July 3, 2020

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Vol XXX No. 207

DIMAPUR, FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00

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State govt responds to Governor

DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): A letter dated June 16,2020 written by Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi to the chief minister Neiphiu Rio had caused reverberations across and beyond Nagaland when it literally put the state government in the dock for the “precarious law and order situation” and “armed gangs” effectively challenging the writ of the constitutionally mandated government and running their parallel governments while the law and order machinery offered no resistance. A meeting was held on June 19, 2020 between the Governor and chief minister and cabinet as per the request from the Governor in his letter. The police department responded to the Governor’s observations by citing crime statistics at a press briefing on June 26. In its response to the Governor’s letter issued through the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), the government said the assessment of law and order being precarious and which deteriorated and collapsed since August 2019 “ does not appear to be factual.” On the crucial issue of

the Governor disclosing that he has decided to exercise special powers over law and order as per Article 371(1) (b) of the Indian constitution, DIPR said the state government viewed that this was done away with as per the resolution adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on December 17, 2013. Therefore, attempting to invoke the Article was like trying to put back the clock and in contravention of the December 2013 assembly resolution. Further, DIPR said the state government viewed any attempt to invoke Article 371(1)(b) under the guise of discharging special responsibility as “anti-people” adding there should be no roll back to the era of the 1960s during the period of formation of Nagaland. DIPR maintained that the situation is a “political problem” which has remained unresolved for the past 57 years of existence of state of Nagaland . According to DIPR the government of India has also acknowledged it as a political issue and for which talks were held with Naga Political Groups (NPGs) since 1997

at the highest level of prime ministers including the present incumbent. DIPR narrated the appointment of R.N. Ravi as Governor on August 1,2019 and how he had earlier as Interlocutor, contributed to the framing and signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3,2015 and concluded all talks with Naga groups on October 31,2019 for expected early political solution. Further, DIPR maintained that after conclusion of talks in October ,2019 and expectation of solution, terming organisations as “armed gangs” might not be in the interest of peace process and not congenial to the achievement of lasting peace as desired by both the state and central governments. Also DIPR felt that the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015 and the conclusion of negotiations in October 2019 should have addressed and resolved the issue of “sustenance of political organisations.” DIPR also said Nagaland has come a long way from the “precarious law and order and precarious security situation” in the past decades where assassination

attempts were made on VIPs including the incumbent chief minister, then works and housing minister on May 30,1995 besides serious challenges on fulfilling constitutional obligations such as participating in elections etc. DIPR also said the 1990s witnessed the most volatile security environment with killings, fratricide and violent factional clashes occurring on regular basis. It said the fact that voting percentages between 78% to 92% during the past three successive decades bore testimony to people’s support for constitutional process. In comparison with the past decades, DIPR reiterated that the law and order situation present “continues to be normal and peaceful” and that all wings of the law and order machinery were working effectively in tandem to ensure peaceful atmosphere. However, it admitted that there were “anti-social and unruly elements at certain places” trying to vitiate the atmosphere by trying to o impose illegal taxes and extortions but that the state police have been dealing with them in a proactive manner. It said police had

India’s COVID19 tally crosses 6 lakh mark

WSH asks NCD to strictly abide by its constitution

Recruitment should be merit-based: NVCO, Ayush doctors

DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) has asked the Naga Council Dimapur to strictly abide by its constitution while electing new team. In a statement, WSH said every organization has its own constitution that governed its functioning and all organsiational matters. Deviation from the constitution would lose its credibility and weightage and set a bad precedence, it added. WSH pointed out that the constitution clearly laid down how its members should be constituted, who fulfilled the criteria to occupy a post or power to take such decisions. In a civilized world, WSH said that any person, group or tribe violating the constitution with its brute force or cunningly maneuvering for its selfish interest was “illegal, immoral and shameless and should be considered as traitors

NEW DELHI, JUL 2 (PTI): India’s COVID-19 tally zoomed past six lakh on Thursday with a singleday increase of 19,148 cases, just five days after it crossed the five-lakh mark, while the death toll rose to 17,834, according to the Union Health Ministry data. It took 110 days for coronavirus infections in the country to reach one lakh, while just 44 days more to go past the six-lakh mark. The country’s COVID19 case load increased to 6,04,641 on Thursday, while 434 persons have succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. With a steady rise, the number of recoveries stands at 3,59, 859 while one patient has migrated. There are 2,26,947 active cases of coronavirus infection presently in the country. “Thus, around 59.52 per cent of patients have recovered so far,” an official said. The total number of confirmed cases included foreigners. This is the sixth consecutive day when coronavirus infections increased by more than 18,000. There has been a surge of 4,14,106 COVID-19 cases from June DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): 1 till date. Nagaland registered 34 new COVID-19 positive cases on Thursday while 15 more patients recovered from the virus. With this the state’s total tally has risen to 535 cases-- 338 active cases and 197 recovered. In a tweet, Health minister S. Pangnyu Phom informed that the 34 cases were among the 226 samples that were tested. He said 32 were from Peren quarantine centre, 1 each from Dimapur and Kohima quarantine centres. All the positive per“ B a h ! N e w n o r m a l sons have been shifted to doesn’t mean giving us the designated COVID-19 face masks and shields hospitals for medical care. instead of money.” As per the severity of symp-

and anti-peace.” WSH said NCD, being the most important organisation for urban Dimapur, was expected to abide by its constitution. Further, WSH said that any person/group trying to sabotage the constitution and take advantage of it should be labeled as conspirator working against the harmony of all the communities residing in Dimapur. “In case of anything happening to NCD by these conspirators, those abetting it and trying to forcibly override the constitution will be blamed and solely responsible for breaking the oldest organisation of Dimapur,” it cautioned. WSH termed as “unfortunate and uncalled for” the desire of “some ambitious people” to occupy a chair unconstitutionally and unlawfully by forming some unmandated self styled organisation and said that every sensible person should stand against it.

DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) and Concerned AYUSH Doctors of Nagaland, which met in Kohima on June 29, 2020 and discussed the “grievances/ill treatment/ discrimination” faced by AYUSH doctors of Nagaland in recruitment, have demanded that open recruitment should be purely on merit basis. NVCO through its press and media cell stated that the concerned AYUSH doctors, at the meeting, highlighted grievances especially in recruitment and expressed apprehension that the Health department could only select the serving doctors, despite overage, to fill up the recently created 11 medical officer (AYUSH) posts.

filed cases suo-moto in 95% of incidents of extortion without any complaint and accordingly took swift action. To deal with extortion, DIPR said police formed Anti-Extortion Cell in all districts headed by the SDPO along with other personnel. In Dimapur, where crime scene was most active, it said the Cell is headed by an officer of DCP rank. Also Mobile Highway Patrolling for anti-extortion measures was also in operation in Kohima and Dimapur along the National Highway. In addition, a Special Task Force (STF) of two companies with well trained and specially armed personnel was created in March 2018 to augment operational capabilities for raids and search and rescue operation against criminals. DIPR reported that during the past five years, police along with Assam Rifles and other Security Forces have registered a total of 893 criminal cases against various factions and a total of 1238 persons arrested. The cases include Arms Act, Explosive Act, UA(P)Act, ransom, NSR Act, murder, robbery (Cont’d on p-7) etc.

COVID-19 vaccine by PfizerBioNtech shows promise international, Page 9

Two more frontline workers test positive for COVID-19 in Kohima Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUL 2 (NPN): In yet another instance of COVID-19 afflicting frontline workers, one official from the Smart City project and a driver-- who have been involved in the quarantine management activities-tested positive on June 29. Following this, Kohima Municipal Council administrator and Kohima Smart City Development Limited chief executive officer Kovi Meyasie and staff, who were amongst the primary contacts of the official, had gone on home isolation. Sources informed Nagaland Post that the CEO and three others gave samples for tests on Thursday, while tests on 13 other staff would be conducted on Friday. The Smart City office was also closed and the entire building and its surroundings were sanitized. Meanwhile, the driver who tested positive was volunteer of Bethel Kitchen at the NBCC Convention Hall, where food are prepared for quarantine inmates. However, how the driver contracted the virus

was not known. Sources informed that the kitchen has been sealed for the past two days. According to District Task Force Kohima (DTFK), aggressive contact tracing was activated and more than 115 primary and secondary contacts have been traced so far. DTFK informed that the test results of 15 persons, among the primary contacts, were negative and more samples have been sent for testing to BSL-3 lab (Naga Hospital Authority Kohima). All the primary contacts were now under quar-

Containment zones marked in Peren dist Following the detection of COVID-19 positive cases from among those sent for home quarantine at Dobashi colony, Jalukie Town and adjoining areas and ward number 5 Tening Town, DC Peren Sentiwapang Aier has declared those areas as “containment zones.” In an order, DC has directed the district administration officials to immediately “demarcate and barricade the containment zone” in order to prevent community spread of COVID-19. Further, DC stated that contact tracing and other medical protocols, by the medical department, will be carried out with immediate effect. Meanwhile, a meeting between the District Task Force and JAC on COVID-19 Peren district was held on July 2, where both the sides deliberated on the issue.

Divisions among 14 tribes at this juncture not healthy: Imna Along Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUL 2 (NPN): State BJP president and minister Temjen Imna Along categorically stated that divisions among the 14 Naga tribes in Nagaland were not healthy at this critical juncture just before the impending final solution to the decades-old Naga political problem. He made this observation during a press conference held at the State BJP office Thursday to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to provide free ration to 80 crore people. Referring to BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav’s statement on delimitation, Along appealed to citizens not to have any tribalistic view on the issue, pointing out that Madhav had expressed his opinion. Mentioning that the (Cont’d on p-8) long cherished dream of

Temjen Imna Along (File)

every citizen of Nagaland, including BJP, was to see culmination of the political negotiation, Along said if tribalistic colours always cropped up, then it calls for retrospection. He asserted that unity of the 14 tribes was paramount and recalled that the 2001 census was rejected, even as the Framework Agreement was signed in 2015 and the peace talks successfully concluded in 2019-- pending a final solution, adding solution was more important.

antine, DTF said and appealed to the public to not panic but follow all precautions related to COVID-19. It may be recalled that on June 25, Nagaland reported its first case of frontline workers being infected by the virus. Five frontline workers, stationed in Dimapur and Kohima were infected with COVID-19 while on duty. The 5 cases included-four bus drivers on quarantine duty (two of them tested positive on June 23 and two on June 25) and a receptionist at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, who tested positive on June 25.

NCD appeals councillors

DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has urged its councillors not to associate themselves with the “self-style Dimapur Tribal Apex Hoho (DTAH)” and also not to attend the joint meeting conveyed by DTAH on July 3, 2020 at IMC hall Dimapur. In a press release, NCD general secretary Thsapongkyu Sangtam said that the NCD does not recognise the “so called Dimapur Tribal Apex Hoho”. Sangtam stated that “groundless organization/ union/society always destroys the social fabric of our present societies and peaceful co-existence of community.” He said NCD remained “truly the only Naga apex body of Dimapur district.” Affirming that it abides with its constitution, NCD has warned members not to go against it.

On the tussle within the party, the State BJP chief remarked that such differences within political parties were not new, clarifying that the district presidents did not challenge the authority of the State president but wanted to know how strong the president was. On Governor’s letter to chief minister, Along said the cabinet had already shared its mind with the governor, showing how Nagaland was performing better. Mentioning that the cabinet had discussed at length with the governor the issues raised by him, Along said it was important to take into account the situation prevailing in the State for so many years. He added that the governor should be made to understand how Nagaland had been and how he should strive bring a solution as an interlocutor. DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): Acknowledging the state government move to set up Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB), Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has urged the state government to issue draft the Naga National workers content of the regulations under the banner of various before the cabinet approval groups.” “so as to give sufficient time As the constitutional to study for views, input head of the state, NH said and comment on it.” ENSF governor’s “contention to president Sepili L Sangam curb corruption” was laud- and assistant general secreable as Nagas have to move tary Khomo P stated that on with justice and equal- by doing so the NSSB would ity “despite of our struggle ensure equal opportunity of against suppression.” employment unlike in the The hoho said that suc- past. ENSF, therefore, urged cessive governors had failed the government to “look for in the past to remove cor- an equitable and justiceable ruption in the state, saying solution in order to forbid it was “an admitted fact from future ramification.” that corrupt practices are Corrigendum everywhere.” In order to ensure effec- DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): tive and transparent investi- Apropos the news item gation into corruption, NH ‘LYOD, Hayithung react to said the state government DAYO statement’ published had established Nagaland on July 2, the last para Lokayukta replacing the should read as “...should not erstwhile Vigilance and An- take the delimitation exercise ti-Corruption on February as a tribal gain or loss...” and 1, 2019. (Cont’d on p-8) not as published.

ENSF wants draft of NSSB before approval

With 34 fresh cases, State COVID tally now 535 NH, State JD(U) react to

338 active cases & 197 recovered

This is it!

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NAGALAND COVID-19 STATUS AS ON july 2, 2020 District Dimapur Kiphire Kohima Longleng Mokokchung Mon Peren Phek Tuensang Wokha Zunheboto Total

Asymptomatic cases 39 0 83 0 1 38 145 9 20 0 3 338

Recovered 147 0 38 0 0 0 7 0 5 0 0 197

Total Cases 186 0 121 0 1 38 152 9 25 0 3 535

Distribution of Cases by domicile district Kohima Dimapur Mokokchung Phek Zunheboto Tuensang Mon Wokha Kiphire Longleng Peren Others 49 87 1 10 5 30 63 10 4 2 228 46

toms, all the 338 active cases were asymptomatic, principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha informed in his daily briefing. Further, among the 15 patients that recovered, 12 were from Kohima, 2 from Dimapur and 1 from Peren.

Meanwhile, the recovery rate in the state plummeted to 36.82%.

BSL-2 lab operational

The newly inaugurated Bio Safety Level-2 (BSL-2) laboratory at CIHSR, Dimapur began testing COVID-19 suspected

samples from July 1. The lab received the first batch of 178 samples on July 1. Sources informed that the lab has the capacity to test 90 samples in 2 hours. Meanwhile, till July 2, a total of 12,570 samples had been tested and results of 11,854 samples were received. Of the 12,570 samples, 8251 were received at the BSL-3 lab (Naga Hospital Authority Kohima) and BSL-2 lab (Christian Institute Of Health Sciences & Research, Dimapur), out of which 8133 were tested and 423 samples tested positive for COVID, principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha informed. In addition, a total of 6240 samples were also tested by TrueNat, out of which 124 samples tested positive and sent for confirmation by RT-PCR.

Governor’s letter to CM

DIMAPUR, JUL 2 (NPN): Reacting to Nagaland governor RN Ravi’s letter to the chief minister Neiphiu Rio, in which he raised the question of law and order in the state, the Naga Hoho Thursday said that Nagas’ struggle for self determination cannot be considered as law and order problem and urged the Government of India to address the aspirations of the Nagas at the earliest. NH through its communication cell maintained that till the “Indo-Naga” political issue remained unresolved, all forms of unrest “starting from taxation to killings were bound to live with us”. NH, however, said that “no one should take it otherwise as if we are encouraging the unwanted situation being created by

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July 3, 2020 by Nagaland Post - Issuu