarters was shifted, then there would be land dispute issue between the two villages.

Further, they said the government should also think about 557 individuals from 103 households of Longshen town as where they would go and (Cont’d on p-8) live.

K Y M C

Khehovi graces Yehemi village centenary celebration DIMAPUR, FEB 6 (NPN): Advisor for Tourism, Art and Culture H Khehovi Yeputhomi graced the Yehemi village 100 years centenary on February 6 at Yehemi village.

Speaking at the programme, the advisor congratulated Yehemi villagers for attaining 100 years of Christianity. He said Yehemi is one of blessed villages who have produced many prominent leaders in government sectors and national workers.

Khehovi informed that Yehemi is the parent village of 13 villages as there are altogether 13 villages who have migrated from Yehemi village and have established separate villages.

The advisor urged Yehemi villagers to continue to count their manifold blessings and thank God because they themselves have been the witnesses for

H Khehovi Yeputhomi speaking at the programme.

the past 100 years after embracing Christianity in their village. He told Yehemi people to live life as an example to the world by exhibiting the life of 100 years maturity as a Christian.

The advisor said it was his constant appeal to the people of his constituency living in towns to construct houses in their respective villages. He maintained

that Yehemi village is presently the perfect example because almost all the Yehemi town dwellers have constructed their own respective houses in the village, for which he lauded them and added that Yehemi village have now apparently become like a well-developed town and further appealed other villages to follow suit.

STATE

NEWS IN BRIEF

Handicraft festival at Noklak: Naturally Nagaland and Noklak Handicraft Festival 2022 would be held on February 9 at Public Ground, Noklak under the theme, “Towards Sustainability”.

DRSU combined meeting: Dimapur Rengma Students’ Union (DRSU) has convened its second combined meeting with seniors and advisors to discuss on upcoming 20th general session-cum-induction programme on February 9, 3 p.m., at the residence of advisor, Akhu Kath. All concerned have been informed to be present.

ANA holds general body-cum-annual session: The general body-cum-annual session of Association of Nagaland Architects (ANA) was held on February 1 at Kohima. The programme was chaired by retired regional chief of HUDCO, Arenla Imsong. Medozho Zango, who is the senior-most architect in the State exhorted the members. Apokla Jamir shared on the experiences and challenges faced by architects in the State. The new team will be headed by Tarachu Fithu as president, Apokla Jamir as vice president, Kekhrieneizo Tetso as general secretary, Chubakumla Pongner as joint secretary and Nugnsangwati as treasurer.

NPCC minority department mourns Lata’s demise: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) minority department has expressed deep sorrow over the death of noted playback singer and Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar who breathed her last on February 6.In a condolence message, NPCC minority department chairman Rajesh Kr Sethi stated that it has been indeed a great loss to the nation and the entire world that we lost a great legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar ji. NPCC said she left a permanent impression for the last 8 decades in playback singing. It further said the legendary singer has been the queen of Indian music for decades overcoming language barriers with her melodious voice. NPCC minority wished the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.

Mushroom cultivation training at Peducha

Participants and officials after the training programme at Peducha.

D I M A PAU R , F E B 6 (NPN): A training programme on mushroom cultivation was conducted under Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) from Kiruphema at Peducha on February 6 organised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in collaboration with Kenei Kro-u

Kiruphema (KKK).

Senior scientist and head Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kohima, Dr. Ruokuovilie Mezhatsu delivering the keynote address said that mushroom cultivation is one of the shortest, low cost and fastest viable income generat-

ing among the horticulture entrepreneurship as the farmer can start harvesting within a short time.

Mezhatsu also said that the training on mushroom cultivation will not only help to generate immediate income but uplift the economic sustain-

parameters deciding growth and yield of the plant; rain sensor; Soil Temperature & Moisture at four depths 10cm, 30cm, 70cm and 100cm for knowing real time moisture and temperature for planning the right seeds for plantation, ground water information and other valuable parameters; Air Temperature & Humidity; Real time data, which all above parameters is available at IMD web site (every 15 minutes interval) site for with GIS mapping of Agro parameters very useful for Agriculture planning and implementation. (aws.imd. gov.in:8091); 10 m foldable mast and accessories with fencing.

Further, the data is ingested into the hydrodynamic models along with other AWS data from other parts of India, Upper Air, Radar and Satellite data for issuing timely forecast and weather warnings etc for Nagaland state. The forecast is valid for five days.

It may be mentioned that the Department of Soil and Water Conservation is currently operating 17 meteorological observatories.

Administrative seminar for church leaders at NBC Chümou A total of 24 church leaders from different church department participated in the programme.

Fr o m a s s o c i a t i o n of the Gorkha Baptist Churches Nagaland, women secretary, Beena Thapa; mission secretary, Hari Magar; finance secretary, Norbu Lama and youth secretary, Shishir Lama were the resource persons in the training session.

Church pastor Dawa Lama expressed gratitude Participants and resource persons after the seminar. to the resource persons D I M A P U R , F E B 6 for the church leaders un- on February 5 and 6 at Ne- who had spared their valu(NPN): A two-day admin- der Nepali Baptist Church pali Baptist Church Chü- able time in educating the istrative seminar training Chümoukedima was held moukedima. church leaders.

K Y M C

NASU coaching for HSLC students underway

Students and NASU officials on the first day of HSLC coaching.

DIMAPUR: Niuland Area Students’ Union (NASU) organised free coaching classes for HSLC students which got underway from February 1, 2022.

In a press release, info and publicity secretary, Kikavi K Jimo informed that NASU led by president T Kavika initiated the free

coaching class for deprived students of Niuland area who would be sitting for the HSLC examination 2022.

The release informed that the purpose of the coaching classes was also to help deprived students who did not have access to hostel facilities or tuition.

Earlier, SBAN chil-

dren pastor, Lovi I Shikhu said a prayer for the students.

The coaching class sponsored by ex-candidate 4 Ghaspani-I, Kasheto Z Yepthomi, would continue till the first week of March, the release further informed.

Altogether, 56 students have been enrolled.

IMFL seized, destroyed at Kisama village

ability to the farmers and urged all the participants to make the best use of what they have learned from the training and start generating income to become selfreliant.

In technical session, the hand-on training on cultivation of Oyster Mushroom through Paddy Straw was conducted by master trainer assistant chief technical officer (Horticulture) KVK Kohima, Khekali Sema.

Trainees were introduced with medicinal, nutritional and its economic benefits on how one can sustain for its livelihood.

E a r l i e r, t h e p r o gramme was conducted by president KKK, Neilhoulie Vielie, invocation by Neiviko-ü Suohumvü and welcome address was delivered by Makolie Suosahie.

Deputy director general IMD-NE visits Nagaland DIMAPUR: Deputy director general, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD-NE), Dr. K. N. Mohan, arrived in Kohima on February 6, along with Scientist-E, IMD, Sunit Das, to attend the commissioning programme of two Agromet Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) installed at KVK Yisemyong and KVK Lumami.

On their way to Mokokchung, the officials visited two proposed sites for installation of X-Band Dr. K. N. Mohan and Sunit Das, at proposed Doppler Radar at Jotsoma installation of doppler radar at Meriema. and Meriema to check the feasibility and one proposed and non-functional parts of the AWS site for installation of Aviation AWS will be replaced immediately. at Secretariat Plaza helipad.

Under the initiative of Ministry In addition, the officials also of Earth Sciences, Government of visited Automatic Weather Stations India, the Indian Meteorological (AWS) installed at District Soil Con- Department (IMD) in coordination servation office, Dimapur; Soil and with the department of Soil & Water Water Conservation Training and Conservation is working closely for Research Centre, Sechu; Director- improvement of weather-related ate of Soil and Water Conservation, services in the State.

Kohima and District Soil ConserAutomatic Weather Stations vation Office, Wokha. During the (AWS) consists of wind monitoring visit, some equipment were found at 10m and 3m height; radiation outdated and some non-functional. sensor for monitoring photo synDr. Mohan assured that the obsolete thesis and other radiation related

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

Police, administrative officials and Phesama and Kigwema Women Society during the destruction of IMFL.

DIMAPUR: A huge quantity of Indian Manufactured Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and other banned substances were seized and destroyed on February 5 at Kisama Naga Heritage village in the presence of SDO Civil Jakhama, Ruopfukuotuo Noudi (NCS), and hosts of village elders.

The seized and destruction ceremony was organised by Phesama and Kigwema Women Society led by SDO Civil Jakhama, Ru o p f u k u o t u o N o u d i (NCS), head GB Kigwema village, Neisakuolie Mera,

Southern Angami Women Organisation, president Khriesino, Phesama village chairman, Beizo M Kuotsu and Kigwema village chairman Balie Kere.

On behalf of Jakhama circle administration SDO (Civil) expressed his gratitude to the organisers for their initiatives against such unwanted social elements happening in the area and assured continued support of their good works.

A dv i s o r P h e s a m a Women Society, Zasibeino Tacu highlighted the stand

and activities of Kigwema and Phesama against sales of IMFL and illegal activities particularly at Kisama and stated that this joint venture of students, youths and women will be a continued process in phase manner. It is also informed that the present case was endorsed to department of Tourism for necessary further action including cancellation of permit/ allotment.

President Southern Angami, Khriesino Rita reminded some past bitter memories at Naga Heritage

NSCN/GPRN (Akato) mourns

DIMAPUR: The NSCN/ GPRN (Akato Chophi) has expressed pain at the unfortunate demise of secretary Takotoshi Longkumer, who breathed his last on February 6. In a condolence note, NSCN/GPRN through its MIP said that late Toshi hails from Nokpu village, Mokokchung and a resident of Padumphukri, Dimapur, who served in the ‘Naga National Movement’ under various capacities and through his sincerity, seniority and qualification, rose to the rank of full-fledged

Village and warned such occurrences in the near future while applauding the good initiatives of the two good neighboring village concerted efforts for the cause.

It may be mentioned that, Naga Heritage Village Kisama run and manage by the Tourism Department has been a management loopholes, thus, sales of banned Indian Manufactured Foreign Liquors (IMFL) within Kisama complex is frequented against the wishes of local people for so long.

25th Death anniversary

secretary.

NSCN/GPRN stated late Toshi, was mostly associated with the Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB) department for the most part of his national service, who was well versed with the CFSB mechanism.

“In his demise, we have lost an experienced comrade, a noble soul and dearest friend and our heart deeply grieves, beyond comprehension at his departure”, it added. The NSCN/ GPRN prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

1st Death anniversary

in Loving MeMory oF Lt. ravoLeLie Chatsu

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear”.

A year has passed since you left us, yet your memories with us still 25.03.1979 – 07.02.2021 lives on. You are dearly remembered and deeply missed.

DP-581/22

Loving wife, daughter and Family members

Imnalepden Longchar (Lirmen) 7th February 1997 Today marks 25 years since your passing and we wish you would have been here to see your legacy. You were always so proud of having 4 daughters and I hope we all did you proud.

You were an amazing husband to our mom and a loving father to all of us. Thank you for showing us all how to stick up for each other. You left us behind with just 5 of us and with your blessing here we are today, 17 of us remembering you fondly and celebrating your life.

DP-580/22

2

Fondly remembered by: Tarepyangla (Wife) Atula, Amongla, Ayula, Sentinaro (Daughters) Joseph, Shilu, Shwin Ghildiyal, Khekaho (Sons-in-law) Ruseli, Joel, Aben, Moalong, Naomi, Kavika, Aiko & Ashiana (Grandchildren) K Y M C

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Was Rahul Gandhi’s speech in parliament impressive?

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

A B C

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

A

B

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

C

68% 20% 12%

NEXT POLL

Q: Is u n e m p l oy m e n t

a d e e p p ro b l e m i n Nagaland ?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST FEBRUARY 7

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazy sunshine

24 10

Sunshine

20 6

Guwahati Partly sunny and nice

23 12

Aizawl Imphal

Mostly sunny

21 4

Itanagar Sunshine and patchy clouds

19 9

Shillong

A passing afternoon shower

14 3

Kohima

Mostly sunny and cool

15 4

Dimapur Mostly sunny and nice

21 9

Partly sunny and cool

18 7

Mkg

Tuensang Mostly sunny and colder

10 3

Mostly sunny and cooler

15 8

Wokha

Zunheboto Partly sunny and cool

14 5

Industry dept using drones to lift Lakadong turmeric in Meghalaya

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (PTI): The commerce and industry ministry on Saturday said it is promoting use of drones for transportation of famous Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya to other parts of the country with an aim to resolve first mile connectivity issues of farmers from the hinterland.

Lakadong turmeric has been identified under the One District, One Product (ODOP) Initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a product with huge potential for growth and export from West Jaintia Hills, a district of Meghalaya.

“West Jaintia Hills today witnessed the firstof-its-kind Fly-Off Event to demonstrate the use of novel and innovative drone/UAV technology for payload delivery, that could serve as a model of solving the first mile connectivity issues for Lakadong Turmeric farmers from the hinterland,” the ministry said in a statement.

Sumita Dawra, Ad-

West Jaintia Hills witnessed the Fly-Off Event to demonstrate the use of novel and innovative drone. ditional Secretary, DPIIT said that this event was a first step towards showcasing the innovative solutions that can propel first mile connectivity.

The flyoff event would not only to give a fillip to the ODOP initiative but also leverage modern technology as a fundamental solution to overcome the bottleneck of transportation that acts as a barrier in realizing the optimal

potential of this spice from Meghalaya, she said.

Despite India being the world’s largest turmeric producer and exporter, turmeric imports had also been increasing.

It said that in spite of the highest curcumin content and excellent potential for domestic sales and export, Lakadong turmeric faces severe market access issues due to the remoteness of the location,

topography and terrain.

“Thus, buyers have to incur additional costs to transport the goods from the villages via local pickup trucks till the major transporters’ loading point.

Additional costs of transportation and delays in the same act as barriers / disincentives for the buyer in the process of procurement,” it added.

This turmeric has the highest curcumin content of 7-9 per cent(in comparison to 3 per cent or less in other varieties). Meghalaya has also applied for a Geographical Indication tag for Lakadong turmeric.

The percentage of curcumin and oleoresin content in turmeric determines its demand by the industry and the price. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric.

India exported USD 236.5 million worth of turmeric in 2018 from USD 182.53 million in 2017.

India produces 78 per cent of the world’s turmeric. In 2018-19, turmeric production was 389 thousand tonnes.

Silchar MP confident of MMLP at Salcharpa Arunachal Gov extends SILCHAR, FEB 6: Amidst the speculations on the fate of the much talked about Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Barak Valley, Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy told newsmen that the Salchapra area under the Borkhola constituency of Cachar district has been zeroed in for setting up of the project, reports The Assam Tribune .

“We have been working on this for the past nine months and already the Government has asked TATA group and a Japan-based group CBRE to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the MMLP which would be set up across a sprawling 115 bigha (approximately) of land area.

We liked and have zeroed in on the Salchapra area here and the site looked to be conducive for meeting the objectives of setting up the MMLP. I have had

Dr Rajdeep Roy talks with the Panchayat level leaders and they are convinced about the revolutionary change which is on the cards with the manifestation of the MMLP,” Dr Roy said on the sidelines of detailing the media on the varied aspects of the recently announced union budget.

He was quick to inform that he would meet the Union Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and talk on the issue and allied matters as well. It may be mentioned that the Union Minister, during his visit to

Silchar back in 2020, had assured that like in Jogighopa, a Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP) will be set up in Barak Valley soon.

Further, terming the recently announced budget as a visionary and futuristic step taken by the Central Government, the Silchar MP elaborated on the plausible aspects including PM Gati Shakti from the budget and how the people of the country will benefit from the budget. Rajdeep Goala, spokesperson of State BJP also underscored the opportunities of the union budget announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman for the people of the country.

“The budget announced this year is a comprehensive budget eyeing on the position the country aspires to achieve in 2047. The rise in capital expenditure is a significant point for asset creation,” Goala said.

Boori Boot Yullo greetings

Dr BD Mishra I TA NAG A R , F E B 6 (AGENCIES): Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr BD Mishra on Saturday greeted the people of the State on the festive occasion of Boori Boot Yullo, reports The Sentinel Assam.

H e ex p r e s s e d t h e hope that the festival will promote amity and unity among people. In his message, the Governor said that Boori Boot Yullo is an

expression of traditional cultural practices, faith and belief system of tribal forebears.

“This festival is celebrated as a mark of culture of co-existence, peace and harmony in the society.

I wish that this festival continues to bring about social cohesion in the community and endorses care and possessiveness for the environment amongst the present and future generations,” he said. “May these festive rituals invoke the spirit of Boori Boot and bless one and all with positivity, good health and prosperity,” Mishra said in his message. The Governor also appealed to the people to strictly comply with the COVID-19 protocol and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour to remain safe from the pandemic.

Draft Bill soon to weed out fake STs, says AAPSU I TA NAG A R , F E B 6 (AGENCIES): The All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has informed that the State Government has accepted to table the draft ‘Offspring Bill’ in the ensuing State Assembly session, reports The Sentinel Assam.

Speaking to the reporters, AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said that the union had a final meeting on Saturday with the Minister SJETA Alo Libang on the recommendations provided by

various CBOs, AITF and the union on the offspring issue.

He said that the Minister, who is also the chairman of the offspring issue panel, has agreed to send the recommendation for Cabinet approval, and accordingly give consent.

“We are hopeful that the issue will be solved irreversibly for the greater interest of the State because it concerns not the union alone but all the indigenous tribes of the State,” Dai said. Dai said that the

prime recommendation during the meeting was to come up with a law that checks the illegal obtaining of ST certificate by a nonAPST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) man married to an APST girl.

He said there are many such cases where a non-APST child owns an ST certificate, thereby enjoying the rights of the indigenous, which will pose a threat in future.

There are even many nonAPST people working in the State civil secretariat

having ST certificates, he further claimed. “Because of the lack of rigid law, many Non-APST are enjoying the ST rights in the State.

Therefore, the union’s prime recommendation is to come up with a law that checks such cases,” he said, adding that there are more conditions which will be in the public domain later.

He said that fraudulently-obtained ST certificates will also be cancelled as presently there is a law

which allows the administrative officers to do so.

Dai also said the union is aware of and working on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary issue.

He said that Chief Minister Pema Khandu has a positive response to the matter and has also assured earlier to table the draft ‘Offspring Bill’ in the next State Assembly session.

AAPSU in December last year had held a meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss the matter.

Daria Hill receives snowfall after 34-years Tripura: Teacher accused of

molesting student in Khowai

ITANAGAR, FEB 6 (PTI): Daria Hill near Itanagar received snowfall after 34 years and Rupa town in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district witnessed snowfall after two decades, official sources said.

Many high altitude areas of the frontier state like Tawang (10,200 ft), BomK Y M C

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dila (7,923 ft), Mechukha (6,200 ft), Ziro (5,5538 ft) and Daria Hill near Itanagar, Rupa town in West Kameng district, Dirang town and Anini in Dibang valley witnessed heavy snowfall on Saturday, the sources said. They said high altitude areas like Tawang and Bomdila receive snowfall every

year but Daria Hill received snowfall after 34 years as it had last recorded snowfall in 1988.

Rupa town received snowfall after 20 years, Dirang town after nearly 15 years while Anini in Dibang valley recorded snowfall after five years, the sources said.

AGARTALA, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Tripura police arrested a government teacher at Khowai district for allegedly molesting a students on the day of Saraswati Puja celebration.

Local sources informed that the accused teacher has been identified as Soumen Chowdhur y, who stopped the girl while she was proceeding towards her house after celebrating Saraswati Puja at her school located at Bharat Sardar Para Higher Secondary School.

The girl’s parents claimed that the accused person groped her. One of her family members said “After returning

home, she did not disclose anything before us, rather her behaviour was not normal. Later, she even tried to commit suicide”.

Speaking to reporters, SDPO of Khowai sub-division, Nirdesh Deb said, “The accused teacher has been arrested already. Family members of the victim did not file complaint initially. Soon after the information reached the police, the accused was arrested. The case is now under further investigation right now.”

Notably, the accused was the former teacher of the victim’s school and now has been transferred to another school at Unakoti district.

Tripura govt to introduce award in Lata Mangeshkar’s name, says Biplab Kumar AGARTALA, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Sunday announced that his government will introduce a cultural award in the name of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.

While speaking to the reporters after paying floral tributes to the portrait on Sunday, Deb said that he can’t take the decisions unilaterally. There is a department for cultural affairs that looks after such things. ‘’Certainly, the matter will be discussed in appropriate forums as well as in the state cabinet before any concrete decision as there is a public sentiment associated with the singer,’’ he added.

While recalling his childhood memories, he said,’’ I grew up listening to the classic duets by Lata Ji and Kishore Kumar.

These songs were either composed by SD Barman or RD Barman’’. ‘’Lata Ji was an institution of music herself, ‘’ he added. Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away at the age of 92 on Sunday. She was admitted to a city hospital in early

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb paying tribute to Lata Mangeshkar.

January this year after she tested positive for COVID-19 and was also diagnosed with penumonia.

She was admitted to the ICU with mild symptoms and was recovering slowly.

After being several days in hospital she was discharged and now again her health worsened and had been put on a ventilator. Lata Mangeshkar was one of the prominent ladies of Bollywood.

She was a famous music director, an Indian playback singer and also a

producer. She was regarded as a Queen of Melody and Nightingale of India.

She had sung in many languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and many other regional languages. She was such a great personality of our time that she had been honoured with many awards such as National Film Awards, Padma Bhusan (1969), Maharashtra Bhusan (1997), Bharat Ratna (2001) and many more.

Her main Genre was Classical, Folk, Bhajans, Bengali Music, Ghazals.

Man dies after Mizoram agri minister among consuming acid 1,754 new COVID-19 patients in Tripura AIZAWL, FEB 6 (PTI): Mizoram’s COVID-19 tally G U WA H AT I , F E B 6 (AGENCIES): A 55-yearold man lost his life after he mistakenly consumed acid thinking it alcohol Tripura’s Khowai district.

The person identified as Kartik Mohan Debbarma, under the influence of alcohol drank bottle of acid and died on the spot on Friday.

According to reports, Debbarma was a habitual drinker and on Friday night when the incident occurred, he was in an inebriated condition.

The reports further claimed that he returned home and slept. At midnight, he woke up to drink more, but mistakenly picked up the wrong bottle containing acid.

After felling unconscious, his family members immediately took him to a local hospital but the doctors declared him dead.

Minor girl raped for several days by her uncle in Ghy

G U WA H AT I , F E B 6 (AGENCIES): In yet another case of rape in the city, a minor girl was allegedly raped by her uncle for several days after she was brought to Guwahati from her parent’s home.

According to reports, the incident took place during the Bihu festival in mid-January.

The 8-year-old girl was brought to Guwahati by her Uncle from Kamrup district.

The crime came to light when she went back to home and apprised her mother regarding the same following which the girl’s father filed a police complaint against the accused.

After registering an FIR, the police have started their investigation and are trying to nab the culprit as he is on the run.

Notably, a few weeks back, a father of three girls was accused of raping a minor in Margherita under Tinsukia district, triggering tension among the local residents.

According to sources, the accused Ajgar Talukdar, son of Tashir Ali Talukdar, resident of Hill View Margherita, took the victim in his car and alleged raped her in his garage.

rose to 1,85,227 on Sunday as 1,754 more people, including a minister, tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the northeastern state’s coronavirus death toll to 623, a health official said.

Mizoram had reported 1,777 cases and three fatalities on Saturday.

State Agriculture Minister C Lalrinsanga tested positive for the infection. He has developed mild symptoms of COVID-19, and is currently under home isolation, the official said.

Aizawl district continued to register the highest number of new cases at 1,013, followed by Lunglei (126) and Mamit (132), he said, adding that the fatalities were recorded in Aizawl and Lunglei.

The single-day positivity rate dipped to 26.45 per cent from 27.38 per cent on the previous day as 6,632 samples were tested for COVID-19.

The state now has 13,348 active cases, while 1,71,256 people have recovered from the disease so far, including 1,507 in the last 24 hours.

The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state stood at 92.45 per cent, and the death rate was at 0.33 per cent.

The northeastern state has so far tested over 17.12 lakh samples for COVID-19.

State Immunisation Officer Dr Lalmuanawma Jongte said that over 7.97 lakh people have been inoculated till Saturday, of whom 6.17 lakh have received both doses of the vaccine.

M’laya logs 123 new COVID-19 cases, 4 more fatalities

SHILLONG, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Meghalaya on Saturday recorded 123 new COVID-19 cases, 88 cases less than the previous day, which pushed the tally to 92,144, a senior official said.

Four more fatalities raised the toll to 1,542, Health Services director Dr Aman War said.

Of the 123 new cases detected, 54 were reported from East Khasi Hills, 27 from West Garo Hills, and 13 cases from Ri Bhoi.

Meghalaya currently has 1,645 active cases, Dr War stated.

Altogether 88,957 people have recuperated from the disease 313 of them in the last 24 hours.

Over 13.39 lakh sample tests have been conducted in the state till date, War said.

A total of 22.99 lakh people have been inoculated with anti-COVID vaccines in the state thus far, with 9,35,876 of them having received both doses, he added.

COVID-19: Assam logs 446 new cases, 16 more fatalities

GUWAHATI, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Assam on Saturday registered nearly 40 per cent decline in fresh COVID-19 cases with 446 more people testing positive for the infection, while 16 more people died due to the virus, the National Health Mission (NHM) said.

The state’s overall Covid infection count rose to 7,21,124 while the death toll went up to 7,896, including 1,347 people with co-morbidities, it said.

Assam had recorded 739 cases and 2.67 per cent positivity rate against the testing of 27,729 samples on Friday.

The state’s positivity rate decreased to 2.11 per cent as 21,152 samples were tested for COVID-19 during the day.

Kamrup Metropolitan district, which primarily comprises Guwahati city, reported 109 fresh cases against 165 infections on the previous day, a fall of almost 34 per cent. It has recorded a total of 1,56,053 infections so far.

The NHM said that the number of recoveries decreased by over 30 per cent to 1,791 people on Saturday from 2,568 people a day before.

In Assam, 7,02,647 COVID-19 patients have so far recovered.

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Manipur polls: NCP releases poll manifesto, promises repeal of AFSPA

NCP released poll manifesto for ensuing polls in Manipur in Imphal on Sunday.

Correspondent IMPHAL, FEB 6: After Congress and NPP, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also promised to repeal Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act 1958 as the party released its manifesto for the ensuing polls in Manipur on Sunday.

The NCP is also in the fray in the two-phase polls to the Manipur Legislative has so far announced names of eight candidates including two named today.

In the 15-point poll manifesto released today at a function held at the party

office in Imphal, the NCP pledged the party will work for repeal of the AFSPA from the state.

The manifesto was released by party national general secretary Narendra Verma who is currently camping in the state along with party state unit president Soram Iboyaima Singh.

On the occasion, the party further released its second list of two candidates to be fielded as party nominees in the ensuing polls.

Including the two, NCP has so far declared names of eight candidates for the ensuing polls.

Militant faction bans BJP election campaign in Mnp Correspondent IMPHAL, FEB 6: A faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) on Sunday declared ban on election related activities of the ruling BJP in Manipur with immediate effect.

Announcing the ban, KCP (Military Council), in a press statement, alleged that since the BJP-led government installed in the state, it adversely impacted the ethnic culture, tradition and religion, particularly to the Meitei community.

The statement signed by its publicity secretary Thougamba Meitei stated that the BJP has been on a serious mission to root out the indigenous religion of the Meitei by converting the community into Hindu.

The recent attempt to construct a Ras Lila hall inside the Kangla fort, the sacred place of Meitei religion and to evict the

Amaiba-Amaibi institution in the Royal Palace were part of BJP’s secret agenda of expanding the Hindu religion among the Meitei community, it claimed.

The KCP (MC) further alleged that the BJP continued its attempt to disintegrate Kangleipak (Manipur) conspiring with the NSCN (I-M), reminding that the people’s uprising of June 18, 2001 was during the regime of the BJP. Some leaders of the BJP were keeping secret links with some armed groups for their personal gains, it asserted.

Apart from declaring ban on campaign and other election activities of the BJP for ensuing polls with immediate effect, the KCP (MC) warned of attacking those engaged in the election campaign of the party and supporters at any opportune time.

Addressing the function, party national general secretary Narendra Verma assured that if the NCP candidates win the elections and becomes a part of the government that would be formed after the election, it will leave no stone unturned to translate into work the 15-point in the party manifesto.

“If NCP shares power after the election with likeminded parties, we will be committed to the implementation of the 15-point pledges into work,” he said.

The NCP leader confidently said that no party

would secure an absolute majority and there would be a hung assembly.

“Manipur is heading towards another hung Assembly like in the 2017 elections,” he said.

On the other hand, state NCP president S Iboyaima said that NCP was committed to the repeal of the controversial AFSPA from the state and will try its best to completely repeal the Act from the state.

He lambasted the BJP and its partners in the NDA for repeatedly criticizing the then UPA government at the Centre while alleging that the BJP-led NDA government is depending on the policies and programmes initiated by the then UPA government.

He said that no new policy or programme was initiated by the BJP-led NDA government since it came to power in 2014.

“They are r unning the government depending on the policies and programmes of the then UPA government,” he said, adding that despite this fact, the BJP and its partners were repeatedly criticizing the UPA government.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

Lata Mangeshkar will live through her songs: Sikkim CM

GANGTOK, FEB 6 (PTI): Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday mourned the death of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar and said that the ‘Nightingale of India’ will live through her songs.

Mangeshkar, 92, died at a Mumbai hospital on Sunday.

“I am deeply saddened to know about the demise of veteran singer #LataMangeshkar Ji at the age of 92. I express my deepest condolences to her family & friends and join the entire Nation in mourning this monumental loss and

Prem Singh Tamang pray that her soul rests in eternal peace. Om Shanti!”

Tamang tweeted.

“Her passing away is an irreparable loss for our nation, leaving a void that can never be filled. The

Nightingale of India will live through her songs,” he added.

As notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Sikkim government announced that state-wide mourning will be observed on February 6 and 7.

As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, two days of state mourning will be observed from February 6 to 7, a government notification said.

During the mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast, and there will be no official entertainment, it added.

Arunachal logs 106 COVID cases I TA NAG A R , F E B 6 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh recorded 106 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 63,421, a senior health official said on Sunday.

Of the fresh cases, 36 were reported from the Capital Complex Region, 16 from Lohit, 11 from Namsai, 9 from Lower Subansiri and 7 from Longding, the official said.

The frontier state currently has 1,800 active COVID-19 cases. As many as 61,330 people have recuperated from the disease so far, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

‘Lata’s voice will forever be in Assam’s people’

GUWAHATI, FEB 6 (PTI): Mour ning the death of singing legend Lata Mangeshkar, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said her contribution to Assamese music established a life-long connection between her and the people of the state.

Gover nor Jagdish Himanta Biswa Sarma Mukhi said Mangeshkar’s songs will continue to rule voice endeared her across the heart of every Indian. the globe. Although, the “ H e r m e l l i f l u o u s void of her absence is

not something replaceable but the regal legacy she leaves behind will live on forever and continue to rule the heart of every Indian (sic),” the governor tweeted.

The chief minister said that like Borluit — another name for Brahmaputra in Assam — the voice of Mangeshkar will forever flow in the minds of the people.

“Lataji was very close to our heart and she shared

a very special bond with the people of Assam. She sang her first Assamese song ‘Jonakore Raati’ by closing her eyes after being described the natural beauty of Assam by Bhupen Da (Bhupen Hazarika),” Sarma tweeted.

She also sang popular Assamese songs such as ‘Godavori Noire Parore Pora’ and ‘Rod Puwabor Karone’, which reflect her fondness for Assam, he added.

Myanmar refugees’ number in Mizoram rise to over 22K

AIZAWL, FEB 6 (IANS): With fresh influx of around 8,000 refugees in the last one week following the violent clashes between the Myanmar army and the local civilian defence forces in Chin state of the neighbouring country, the number of Myanmarese who crossed over to the bordering Indian state has risen to over 22,000, officials said on Sunday.

According to officials, over 8,000 displaced people including women and children braving the chilly winter had crossed the international unfenced border and took shelter in Mizoram during the past one week.

“The hapless men, women and children had crossed the Tiau river by small country boat and were tracking the forested routes reached in different districts of Mizoram,” a Mizoram government official told IANS, refusing to be quoted.

Though six of Mizoram’s 11 districts --

Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual share an unfenced 510 km long international border with Myanmar’s Chin state - the displaced Myanmarese also took shelter in Mizoram’s other districts - Aizawl, Lunglei, Khawzawl. Among the Mizoram districts, over 8,000 immigrants took shelter in Champhai distirct alone.

The majority of those who have taken shelter belong to the Chin community, also known as the Zo community, who share the same ancestry, ethnicity and culture as the Mizos of Mizoram. The mountainous northeastern state has been witnessing the influx of refugees from Myanmar since the military junta seized power through a coup on February 1 last year. The refugees include some lawmakers and Myanmar leaders. Chief Minister Zoramthanga had written several letters to Prime Min-

File photo of refugees in Mizoram. ister Narendra Modi urging him to provide relief, required aids and asylum to the Myanmar nationals as the state government was facing a financial crisis to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and related problems.

Several delegations from Mizoram led by state’s Lok Sabha member C. Lalrosanga and Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena had also met Union ministers including Union Develop-

ment of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister G. Kishan Reddy in Delhi and senior officials of Home and External Affairs Ministries over the Myanmar nationals and requested them to provide shelter officially and release financial assistance.

Mizoram Planning Board Vice Chairman H. Rammawi, who is closely dealing with the Myanmar refugee affairs, said that the Chief Minister, besides writ-

ing letters, has also talked to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over phone on a number of occasions, requesting them to extend humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar refugees.

Mizoram’s MPs and Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister, Rosangzuala are regularly in touch with Central ministers and officials to provide financial assistance and other sup-

port to the refugees. Earlier, Reddy while talking to the Mizoram MPs indicated to treat the Myanmar refugees as “tourists” not refugees.

The decision of the Central government is significant as the Union Home Ministry had sent out an advisory earlier to four northeastern states -- Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh -- which share a 1,640-km unfenced border with Myanmar, saying that the states and Union Territories have no power to grant “refugee” status to any foreigner, and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

An MP from Mizoram, who closely monitors the refugee issue, told IANS that Union DoNER Minister had promised to help the state in dealing with Myanmar migrants. Currently the Myanmar nationals have in makeshift relief camps set up by various NGOs, churches and the villagers.

Tripura to breed endangered vultures ‘Waterways connectivity between Patna AG A RTA L A , F E B 6 (PTI): Tripura’s forestry department is embarking on a project to breed the endangered vulture species in Khowai district through program for ‘vulture conservation and artificial breeding’.

T h e d e c i s i o n wa s taken after it was noticed that Khowai had higher concentration of vulture population, said officials who added that vultures would be brought in from other states to help in the artificial breeding.

“The project would soon be set up at Padmabil area in Khowai district with money sanctioned by the central government. There would be artificial breeding by bringing vultures from Haryana and then the offspring would be released in wild”, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Khowai, Niraj K Chanchal said.

“Recently around 3040 vultures were sighted in the district. About a decade back the scavenger bird was almost extinct in the state, but the population is on the rise now due to improvement of their habitat by the forest department”, he said.

The C onser va tion Breeding Program appears to be the only action, which could save the vultures from extinction, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), D K Sharma

Endangered vulture species in Khowai district. said.

“If 150 pairs of each of the three species could be held and bred in captivity, it would be possible to get a derived population of 600 pairs of each of the three species, within ten years of the beginning of release programme. This will form a genetically diverse and self-propagating population”, he reasoned.

So far only three centers have been set up by state gover nments and Bombay Natural History Society.

Explaining the reasons behind the increase in numbers of vultures, Chanchal said, it was observed that plantation of leafy Shimul trees on the river bank helped improving the habitat, which had been depleted earlier by

de-forestation. Vultures have also learnt to adapt to the scarcity of food to some extent by consuming carcasses of animals floating on the river.

“We also launched an awareness campaign among the locals for planting more Shimul trees, because the vultures roost in such leafy trees and not to give diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory drug) to their livestock (as this enters the food chain and causes renal failure in vultures) . People have responded well to our requests”, he said.

Even after taking the measures, the scavenger bird still faces a food crisis and to meet it, the forest department plans to set up a vulture colony, with abundant food options and a suitable ecosystem.

Among the nine species of the birds sighted in the country, white-rump-ed vulture found in Tripura has been identified as critically endangered by IUCN. Although India has banned manufacture of diclofenac tablets for animals, the pills are being manufactured for human use.

Farmers often illegally use these tables to treat cattle.

Prasenjit Biswas, an ornithologist who authored The Last Flight of the Vulture, said human incursion and unavailability of food were the major reasons behind the decline in the big bird’s population.

The Rudra Sagar Lake, its surroundings and the Sipahijala sanctuary, with its large lakes and forests, used to be a favourite haunt of white-rumped vultures till the late 1980s, he said.

“Human corpses are rarely dumped in the open, while animal carcasses are also now safely disposed off. This has deprived the vultures of their food source,” Biswas, who has been studying the movements and traits of vultures for over a decade, added.

There were only 55 vultures sighted in the State in 2013 according to a survey by the department.

However, no survey of vultures has been carried out since then.

The population of

vultures in the Indian subcontinent crashed during the 1990s. This was first reported and documented in 1996-97 by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), while monitoring raptors numbers in Keoladeo National Park, at Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

The BNHS conducted nationwide raptor surveys in many parts of India between 1991 and 1993 and the survey was repeated in 2000 and the results were dramatic.

“The populations of Oriental White-backed Vulture and Long-billed Vulture had declined by more than 92% between 1991-93 and 2000. By the year 2007, the population had declined by an astonishing 99.9 % for Oriental White-backed Vultures and by 97% for long billed and slender billed vultures. All three vulture species were listed

by IUCN, the World Conservation Union, in 2000 as ‘Critically Endangered,’ which is the highest category of endangerment”, Sharma told PTI. This assessment indicated a high risk of global extinction in the wild in the near future. The vultures are also listed in the Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) which is the highest category of protection for Wildlife in the country.

and Guwahati to open new gate to NE’

For seamless navigation to the northeast, two stretches of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route are being developed.

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (IANS): Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday that the transportation of food grains through waterways will soon start from Patna to Pandu in Guwahati, ensuring better price and market access for the farmers.

“This 2,350 km voyage will open a new gate to the ‘Gateway of North East’ (Assam) and ensure seamless waterways connectivity to the northeastern region through Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers,” the minister said this while flagging of the vessel ‘MV Lal Bahadur Shastri’.

He said that flagging off this vessel reminded him of late former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shas-

tri’s slogan, “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.

“This will make our farmers Aatmanirbhar by expanding their reach and providing them better prices and better living. This event is a perfect demonstration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s combined vision for ‘Act East’ policy and the inclusive development of Bihar and the northeastern region,” said Goyal, who is the Union Minister of Commerce, Industry, Food and Public Distribution, at a virtual ceremony.

The minister stated that the planned intermodal terminal at Kalughat in Bihar at Rs 78 crore will provide a boost to the region’s socioeconomic development and create multiple job oppor-

tunities. “This will also help decongest the roads of north Bihar and provide an alternative route for transportation of cargo in this area. This route from Patna can prove to be a viable alternative to the conventional mode of movement of foodgrains and goods for the northeastern region.”

This first food grain movement will be an integrated Inland Water Transport movement through National Waterway-1 (river Ganga), NW-97 (Sunderbans), Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and NW-2 (river Brahmaputra).

For seamless navigation to the northeast, two stretches of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route are being developed.

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Channi to be Congress’ CM face in Punjab: Rahul BJP alleges attack on Babita Phogat’s

CHANDIGARH/ LUDHIANA, FEB 6 (IANS): Incumbent Charanjit Singh Channi will be the Congress’ Chief Ministerial candidate in the high-stakes Punjab Assembly elections on February 20, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi announced on Sunday.

The par ty workers were asked by tele-calls to give their opinion as to who the Congress should have in this role. Most of the workers plumped for Channi.

Punjab Congress President Navjot Sidhu on Saturday had said the Chief Minister nominee should be the one who can win 60 seats in the 117-member Assembly.

It was on his insistence that Rahul Gandhi was forced to declare a CM candidate in Punjab instead of going for collective leadership.

Rahul Gandhi with Charanjit Singh Channi, Navjot Singh Sidhu at an election rally, in Ludhiana, Sunday. (PTI)

for any post and hailed the decision of making Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief minister of the state.

For the past several weeks, both Channi and Sidhu have, directly or indirectly, made a case to be declared as the party’s nominee for the top post.

“During 17 years of Sidhu says never political career, Sidhu never for any post, but allived for any post lived ways wanted Punjab’s betPunjab Congress presi- terment and improvement dent Navjot Singh Sidhu on in lives of its people,” said Sunday said he never lived Sidhu at a virtual rally in

Ludhiana.

Hailing Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, he said it was he who made a Dalit the chief minister of the state last year.

“It is a moment of change, Inqilab, one which can better lives of people,” said Sidhu.

“We don’t need anything, we only need Punjab’s welfare. My love for Punjab always wanted its betterment,” he said.

Earlier, Sidhu had tweeted that he will abide by

the party’s decision on the CM face, which he reiterated during the virtual rally.

Hitting out at former CM Amarinder Singh, Sidhu said he used to dance to the tune of the BJP. “ N ow, A m a r i n d e r Singh talks of double engine. They are the ones who looted Punjab,” he alleged.

Amarinder Singh had quit the Congress following his unceremonious exit as the state chief minister last year and had formed a new party, Punjab Lok Congress, which is contesting the polls in alliance with the BJP in the state.

In his address, Channi said 700 farmers laid down their lives during the agitation against the Centre’s farm laws.

“Who is responsible for this? It is the BJP government and the SAD, which was the one who cleared farm ordinances, as well as the AAP government (in Delhi) which notified farm law. Now, they seek votes

here,” said Channi.

Channi then directed most part of his attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, saying they cannot bring any change in Punjab.

Gandhi arrived in Ludhiana on Sunday to hold a virtual rally and announce the chief ministerial face of the party.

Chief minister Channi, senior party leaders K C Venugopal, Harish Chaudhary and Sunil Jakhar are also present at the virtual rally, which is underway.

During his last visit to Punjab on January 27, Gandhi announced at a virtual rally that the Congress will soon declare its chief ministerial candidate and a decision on it will be taken after consulting party workers.

Besides taking feedback from its leaders and workers, the Cong ress sought the opinion of the public on who should be its chief ministerial candidate through an automated call system.

convoy by SP-RLD workers; police deny

MEERUT, FEB 5 (PTI): The BJP on Saturday accused SP-RLD workers of attacking the convoy of wrestler and party leader Babita Phogat here while she was campaigning for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and claimed four people were injured in the incident.

However, police denied the charge of Phogat’s convoy being attacked, saying two workers of the BJP and RLD had exchanged blows in which one of them got injured.

Police also said that the BJP leaders did not take permission from the authorities to hold an event in the area.

According to the BJP, Phogat, a star campaigner of the saffron party, along with Simple Singh, the wife of BJP candidate Maninderpal Singh from Siwalkhas, were campaigning in Dabathuva village here when their convoy was allegedly

Babita Phogat’s car that was attacked.

attacked.

When Phogat reached the house of BJP Kisan Morcha Mandal president Satyendra Chaudhary, some workers of the SP-RLD alliance arrived there and forcibly entered the house, BJP leader Anil Chaudhary claimed.

As they indulged in sloganeering, they were asked to leave. However, they started abusing and assaulting the BJP workers, Chaudhary alleged.

However, Superinten-

dent of Police (rural) Keshav Kumar told PTI that Phogat and Simple Singh had reached Dabthuwa for an event at a local BJP leader’s house for which permission was not taken.

An RLD worker reached there and started taking photos and shooting videos of the programme, which was opposed by Satyendra Chaudhary. A scuffle ensued between the two in which one of them got injured. A case will soon be registered, police said.

PM bats for Adityanath as UP’s next CM People getting threat calls after SP became key contender: Akhilesh Says will make up for time lost due to pandemic LUCKNOW, FEB 6 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday indicated that Yogi Adityanath is the BJP’s choice as the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, saying if his government is formed again he would make up for the time lost by the state due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The PM remarks at a virtual poll rally went beyond praise for Adityanath for the work done by the state’s BJP government during his term –- and appeared to settle the debate over the party’s CM face.

The virtual rally, his third recently for UP, comes just days before the first phase of polling in the state on February 10.

He lashed out at the main opposition, the Samajwadi Party, criticising it over the law and order when it was in power just before Adityanath’s government was sworn in.

The PM hailed what the BJP government has accomplished in the state and said if there hadn’t been the pandemic over the past two years, Adityanath would have done even better at the job of providing homes for the poor under a central scheme.

The PM said he believed that the people of Uttar Pradesh will give such an overwhelming majority to the BJP for the coming five years that Aditynath will

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with UP CM Yogi Adityanath. (PTI)

get strength to accomplish such tasks.

He also projected Adityanath as the next chief minister while mentioning the Centre’s Ujjwala scheme that gives free cooking gas connections.

“The women of UP have decided that they have to make the BJP win and make Yogi ji chief minister again (Bhajpa ko jitana jai, Yogi ji ko phir mukhya mantra banana hai),” he said.

Months back, there was speculation that Bharatiya Janata Party was contemplating a new chief minister if it comes to power in the state.

In October, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dispelled the impression, saying if people of Uttar Pradesh wanted to see Narendra Modi as prime minister in 2024 they must elect Adityanath as chief minister in 2022.

S u n d ay ’s r e m a r k s could be interpreted as the PM’s view that Adityanath is best suited for the post, if the party wins the assembly polls.

Addressing voters in Mathura, Agra and Bulandshahr, Modi said the people

of Uttar Pradesh have decided that development will be the biggest issue in the upcoming elections.

Hitting out at the previous governments, the PM said, “Those who were in power earlier were not concerned with faith or your needs. Their only agenda was to loot UP.” “The people of UP have bluntly said that no matter how much politics some people do on the basis of money, muscle power, casteism or communalism, they will not get the love of the public,” he said.

Taking a swipe at Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over his recent remark that he sees Lord Krishna in his dream, the prime minister said, “Witnessing the immense support for the BJP, these people are now seeing Lord Krishna in their dreams.

Accusing the previous governments of encouraging corruption, he said, “Another favourite game of the earlier governments was filling their lockers. Everyone used to play together, eat together. Today, the whole game of such people has been spoiled.”

EC notice to BJP U’khand for tweeting morphed photo of Rawat NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (PTI): fully considered the matter The Election Commission and is of the considered view has issued a notice to the that the Bharatiya Janata Uttarakhand BJP for alParty (BJP) Uttarakhand has leged violation of the model in violation of the clauses (I) code and asked it to reply & (2) laid down in the part within 24 hours for tweeting ‘General Conduct’ of the a morphed image of former Model Code of Conduct... chief minister and Conof Section-123 of the Repregress leader Harish Rawat, sentation of the People Act, in which he has been shown 1951 and sub-section (I)(a) as a Muslim cleric. of Section 153(A) of the InThe action comes after dian Penal Code 1860, made the Congress complained statements that are provocato the poll body on Friday, tive and can seriously incite Harish Rawat alleging that the BJP Uttathe emotions and lead to rakhand from its official Twitter handle on breakdown of law & order situation thereby February 3 at 9.34 PM tweeted a morphed adversely affecting the election process,” the image of Rawat, wherein he has been falsely EC said in its notice sent last on February 5. depicted as belonging to a particular com“Now, therefore, the Commission munity. gives an opportunity to the BJP UttaraCongress leader Randeep Surjewala khand to explain its stand on putting the had spoken to the CEC on Saturday and de- morphed image of Shri Harish Rawat on its manded the registration of an FIR against official Twitter handle as alleged by AICC,” the BJP, while alleging that it has violated the Commission also said. the model code and other provisions of The explanation, the EC said, should the law, as it seeks to create disharmony reach the Commission within 24 hours on religious grounds between people of of receipt of this notice, failing which the diverse faith.

Commission shall take appropriate decision The said tweet has since been removed. in the matter without further reference to “Whereas, the Commission has care- BJP Uttarakhand.

AGRA (UP), FEB 6 (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that people are being threatened over the phone against voting for his party after it has emerged as a powerful contender in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

He also asked people to record such threatening calls so that based on them FIRs could be lodged after his government comes to power.

“Since the SP has emerged as a powerful contender in the elections, people are being threatened over the phone. If anyone gets such a call, record it. I want to say that the recordings will be considered as (the basis of) FIRs,” Yadav said without taking any names.

Yadav made the allegations while addressing workers’ meet in the Bah assembly constituency of Agra. He said the assembly polls in the state are for the future of Uttar Pradesh and

Pune Police files FIR against 8 Shiv Sena leaders PUNE, FEB 6 (IANS): Eight Shiv Sena leaders were on Sunday booked by the Pune Police for allegedly assaulting BJP leader Kirit Somaiya.

The FIR was lodged at Shivaji Nagar Police Station under sections 143, 147, 149, 341, 336, 337, 323, 504, 37(1), and 135 of the IPC. The FIR copy has been accessed by IANS. Those who have been named as as alleged accused in the FIR are Shiv Sena Pune President Sanjay More, Chandan Shalunke, Kiran Sali, Suraj Lokhande, Akash Shinde, Rupesh Panwar, Rajender Shinde and Shani Gavte.

On Saturday, Kirit Somaiya had visited Pune Municiplal Corporation when he was allegedly manhandled by Shiv Sena leaders.

Kirit Somaiya went to Pune Municipal Corporation to furnish a complaint in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the setting up of Covid-19 Jumbo Hospital.

On the other hand, Shiv Sena leaders have claimed innocence saying they only wanted to speak to Kirit Somaiya.

Somaiya said that he went to Pune Municipal Corporation, and submitted a complaint against Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s family partner Sujeet Patker Lifeline Hospital Management Services for COVID Centre Scam.

Now he has lodged an FIR against eight Shiv Sena leaders. The Pune Police is looking into the matter.

Akhilesh Yadav addresses an election campaign rally for Assembly polls, at Baha, about 100 kms from Agra. (PTI)

to save the country’s Constitution.

“This election is for the future of the UP and to save the Constitution. The BJP can do anything and nobody knows till they do it. Did anyone know demonetisation was going to be announced?” he asked as proof of his allegation.

Yadav also mocked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who in a recent statement had said he

would “cool down” after March 10, the day for the announcement of elections result, those heightening passions.

“The chief minister is talking about cooling down.

But we will only talk about announcing recruitments in the police for youngsters of the state,” he said.

Talking about emergency service ‘Dial 100’, he said, “We started ‘Dial 100’ to protect those who are

being harassed by anyone across the state. The chief minister has not been able to change the tyres of the vehicles or the colour of the Dial 100 vehicles. Chief Minister has only changed the name from Dial 100 to 112.”

Hitting out at the state government for alleged mismanagement during the second wave of Covid in AprilMay last year, Akhilesh said, “When COVID-19 came, all of us wore masks but the government failed to do anything. In those troubled times, the ambulances bought by the SP government were used to carry patients to hospitals. The BJP couldn’t even provide the essential injections required for Covid patients.”

Talking about the region, Akhilesh said the temples of the area were renovated by the SP government and sought to assure people to prioritise the development of Bah after coming to power.

“We will also ensure

improved power supply and development of the state.

We will make arrangements to take the water from rivers to the fields in the region.

If needed, Bah will also be made a district. This region needs education,” he said.

“The chief minister promised to distribute laptops and tablets but had anyone got anything? Farmers were forced to fence their farms and the money which is being released for the rehabilitation of stray cows is not reaching districts,” Yadav said.

“This chief minister can only change name and colour so we should also bring some change,” he added. Yadav also paid tribute to legendry singer Lata Mangeshkar following her death on Sunday.

“The demise of Lata Mangeshkar is a very sad news. There is no singer in the world who sang over 3000 songs. The Samajwadi Party will do some in thing in her name in the state after coming to power,” he said.

Channi is Cong CM face in Punjab; PM bats for Yogi as UP CM NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday declared Charanjit Singh Channi as the party’s chief ministerial face for the upcoming Punjab assembly polls, scheduled for February 20. Gandhi made the announcement while addressing ‘Aawaz Punjab Di’ virtual rally in Ludhiana.

“It is Punjab’s decision. It is not my decision. I didn’t decide. I asked workers, candidates, MLAs, people, youth of Punjab. What people said has led me to my final decision,” said Gandhi during his address,

while praising Channi for his humble background.

Getting emotional after the announcement, Channi said that he has always been honest, never took a penny from anyone, and will continue to work honestly.

Political observers said that the move was likely made to woo the Dalit Sikh community, which makes up 32% of the state’s population.

Soon after the announcement, Channi, who is also the first Dalit chief minister of the state, was seen touching Navjot Sid-

hu’s feet. Then came the Kodak moment, Sidhu, the Punjab Congress chief, cheered the presumptive chief minister by raising his hand in jubilation- like an umpire lifts the winning boxer’s hand after the final round.

PM endorses Yogi for next UP CM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday indicated that Yogi Adityanath is the BJP’s choice as the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, saying if his government is formed again he would make up

for the time lost by the state due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The PM’s remarks at a virtual poll rally went beyond praise for Adityanath for the work done by the state’s BJP government during his term –- and appeared to settle the debate over the party’s CM face in these assembly elections.

Modi said he believed that the people of Uttar Pradesh will give such an overwhelming majority to the BJP for the coming five years that Aditynath will get the strength to accomplish such tasks.

EC opens up physical campaigning events

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (PTI): The Election Commission on Sunday extended the ban on roadshows, ‘pad yatras’, cycle and vehicle rallies but gave fresh relaxations for indoor and outdoor physical campaigning events for the polls citing reduction in COVID-19 cases.

The new relaxations will help political parties hold bigger physical campaigning events in the run up to the polls in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur.

The campaigning for phase one of Uttar Pradesh assembly election on February 10 ends on February 8 evening. The Commission allowed opening up of physical campaigning events based on inputs received by state chief secretaries, its observers and the Union Health Ministry.

The Union Health Secretary told the EC on Saturday that the pollgoing states are contributing a very small proportion of the total reported COVID-19 cases in the country.

In a statement, the EC said restrictions regarding “outdoor meetings, indoor meetings, rallies” will be further relaxed subject to condition

that the number of persons attending these events will be limited to maximum of 50 per cent of the capacity of indoor halls and 30 per cent of the open ground capacity or as fixed by district election officer as per requirement of the social distancing norms, and whichever is less.

“If the state disaster management authority has set the ceiling limits or percentage of the capacity for number of persons attending indoor hall or open ground and they are stricter, SDMA guidelines will prevail,” the EC said.

“Open ground rallies” can be held only in the grounds specifically designated by the district authorities and subject to compliance of all the conditions of SDMA. Allocation of these grounds will be given equitably by district administration through e-Suvidha portal on first come first serve basis, the EC pointed out.

Capacities of these grounds will be fixed by the district administration well in advance and notify to all the parties. In the last review on January 31, the Commission had allowed political parties and candidates to hold

outdoor meetings in designated open spaces with a maximum of 1000 persons (instead of earlier 500 persons) or 50 per cent of the capacity of the ground and for indoor meetings, a maximum of 500 persons (instead of earlier 300 persons) or 50 per cent of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from February 1 for all phases.

On other campaigning means, the EC said maximum number of persons permissible for door-to-door campaigning fixed at 20 will remain as before. The ban on campaign between 8 PM and 8 AM will also continue as before, the EC said.

Chief Secretaries of poll-going states had apprised the EC that there has been significant improvement in the prevailing Covid situation, a considerable decrease in the number of positive cases of Coid and also decrease in cases of hospitalisation.

“Most of them have recommended to the Commission to consider for relaxation and allow increased number of persons in the indoor/ outdoor campaign meetings,” the statement said.

6

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

VOL. XXXII NO. 62 DIMAPUR, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

I

Much about unity

t was quite not entirely unexpected that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has come out openly in inviting the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) to ‘come together’ or in other words ‘unify’ since “this is the desire of the Naga people”.

This remark was made by one NPF functionary while addressing the local media recently. Both the parties NPF and NDPP have the same gene when it comes to being of the home grown regional variety. Therefore, the proposal to come together or unify cannot be something too difficult to achieve only provided it is a win-win situation for both entities. However, it is interesting that there are efforts to unify both these regional parties when the fact remains that both are already on the same page as part of the party-less and opposition-less United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government. Both have come together or unified to push for early solution to the Naga political issue in the larger interests of the Naga people. Even before UDA all political parties have agreed to come together on the same issue in 2015 when eight opposition Congress MLAs joined the DAN-III. Earlier to these ‘opposition-less’ legislative assembly, the legislators have come together under Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) in 2012 on the Naga political issue. The idea of coming together sounds like a good reason but the not based on good sound reasons. Playing or acting the role as facilitators for the Naga political issue didn’t get much traction a NPF broke away form JLF to form its own Political Affairs Mission (PAM) in August 2020. It was only on union home minister Amit Shah’s prodding that both re-united under Core Committee on Naga Political issue. From facilitator the legislators under Core Committee claim they will act as ‘pressure lobby’ for early solution to the Naga political issue. In Nagaland the trend to’ come together’ or ‘to unify’ for the political issue is an unmistakable revelation that politicians don’t want to expose each other for incompetence, inefficiency or broadly, mis-governance as everybody has been in power at one period or the other. Perhaps there is more logic not to point fingers about corruption since the pot cannot call the kettle black? All these pronouncement over rooftops have borne little or no result since 2003, when a regional party-led alliance came to power by promising to bring solution within three months. Today, it is nearly 20 years of going through the same ritual- consultative meetings, high power committees , resolutions, going to Delhi and back again (to square one). The public organisations pay lip service to the favourite wordunity- but falter when it comes to matters of standing for what is truth in the face of perceived rights, privileges and all entitlements. The church organisation or religious leaders in Nagaland , who many expect to act as the rudder of society, are more inclined to lament about the ‘situation’ and asking the ‘believers’ to pray and fast for divine intervention. The elected, the tribe and social organisations and church should see where other states which came into being more than a decade after Nagaland have reached, while their state has become stagnated because majority of people believe that their leaders, who are blinded by greed, will lead them to a bright future.

DailyDevotion Are You Ready to Be Poured Out as an Offering? (2) I am already being poured out as a drink offering… —2 Timothy 4:6

Are you ready to be poured out as an offering?

It is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God sends you through a crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will. Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.

“Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118:27). You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents— burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose— the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don’t eliminate it, God does. You “bind the sacrifice…to the horns of the altar” and see to it that you don’t wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead in your life?

Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.

Quotes

“Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.”

~ Will Smith

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

W

Culture wars: Hijab a case in point

hat we have been hearing in the recent weeks on the issue of hijab, which is spreading like wild fire in the colleges across the State of Karnataka. This issue is to be viewed through the lens of culture, which is in conflict. The hijab controversy sparked-off in a college in Udupi district of Karnataka in the month of January 2022, is igniting more fire and is likely to spread to other colleges in Karnataka. In due course of time many colleges would follow suit as colleges keep denying entry to students who come in headscarves. College administration is currently becoming more conscious now than before, quoting the government order and college guidelines by not allowing those who wear hijab into the college campuses and classes as well.

A question that surfaces is: Despite the fact that the students wearing hijab and coming to colleges for a long time, how come all of a sudden, the college administration woke up to ‘hijab wearing’ which it quotes is a violation of rules, and in the process surveilled on those students who wear hjibab by preventing them not to attend the classes? Responding to the controversy, minister of home Araga Jnanendra said students are not allowed to wear either hijab or saffron shawls to college.

Substantiating further, “No one should come to college to practice their religion, as it is a place where all students should learn together with a feeling of oneness.”

He added that “We will not spare elements which come in the way of country’s unity.”

Whereas, education minister B C Nagesh said that Naquab, burqa, hijab, saffron or green shawls are not allowed in classrooms where uniforms are compulsory.

However, the issue that sparked-off at Government PU College for Girls, Udupi, is gaining momentum across the State of Karnataka. Interestingly, countering the hijab issue, saffron shawl surfaced in colleges in Karnataka.

In Belagavi, a group of students from government PU College in Ramadurga town came to class draping saffron shawls on the 1st of February, 2022, but came to light only on the 4th Feb, 2022, after photos and video clips surfaced on social media. Counter protests that has drawn hundreds of student protesters show the growing assertion of the ‘majoritarian culture’.

In Kundapur, college authorities of Government Junior College did prevent the girl students from entering the campus wearing hijab.

Later, students and parents began to protest on the streets opposing

the decision of the college management. Meanwhile, several hundreds of young Hindu millennials came with saffron shawls, leading to tense atmosphere in the campus manifests once simmering now becoming more apparent and violent.

However, hijab row is in the High Court of Karnataka, which is to hear two pleas by college students on the 8th of February, 2022.

The petitioners claim that they used to wear headscarf over their college uniform and the college authorities including the faculty used to shame them for displaying their religious identity – imposition of codified Hindu culture through imposition.

I n c i d e n t a l ly, i n a meeting convened for parents of Muslim girls by Kundapur MLA, Srinivas Shetty, said that if the college had communicated about the hijab ban during the application process or at the time of admission, they would have chosen a different institution.

Nonetheless, in the manual nothing has been said. So, there is no clarity on this. However, the issue of hijab has further polarized the student community in Udupi – highly saffronized district, where the saffron outfits dictate strict dress code (attires); what to eat and drink, what type of education one should get and with who to fall in love – a clear

domination of majoritarian stereo-types RSS-BJP is determined to shift the current ethos from multi-cultural ethos and plurality of mutual co-existence to homogenization of culture across pan-India. In such a context specificity, Antonio Gramsci perhaps could shed more light to the current impasse. When we hear about “the culture wars”, what we have been witnessing is the conflict between competing and diametrically opposed world views by way of – protest and counter protests.

On the one side, we have people who believe in abiding by a set of divinely inspired moral absolutes or at the very core they believe that following such a moral code represents the best way to avoid chaos and instability. And so, slip in the culture of majority based on religion – Hindu.

While on the other side, we have people who insist that morality is simply a personal decision.

Any attempt to enforce is viewed as oppression or intervention on personal choice. Gramsci points out that dominant culture tends to capture the institutions of learning and governance, and so be used by the dominant homogenized cultural ethos which has the tenacity to change other cultural identities by ways of either appropriating or breaking them.

Therefore, culture wars are a struggle between two sets of conflicting cultural values. Those belonging to religious right accuse their political opponents for undermining the age-old tradition, usages, customary habits and way of life.

When Gramsci says a war or a struggle of cultures, it is between two sets of conflicting cultural values – traditional versus progressive secularism.

The underpinning essence of Gramsci’s core argument is that the dominant culture in our parlance ‘majoritarian culture’ has the tendency to appropriate others (competing/diverging), by way of capturing mass media, education and institutions of governance.

Paradoxically, the majoritarian culture could go to any extent and one such glaring example is the statement of the energy minister of Karnataka, Sunil Kumar who said in the context of hijab issue that “We will not allow Udupi district to become another Taliban.

Students must follow rules irrespective of their religious beliefs,” while, the PM Modi spoke recently ‘duties over rights’ – a bundle of contradictions that needs constant decoding.

Following Antonio Gramsci, 25 five years ago, Samuel P. Huntington, the American Political Scientist wrote a seminal and thought-provoking book

titled The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order in which the central idea or the thesis is that people’s culture and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the Post-Cold War World. Huntington argued that future wars would be fought not between countries, but between cultures.

What we are witnessing is exactly what Huntington argued almost 25 years ago.

Culture Wars is taking place between countries and within countries.

What we have been witness more conspicuously since 2014 is that RSS-BJP is entering into the cultures of diverse communities demolishing the traditions, cultural ethos and customary habit by re-placing their notion of ‘Indian culture’ that takes away plurality of culture and existence of multiple identities coexisting together.

Cultural nationalism simply means re-ordering the multiple cultural canvas into one majoritarian dominant pan-Indian Hindu culture vis-à-vis Hindu nationalism. Hijab is a classic example. More such cases would surface in the months and years to come as RSS-BJP shall never allow the mutual co-existence of plurality of cultures and unity in diversity, but solely and squarely believes in the unity in uniformity.

Dr. John Mohan Razu

Relationship between B’desh’s Zero-Tolerance It will take 68 years to for terrorism and NE’s peace & prosperity hear all the songs of Lata ji

B

angladesh has always been a shining example of religious unity and peace. “Secularism” is not only a phrase engraved in Bangladesh’s constitution as one of the four essential principles of the state, but it is also an automatism that molds Bangladeshi people’s social sustenance.

However, there has been an increase in the number of tremors in the non-perpetual tranquillity in the name of terrorism and religious fanaticism. Although Islamist groups were always active in politics, Islamist factions first arose in 1989 in Bangladesh and ran wild in the years that followed with the sole goal of establishing a Caliphate in the area. The attacks on Udichi, the bombing of Ramna Batamul, the countrywide series of bombings, the targeting of bloggers, the rise of Bangla Bhai and Shayokh Abdur Rahman all lowered public morale and drove the government to establish a fast force (RAB) to put a stop to them.

On July 1, 2016, the terrorist assault on the Holy Artisan, a ritzy bistro only a stone’s throw away from the American Embassy, tarnished all efforts and predominance against terrorism. The Dhaka bombing, along with a series of subsequent incidents, marked the beginning of a new era of terror in Bangladesh. Terrorists were attempting to engage the state with modern weaponry via an encrypted communication channel.

Following that incident, Bangladesh initiated a fullfledged war on terrorism, which was generally successful.

An early interview with Tamim Ahmed Chawdhury, the architect of the Holy Artisan assault, in ‘Dabiq’ (the online journal of the Islamic States of Iraq and the Levant) discloses that the grounds for using Bangladesh for terror strikes are the geopolitical advantage and near proximity to India. Bangladesh has frequently been used as a launch pad for assaults against India, not just from outside, but also from within, by Islamist terror groups.

Bangladesh, the subconscious guardian of its nearest neighbor, had frequently served

as a coadjutor in combating insurgencies in India’s North East area. Aravinda Rajkhowa, the Chairman of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), was arrested and handed over to India in 2009; Anup Chetia, a ULFA stalwart, was arrested in 1997 and deported in 2015 after 18 years in prison in Bangladesh; and ULFA leader Ranju Chowdhury alias Rattan Sarker was arrested in 2010.

Bangladesh handed up the entire ULFA leadership as well as the leaders of the Bodo insurgents to India. Bangladesh’s zero tolerance attitude toward terrorism had greatly benefited India, as North-East insurgencies were a major headache for the country.

India may have returned the favor by secretly assisting Bangladesh in apprehending the fugitive assassin of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It is well known that India and Bangladesh have extraordinary real-time cooperation and collaboration amongst their intelligence organizations.

India has consistently praised Bangladesh’s zerotolerance approach against terrorism, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian President Ramnath Kovind, Foreign Minister, Home Minister, and Chief Ministers of surrounding states expressing their gratitude and gramercy.

For the time being, the insurgency is at its lowest in India’s north-eastern region, which has prompted Chief Minister, Hemant Bishwa Sharma, to express thanks to Bangladesh and his desire to improve business and connection between Bangladesh and North-East India, as now they can concentrate on something other than insurgencies. It will happen eventually, benefiting both nations and boosting connections.

Just as Bangladesh extended its hand to provide peace to the area, India requires Bangladesh’s aid to ensure the region’s growth.

India wishes to access and link to the difficult-to-reach region via transit from Bangladesh, to which Bangladesh answers with a counter-proposal of transshipment. Last year, a trial run was conducted, therefore

opening a new door of economic possibilities.

Regional commerce in South Asia remains below potential, but leaders in India and Bangladesh are forging strong bilateral relations to spur economic growth and prosperity. The Maitri Setu, or Friendship Bridge, erected across the Feni River is a critical corridor that will allow this to happen.

Several connection channels have been resurrected, and while only a few projects are now active, many more are in the works. If a seamless connection is built, time and costs will be minimized, and both sides of the border would benefit immensely. This hardearned ephemeral tranquility in the Northeast can only be eroded if livelihood and trade are harmed. Prosperity in the Northeast, like peace, may come to take Bangladesh’s hand.

Though insurgency is at its lowest; internal turmoil in seven sisters bubbled again last year. It is past time for India to focus on improving the livelihoods of the people in the Northeast. Connectivity and infrastructural development with Bangladesh are essential for this. This will also open up new routes through Bangladesh to the northeast, Bhutan, and Nepal.

There is an age-old belief that the interconnectedness of economy, survival, stability, development, and security lessens the likelihood of wars between states, particularly neighbors.

Because of their shared interests, future, and destiny, India and Bangladesh’s stability, peace, growth, and security are inextricably intertwined and interdependent.

A peaceful neighborhood benefits business and the economy. The people of Bangladesh and India desire peace and prosperity.

Benedict B. George Graduate Part-Time instructor and Ph.D. fellow University of Texas, USA (The writer is a Ph.D. fellow at the University of Texas, having a master’s degree in Strategic Studies.

His area of interest is Asian Foreign Politics).

I

remember an incident while doing BSc from the University of Allahabad. I had gone to meet a senior announcer of All India Radio at his house. While sitting on the terrace, we talked about Indian music and classical singers.

When the mention of Lata Mangeshkar came, he told me how he had seen Lata ji closely at a cultural program held in Allahabad long time ago. He said that Lata ji was singing sitting in front of us, but her lips did not move.

It was amazing to see how effortlessly she was singing so beautifully. The AIR staff was mesmerized and listened to the legendary singer who was titled as the ‘Nightingale of India’.

Then, looking at the sky, he said, “Lata Mangeshkar is a goddess, a real goddess. Such goddesses do not take birth again and again.”

Bharat Ratna and Swar Kokila Lata Mangeshkar has left a huge treasure of happiness for the music lovers in the form of her evergreen songs.

Her songs will be sung for centuries. It is said that if one listens to a new song of Lata ji every day, which is not repeated, it will take 68 years to listen to all her songs.

Lata Mangeshkar sang this many songs for over 1000 movies.

For ages, her songs will be enjoyed in every home on radio, TV, mobile, websites and YouTube.

Amitabh Bachchan, the megastar of the century, said on the demise of Lata ji that ‘the sweetest voice of millions of centuries’ has left us. Famous Bollywood singer Mika Singh has displayed Lata Didi’s picture in his Twitter and Instagram DP replacing his own photo. He wrote in a post, “The

Goddess of Indian Music Industry, Swara Kokila left us today. She was and will always be a complete institute of learning for Bollywood.

I have no words to describe what Lata ji means to us. Didi, thank you so much for giving us life, all singers and musicians are living and working with your blessings.

You will live on in our hearts and inspire us till eternity. Om Shanti.’’

Music not only entertains us, but it is also very important for good mental health. Due to the lockdown and social distancing during the Covid period, people all over the world were forced to stay indoors.

Because of this people had to stay away from their friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances. This problem still continues.

There was a fear of Covid and the compulsion to live alone. This caused a sudden rise in the cases of mental problems all over the world.

Thankfully, there were smartphones and the Internet to keep people connected to music.

A study by an Australian University found that when international students were left alone during the pandemic, they listened to music of their choice to avoid stress.

This gave them almost the same benefits as exercising, getting good sleep or traveling to some interesting place.

The stress caused by online education was also reduced when the students listened to their favorite music.

Music is what keeps the mind happy. My humble tributes to the goddess of music, Lata Didi.

Narvijay Yadav The writer is a senior journalist and columnist.

Reader’s Post

Relief that schools will finally reopen

Sir,

While a lot has been said about the economic loss incurred due to the pandemic and lockdown, the students and teachers have been left out. Hopefully, as predicted by experts, the pandemic should become an endemic.

In such a case, I would like the authority not to stop classroom education as no amount of online classes can replace classroom. It has been too long that both students and teachers have missed the classroom.

Hope more strategies are devised to continue classroom learning in case of a future but less severe outbreak.

Lyvia Chophy, Dimapur.

BHADOHI (UP), FEB 6 (IANS): A 30-year-old man was allegedly lynched in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and hit a cyclist.

Munshi Gautam, a Dalit, was driving a tractor in an inebriated state when he lost control of the vehicle after going over a speed breaker and hit the cyclist in Berwa Paharpur village.

As he tried to flee, he was caught by the local people and beaten to death.

Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar said: “As people tried to catch him, he accelerated in a bid to escape but hit a tree and fell on the road. The crowd caught hold of him and physically assaulted him. Later, he was taken to the community health centre where doctors declared him brought dead.”

A case has been registered against one Jai Shankar Pandey and three unknown people, the officer said, adding that Pandey has been arrested.

her eyes.

Bhatia recalled her brief meeting with Mangeshkar at the latter’s residence Prabhu Kunj in the past.

She said she was at the singer’s house along with several other members of a chorus group for rehearsal ahead of a musical event.

“All of us were sitting in a hall and suddenly Lata didi came there. When I saw her, I was completely in trance and realised some time later that she was sitting next to me!” she said.

Members of the group requested Mangeshkar to sing a few songs and she

sang some of her popular numbers, including ‘Ayega aanewala’ to ‘Kabutar ja ja’, she recalled.

“I feel honoured that I got a chance to sit next to her and listen to her voice live,” she said.

Bhatia recalled her another brief encounter with the singing icon in 1996.

“Earlier, I worked with Jet Airways and was on duty at the check-in counter at the airport. In those days we used to write boarding passes manually. After writing a boarding pass of one passenger, he stepped aside and I saw Lata Didi in front

of me,” she recalled.

“I was very excited to see her and handed over a boarding pass to her…All these memories are coming to my mind...Last night, I could not sleep after I saw the news of her health has worsened,” she said.

Yogesh Patil, who came from Panvel in Navi Mumbai to pay his respects to Mangeshkar, said he was saddened by her death.

Patil, who learns music at veteran singer Suresh Wadkar’s music academy said, “Anybody who loves music can never forget her songs.”

Schools to reopen as COVID situation improves in Bihar

Fire breaks out at Karkardooma Court

PATNA, FEB 6 (PTI): With the COVID-19 surge showing a significant drop in Bihar, the Nitish Kumar government on Sunday decided to reopen schools, lift night curfew and relax many other restrictions which have been in place for a month. The decision was taken at a meeting of the crisis management group which was chaired by the chief minister.

L a t e r, Ku m a r a nnounced on social media that from Monday onwards, schools will be allowed to hold physical classes with 50 per cent attendance for up to class 8.

For classes 9 upwards, there will be no restrictions.

According to Chaitanya Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, night curfews, in force since January 6 whereby people were asked to stay indoors from 10 PM to 5 AM, was also being done away with.

Cinema halls, gymnasiums, shopping malls, clubs and swimming pools will be allowed to reopen

with 50 per cent capacity.

Shops will not be required to down the shutters by 8 PM though strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol will be expected.

The number of attendees allowed at weddings and funerals has been raised from 50 to 200.

Other religious, social, cultural and political gatherings may be held but with prior permission of district administration.

Government offices, functioning with 50 per cent attendance, will now run normally and other visitors to these premises will also be allowed, though entry will be given to only those who have been vaccinated. The guidelines, which come into force from February 7, will continue till February 13 when the situation will be reviewed afresh.

The state has seen a marked decline in its active caseload, which had shot past 35,000 a month ago, but had fallen below 3,000 on Saturday.

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (IANS): A fire broke out in the room of an Additional Sessions Judge at the Karkardooma Court in East Delhi, officials said on Sunday.

According to information, the fire erupted was in the court room number 52 of Additional Sessions Judge Manjusha badhwa and at the corridor on the second floor of the fivestorey building.

The fire department received a call in this connection at around 3.30 a.m.

A fire official said that initially six fire tenders were rushed to the spot, but six more were sent later to control the massive blaze.

The fire was brought under control by 4.20 a.m. and there were no reports of any injuries.

In a second incident in Outer Delhi’s Bawana area, a fire broke out in eight shops.

The fire department got a call of the incident at around 3.15 a.m.

T H I RU VA N A N T H A PURAM, FEB 6 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists on Sunday waved black flags at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his convoy in Kannur.

A protest by the youth wing of the BJP was staged outside the Kannur airport over the revelations made by Swapna Suresh, an accused in the gold smuggling case.

Swapna in a television channel claimed that the then Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, M. Sivasankar was in the know of everything that had transpired in her life for the past three years.

She also said that Sivasankar was informed that the baggage that was in the custody of Customs had gold bars in it and that it was smuggled from UAE to India.

The revelations came after the Kerala cadre IAS officer had in some excerpts of his autobiography said that he did not know that the baggage that was in Customs custody had gold bars or rather gold bars were smuggled through the Green channel.

However, Swapna, in a television interview, refuted this claim and said that there was nothing in her life that Sivasankar was not aware of, and he was involved in all smuggling activities.

PM Security Breach: SC-appointed five-member committee begins probe

The Prime Minister’s convoy was held up in Punjab’s Ferozepur district on January 5.

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): A month after the security lapse involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi occurred on January 5 in Punjab, the five-member committee set up by the Supreme Court reached the incident site at Ferozepur for the first time to probe the case on Sunday.

The Supreme Court had set up a five-member committee on January 12, headed by retired top court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to probe into the security lapse.

Justice Indu Malhotra inspected the flyover on which the Prime Minister was stuck for nearly 15 to 20 minutes on his way to the public meeting in Ferozepur.

She also went to the site where the rally was sched-

members of J&K on Friday evening, has been outrightly rejected by the NC and the PDP. In the draft report, many Assembly seats in Kashmir have either vanished or redrawn and merged with new assembly seats. For instance in Srinagar, which had eight seats in erstwhile J&K state, four seats, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Sonawar and Eidgah, were retained but the remaining four were redrawn and merged with new seats. The new seats in

Srinagar are South Srinagar, Chanapora, Zoonimar and Central Shalteng.

The Habba Kadal seat in Srinagar, which had many Kashmiri Pandits, has disappeared. As per the proposed report, voters of Habba Kadal will be part of at least three Assembly seats.

In Baramulla district, Gulmarg and Sangrama are no longer there and two new seats, Tangmarg and Kunzer, have been created by redrawing boundaries of

old seats. In south Kashmir’s Kulgam, which had four seats, the commission has proposed only three seats, D H Pora, Kulgam and Devsar.

Shalibugh and Noorabad were redrawn and merged with DH Pora and Devsar.

In Anantnag, which had six seats, seven seats were proposed by the Delimitation Commission.

Kokernag and Shangus were redrawn and merged with Larnoo, Anantnag West and Anantnag East.

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (IANS): The Parliamentary Committee on Public Undertaking has asked the government to change the code ‘GAY’ for the ‘Gaya International Airport.

In its action taken report tabled in Parliament on Friday, the panel mentioned the issue and asked the government to make all efforts to take up the matter with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and concerned organisations as this issue pertains to inappropriate code naming of an airport of a holy city of India.

The Committee also said that the use of ‘GAY’ code for Gaya airport is inappropriate for the holy city, therefore the government should try to replace this code with an appropriate one and also suggested an alternative code such as ‘YAG’.

According to officials in the Civil Aviation Ministry, the IATA, the trade association of world’s airlines, has expressed its inability to change the code

File photo of Gaya airport.

without a “justifiable reason primarily related to air safety”.

The IATA also stated that as per Resolution 763, the location codes allotted are permanent and to change this a strong justification primarily concerning air safety is needed.

As per the aviation norms, the IATA allots station code for airports.

“The GAY code for Gaya has been in use since the operationalisation of this airport, therefore, without any justifiable reason primarily concerning air

point out before media persons,” he asked his party leaders.

Chirag Paswan asked the officials to communicate with members of the party so that they were available during the protest march on February 15.

While interacting with media persons at Patna airport, Chirag Paswan said: “Due to wrongful policies of Nitish Kumar, unemployment is a biggest issue in Bihar. A large number of youths are unemployed and are migrating to other states for jobs.”

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students recently, compared to other opposition parties like the RJD, Congress, the left parties and the Pappu Yadav’s JAP. Even Jitan Ram Manjhi led HAM and Mukesh Sahani led VIP participated in the students protest.

Though it was a close door meeting, the party insider said that Chirag Paswan expressed his anger at the party spokespersons and directed them to collect data on policies and initiatives of the Nitish Kumar government on the job front. “Find irregularities, loopholes and

safety, IATA has expressed its inability to change the code of Gaya airport,” the ministry told the panel which was duly mentioned in the panel’s report tabled on Friday.

“The Committee appreciates the efforts of Air India being a member air-

line of IATA to take up the request with the international air transport association but, yet, re-emphasise the government to make all effort to take up the matter with the IATA...,” the action taken report said.

In the first report of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Undertaking tabled in Parliament in January last year, the panel had mentioned that it was apprised about a request received by the Civil Aviation Ministry regarding the change of the code name of Gaya airport.

The panel had also recommended that the Ministry and Air India complete all the requisite consultations and formalities in a time-bound manner to change the code name of the Gaya airport.

Wanted

Chirag Paswan to organise unemployment march PATNA, FEB 6 (IANS): Lok Janshakti Party (R) chief Chirag Paswan has said he will organise an unemployment protest march in Patna on February 15.

Chirag Paswan held a meeting of party officials and spokespersons and asked them to start preparations for the march to be successful.

The protest march will start from JP roundabout to Raj Bhavan in Patna.

The party did not participate actively in the RRBNTPC massive protest in Bihar which was held by

telligence Bureau and SPG officers. The Central Committee had already started the investigation. Then the matter reached the Supreme Court. The top court dismissed both the committees and a joint inquiry committee was formed under the leadership of retired Justice Indu Malhotra who arrived today for investigation. The other members of the committee are Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) or his nominee not below the rank of Inspector General of Police, Director General of Police (DGP) Union Territory of Chandigarh, Additional DGP of Punjab (Security) and Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Parl panel asks govt to change code ‘GAY’ for Gaya airport

Delimitation panel proposes major changes in Kashmir SRINAGAR, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): The Delimitation Commission in its draft report has proposed major changes in Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Valley. The commission has stuck with its stand in the first report of increasing six Assembly seats in the Jammu region and only one in Kashmir, reports Indian Express.

The report, which was handed over to five associate

uled to take place. Justice Malhotra was accompanied by the DGP of Chandigarh, IG of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), ADGP Security of Punjab and the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Notably, the complete record related to PM’s visit has already reached the committee.

After the security lapse of the Prime Minister last month, the Centre and the Punjab government had started separate investigations. Punjab formed a committee of retired Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Home Secretary Anurag Verma. While the Centre also formed an inquiry committee headed by the Security Secretary along with In-

dp-584/22

Man lynched in UP after hitting cyclist

Swara Nightingale supporters pay homage to the late Lata Mangeshkar at Assi Ghat, in Varanasi, Sunday. (PTI)

BJYM activists wave black flags at Kerala CM’s convoy

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Heavenly voice fell silent: Lata’s fans

MUMBAI, FEB 6 (PTI): Fans of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who came to the Shivaji Park ground in central Mumbai to pay their last respects to the music icon on Sunday, said they grew up listening to her melodious voice and although her death has now left a void, she will continue to touch their lives through her memorable songs.

Mangeshkar died in a Mumbai hospital on Sunday due to multiple organ failure at the age of 92, leaving generations of music lovers in India and elsewhere with a profound sense of loss.

The funeral of Mangeshkar will be held in an open ground at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai.

Kamalakar Bagave, who resides in Shivaji Park area, described her death as a big loss to the nation.

“We grew up listening to Lata didi’s songs through decades. Although she is no more with us, she will remain in our memory and will continue to touch our lives through her songs sung in melodious voice,” he said.

Manasi Bhatia, a woman in her fifties, who resides in suburban Andheri, arrived at Shivaji Park in the morning soon after learning about Mangeshkar’s death.

“Death of Lata didi means the heavenly voice has fallen silent forever and the real Saraswati has gone,” Bhatia told PTI with tears in

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Maruti expects production Govt prepared to deal with activity as chip supply improves any global development: FM

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (PTI): India is prepared to deal with any situation arising out of global developments, including the US Federal Reserve’s decision to roll back monetary easing, and will not allow the economy to suffer, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted on Sunday.

In a post-Budget interaction with industry body Ficci, she urged corporates to take advantage of the recovery in the economy and step up investment.

“It’s time now for us as Team India to rise. We are at such a juncture where revival of the economy is very clear...this recovery is therefore going to place India as the fastest growing economy among the larger economies and that would continue even in the next fiscal,” the minister said.

Post pandemic, the world order has changed and industry leadership should ensure that India doesn’t miss the bus this time, she said. Recalling

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

BUSINESS/STATE

Nirmala Sitharaman that India missed an opportunity post the global financial crisis, she said the taper tantrum was not absolutely well addressed and as a result, India missed out on one big opportunity that was available at the time.

“Now with the RBI and the government working together and very much keenly observing what is going on in the global financial ecosystem...we have also learnt the lessons of the last crisis which the government of India faced in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

“We are fairly watchful of what is happening as

regards the global strategic developments, as regards the Fed decision, and as also regards the global inflationary pressures, we are keeping a very close watch, and I can assure the leadership here that we shall not allow the Indian economy to suffer for want of preparations,” she said.

She exuded confidence that India would definitely leap forward and reach such sustained growth levels and before 2047 it would stand out as one of those well developed, absolutely endowed countries.

The US Federal Reserve has decided to end its bond purchasing programme in March and increase interest rates thereafter to control high inflation.

Emerging economies like India have been beneficiaries of increased liquidity and have attracted huge foreign fund inflows.

However, they will face the threat of huge fund outflows as the US Fed will taper off buying of assets.

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India is expecting production activity to improve in the current quarter with gradual improvement in the supply of critical electronic components, a senior company official has said.

The auto major is also looking at ways, including bolstering its SUV portfolio, in order to get back to 50 per cent market share in the domestic passenger vehicle segment in the years ahead.

The company’s cumulative market share currently hovers around 44 per cent as it continues to struggle in the mid-size SUV segment, which has been growing at a fast clip.

“An estimated 90,000 vehicles could not be produced during the third quarter owing to the global shortage of electronics components mostly corresponding to the domestic models.

Though still unpredictable, the electronics supply situation is improving gradually. The company hopes to increase production in Q4, though it will not reach full

capacity,” Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) CFO Ajay Seth said in an analyst call.

At present, MSI has a cumulative production capacity of around 5.5 lakh units per quarter or about 22 lakh units per annum across its manufacturing plants in Haryana and Gujarat.

Seth noted that during the October-December quarter, the company continued to experience a shortage of electronic components, especially during the festive period, when the demand for cars usually remains good. “The enquiry, bookings and retail sales in the third quarter have shown an improvement sequentially.

Enablers such as finance availability and interest rates continue to remain favourable,” Seth explained.

Elaborating on the production scenario, MSI Senior Executive Director (Sales and Marketing) Shashank Srivastava stated that the situation has improved gradually from September last year when the company could only roll out 40 per cent of its manufacturing target.

Organizations object to shifting of EAC Longshen Hqs (From p-1) TVC, SCC, YVC and stakeholders of Longshen town appealed to the State government to cancel the proposed shifting of EAC headquarters under any circumstances to avoid untoward outcomes. Expressing confidence on the wisdom of Spot Verification Committee and the State government, they hoped that the government would act accordingly in order to maintain the goodwill and gain the confidence of common people.

They mentioned that Spot Verification Commit-

tee led by land resources commissioner secretary and EAC Longshen held a meeting with them on January 20 regarding the proposal for shifting the EAC headquarters from Longshen, during which they had opposed the proposal.

They said they had requested the committee to submit the exact report as discussed during the meeting.

However, they expressed sorrow and shock that some individuals were trying to get no-objection certificate (NOC) from

Longshen area villages as supporting documents for shifting the EAC headquarters. Hence, they requested Spot Verification Committee, Mon deputy commissioner, Longshen EAC and the State government not to accept or entertain such NOCs without the knowledge of TVC and SCC. Asking villagers in Longshen area not to issue NOC randomly, they directed that if any village council had issued NOC without knowing the reality, they should withdraw it at the earliest.

No reason to delay CoI, SIT reports: Konyak...

(From p-1) had resulted in Konyaks, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and other tribes of Nagaland and by different sections in many parts of the Northeast abstaining from Republic Day celebrations.

They said the spirit of celebration and oneness had vanished after December 4.

According to the memorandum, the Oting massacre was an appalling, indelible and indefensible transgression by deluded and misguided agents of the Central gov-

ernment against its own people. It declared that any intent by the government to protect and justify the 21 Para commandos would be untenable, especially in the backdrop of evidences of unprovoked and merciless killing of the innocent without due warning when there was no element of suspicion.

The CSOs cautioned that indisposition and failure of the government to take action against those involved would not only deepen the pain, but also shatter people’s trust in the authority of the government.

Adani Group forms new subsidiary to set up data centre in Mumbai Rising crude oil prices to subdue rupee

KAKURO

No. 4797 Yesterday’s solution No. 4796

No. 3821 Yesterday’s solution No. 3820

and Rates, at Edelweiss Securities.

“Expect the rupee to be weak in the coming week.

FPI outflows are also at a high level putting pressure on rupee.”

Foreign institutions have sold equities worth $4.75 billion as well.

“Higher bond yields post union budget pronouncements are unlikely to attract much capital in next few weeks,” said Devarsh Vakil, Deputy Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities.

“We believe USDINR to trade in the range of 74 to 74.50 ahead of RBI policy meeting, and over the medieum term Rupee seems to be headed towards 75 mark.”

Recent rally in crude oil prices could make the RBI rethink the accommodative stance in next week’s

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The monetary policy review is slated for February 7-9. It is widely expected that the RBI’s MPC will maintain status quo in the key lending rates.

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“Now that global crude prices are trading above $90 mark, it will be important to see how much the RBI raises concern over rising inflation. Volatility for the rupee is expected to remain elevated ahead of the important event,” said Gaurang Somaiya, Forex & Bullion Analyst, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

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MUMBAI, FEB 6 (IANS): Rising crude oil prices along with foreign fund outflows are likely to weaken the Indian rupee against the US dollar in the near term.

Besides, the Reserve Bank of India’s upcoming monetary policy review will also have a bearing on the rupee’s movement.

Lately, the global commodity prices have firmed up sharply in January 2022, with crude oil prices hovering close to $91 per barrel.

Consequently, the rupee is expected to trade towards 75.50 to a dollar in the near term.

Last week, the rupee closed at 74.70 to a US dollar.

“Crude oil is finally above six-year’s level... It’s a lead indicator of global demand and also alarm for rupee at the same time,” said Sajal Gupta, Head, Forex

DP-486/22

Crossword

(GW) of data centre capacity over the next decade.

The equal joint venture (JV), named AdaniConneX, will focus on building a network of hyperscale data centres in India, starting with Chennai, Navi Mumbai, Noida, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad. A data centre provides the necessary secured architecture wherein computing and networking equipment is concentrated for collect-

Adani and other large corporates from Reliance Jio to Bharti Airtel are also seeking to tap this opportunity.

Adani group last year got land in Nodia, near here, for the data centre from the Uttar Pradesh government.

Flipkart has partnered with Adani Group to set up its third data centre in Chennai.

Last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget for 202223 proposed to classify data centres and energy storage as infrastructure assets allowing firms to access cheap and long-term credit.

“As India’s internet economy continues to be on a surge, as there is an increasing need to build a requisite data centre to ensure seamless uninterrupted data consumption and storage.

DP-578/22

thereto and to undertake activities associated with its infrastructure development including land acquisition and development for the said purpose,” it said.

MDCL will commence its business operations in due course, it added.

In Febr uar y 2021, Adani Enterprises Ltd had partnered EdgeConneX, a leading data centre operator, to develop one gigawatt

ing, storing, processing, distributing or allowing access to large amounts of data.

Gautam Adani had in November 2021 stated that he wants his conglomerate to be a world leader in green data storage, with sites run entirely on clean power, in sync with India’s goal of turning carbon net-zero by 2070. The diversification comes against the backdrop of India’s digital economy expected to touch USD 1 trillion by 2025. Also, the Reserve Bank of India’s norm mandates data localisation, necessitating the need for setting up large data centres to store and protect information.

Data localisation refers to storing data on any device physically present within the borders of a country where the data is generated.

DP-583/22

MUMBAI, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Ports-to-energy conglomerate Adani Group has incorporated a new subsidiary to set up a data centre in Mumbai, one of the half a dozen cities that the billionaire Gautam Adani’s group has identified to set up data centres initially.

A d a n i C o n n ex P v t Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture of Adani Enterprises and EdgeConnex Europe BV, on February 4 incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary Mumbai Data Centre Ltd, the Adani group firm said in a stock exchange filing.

The new unit will “undertake business to develop, operate, maintain, deal with data centres, information technology (IT)/ information technology-enabled services (ITES)/ cloud, providing services related

Elizabeth II marks platinum jubilee with ‘Queen Camilla’ announcement

LONDON, FEB 6 (AFP): Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday became the first British monarch to reign for seven decades, expressing her “sincere wish” for Camilla, the wife of her heir Prince Charles, to ultimately be known as Queen Consort.

Elizabeth II made the announcement in a message renewing her pledge to spend her life serving the nation as she began her Platinum Jubilee in subdued fashion at Sandringham, her estate in eastern England.

Britain’s longest-serving monarch acceded to the throne aged 25 on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father King George VI. In a major statement on the future of the royal family, the 95-year-old expressed her “sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort”.

Charles warmly praised Camilla in a message marking the Jubilee, saying: “my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout”, adding that they were “deeply conscious of the honour

(L-R) Queen Elizabeth and Camilla. (File)

represented by my mother’s wish”. He paid tribute to the Queen’s “devotion to the welfare of all her people (which) inspires still greater admiration with each passing year”.

The Queen said she hoped that when Charles, now 73, becomes monarch, the British people would give him and Camilla, now 74, “the same support that you have given me”.

Charles and Camilla, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, had a highly publicised adulterous

relationship and Camilla was vilified for her role in the break-up of Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana.

When the couple married in 2005, the royal family announced that Camilla would become known as Princess Consort due to the sensitivity of the issue, but she has gradually won plaudits as the future king’s loyal wife.

The Queen’s suggestion means Camilla would be crowned alongside Charles and be known to the public as Queen Camilla, The

West Africa grapples with new wave of military coups O UAG A D O U G O U (BURKINA FASO), FEB 6 (AP): It’s a pattern becoming all too common again in West Africa: Mutinous soldiers detain a president, then seize control of the state broadcaster to announce they’ve taken over the country. International condemnation quickly follows, but the junta remains in power.

West Africa’s new wave of coups kicked off in Mali in 2020, followed by another in Guinea the following year, and then Burkina Faso late last month. Just a week later, gunmen also tried to overthrow the president of Guinea-Bissau in a machine-gun attack that lasted hours but failed.

Military power grabs are nothing new in the region: There have been nearly 100 in West Africa since 1946 but they’d dropped off over the past decade. Now the regional body known as ECOWAS is grappling with how to bring about a return to democracy in three of its 15 member states, where juntas have seized power in the last 18 months.

“It looks increasingly hard to argue against the idea of coup contagion – that coups in one place inspire them in another – following the chain of events in the past year,” said Eric Humphery-Smith, Africa Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft. The new spike in power grabs comes as the Sahel, the vast region south

A man holds a portrait of Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba who has taken the reins of Burkina Faso.

of the Sahara Desert, faces growing violence from Islamic extremists, which in turn has caused people to turn against elected governments in both Mali and Burkina Faso. Neighboring Niger, hard-hit by Islamic insurgents, has also been vulnerable: Security forces stopped a coup attempt there last year.

“Coups in West Africa have been making a comeback for various reasons which bleed into one another,” said Rukmini Sanyal, research analyst for the Middle East and Africa at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Regional political volatility is becoming entrenched, causing a slow erosion of democratic gains, she said.

And there’s often widespread support for the government overthrows within the countries because people hope it will bring about new elections, she added.

After last week’s coup in Burkina Faso, people across the country lauded the military takeover, saying it was overdue. In Mali, thousands of protesters took to the streets in support of the ruling military after the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, imposed sanctions over delayed elections.

Guinea’s junta also has benefited from the fact that ousted President Alpha Conde had become deeply unpopular because he sought to circumvent term limits and won a third term.

Governance and rule of law institutions are weak in many countries in the region, says Corinne Dufka, West Africa director for Human Rights Watch.

“And when societies are tested by insecurity and profound brutality against civilians, it may make some people more willing to accept less democratic military rule,” Dufka said.

Sunday Telegraph wrote.

With the main Platinum Jubilee celebrations set for this summer, the Queen said she hoped the events would “bring together families and friends, neighbours and communities”.

Four days of festivities are planned for early June, coinciding with the anniversary of her 1953 coronation, including a military parade and music concert, street parties, a nationwide “Big Jubilee Lunch” and a “Platinum Pudding Competition”. On Monday, there will be ceremonial gun salutes marking Accession Day in London’s Green Park, close to Buckingham Palace, and at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

During her reign, the Queen has remained a constant through periods of huge social and political upheaval -- a living link to Britain’s post-war and imperial past. In her message addressed to the public signed “Your servant, Elizabeth R”, the Queen said she wanted “to express my thanks to you all for your support”.

Imran Khan offers ‘role in resolving’ US, China dispute

N. Korea moved ahead with weapons programme despite sanctions: Report

NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (IANS): Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that Prime Minister Imran Khan as saying that Pakistan was ready to play its role in resolving the dispute between the US and China, The News reported.

During his meetings with think tanks, Khan stressed that the world could not afford another Cold War, said Fawad.

The Prime Minister, he added, would have a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday.

During meetings with the Chinese leadership, the bilateral relations between the two countries would be discussed, Fawad added.

He said water projects in Karachi and Faisalabad were discussed during Khan’s meetings with Chinese investors.

“The water supply project for Karachi (K-4), Hub Canal and water treatment plant in Faisalabad came under discussion in the meetings,” Fawad said in a media talk.

A woman walks past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on January 30, 2022. (AFP)

SEOUL, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): North Korea pressed ahead with the development of its nuclear and missile programs last year despite international sanctions, according to a confidential United Nations report seen

by AFP on Saturday.

Pyongyang is under major sanctions over its weapons programs, including a ban on exports of coal, iron, lead, textiles, seafood and other products.

While no nuclear tests or launches of interconti-

nental ballistic missiles were reported last year, North Korea kept developing “its capability for production of nuclear fissile materials,” according to the report, which was compiled by sanctions monitors and shared with the 15 UN Security Council members. “Maintenance and development of DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure continued, and DPRK continued to seek material, technology and know-how for these programs overseas,

including through cybermeans and joint scientific research,” said the report, using the initials of North Korea’s official name.

The document also said North Korea resorted to cyberattacks, especially on cryptocurrency assets, as an important source of government revenue.

The UN experts noted a sharp increase in the quality of illicit refined petroleum imports last year, “but at a level much lower than that of previous years.”

Russia hits new daily COVID record: 180,000 cases MOSCOW, FEB 6 (AP): Russia is reporting a record daily count of new coronavirus infections of 180,071, a tenfold spike from a month ago as the highly contagious omicron variant spreads through the country.

The figure released by the state coronavirus task force on Sunday was about 2,800 cases more than recorded the previous day and continued a surge that began in mid-January, when daily new cases were around 17,000.

Although the number of infections has increased dramatically in recent weeks, the task force reported that daily deaths from COVID-19 are holding steady or marginally declining: 661 deaths were

recorded over the past 24 hours, compared with 796 on Jan 6.

For the entire course of the pandemic, the task force has reported 12.8 million infections and 335,414 deaths.

President Vladimir Putin said last week that his government is considering

loosening some coronavirus restrictions, despite the soaring infections.

Putin told Russia’s top business association that the authorities are not planning any lockdowns or other additional restrictions because of the surge. Moreover, the government is considering lifting restrictions for those

who come into contact with COVID-19 patients.

Existing regulations mandate that people in that position must self-isolate for seven days.

Faced with the biggest virus surge yet, Russian authorities have generally resisted imposing any major restrictions and repeatedly rejected the idea of introducing a lockdown.

Russia had only one, six-week lockdown in 2020, and in October 2021 many people were also ordered to stay off work for about a week. But beside that, life in most of the country remained largely normal, with even mask mandates being loosely enforced.

In recent weeks, a growing number of Russian regions have started

introducing restrictions for those under 18, as officials noted that the current surge affects children much more than the previous ones. In many areas, schools have either switched to remote learning or extended holidays for students.

In St Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, minors have been temporarily barred from most public places.

Russia started vaccinating children aged 12-17 only last month with the domestically developed Sputnik M jab, which is the same as Sputnik V but contains a smaller dose.

According to media reports and social media users, only small amounts of vaccine for teenagers have been made available.

South Korean prez candidates to Raisi praises Iraq’s efforts on Iran-Saudi talks FEB 6 (IANS): the extra-regional powers register with poll body on Feb 13-14 TEHRAN, Iranian President Ebrahim stop intervention in the

SEOUL, FEB 6 (IANS): With the South Korean presidential election fast approaching, the country’s National Election Commission is hastening its preparations for the March 9 vote amid a surge in daily Covid-19 infections driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

According to the NEC, political parties’ presidential candidates have to formally register on February 13 and 14, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The candidates’ official 22-day campaign period is set to kick off on February 15. Three rounds of TV debate among candidates

have been scheduled during the official campaign period.

Starting from Monday, gatherings of political party members will be banned under an election law.

Overseas Korean citizens who are registered as absentee voters will cast their votes on February 23-28.

Sailors will cast their votes aboard their ships from March 1-4.

Advance voting will take place from March 4-5.

It is not the first South Korean election to be held during the pandemic, but the upcoming vote comes as the nation grapples with a surge in daily Covid-19 cases.

20 terrorists, 9 Pak securitymen killed in massive Balochistan attack NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (IANS): The Pakistan security forces have completed the clearance operations which were launched after terrorists attacked their camps in Panjgur and Naushki districts of Balochistan last week, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement, adding that 20 terrorists and 9 security personnel were killed.

“Both (of the) attacks were repulsed successfully by the prompt response from troops at both locations,” The Express Tribune quoted the ISPR, the military’s media wing, as saying.

In Naushki, the ISPR said, nine terrorists were terrorists while repulsing killed while four security the attack”. forces personnel died durIn Panjgur, the secuing the “shootout with rity forces had repulsed

9

INTERNATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

the terrorist attack after an “The security forces intense exchange of fire carried out a clearance during which some terror- operation to hunt down the ists fled the area. hiding terrorists in the vi-

cinity.” The military added that four fleeing terrorists were killed while as many terrorists were encircled the next day by the security forces.

“All encircled terrorists were killed in today’s (Saturday) operation as they failed to surrender.”

Five soldiers including a junior commissioned officer, were killed while six soldiers have been injured during the follow-up operations in Panjgur lasting 72 hours.

Fur ther, the ISPR added that three terrorists linked to these attacks were also killed including two high-value targets in the Balgatar area of Kech district on Friday in the follow-up clearance operation conducted on a makeshift terrorist hideout.

Raisi praised Iraq’s effort to enhance the region’s security and stability, referring to Baghdad’s sponsorship of the rounds of negotiations between Tehran and Riyadh.

Raisi made the remarks in a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and thanked the the latter’s efforts for hosting talks between Tehran and Riyadh, Xinhua news agency reported.

A strong and cohesive government and a united society in Iraq have always been emphasized by the Islamic republic, he added.

Ebrahim Raisi

The Iranian President noted that his country is ready for further talks with Saudi Arabia if Riyadh is “willing to continue the talks in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect”.

Referring to regional security and stability, Raisi noted that problems of the region can be solved in case

regional affairs.

He also expressed hope that the Iraqi government would be able to take the lead in a regional initiative to lift the siege on the Yemeni people.

For his part, al-Kadhimi said it’s important to initiate efforts to bring views in regional affairs closer, and to broaden bilateral cooperation and coordination in various fields and at all levels.

The Prime Minister described the relations between Iraq and Iran as “distinguished, and Iraq is looking forward to expanding these relations”.

Afghan journalists face increasing harassment under Taliban: Media body KABUL, FEB 6 (IANS): The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that journalists and media workers in Afghanistan are facing increasing “harassment” under the Taliban regime.

RSF said the threats, interrogations and arbitrary arrests of journalists have increased and these actions are in violation of Afghanistan’s press law, TOLO News reported.

According to RSF, since the Taliban came to power in August last year, at least 50 journalists and media workers have been detained, lasting from several hours to nearly a week.

“Threatening to rip out journalists’ tongues in order to prevent them from

covering certain subjects is completely unacceptable,” said Reza Moini, the head of RSF’s Iran-Afghanistan desk.

“Journalists must be able to practice their profession without being under a permanent threat of arrest and torture. These unlawful threats, which violate Afghanistan’s media legislation, are all the more horrifying for coming at a time of growing harassment and increasingly restrictive rules for the right to news and information.” According to the RSF, the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice had also issued a decree in November last year defining certain rules for media in Afghanistan.

On February 3, the International Federation of Journalists also raised concerns on the status of media in Afghanistan, saying at least 318 media outlets have closed since the fall of the Western-backed government in 33 of 34 provinces in Afghanistan.

“The crisis has hit newspapers the hardest with just 20 out of 114 continuing to publish,” the report read.

“Fifty-one TV stations, 132 radio stations and 49 online media outlets have ceased operations according to the report compiled for the IFJ.” The Taliban, however, reacting to these reports, said it is committed to supporting press freedom.

INFOTAINMENT

10

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

Want to escape mosquito bites?

Wear right colour

End of an era of India’s singing legend When Lata Mangeshkar L moved Nehru to tears B a t a M a n ge s h k a r (Born September 28,1929 – Died February 6, 2022) She was the eldest child of Deenanath Mangeshkar, a Marathi and Konkani musician, and his wife Shevanti.

Lata’s other siblings include- Meena, Asha, Usha, and Hridaynath, in birth order.All are accomplished singers and musicians. She began her singing career at the early age of 13 since 1942.Her younger sibling Asha Bhosle is another legion of Indian pop music.

L I F E T I M E AC H I E V E M E N T S & AWARDS She recorded songs in over thirty-six Indian languages and a few foreign languages, though primarily in Hindi, Bengali and Marathi. She received several accolades and honors throughout her career.

Pa d m a B h u s h a n (1969), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievements (1999), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989), Maharashtra Bhushan Award (1997), NTR National Award (1999), Bharat Ratna (2001); France’s Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (2007), ANR National Award (2009), three National Film

Awards and 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards. She has also won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards. In 1969, she made the unusual gesture of giving up the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award in order to promote fresh talent. She was later awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993 and Filmfare Special Awards in 1994 and 2004.

In 1984 the State Government of Madhya Pradesh instituted the Lata Mangeshkar Award in her honour. The State Government of Maharashtra also instituted a Lata Mangeshkar Award in 1992.

In 2009 she was awarded the title of Officer of the French Legion of Honour, France’s highest order.

In 2012 she was ranked number 10 in Outlook India’s poll of the Greatest Indian.

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan said kambakht, kabhi besuri na hoti (“[she] is never off-key”). Dilip Kumar once commented, Lata Mangeshkar ki awaaz kudrat ki takhleek ka ek karishma hain, meaning “Lata Mangeshkar’s voice is a miracle from God”.

She is also a recipient of honorary doctorates from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1989, Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, and Shivaji University in Kolhapur.

From the 1940s to the 1970s, Mangeshkar sang duets with Asha Bhosle, Suraiya, Shamshad Begum, Usha Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar, G. M. Durrani, Mahendra Kapoor. In 1964, she sang “Chanda Se Hoga” with P. B. Sreenivas from Main Bhi Ladki Hoon.

She was the recipient of three National Film Awards, 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards, four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, t wo F i l m f a r e S p e c i a l Awards, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and many more. In 1974, she became the first Indian to perform at Royal Albert Hall, London.

Cate Blanchett to receive first International Goya Award in Valencia

T

he Spanish Film Academy has announced that its first-ever International Goya Award will be received by Hollywood star Cate Blanchett.

Currently presided by Mariano Barroso, the Spanish Film Academy created the award to “honor artists that have contributed to cinema as a medium that brings together different cultures and people”.

Blanchett was recognised for her impactful work both on and off the screen worldwide, as an award-winning actor, producer, artistic director and humanitarian. She will receive the award at a gala ceremony on February 12 in Valencia, Spain, reports variety.com.

Blanchett has earned two Oscars, three BAFTAs and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Her recent film credits include Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’. Other credits over the years include ‘Carol’, ‘Blue Jasmine’, ‘The Aviator’ and ‘Elizabeth’.

Over the course of her career, she has collaborated

with many prominent filmmakers, including Adam McKay, Steven Soderbergh, Anthony Minghella, Sally Potter, Wes Anderson and Ridley Scott.

Blanchett most recently wrapped production for Todd Field’s ‘Tar’, in which she will star and executive produce. She is also set to star in Pedro Almodovar’s upcoming ‘A Manual for Cleaning Women’.

She is producing through her banner Dirty

‘Agent’ to have a pan-India release

K Y M C

O

ne of Lata Mangeshkar’s most popular songs ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ which continues to be etched in people’s memories had once brought tears to the eyes of late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1963.

The song was written

by Kavi Pradeep in honour of Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the 1962 war with China, and was composed by C Ramachandra.

In 2014, when Mangeshkar was felicitated on the 51st anniversary of the song, she recalled singing the song in Nehru’s presence at the Ramlila

D

Maidan in New Delhi, on January 27, 1963.

Mangeshkar said she had rehearsed the song only once and was apprehensive to perform on such short notice. But, Pradeep encouraged her to sing the song. After the performance, Lata Mangeshkar was nervous wondering if she had made a mistake, but then, she saw tears in Nehru’s eyes.

Recalling the incident, she said, “But when I met Panditji (Nehru), I saw tears in his eyes. He said to me ‘Lata, tumne aaj mujhe rula diya (Lata, you made me tear up)’.”

-- known as olfaction -- influences how the mosquito responds to visual cues.

Knowing which colours attract hungry mosquitoes, and which ones do not, can help design better repellants, traps and other methods to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Earlier three major cues that attract mosquitoes was breath, sweat and the temperature of skin.

“In this study, we found a fourth cue: the colour red, which can not only be found on your clothes, but is also found in everyonea¿s skin.

The shade of your skin doesn’t matter, we are all giving off a strong red signature,” Riffell said.

“Filtering out those attractive colours in our skin, or wearing clothes that avoid those colours, could be another way to prevent a mosquito biting.”

In their experiments, the researchers tracked individual mosquitoes in min-

iature test chambers, into which they sprayed specific odours and presented different types of visual patterns -- such as a coloured dot or a tasty human hand.

Without any odour stimulus, mosquitoes largely ignored a dot at the bottom of the chamber, regardless of colour. After a spritz of CO2 into the chamber, mosquitos continued to ignore the dot if it was green, blue or purple in colour. But if the dot was red, orange, black or cyan, mosquitoes would fly toward it.

When Riffell’s team repeated the chamber experiments with human skintone pigmentation cards -- or a researcher’s bare hand -- mosquitoes again flew toward the visual stimulus only after CO2 was sprayed into the chamber.

“These experiments lay out the first steps mosquitoes use to find hosts,” said Riffell.

(IANS)

Dame Judi Dench muses on female Bond

ame Judi Dench thinks it is “fine” to have a female James Bond but questioned if it would still be part of the franchise.

The 87-year-old actress – who played M in eight movies in the series – is unsure if it would be right to still credit the films to author Ian Fleming because if there was a female lead, it would no longer be true to his novels.

Discussing the possibility, she said: “As things go, that’s fine, but then should you call it, ‘By Ian Fleming’?

Who knows.”

Judi insisted she would never have wanted to play

it was “high time” for her to pass it on.

Asked her reaction when she saw Ralph as M, Judi – whose eyesight is failing due to macular degeneration – joked: “Well, I can’t see a lot. But I don’t mind hearing someone else in the role.

Bond herself.

“They said I cried when She exclaimed: “Certainly not! I haven’t got I stopped being M – I didn’t. the energy to do all that jumping off roofs and onto motorbikes.”

The last two movies in the series, ‘Spectre’ and ‘No Time To Die’ have seen Ralph Fiennes as the new M and Judi insisted it didn’t bother her seeing someone else in the role as

I’d done it eight times; it was high time someone else had a go… “I’m terribly fond of all that time doing Bond.”

The veteran actress shot four movies with Pierce Brosnan and four with Daniel Craig, but refused to choose her favourite Bond.

She told Saga magazine: “I couldn’t possibly say! Pierce is a beautiful man

– an Irishman, of course – and Daniel is full of fun.

“Both have great qualities – that’s why they’re Bond.”

The ‘Belfast’ actress is now preparing for her role in ‘Allelujah!’, an adaptation of Alan Bennett’s play about a geriatric ward and she’s looking forward to getting started. (Contactmusic)

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You two are the best example of how a couple can push through every obstacles And build a beautiful family .

You both deserve all the happiness and love in the world.

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WALK IN DETAIL: NICSE DIMAPUR, 1ST FLOOR, AIKO BUILDING, NAGARJAN POINT DATE: 7TH, 8TH, 9TH & 10TH FEB TIME: 11.00 AM TO 4.30 PM NICSE KOHIMA, 1ST FLOOR, WeWe COMPLEX, P.R. HILL DATE: 12TH, 14TH & 15TH FEB TIME: 11.00 AM TO 4.00 PM DC-88/22

s reported by reliable sources, Akhil Akkineni’s upcoming thriller ‘Agent’ will be a pan-India movie.

Akhil, who has been working hard on his bodybuilding and looks, will be seen in an interesting role as a spy in this upcoming movie.

Akhil Akkineni, who recently appeared in ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’ movie, is now eyeing to get panIndia exposure, with this highly-anticipated project.

Helmed by Surender Reddy, ‘Agent’ will star Malayalam superstar Mammootty in one of the important roles in the movie.

Actress Sakshi Vaidya plays the female lead opposite Akhil Akkineni in the movie, which will soon be shot. (IANS)

Films, along with El Deseo. In addition, Blanchett is currently in pre-production for the series ‘Disclaimer’ (directed by Alfonso Cuaron), for which she will both star and executive produce.

Outside of Blanchett’s onscreen achievements, the actor is also a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), a lifetime member of the Australian Conservation Foundation and supporter of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Blanchett has received a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos for her work with UNHCR, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, as well as multiple Honorary Doctorates of Letters from the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, and Macquarie University as well as the Companion of the Order of Australia in the General Division for her arts advocacy and support of humanitarian and environmental causes. (IANS)

Lata Mangeshkar recalled singing the song in Nehru’s presence at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, on January 27, 1963.

eating the bite of mosquitoes this spring and summer could hinge on your attire and skin skin, suggests a new study.

The research led by scientists at the University of Washington indicates that a Aedes aegypti -- after detecting Carbon Dioxide that we exhale -- flies toward specific colours, including red, orange, black and cyan.

At the same time, the mosquitoes ignore other colours, such as green, purple, blue and white.

The researchers believe these findings help explain how mosquitoes find hosts, since human skin, regardless of overall pigmentation, emits a strong red-orange “signal” to their eyes.

“Mosquitoes appear to use odours to help them distinguish what is nearby, like a host to bite,” said senior author Jeffrey Riffell, Professor of biology at the varsity. “When they smell specific compounds, like CO2 from our breath, that scent stimulates the eyes to scan for specific colours and other visual patterns, which are associated with a potential host, and head to them,” he added.

The results, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveal how the mosquito sense of smell

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1st ODI: India beat West Indies by 6 wkts; take 1-0 lead in series

Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Hooda being greeted by teammates Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after winning the first ODI cricket match, Sunday. (PTI)

half-century in this format and continued to hit boundaries off Alzarri Joseph and Akeal Hosein. It was Joseph, though, who broke the 84run opening stand. Getting one to nip in from outside off, Joseph rapped Sharma high on his pads while trying to flick. Sharma took the review but umpire's call on DRS while hitting the stumps meant he had to depart for 60.

Virat Kohli fetched boundaries on his first two balls but mistimed a pull off Joseph and the top-edge flew to fine-leg to become the second big scalp of the

right-arm pacer in the 14th over. Rishabh Pant got going with two boundaries while Kishan continued to hold the fort. But Kishan, in an effort to unsettle Hosein, went for a big slog-sweep and instead picked out the fielder at backward square-leg to perfection.

In the very next over, Pant was run-out at the nonstriker's end a straight drive from Suryakumar Yadav was met by Joseph sticking his right foot out on followthrough and deflected to hit the stumps. Yadav swept and played a delicate late cut to pick successive boundaries

off Hosein while debutant Deepak Hooda fetched his first boundary in ODIs with a back-foot punch through mid-off off Joseph. The duo crunched boundaries while stitching a handy stand of 62 off 63 balls before Yadav finished off the chase with a slice through backward point.

Brief scores: West Indies: 176 in 43.5 overs (Jason Holder 57, Yuzvendra Chahal 4/49, Washington Sundar 3/30, Prasidh Krishna 2/29). India: 178 for 4 in 28 overs (Rohit Sharma 60; Alzarri Joseph 2/45).

Covid cases reported at Beijing Winter Olympics BEIJING, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): At least 10 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the people who arrived in Beijing for the Winter Olympics in the last 24 hours. This is in addition to the four athletes who are already under quarantine, ANI reported quoting organisers.

Covid tests at Winter Olympics A total of around 72,000 COVID-19 tests have been carried out at the Olympics; four athletes have tested positive and are currently in isolation, the organizing committee said on Sunday. Ten new coronavirus cases have been confirmed among people arriving for the Games.

Total Covid cases at the Games On Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that it had registered 21 COVID-19 cases among the participants of the Beijing Games who had arrived over a 24-hour period, taking the total number of cases in the so-called Olympic bubble to 308. According to the IOC, 1,344 Olympic-related arrivals entered China on Thursday, including 737 athletes and team officials and 607 other stakeholders. The IOC said that over 71,000 PCR tests had been taken, reported the news agency. The Winter Olympic Games that has been boycotted by many major countries owing to diplomatic tensions with China, will last until February 20 and the Paralympic Games will be held from March 4-13.

U.S. women’s hockey team routs Switzerland

BEIJING, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): Hilar y Knight scored two first-period goals, Alex Cavallini stopped 12 shots, and the United States routed Switzerland 8-0 at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday in its final tuneup before facing archrival Canada.

Kelly Pannek and Jesse Compher also scored twice for the Americans, who close Group A play against Canada (2-0) on Tuesday. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and had 13 of 19 skaters earn at least a point.

The goal er uption came against a Swiss team which had been outscored by a combined 17-3 in losing its first two games, including a 12-1 loss to Canada on Thursday. It also provided the Americans some momentum a day after they had 62 shots

but struggled finishing in a 5-0 win over the Russian Olympic Committee team.

Cavallini, who won an NCAA championship with Wisconsin in 2011, made her Olympic debut.

Coach Joel Johnson has now rotated in all three of his goalies, with Nicole Hensley getting the shutout against the ROC team.

Cavallini's best save came 8½ minutes into the second period, in getting across to her left to stop the Swiss on a 2-on-1 break.

Knight opened the scoring by driving to the net and converting her own rebound for a power-play goal 5:40 in. The game was essentially over when Compher, Knight and Pannek scored in a span of 2:11 to put the U.S. up 4-0 by the 16:15 mark of the first period. Compher one-timed in Hayley Scamurra's pass

into the slot. Knight intercepted a clearing attempt at the left boards and beat Saskia Maurer on the short side. And Pannek collected a loose puck in the right circle and fired it in. Amanda Kessel then scored from a bad angle to make it 5-0 with 22 seconds left in the period.

Knight now has nine career Olympic goals to tie Monique LamoureuxMorando for fifth on the U.S. list. And she increased her Olympic point total to 22, one behind Katie King, who ranks third.

The U.S., already missing top-line center Brianna Decker, averted a brief scare when forward Abbey Murphy limped off the ice after being tripped in the second period. Murphy returned to the ice a few minutes later. Decker broke her left ankle in a

tournament-opening 5-2 win over Finland. , making its fifth Olympic appearance, is being outclassed at Beijing after finishing fourth at the world championships in August, and eight years after winning the bronze medal at the Sochi Games.

Maurer, making her Winter Games debut, stopped 17 of 22 shots before being pulled after one period. Andrea Braendli

West Ham, Chelsea struggle; Man Utd only giant-killing victims in FA Cup LONDON, FEB 6 (IANS): Frank Lampard enjoyed a winning return to management as Everton progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup thanks to a 4-1 win at home to Brentford.

Yerry Mina and Richarlison put Everton 2-0 up on Saturday and although Ivan Tomey's penalty gave Brentford a lifeline, Mason Holgate and Andros Townsend sealed a moraleboosting win for Everton.

First-half goals from Marc Guehi and Michael Olise put Crystal Palace on the fast track to a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fourth-tier Hartlepool, Xinhua reports.

Manchester City conceded an early goal in their Cup tie at home to EFL Championship leaders, Fulham, when Liverpool target Fabio Carvalho put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute. Pep Guardiola's side reacted quickly with Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones turning the score around in just nine minutes before goals from Riyad Mahrez after 53 and 57 minutes resolved the game comfortably for City.

Kenny McLean's goal in first-half injury time gave struggling Norwich a surprise 1-0 win away to Wolves in an all-Premier

Zhu Yi crashes while competing at the Capital Indoor Stadium. (David Mcintyre/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)

BEIJING, FEB 6 (AGEN- on Chinese social media CIES): China’s California- after she came up short on born figure skater Zhu Yi is her Olympic debut Sunday. facing a firestorm of attack The hashtag “Zhu Yi Country

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

1. Norway

2

0

1

3

2. Sweden

2

0

0

2

3. ROC

1

2

2

5

4. Germany

1

1

0

2

4. Netherlands

1

1

0

2

6. Australia

1

0

1

2

6. Japan

1

0

1

2

6. Slovenia

1

0

1

2

9. China

1

0

0

1

-India

0

0

0

0

K Y M C

Penny's 19th-minute goal for the home side.

The game then looked to be going to penalties only for Jarrod Bowen to score a winner with 120 minutes already completed.

Chelsea also needed extra time to defeat League One's Plymouth Argyle who took an eighth-minute lead at Stamford Bridge through Macaulay Gillesphey after eight minutes.

Cesar Azpilicueta equalized a couple of minutes before halftime, but it wasn't until the 105th minute that Marcos Alonso finally swung the game Chelsea's way.

Southampton were another top-flight team needing extra time to get past lower league opposition, with Stuart Armstrong and Kyle Walker-Peters scoring to get the 'Saints' past Coventry City, who had taken a first-half lead through Viktor Gyokeres In ties not involving Premier League clubs, Huddersfield Town won a Yorkshire derby 1-0 at home to Barnsley, Peterborough United beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 to qualify for the fifth round for the first time since 1986, while Stoke City defeated Wigan 2-0 and Luton won 3-0 away to Cambridge United.

Boxer Claressa Shields celebrates with the championship belts after defeating Ema Kozin in a WBC/ WBA/IBF World Middleweight title fight, Saturday at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. (PTI )

finished with 41 saves over the final two.

In the day's only other game, Le Mi scored the lone shootout goal to secure host China a 2-1 win over Japan. By virtue of the shootout loss, Japan (2-0-1) earned a point to secure one of Group B's three spots in the quarterfinals, the furthest the nation's women's team has advanced in three Olympic appearances.

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US-born figure skater Zhu Yi under attack after fall on Oly debut for China has fallen” is a top trending topic on Weibo, gaining about 200 million views in just a few hours, with some users asking why an American-born skater was picked to represent China ahead of an athlete born in the country. “This is such a disgrace,” said a comment with 11,000 “likes.”

Zhu, 19, was the first to compete on the second day of the figure skating team event, gliding into the ice rink to loud cheers from the mostly Chinese crowd at Beijing’s Capital Indoor Stadium.

But she fell flat on the ice after a failed jump in the opening combination, and missed another jump later in the program, finishing with the lowest score of the event.

M e a n w h i l e, e a r ly Sunday morning (Eastern), Russia was leading the total Olympic medal count so far with five medals, made up of one gold, two silver and two bronze.

They’re followed closely by Norway, who have already snagged two golds and one bronze.

League affair.

Harry Kane was on target twice for Tottenham as his side beat Brighton 3-1. Kane opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Spurs doubled their lead thanks to a Solly Marsh own goal eight minutes later.

Yves Bissouma pulled a goal back for Brighton in the 63rd minute, but Kane's second of the match three minutes later saw Spurs home win comfortably.

Middlesbrough produced the first surprise of the round as they knocked Manchester United out of the Cup 8-7 on penalties after their tie at Old Trafford ended 1-1 after extra time, with Matt Crooks's 64thminute goal cancelling out Jadon Sancho's opener for the home side.

There was controversy over the equaliser as the ball clearly hit a Boro hand in the build-up, but United had themselves to blame after missing a hatful of chances, including a firsthalf penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo. Kidderminster Harriers from the sixth tier of the English game were seconds away from a stunning 1-0 win at home to West Ham, before Declan Rice scored an injury-time goal to cancel out Alex

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AHMEDABAD, FEB 6 (IANS): On the back of a quick 60 from captain Rohit Sharma and an unbeaten stand of 62 for the fifth wicket between Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Hooda, India scripted a six-wicket win over West Indies, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series here on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

India's 1000th ODI appearance ended on a winning note barring a scare when they went from 84/0 to 116/4 in 17.3 overs. But Yadav and Hooda ensured there were no more hiccups for India, who achieved the target with 22 overs to spare.

Chasing a lowly 177, India made a solid start, scoring 67 in the powerplay. Captain Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan smashed boundaries at will. While Sharma looked gorgeous in leg-side glances and drives through off-side, Kishan was eye-catchy in his pulls through mid-wicket.

Sharma took a special liking to Kemar Roach, smashing the pacer for boundaries through mid-on and mid-off in the eighth over. The right-hander followed it up with fours through pull over square leg and a deliberate late cut through third man and a cracking six pulled over square leg.

Post first power-play, Sharma reached his 44th

11

SPORTS

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U-19 WC: India outclass England; clinch record-extending 5th title

A N T I G UA , F E B 6 (IANS): Riding on halfcenturies by Nishant Sindhu and Shaik Rasheed and clinical bowling performances from Raj Bawa and Ravi Kumar, India clinched a record-extending 5th U-19 World Cup title after beating England by four wickets in the final of the 2022 edition of the tournament at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, here on Saturday.

This is India's record fifth title in the tournament's history and came after previously winning it in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018.

The Yash Dhull-led India U19 finished the tournament with an unbeaten run in the West Indies, flaunting the strength of the assembly line of Next-Gen India cricketers.

With this, Dhull joins the illustrious list of captains -- Mohammad Kaif (2000), Virat Kohli (2008), Unmukt Chand (2012), Prithvi Shaw (2018) -- who have lifted the U19 trophy for India in the past.

A superb bowling performance by Raj Bawa (5/31) and Ravi Kumar (4/34) helped India bowl out England for 189 despite a fighting fifty by James Rew (95). In reply, Shaik Rasheed (50 off 84) and Nishant Sindhu (50 not out off 54) smashed fifties while Raj Bawa (35 off 54) also played a vital knock and helped India chase the target in 47.4 overs, with four wickets in hand.

Chasing a challenging target, India were off to a poor start as left-arm pacer Joshua Boyden removed Angkrish Raghuvanshi for zero in the very second delivery of the innings.

After losing Raghuvanshi early, Shaikh Rasheed and Harnoor Singh didn't take too many risks and batted cautiously. The duo took India to 33/1 after

Indian Under-19 cricket team players celebrate after beating England in the U-19 Cricket World Cup finals at Antigua.

10 overs as England used three bowlers, including captain Tom Prest, in the first powerplay.

From there on, England dried the runs up by bowling some disciplined overs and backed that up with solid efforts in fielding. It was Thomas Aspinwall who gave England the big breakthrough by dismissing opener Harnoor Singh with an unplayable bouncer and ending a 49-run stand for the 2nd wicket.

Captain Yash Dhull, who played a match-winning knock of 110 runs against Australia in the semi-final, then joined vice-captain Rasheed at the crease. The asking rate was not too much but India were under a bit of pressure after that slow start. But Dhull and Shaikh Rasheed showed great composure and added runs quickly.

Rasheed, who took his time during the partnership with Harnoor, was more proactive between the two as he got to his fifty in 83 balls. However, he couldn't carry his innings longer and got out to James Sales while going for a big hit. Soon, Sales dismissed Yash Dhull for 17 and helped England claw back in the match with India at

97 for 4 in 28.4 overs.

From there on, Raj Bawa and Nishant Sindhu joined hands to bail India out of the tricky situation.

Both Bawa and Sindhu looked in solid touch and scored at a brisk rate, taking India closer to the target. It took 40 overs for India to hit their first six as Rehan Ahmed was launched over the long-on boundary by Nishant Sindhu, who hit the first six of the second innings to bring his 50-run partnership with Bawa.

With India needing 44 runs in the last 60 balls, Bawa changed gears and smashed a six and a four to turn things in India's favour. In continuation of his aggressive batting, Bawa hit the ball straight to the mid-on fielder and departed after scoring 35 from 54 balls. However, Nishant Sindhu kept his nerves and hit a superb fifty, putting India on the cusp of victory. It was Raj Bawa -- the star of the day- who hit a couple of sixes and took India over the victory line in style.

Earlier, England won the toss and opted to bat first, but they were off to a terrible start as they lost Jacob Bethell (2) in the second over of the innings.

Bethell played for an in-

swing but the ball bowled

by Ravi Kumar kept its line and the England opener was trapped plumb in front of the wicket.

Captain Tom Prest, who came to bat first, didn't trouble the scorers and got out a duck. He was also dismissed by Ravi Kumar, who bowled a short delivery and Prest dragged the ball onto the stumps, leaving England to 18-2 after 3.3 overs. Thereafter, George Thomas, who was playing counter-attacking shots looking to rebuild England's innings along with James Rew after two early blows.

Bawa dismissed the dangerous Thomas for 27.

Opener Thomas looked to put pressure on Bawa by hitting across the line in the first delivery of the 11th over but he got a leading edge and was caught inside the 30-yard circle.

Continuing his dreamy bowling spell, Raj Bawa soon got rid of Will Luxton and George Bell in two consecutive deliveries of the 13th over as England were five down for 47 runs.

Things were not looking good for England; it got worse when Bawa picked his fourth wicket of the match, dismissing Rehan Ahmed (10), who edged

Mercedes confirm Lewis Hamilton’s WAYO wrestling meet on Feb 8 comeback ; ends social media silence Correspondent

Lewis Hamilton

LONDON, FEB 6 (IANS): Mercedes have confirmed that Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton will race for them again this year after the seven-time world champion ended his social media silence on Saturday, saying, "I've been gone.

Now I'm back!".

In reaction to Hamilton's social media post, Mercedes shared the im-

age with the caption "I'm back". Hamilton had been absent from social media since December 11 after posting an image from celebrating his P2 qualifying at Yas Marina.

Now, his future is poised to be clarified with some previously suggesting he'd retire and quit the sport he has dominated for many years.

Hamilton missed out on the F1 title in 2021, with Max Verstappen claiming the prize in controversial circumstances. Although his social media return is not confirmation of his position on the grid, it appears extremely likely he will be in the Mercedes garage for pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Bopanna-Ramkumar crowned doubles champions, win 2nd title of the season PUNE, FEB 6 (IANS): The star Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan came up with a superb performance to win the doubles title in the home ATP 250 event title, beating Australia's Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith at the 2022 Tata Open Maharashtra here on Sunday.

The Indian pair produced a scintillating display to overcome the Australian top seeds Saville and JohnPatrick Smith 6-7(10), 6-3, 10-6 to claim their second ATP title together.

It was Bopanna's 21st doubles title, and second in Pune after having won partnering Divij Sharan in 2019.

The Indian duo, which kickstarted the year on a high with their maiden ATP

title together in Adelaide in January, started off well and despite some stiff challenge from the top seeds, put themselves ahead in the contest at 5-4.

However, the Aussie pair, looking to win their first title, took the set into the tie-breaker and wrapped it up the set that lasted for close to an hour.

Bopanna, 41, and his young partner Ramkumar, 27, fought back well to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.

They built on the momentum to win the set 6-3 and made it one set apiece.

The Super Tiebreaker was also a close affair but Bopanna and Ramkumar, having taken an upper hand, prevailed over 10-6 to win their second title together.

KOHIMA, FEB 6 (NPN): Western Angami Youth Organization (WAYO) will be organising it’s 58th wrestling meet on February 8, at Khuochiezie Kohima.

The wrestling event, which was part of its sports meet held on January 24 and 25, was rescheduled to February 8.

A total of 76 wrestlers including 60 in the senior category and 16 in the junior category are expected to take part in the event. 15 senior wrestlers and 4 junior wrestlers each from the four groups under WAYO will be competing in the meet.

In the senior category the winner will walk away with a cash prize of Rs 80,000 while the other top 3 positions will receive Rs. 50000, Rs. 40000 and Rs. 30000 respectively. All the quarterfinalists will each receive Rs. 5000.

In the junior category, the winner will receive Rs. 30000 while the other top three positions will receive Rs. 20000, Rs. 15000 and Rs. 10000 respectively. In this category all the quarter finalists will receive Rs. 2000 each.

BCCI announces cash reward NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (AGENCIES): The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah on Sunday announced a cash reward of Rs. 40 lakh for each member of the U-19 World Cup-winning Indian team.

Further, he said that the support staff will be paid Rs. 25 lakh each. “I am pleased to announce the reward of 40 lacs per player and 25 lacs per support staff for the U19 #TeamIndia contingent for their exemplary performance in the #U19CWC final.

You have made India proud,” tweeted Shah. BCCI president Saurav Ganguly also offered words of encouragement for the boys. “They were impressive across departments and sealed India's fifth World Cup. While their on-field performances were fantastic, the team also showed grit, determination and courage to bounce back strongly despite the Covid-19 cases in the camp,” said Ganguly in a statement.

Suresh Raina’s father passes away after prolonged illness NEW DELHI, FEB 6 (IANS): Former India cricketer Suresh Raina’s father, Trilokchand Raina, passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness.

Trilokchand, who was military officer, breathed his last at his residence in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.

Raina’s former India and Chennai Super Kings teammate Harbhajan Singh expressed his sorrow at the passing of Raina’s father. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir also condoled the demise. The southpaw is listed at the base price of INR 2 crore in the upcoming IPL 2022 mega auction.

the ball straight to the slips and Kaushal Tambe made no mistake.

Wickets were falling from one end but James Rew was holding the fort for England amid all the carnage. He along with Alex Horton hit a few much-needed boundaries and stitched a 30-run stand for the seventh wicket before the latter got out to spinner Kaushal Tambe for 10 in the 25th over of the innings.

At 91-7, it looked like England would get bowled out for a lower total but James Rew and James Sales stitched a solid partnership for the 8th wicket.

Rew mixed aggression with caution and found the gaps with ease, scoring his fifty in 79 balls. He was well supported by Sales from the other end as the duo took England to 147/5 after 35 overs. On the other hand, India were looking desperate for a wicket as skipper Yash Dhull made multiple bowling changes.

It was Ravi Kumar, who brought India back into the game by taking two quick wickets in the 44th over. He first got rid of James Rew, who played a fantastic knock of 95, snapping a 93-run stand for the 8th wicket and then removed lower-order batter Thomas Aspinwall for a duck. Raj Bawa then dismissed Joshua Boyden to take his five-fer as England were bowled out for 189 after 44.5 overs. James Sales remained not out after scoring 34 off 65.

Brief scores: England U-19: 189 all out in 44.5 overs (James Rew 95, James Sales 34; Raj Bawa 5/31, Ravi Kumar 4/34) lost to India U-19: 195-6 in 47.4 overs (Shaik Rasheed 50, Nishant Sindhu 50; Joshua Boyden 2/24) by four wickets.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022

China hand S. Korea dramatic 3-2 defeat to win record 9th title

Chinese players and officials pose with trophy after winning the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 in Mumbai, India, Sunday. (PTI)

NAVI MUMBAI, FEB 6 (IANS): Goalkeeper Zhu Yu pulled off a sensational one-handed save in secondhalf injury time and substitute Xiao Yuyi scored a dramatic winner a minute later as China scripted a dramatic come-frombehind win over South Korea to clinch a recordextending ninth title in the AFC Women's Asian Cup here on Sunday.

Korea were at the top for most of the match and looked cruising towards victory an hour into the match before they suffered a heartbreak defeat.

Till 75th minutes in the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022, played at the DY Patil Stadium here, it looked that it was not China's day.

Against expectations, South Korea had surged to a 2-0 lead in the first half and even after the change of ends, things were not going in favour of the eight-time winners who had reached the summit clash by stunning two-time champions Japan in a penalty shoot-out.

With 22 minutes to go in the match, China earned

a penalty and Tang Jiali converted it and China's fortunes took an upsurge as they fought back brilliantly to score a dramatic victory.

China entered the final chasing their first title since 2006 against a Korea Republic side who had never laid their hands on the coveted trophy.

China, unbeaten in seven previous meetings with Korea, started the game brightly and had the first look at the goal within seconds when Wu Chengshu played the ball to Tang Jiali just above the area, but the midfielder's effort was easily dealt with by Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi.

With Korea in the ascendancy, China survived a scare at the half-hour mark, goalkeeper Zhou Yu pulling off a point-blank save to deny Lim Seon-Joo's header off a free-kick.

China, however, suffered more woe in the closing stages of the first half when a VAR review saw Korea awarded a penalty for Yao Lingwei's handball, with Ji So-Yun converting from the spot. China head coach Shui Qingxia sent on

Xiao Yuyi and Zhang Rui at the start of the second half to force their way back into the game but Korea gave them little room to operate in the early stages.

China, however, received a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for Lee Young-Ju's handball, with Tang Jiali netting from the spot in the 68th minute.

Boosted by the goal, China began to dictate play and drew level four minutes later thanks to some poor defending by the Koreans.

Goalscorer Tang did well to beat two Korea defenders before sending a delightful cross into the sixyard box for an unmarked Zhang Linyan to nod home the equaliser.

Korea could have then won it at the death with Zhou Yu pulling off a onehanded save before defender Wang Xiaoxue blocked Son Hwa-Yeon's effort.

Having escaped, China broke Korea's hearts in added time with Xiao Yuyi stunningly finishing off Wang Shanshan's pass as a record-extending ninth title was sealed.

Liverpool run riot to knock Cardiff out of FA Cup LO N D O N, F E B 6 (AGENCIES): Liverpool’s new £40mlllion midfielder could have been forgiven for taking delight in the fervour which issued around this stadium as he was about to make his second half entry. But it was the 18-year-old standing beside him on the touchline whom Anfield was preparing a welcome for, not Luis Diaz.

The sight of Harvey Eliiott being stretched off at Elland Road in September, an oxygen mask on his face as he suffered the first agonies of an ankle dislocation. His recovery within five months has been remarkable and was matched by a goal here which underlined his direction of travel in the game. Elliott tracked the trajectory of Andrew Robertson’s 76th minute cross from the left, applied his studs of his left boot to bring it under control and swivelled to despatch shot of power and precision.

Elliott was mobbed. This was no ordinary goal celebration.

Diaz was by no means eclipsed in the half hour of football that he and Elliott shared after Liverpool had put a frustrating first half behind them. His watchfulness saw him burgle possession and set up Liverpool’s second goal. He might have provided an earlier one for Elliott had a pass not been fractionally over-hit.

The two provided a new level of urgency to a Liverpool side whose 5th Round tie at home to Norwich City creates the prospect of progress deep into a tournament they’ve not won for 16 years.

Takumi Minamino got Liverpool's second after Perry Ng was dispossessed by new signing Diaz in a dangerous area.

But Elliott delivered the real dynamism. He was the one who demonstrated, in a way that neither Takumi Minamino nor Naby Keita remotely managed, that he can become a major player here.

The fuel injected by the two substitutes was necessary, given Liverpool’s struggle to break though against a side they had put 12 goals past in their previous three encounters.

The first half ’s solitary piece of excellence brought the solitary shot on goal, when Diogo Jota dragged a ball back through teenager Olive Denham’s legs and fired at goalkeeper Dillon Phillips.

In possession, there was elegance from Minamino, cutting in from the right to wriggle across the front of defence. But the physicality is missing when he runs into a serious challenge. It was the tried and tested method which provided the breakthrough.

Trent Alexander-Arnold despatched another of the imperious free-kicks which

had set the team on the way at Selhurst Park two weeks ago. Jota levered himself onto it, again demonstrating what an excellent heading capacity he has for a 5ft 10in forward. For once, Cardiff ’s defence, which had been so resolute, was lacking. The free kick looped over Marlon Pack and Mack McGuiness was slow to react, leaving Jota unchallenged.

Intermittently, Cardiff deployed the counterattacking strategy which was their only hope: rapid, long balls to exploit Liverpool’s high line. They pleaded for a penalty in the first half when Ibrahim Konate, trailing the rapid Mark Harris as he ran into Liverpool’s area, had some contact with the player.

Cardiff manager Steve Morison felt a penalty should have been awarded.

There was also an anxious moment for Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher as he raced out of his area to approach the onrushing Harris in the second half and brought him

down. But Konate was covering and even Morison accepted it. He was justifiably more distressed by his side’s defending. Perry Ng’s decision to dribble out of trouble on his own by-line was a calamitous ahead of the second, with Diaz lurking to steal the ball, deftly keep it in possession and spy the advancing Minamino who drove the ball in off Phillips.

After Cardiff had scored a consolation – substitute Rubin Colwill dispossessing Minamino, trading passes with Isaak Davies and running through to score – Liverpool feared for Diaz. The 6ft 5in Cardiff defender Aden Flint trod on the Portuguese’s knee as he lay on the pitch after the two had gone up for a high ball together. But Elliott was the one who owned this afternoon. At the end of it all, he lingered, eventually wandering over to the Kop and placing his hand on his heart. He was the last Liverpool player to leave the pitch.

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