July 8, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 212

DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Spurs beat Everton; reignite Europa ambition

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Israel warned against annexation plan international, Page 9

Tsg fiasco: ENPO seeks Protest in Peren demands action over June 23 incident public apology from govt

Protestors holding placards during the rally in Peren.

ity quarantine centres and allowed them to go to their respective villages without any compulsory retest as mandated by protocol of contact tracing around 10.30 p.m. of June 23.

According to them, this had put Peren district at a precarious position and risk of community transmission of COVID19.

But instead of being reprimanded for their actions, the organisations said they were surprised to learn that they had been transferred and posted at the State Capital.

Asserting that this was unacceptable and an insult to “our people”, the three organisations demanded immediate exemplary actions against the two doctors for their “wilful negligence and autocratic style of functioning” that tantamount to crime against humanity.

Pointing out that the post of chief medical officer (CMO) had been lying vacant despite request for a full-fledged CMO, the memorandum observed that the former CMO was promoted as additional director and then entrusted to take charge as CMO again.

Will defend doctors, asserts NIDA

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUL 7 (NPN): Against the backdrop of the Joint Action Committee’s (JAC) demand to penalise two doctors over the June 23 fiasco in Peren, Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) has asserted it will defend the two doctors since they were only following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Speaking to Nagaland Post here Tuesday, NIDA president Dr Ritu Thurr said that since day one, doctors and health workers have been discharging their duties with sincerity in the service of humanity by following the SOP. Dr. Thurr termed the June 23 Peren incident as unfortunate when 96 returnees were sent from Dimapur to Peren on completion of their 14 days in facility quarantine.

He said all returnees, after having tested negative and with approval of chief secretary, were sent to their respective districts.

(Cont’d on p-3) Dr. Thurr said the returnees

had to wait for another 14 days in facility quarantine in Peren as per the SOP. He said if a patient was asymptomatic and had tested negative, it was a fit case to be discharged for home quarantine.

He said that by following the Standard Operating Procedure, frontline workers and health officials did not commit any mistake or violated the SOP. He regretted that despite this there was “mistrust” between the community and the department.

Dr. Thurr expressed the hope that good sense would prevail and the community members join the ongoing battle against COVID-19 on a war footing by assisting the health & family welfare (H&FW) department.

Dr. Thurr said the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department had directed the doctors to report to the directorate and provide their statements and after doing so, these were submitted to the department and the chief sec(Cont’d on p-3) retary.

DIMAPUR, JUL 7 (NPN): Several hundred people on Tuesday staged a protest rally to express their resentment against the district administration and medical personnel for releasing the 96 Haryana returnees on June 23 without conducting the second test.

The demonstrators raised slogans while some were see with placards that read: “ERROR 404 Doctor, Administration not found in Peren”, “Absconding from duty is not sincere apology”, “Govt meet the demand of ZSUN” etc.” Later, the protestors submitted a representation to the chief minister through the DC Peren.

Reiterating the ultimatum of Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland (ZSUN) seeking immediate action against two doctors that it holds responsible for spread of COVID-19 in Peren, three organisations have now also sought replacement of the district’s deputy commissioner (DC).

In the memorandum to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Dithuibo Niumai, Henkhogen and R John, presidents of ZSUN, Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) and Zeme Youth Organisation Nagaland (ZYON) respectively, alleged that two doctors had released 96 returnees from Haryana from facil-

Gov, CM others greet on Tuluni

Nagaland COVID tally now at 644 Imna asks UGs to exempt

DIMAPUR, JUL 7 (NPN): Governor Nagaland, RN Ravi, has extended his warm Tuluni greetings to the people of Nagaland specially to Sumi brothers and sisters. In his message, Ravi said Tuluni festival, which symbolised fraternity, solidarity and sharing, was celebrated to rejoice the most abundant and fruitful season of the year. Even as the festival was being celebrated in an extraordinary COVID-19 situation with restrictions, Ravi expressed hope that the spirit of newness and bonding would “restore our faith and help us” to overcome the difficult time. “May Tuluni festival remind us of our ancestors who found strength in one another, in good and bad times,” Ravi said. Further, Ravi expressed hope that the Sumis would come together as a community and continue building and leading the Nagas from the front to “overcome the challenge we are facing today.”

CM: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio also extended Tuluni greetings to the Sumi community “My best wishes for a bountiful season, peace and well-being of everyone. May the Almighty’s protection be upon us so that we can celebrate as a community in the days to come...” Rio tweeted.

COVID-19 STATUS AS ON july 7 District Dimapur Kiphire Kohima Longleng Mokokchung Mon Peren Phek Tuensang Wokha Zunheboto Total

Positive cases 56 0 66 0 2 72 108 8 28 0 1 341

DIMAPUR, JUL 7 (NPN): Nagaland registered 19 more COVID-19 positive cases, while 60 persons recovered from the infection on July 7, taking the state’s total tally to 644 cases-341 active and 303 recovered.

According to state Health department bulletin, 10 positive cases were reported from Mon, 8 from Tuensang and 1 from Kohima.

All positive cases have been referred to the respective COVID19 hospitals for treatment.

As per the severity of symptoms, 338 active cases were asymptomatic and 2 active cases

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Total Cases 213 0 125 0 2 72 184 9 35 0 4 644

were mild, and 1 moderate case.

Further, 59 persons have recovered from Peren and 1 from Kohima.

Meanwhile, a total of 14,151 samples were tested till July 7 and the results of 13,493 samples received. Out of the 14,151 samples, 9,071 samples were tested at the BSL-3 lab (NHAK), out of which 462 samples tested positive.

In addition, a total of 7, 934 samples were tested by TrueNat, out of which 211 tested positive and sent for confirmation by RTPCR. Further, 7499 samples have tested negative.

State Health minister, S. Pangnyu Phom Tuesday said that the state government as well as the Health department was extremely concerned over the rise in COVID positive cases in Peren district.

In an effort to contain the crisis, he said the department has deputed three permanent doctors, five senior doctors along with six laboratory technicians and six DEOs to provide technical support to Team Peren.

Meanwhile, principal secretary, home, Abihjit Sinha also informed that a team has been deputed to hold consultations and deliberations with the civil society organizations (CSOs) that have submitted representations and resolve all such issues. The team will be led

by Health secretary Kesonyu Yhome; OSD Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, Johnny Ruangmei and Health department joint director, Dr. Kika Longkumer.

DIMAPUR, JUL 7 (NPN): Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has said that a joint consultative meeting with six tribal bodies and frontal organizations in Dimapur on July 7, 2020, has unanimously resolved to forgive the state government over Tuensang fiasco provided the public apology was tendered in the press within three days.

A joint statement issued by ENPO president, ENPO general secretary, presidents of-- Eastern Nagaland Women Organisatio, Eastern Naga Students Federation, Chang Khulei Setshang, Khiamniungan Tribal Council, Konyak Union, United Sangtam Likhum Pümji, Yimchungrü Tribal Council and Phom Peoples Council secretary said that the meeting was held to deliberate on ENPO’s May 28, 2020 representation to the state government to initiate disciplinary action against the government officers involved in sending a COVID-19 patient along with 168 passengers back to Tuensang from Kohima without waiting for results of their test samples and

treated as “null and void.”

It said this was with reference to the joint meeting and decision with NCD on March 10,2020.

DATH also reiterated that “the tenure of the old councillors expired on 31/3/2020”. It also said the old NCD team are no longer official councillors since all tribe hohos had submitted names of new councillor representatives as requested by the NCD in January 2020.

DATH also said the Selection Committee set up by the old councillors of NCD “is illegal and unconstitutional” and that it (DTAH) “will not accept any action deviating from the constitution.”

DATH has therefore, appealed to the new councillors to go ahead in setting up the Selection/Election Commission and carry out the election process for the

endangering the lives of many.

After deliberating on the issue, the signatories said the joint consultative meeting on behalf of the public of Eastern Nagaland unanimously resolved that “in all Christian Spirit the ENPO shall choose to ‘forgive’ as appealed by the state cabinet, medical department and medical minister, provided that the state government tender public apology in the press media within three days (i.e., w.e.f. the date of adoption of this resolution).”

In the event of government’s failure to tender public apology, the meeting resolved that ENPO would not participate in any state government’s activities and programmes.

It may be recalled that the state cabinet during its June 29 meeting, decided to send an appeal letter to ENPO to “forgive and forget” on the lapses. For this the cabinet secretary (chief secretary) was to issue the letter, besides another appeal letter by the Health & Family Welfare department.

COVID-19 death Commr Nagaland office sealed toll crosses 20k after employee test COVID +ve HE deptt from demands NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (PTI):

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JUL 7 (NPN): Giving out a clarion call, Higher Education and Tribal Affairs minister Temjen Imna Along has appealed to underground groups not to demand anything from the higher education department as it was working for the student welfare.

Addressing media persons at the directorate of higher education here on Tuesday, the minister said the department must be exempted from any kind of demands and appeals, by claiming that it worked solely for student welfare.

He asserted that the department was not indulging in any corruption in scholarships and therefore he urged Nagas to understand that with limited resources it was trying to develop and build the future of students. Applauding the setting up of scholarship nodal cell, Along claimed it was PDA government’s endeavour to disburse scholarship in time and maintain zero tolerance on corruption on the matter.

Citing instances where scholarships were halted due to litigation and cleared in 2019, he assured that steps would be initiated to ensure that there was no litigation in future. Mentioning that the first installment had been disbursed for the current year and second installment was in process, the minister asserted that department would ensure that scholarships were disbursed in not more than (Cont’d on p-3) two installments.

Amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases, the government on Tuesday said the total number of coronavirus infections and fatalities per million population in the country are among the lowest in the world. The country’s COVID-19 caseload increased to 7,19,665 on Tuesday with a single day rise of 22,252 cases, while the death toll climbed to 20,160 with 467 persons succumbing to the disease in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

However, a PTI tally showed India’s COVID-19 caseload at 7,34,647 and the death toll at 20,620. The tally has been compiled as per information provided by respective states and union territories. The Union health ministry said India’s recovered cases per million population is more than active COVID-19 cases per million.

Commissioner, Nagaland office sealed on July 7. (Social media)

DIMAPUR, JUL 7 (NPN): Office of the commissioner Nagaland in Kohima has been sealed for 48 hours as per standard operating procedures (SOP) from Tuesday following detection of COVID-19 positive case at Daklane Colony, Kohima Municipal Ward-7 and the person happened to work at the commissioner office’s canteen.

Following this, Kohima

DATH, ENPUD ask old NCD team to adhere to constitution Situation favourable for delimitation: LH Dimapur

Dimapur, Jul 7 (NPN): Making their stand clear over the cause of delay in change of guard at Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), the Dimapur Apex Tribal Hoho (DATH)-- comprising (More on p-3) of 14 tribal hohos of Dimapur and Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Union Dimapur (ENPUD) have asked the old NCD team to give way for the new team by adhering to the NCD constitution.

Dimapur Apex Tribal Hoho (DATH) sessional convenor Zelhou Angami and sessional secretary Mar Ao said that the house on July 6, 2020 meeting reaffirmed the decision of July 3, 2020 joint meeting with newly nominated NCD councillors, that the activities of the old Naga “Imposing and collecting Council Dimapur office fines is giving us a bad bearers and councillors name. Maybe placing a after March 31,2020 “has donation box could help.” no locus standi” and hence

This is it!

Recovered 157 0 59 0 0 0 76 1 7 0 3 303

Govt rushes teams to tackle COVID-19 crisis in Peren dist

new team in adherence to the NCD constitution at the earliest.

ENPUD: Meanwhile, expressing concern the delay in installation of the new NCD, Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Union Dimapur president M.C. Ongbou Chang and general secretary M. Jeange Yanlem, said installation of the new NCD should strictly adhere with the provisions of the NCD constitution.

In this regard, ENPUD said it had written an appeal to the NCD that the new councillors/tribal representatives appointed by the six tribes under ENPUD should participate in the installation of the new NCD team.

ENPUD also demanded clean, fair, transparent and democratic process in the nomination/election/ selection of the new NCD office bearers.

ENPUD pointed out that the old NCD, through a press report dated July 6, stated that it had appointed a “Selection Committee” for choosing the new team.

ENPUD said the panel should have been “Selection/Election/Nomination Commission” as per the provision of NCD constitution. It said if done by direct selection by the “Selection Committee”, it will deprive or deny direct participation of newly appointed councillors.

Sending a clear message, ENPUD threatened that a member of the Selection Committee from eastern zone, “will be directed to withdraw his membership, if the selection of new officer bearers are done in a way which is undemocratic in nature” by deviating from the salient provision of NCD constitution.

DIMAPUR, JUL 7 (NPN): Lotha Hoho Dimapur (LHD) Tuesday maintained that the present situation in Nagaland was favourable enough to conduct delimitation exercise peacefully, saying that the present prevailing law and order situation with regard to unabated taxation, extortion and movement of arms cadres had nothing to do with the proposed delimitation exercise.

In a press release, LHD chairman YL Jami and general secretary W Rainbow Ngullie said that the existing disproportionate ratio per population among the districts with regard to share of constituencies must be corrected and bring about impartial representation in the State Assembly.

The hoho said that the orders of Delimitation Commission in India—a high power and independent body—cannot be called in question or challenged in any Court of law as the present delimitation of constituencies was made under the provision of Delimitation Act, 2002.

Stating that delimitation exercise was constitutionally mandated, LHD said this exercise was not about tribe or district.

Meanwhile, LHD has slammed the “immature statement” of BJP National general secretary Ram Madhav recommending postponement of the delimitation process in Nagaland.

(Cont’d on p-3)

District Task Force (DTF) held an emergency meeting and activated the relevant line departments as per the Incident Response System (IRS), wherein the containment zone had been mapped and necessary cordoning of the area/colony in the proximity of the epicentre had been made. This was stated

by Kohima deputy commissioner and DTF chairman Gregory Thejawelie.

NSCN (K-YA) refutes AR claim DIMAPUR, JUL 7 (NPN): Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) has dismissed the Assam Rifles claim of busting its “extortion module” and apprehending three of its cadres on June 27 and June 28.

In a press release, NSCN (K)’s ‘brigadier’ Akaho Zhimo stated that the “insane desire of Indian armed forces” to apprehend its genuine members has “brought about all alleged criminals” being named as its members.

Zhimo said Assam Rifles seemed to have appointed him as the “finance kilonser” since he was not the finance kilonser.

Zhimo also said that the three alleged persons held along with the arms were not connected or affiliated to him or the group in any way whatsoever.

Meanwhile, NSCN (K) has warned that “those guilty of impersonations or misinformation of National workers will surely attract punitive military action as per the provisions of the law.”

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state

2

Agriculture training and awareness programme

Director of Agriculture, M. Ben Yanthan along with others at the training programme.

Thonoknyu receives seven returnees from Noklak QCs

Meanwhile key implementation of the scheme was delivered by joint director of Agriculture (planning) Letkholal Hangsing, who emphasised on the guidelines of implementation of the new programme scheme under RKVY. He also stressed on the importance to achieve self-sufficient production and encouraged agri officials to uphold their duties once they go back to their respective areas to improve agri- allied sectors.

Earlier, vote of thanks was delivered by deputy director of Agriculture (planning) K. Kherhprai.

DIMAPUR: Thonoknyu Hq, received seven returnees from Noklak quarantine center on July 6 for 14 days quarantine stay at Thonoknyu area quarantine center at KGBV Boy’s Hostel Thonoknyu Hq. According to DIPR report, 5 of the returnees were from Chennai and 2 from Bangalore.They were received by the Disaster Management Committee and Joint Forum TTAC at around 10:30 p.m. On July 7 a meeting was held with the returnees along with Medical department where checkup was done following all the SOPs and maintaining social distancing.

More to return from Bengaluru DIMAPUR: Another train departed from Bengaluru at 18:32 hrs for Dimapur carrying around 323 passengers who were stranded in Karnataka on Monday.

A press release from Naga Task Force (NTF) Bengaluru stated that, the train expected to arrive at Dimapur on July 9 at 6 a.m is carrying stranded people from Nagaland. Passengers from Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram, West Bengal, and Assam were also screened for same train.

CAPF, CAAU seek retention of CDPO DIMAPUR: Chessore Area Public Forum (CAPF) and Chessore Area Anganwadi Union (CAAU) have appealed the concerned authority to retain the service of CDPO Ekonthung.

In a press release, the CAPF president Y. Kiumukam and general secretary, R. Akhum stated that, the ICDS project was neglected for many decades “due to non functioning by then designated officers.” However, when CDPO Ekonthung was posted to Chessore, he revived the ICDS project which saw great improvement through his relentless efforts. In this regard, the CAPF and CAAU expressed dismay at the transfer of the said officer and is apprehensive that the area would experience neglect of the ICDS projects when he leaves.

CAPF and CAAU have therefore appealed that the officer is retained to the same post at Chessore for greater benefit of all. CAPF also requested the LDA under SDO (Civil) Chessore to be present at his place of posting at Chessore within July month.

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news in Brief Dimapur COVID-19 hospital informs: Hospital management committee (HMC), COVID-19 Hospital has informed that district ART centre has been shifted opposite to Fire Brigade Station, District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) to Urban Public Health Centre (UPHC), Duncan Basti and Oral Substitute Therapy (OST) to Super Market, attached to Bethesda (NGO). Timing would be from 9 a.m to 3 p.m for the centres.

NLA secretariat informs: NLA commissioner and secretary Dr. PJ Anthony informed that committee on government assurances chairman Kuzholuzo Nienu has convened evidence meeting with officials of department of Works and Housing (works branch) on July 23, 11 a.m at assembly conference hall.

Agenda for the meeting is a detailed examination of report of the inquiry committee on the improvement of roads of Dimapur and Kohima city portion under NH-39 pertaining to the assurance given on the floor of the house during the 5th session of the 13th NLA. Wokha DPDB meeting postponed: Deputy commissioner & vice chairman DPDB Wokha, Orenthung Lotha has informed that DPDB meeting for the month of July 2020 has been postponed till further notice. All members have been requested to take note of the notice.

DIMAPUR: Nagaland NGOs Forum (NNF) has appealed that functional NGOs be allowed to carry forward their works without much hindrance.

In an appeal to chief secretar y of Nagaland, the NNF president Dr. Y. Hesheto Chishi and general secretary, Chenithung Humtsoe stated that, earlier all the registered societies required to renew their registration after every two years.

Pointing out that due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, all filed movements remained at standstill,

whereby the NNF stated that, the societies who required renewal of registration from March 2020 till date were facing untold challenges to renew the ongoing projects as well as applying for new projects. It stated that, the requirements of qualifying for application on both cases was an updated registration, mandatory for all governmental and other non-governmental agencies’ schemes.

Therefore, the NNF has appealed the concerned authority to intervene in the districts level to start processing of renewals.

2ND DEATH ANNIVERSARY Lt. Hetoli .S. Awomi

“...I would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

2 Corinthian 5:8

CAKU reiterates stand on NCD issue

DIMAPUR: Chakhro Angami Kuda Union (CAKU) held an executive meeting on July 7 and deliberated over the present crisis concerning Naga Council Dimapur (NCD).

In a press release CAKU assistant general secretary, Lhoutsolie Nakhro reiterated its press statement issued on June 27 to firmly stand against “any unconstitutional practices” in setting up of new NCD office bearers (20202025).

Further, CAKU resolved that the newly nominated members for NCD councillor from all tribal hohos should elect/select its leaders from among themselves as the tenure of NCD incumbent executive has ended on March 31, 2020.

15/12/1967 – 08/07/2018

Two years have passed since you left us for your heavenly abode. But we keep faith in the hope that we will meet again.

Loving husband, children & relatives K-1190

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1 DEATH ANNIVERSARY ST

LT. JOSEPH SUMI

22-01-1957 – 08-07-2019

One year has passed since you left us and gone to heaven.

The pain of losing you is immeasurable. But every person has to die one day and it’s the bitter truth of life. Though you are not present here with us but your memory is stored on our mind.

May your soul rest in peace.

From, Loving Wife, Family Members & Loved ones.

DP-3072

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “Past her suffering, past her pain; Cease to weep for tears are vain; She who suffered is at rest; Gone to Heaven with the blest”

The bereaved family of Late ZUTHUNGPENI (Shinimo Kikon) extend our profound and heartfelt gratitude to all who stood by our side prayerfully, physically, morally and financially throughout her illness and death.

We regret our inability to thank each and everyone for your kindness and sympathy in our moment of despair.

But we pray sincerely that our Almighty God bless you abundantly for your kind deeds.

WC-170

NNF appeals for issuance of societies’ registration renewal

Loving Family Members.

K-1198

“In your life you touched so many, in your death many lives were changed.”

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY (Late Mrs. C. Imtila) 08/07/2019

ZUTHUNGPENI (Shinimo Kikon) Rtd. P/T W/o Late Yanposao Ezung, G.B, Longsa (01/04/1950 – 04/07/2020)

“Softly the leaves of memory fall, Gently I gather & treasure them all, Unseen, unheard, you are always near, So missed... so loved, so very dear” Your memories keep us warm mama!

DP-3006

-Loving children

It is with deep sense of gratitude, we the family and relatives of LATE TEMSU IMSONG (SubDivisional Fishery Officer, Longleng), wish to acknowledge the prayers and many expressions of sympathy and gestures of kindness shown to us following the day of our sudden loss on 28-06-2020 in Longleng till his final resting place at Chuchuyimpang Village.

We offer our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by us with prayer, presence, charity and condolences comforting and helping us bearing the bitter cup.

It is our sincere prayer that the Almighty Father in Heaven bless each one of you immensely.

We convey our special thanks to: 1. Ao Union Longleng 2. Ao Baptist Church Longleng 3. Fishery Department Longleng 4. Phom Union Longleng 5. Lembong Ward Longleng 6. Homeage PPC Longleng 7. Phom Baptist Churches Association Longleng 8. Yachem Bulu Pangthai Longleng 9. Mr. & Mrs. Besa Longleng 10. Mr. & Mrs. Thanglau Angh, President NPF Longleng 11. Dr. S. Marina Yaden, DVBO Longleng 12. Dr. Ademla Tinu, SMO District Hospital Longleng 13. Phom Students Conference Longleng 14. Longleng Town Baptist Church 15. Dr. Obangjungla, CMO Longleng 16. Shri. Tongpang Ozukum, Minister Nagaland 17. Shri. Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS Retd. Chief Executive Officer IDAN 18. Independent Party 24th Angetyongpang A/C 19. Directorate of Fisheries and Equatic Resources 20. District Fishery Staff Tuensang 21. Chief Executive Officer Fishery Dimapur 22. Additional Director Fisheries and Equatic Resources 23. District Fishery Officer Mokokchung 24. District Fishery Officer Wokha 25. Sub-Divisional Fishery Officer Kiphire 26. Nagaland Fisheries Technical Association 27. Shri. Lotimenba, Joint Director Dept. of Fisheries and Equatic Resources 28. Shri. Imtiyanger Imsong, District Land Record & Survey Officer Longleng 29. Village Council Chuchuyimpang 30. Chuchuyimpang Baptist Church Loving parents, sisters, brother and relatives

MKC-158

department target, “food for all by 2025”, he encouraged agriculture officials to rededicate themselves and strengthen to improve agriculture production in the state.

He also added that Nagaland initially had only two districts (Wokha and Mokokchung) and eight SDAOs division Nuiland, Baghty, Mangkolemba, Jalukie, Naginemora, Tuli, Medziphema and Tizit for lowland paddy. Yanthan shared that 940 hectares was needed to expand for ongoing kharif crops and that, expansion of areas was vital for production.

DIMAPUR: DC Mon Thavaseelan K has notified that in view of the declaration of containment zones within Mon town, the following SOP for delivery of LPG cylinders within containment zones is issued for information of all concerned.

According to DIPR report, the SOP to be followed are: Contact the respective ward task force for placement of order along with the booklet and amount; The ward task force is to identify and designated a place in the ward for submission of empty gas cylinders and also for collection of new gas cylinders; The volunteers of the ward task force shall ensure the submission and distribution of gas cylinders. The gas cylinders are to be disinfected by the ward task force; The ward task force will compile all the orders and submit the list to Chingmei, EAC office of the DC, Mon 8837082365; The district administration will allocate a date for delivery in consultation with the concerned gas agencies; The ward task force shall receive the gas cylinders on behalf of all the residents of the ward within the containment Zones.

Payment should be made on the day of delivery itself; The ward task force shall ensure that wearing of face mask and strict social distancing norms is observed during collection of gas cylinders. Gathering of people in large number is strictly prohibited and strict penal action will be initiated against the violators under relevant provisions of the law.

K-1196

DIMAPUR: Directorate of Agriculture organised training and awareness programme on scaling up of lowland paddy at the directorate conference hall on July 7.

A press release from the department stated that, while speaking at the programme, director of agriculture, M. Ben Yanthan, said that the scheme was a new programme under RKVY scheme to enhance food production in the state. He also said that there were only few crops in commercial production in Nagaland and therefore to achieve the

DC Mon notifies on new SOP due to containment zone

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

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nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: By keeping all returnees together initially without testing, has it spread COVID-19?

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

A B C

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A

B

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

C

100% 0% 0%

Next poll

Q: Has the Modi govern-

ment done enough to discourage Chinese misadventure?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST july 8

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

32 27

Aizawl

An afternoon thunderstorm

Guwahati Rather cloudy with a t-storm Imphal

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Itanagar Mainly cloudy with a t-storm

28 23

Kohima

A thunderstorm in spots

25 19

Dimapur Mostly cloudy with a shower

32 24

A shower or t-storm in spots

25 20

Tuensang A shower and t-storm around

19 16

Mostly cloudy and not as warm 25 21

Zunheboto Mainly cloudy with a t-storm

22 18

DC Longleng, Shayung Phom with returnees during the release programme on July 7. (NP)

the chairman of the District Tasks Force (DTF) for COVID-19 congratulated all the inmates for completing 21 days quarantine successfully as per the norms and procedure of the government. He also adviced and encouraged them to observe 7 days home quarantine after going back to their respective destination before they mingle with the people. DC also adviced them not to feel discouraged or isolated if people happen to say all sorts of

things out of ignorance.

He urged them to educate people who were ignorant so they can cope and observe the proper usage of face mask, maintaining people to people distancing, keeping immune system strong etc.

DC also thanked all the frontline workers especially Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) led by executive secretary Tialemba Phom for taking care of allthe quarantine centres in Longleng apart

from conducting prayer meeting every morning and evening with the inmates. Meanwhile on behalf of the 26 inmates, one male and female expressed their heartiest gratitude to District Tasks Force (DTF) and all other frontline workers for extending constant prayer support and guidance.

The inmates also handed over a note of acknowledgement to DC & chairman, (DTF) along with free will donation of Rs. 3350/- (three thousand three hundred fifty) towards the COVID-19 kitchen management. Others who spoke at the send off programme included, chief medical officer (CMO) District Hospital Longleng Dr. Obangjungla, Dr. Meren Phom, programme officer, District Hospital Longleng while Tialemba Phom executive secretary (ES) (PBCA) invoked prayer for the inmates.

Tuensang COVID-19 confirmed cases

28 22 25 19

Wokha

LONGLENG, JUL 7 (NPN): The last batch of the first and second returnees who were lodged at Yingli College quarantine centre (YCQC) Longleng were released on Tuesday, after completing 21 days quarantine where formal prayer programme was organized by Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) in presence of DC Longleng, medical staff and church leaders led by executive secretary, N. Tialemba Phom.

The 26 inmates released on Tuesday have completed 21 days quarantined successfully and found negative during the procedural medical tests twice. Among the 26, the youngest was 3-year old son of the principal of JNV School Longleng.

During the short prayer programme before send off to their respective places, the DC Longleng Shayung Phom who is also

32 26

A thunderstorm in the area

Mkg

Returnees released from YCQC Fire in Lahorijan contained by F&ES Dmu

28 21

Shillong

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State/northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

DIMAPUR: Deputy commissioner (DC) Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant informed that as per report received on July 7 from the chief medical officer, Tuensang, 10 (ten) returnees were tested COVID-19 positive by TrueNat machine on July 3. According to DIPR report, subsequently confirmatory testing of the same was done on July 6 by RDRP GENE (SARS COV-2) Confirmation

and 8 (eight) returnees were tested positive.

The patients have been admitted at COVID Care Centre, Tuensang, for isolation. At present the patients are reported to be asymptomatic and stable. With the latest development, the COVID-19 status of Tuensang is: Total confirm positive cases 35; Active cases 28; Recovered 7.

DIMAPUR: Fire and Emergency Ser vices (F&ES) mobilized a quick response team from Fire Station Dimapur Central, Fire Station Dimapur West & Fire Station Chumukedima contain fire outbreak at Dudu Colony, Lahorijan Assam on July 7 afternoon.

A press release from F&ES deputy SP (F&ES) T. Shilu Jamir stated that, six fire tenders along with sufficient equipments & fire personnel were pressed into action, while two fire tenders from BokaJan, Assam also joined the fight.

Approximately 150 to 200 houses were gutted in the inferno.

It took the fire team 2

Fire personnel fighting fire at Dudu Colony, Lahorijang, Assam.

hours 30 minutes to contain the fire. One minor girl succumbed from burnt and two were still missing till the time of filing this report.

Due to timely response from fire team, the fire was prevented from spreading

to the adjoining houses.

Cause of fire is unknown.

The response team was led by OC A Wati Jamir and duty commander, SI Mezovilie Martin, SI Thungathung, SI Kennyhun Kent & ASI G. Niamlungpou Gonmei.

Dy.CM, others extend Tuluni greetings Dy. CM: Deputy chief minister and BLP leader, Y. Patton extended greetings to Sumis on the occasion of Tuluni festival.

Patton described Sumis as one of the most vibrant and courageous people among the Naga community who were always in the forefront during difficult times. While wishing the Sumi community on behalf of all the BJP legislators, the deputy chief minister hoped that it would bring forth a stronger bond of friendship and unity.

Sümi Hoho: While extending Tuluni greetings, the Sümi Hoho (SH) urged all its members to observe the festival by staying indoors and practice social distancing with prayers in their own respective homes.

A greetings message by SH media

cell, stated that spending time with one’s family on such an occasion embodies the true spirit of the festival and to cherish every minute with loved ones during this festive period. It further asked its members to move forward with a positive attitude and make some good memories during this unprecedented time.

GPRN UT: Caretaker, CAO, UT on behalf of the senior leaders of UT extended greetings to the Sumi community.

A greetings message from GPRN UT secretary, John M. Yim hoped that the festival would bring peace and prosperity in whole Nagalim and continue to strengthen social bonds with other communities as well.

northeast/state

Protest rally in Mnp defying total curfew Imna asks UGs to exempt HE deptt from demands Correspondent IMPHAL, Jul 7: Residents of Manipur’s Jiribam district bordering Assam on Tuesday staged a rally defying total curfew promulgated in the district following spread of COVID-19 at local clustering stage.

The residents demanded immediate resignation of the only MLA of the district alleging his poor or no response to allay fear and anxiety of the people following mass infections in the district.

A woman leader who took part in the rally expressed strong suspicion of the spread of the virus by the police personnel on duty at the railway station, the final destination where people from the state were ferried to by special trains.

She demanded that the state government must take up steps to test en-masse the people of the district for the virus, adding that all police and VDF personnel posted in the district must also be subjected to tests.

She strongly charged the local MLA (A shab Uddin) of remaining silent even “without showing his face” even as people were in fear and panic, while also demanding his resignation.

“We were strongly dissatisfied with the irresponsible attitude of the MLA. He never comes out to extend help to the people since the very beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown,” she alleged.

Jiribam district has been under complete lockdown to contain the spread of the disease ever since the first case of local COVID19 cluster reported was since July 5.

The district magistrate promulgated total curfew under sub-section (2) of section 144 of CrPC to enforce the lockdown to check transmission at the community level, As many as 28 personnel of Jiribam district police and VDF tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday after an ASI involved in screening people returning

by train at Jiribam tested positive earlier.

The 28 personnel who tested positive were from among 170 samples of suspected police personnel and family members of the ASI tested during the last 48 hours. With more personnel testing positive during contact tracing, the number of positive cases rose to 42 on Tuesday as five more persons tested positive on Tuesday.

On Monday, nine more police personnel tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, a medical team from Imphal with rapid antigen testing kits rushed to the district on Tuesday. The team was airlifted by chopper.

The medical team comprising five experienced doctors in the field has started discharging their duties no sooner they landed at the district headquarters, an official source here said.

Dr S Sujeta who led the medical teams said that the team will start conducting tests on residents of the

district headquarters with the rapid antigen testing kits.

The team will also investigate into the origin of the spread of the virus at the cluster level besides opening a COVID care facility in the district.

State chief minister N Biren Singh who is scheduled to visit the district headquarters tomorrow is likely to inaugurate the facility, a source in Imphal said.

Including the five in Jiribam district, a total of 40 fresh positive cases of the new coronavirus were reported in the state in the last 24 hours (July 6, 6:30 pm till July 7, 6:30 pm), an official source in the state health department said.

The cumulative number of positive cases in the state is now 1430 with 659 active cases.

Including the 37 persons discharge today, the number of recovered cases increased to 771 which has exceeded the active cases.

The source put the recovery rate at 53.91 percent.

(From p-1) He also appealed to the students to claim unclaimed cheques else, it would go back to the ministry as per guidelines, and so that violation of guidelines and rules did not occur.

OSD of scholarship branch Keduosielie Keyho, who too was present on the occasion, claimed that 39,975 students had availed scholarship under post-matric scholarship scheme for ST students in 2019-2020 amounting to Rs 1939.68 lakh as first

installment, while the second installment has also been proposed.

And under the State and Research Scholarship funded by the State government, he said the higher education department had disbursed Rs 266.21 lakh to 1,734 meritorious students and 132 research scholars amounting to Rs 33.56 lakh.

Under NEC stipend and book grant meant for professional and technical students that included both Nagas and non Nagas, he said the department had

selected 74 eligible professional students for 20192020 and the sanctioned amount of Rs 16.62 lakh was awaited.

All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) president Vimeyiekho Vitso, who was also present at the press briefing, acknowledged the higher education department and Along for releasing the scholarships on time.

While acknowledging that as per ANCSU’s appeal, the department had set up a separate cell to deal with scholarship, he

Situation favourable for delimitation: LH Dimapur

(From p-1) The hoho said that Madhav, in order to avoid embarrassment, had attempted “to play safe part” by claiming that his recommendation for postponement was based on the representation of the State BJP president Temjen Imna Along and chief minister Neiphiu Rio. Further, LHD said that Madhav has, by making such uncorroborated statement and not being conversant with delimitation process, demeaned

his position as a national general secretary of BJP. The hoho said he should rather advise BJP president and chief minister to honourably accept and pave the way to materialise the readjustment of seats for legislative assembly “to ensure socio-political and socio-economic equality amongst tribes”.

LHD wondered if the BJP state president and the chief minister were “trying to push their political agenda

Surge of COVID-19 continues, situation not conducive in Meghalaya Correspondent Shillong, Jul 7: The surge of COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya continued for the second straight day on Tuesday, with six new cases including two from the Indian Air Force and a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper taking the total number of active cases in the State to 50.

The Meghalaya government has described the prevailing health situation in the State is “not conducive”.

H e a l t h a n d Fa m i ly Welfare Minister A.L. Hek informed that the six who tested positive, include two air warriors from the Indian Air Force and one BSF trooper.

“Six returnees (2 Air Force and 1 BSF) who came from Karnataka, USA, Rajasthan, Kolkata have tested positive in Shillong,” Hek said.

“In total, there are 23 BSF personnel who are COVID 19 positive in the State as of now,” Hek said, adding that so far 865 samples have been tested from the BSF Composite Hospital, Umpling, Shillong. Giving a break-up of COVID 19 cases K Y M C

Check point at Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi of Meghalaya.

in district wise, Hek said East Khasi Hills has 29, Ri-Bhoi 15, South West Garo Hills - 2, East Jaintia Hills district- 1, West Garo Hills -3.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the situation is not conducive in the State and if it worsens or continues to be grave, the State government will be left with no other option other than re-imposing lockdown, even as he allayed fears of community transmission.

“If situation worsens or continues to be grim, I think we will have no option (but

to reimpose lockdown),” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister appealed to the citizens of the state to desist from becoming exposed unnecessarily.

“The situation is not conducive. Therefore, I request each and every citizen to kindly refrain themselves to any unnecessary exposure,” he cautioned.

It may be mentioned that over the last week there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya.

On Monday, the State re-

however pointed out the cell was not fully functional and exuded confidence that the cell would be functional soon.

On unclaimed cheques, Vitso said from 2014 to 2017, there were 860 beneficiaries who failed to claim their scholarships amounting to Rs 38,58,355, and hoped that the department would do the needful in this regard.

Higher education director Dr Apeni Lotha too was present at the press conference.

corded the highest single day spike with 16 new cases.

With six new cases as of Tuesday evening, Meghalaya has a total of 95 detected cases comprising 50 active, 2 deceased and 43 recovered.

Infant dies in Meghalaya

Meghalaya recorded its second COVID-19 death after an eight-month-old baby died on Monday, even as the State registered the highest single day spike in Meghalaya on Monday with 16 new active COVID-19 cases detected. The first death recorded in the State on April

15 was of a physician who succumbed to the virulent virus in less than 48 hours.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Alexander Laloo Hek said that the infant was referred to North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) hospital in Shillong from Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in Arunachal Pradesh for treatment of a different ailment.

“On their arrival in the early hours of Monday morning, the swab samples of the baby and his parents and the driver were collected and sent for testing.

Unfortunately, the baby boy tested positive for COVID19 on arrival and died later in the evening,” Hek said. He added that the swab samples of the parents of the infant and the driver tested negative for COVID-19.

“The infant boy had earlier this year been admitted in NEIGRIHMS but had returned to Arunachal Pradesh before nation-wide lockdown was clamped,” he said.

Furthermore, Hek in-

formed that 16 more persons, out of which ten are Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the State as on Monday. “A total of 220 high risk contacts of BSF were tested. 210 have tested negative and ten positive,” he said.

Hek also said that two persons got infected with the virus after attending a wedding ceremony at Greenwood Resort in Guwahati recently.

“Out of the 41 people who had attended the wedding at Greenwood Resort, swab samples of 38 individuals have tested negative for COVID-19,” Hek said.

A woman who had returned to Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills from Guwahati in Assam, tested positive for the viral infection on her arrival and three more persons has tested positive for the same in Ri Bhoi district, the health minister informed.

Meghalaya so far has registered 80 COVID-19 cases, which includes 44 active cases and two deaths, while 43 have recovered from the viral infection.

or are they became so obsessed for power and position that they pretended not to see and understand the distress and discriminations of the people.”

The hoho said that every elected representative, holding a constitutional position and enjoying all privileges, should uphold and respect the sanctity and supremacy of the Constitution rather than opposing an exercise that was constitutionally mandated.

Will defend doctors, asserts NIDA

(From p-1) On the allegations against the two, Dr. Thurr said if the community did not trust the doctors or if the State government did not take immediate “appropriate action”, then NIDA would initiate its own action.

He also claimed that there were many documentary evidences to prove that the returnees from other parts of the country did not maintain discipline at quarantine facilities, did not provide correct personal identities and did not follow the standard precautions, all of which created havoc in all quarantine centres. He also alleged that inefficiency on the part of the State government and its machinery at the district level had given rise to COVID positive cases.

Protest in Peren demands action over June 23 incident

(From p-1) Therefore, the three organisations demanded a full-fledged at the earliest to fill the leadership void in the health department in the district. Further, KSO, ZSUN and ZYON also demand that the incumbent DC of Peren be replaced by someone more competent to shoulder the responsibilities of this magnitude at this hour, which was the district’s pressing need. They alleged that due to the inefficiency of the administrative head, the district had not been able to effectively handle the pandemic.

K Y M C

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northeast

Flood waters recede in Assam; 1 dead

G UWAHATI , J UL 7 (PTI): The flood waters continued to recede in Assam on Tuesday, even as the deluge claimed another life, raising the toll to 39, while affecting nearly two lakh people in 13 districts, the State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.

One person died in Dhemaji district, taking the toll due to flood and landslides to 63 across the state.

A total of 39 people were killed by floods while 24 died due to landslides, according to the ASDMA. From 15 districts where nearly four lakh people were affected on Monday, an ASDMA bulletin said, the flood waters ebbed from Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Kamrup, but entered Lakhimpur even as Dhemaji, Sivasagar, Biswanath, Chirang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat and Tinsukia districts remained inundated.

Altogether 19,886 hectares agricultural land with standing crops are under the swirling waters in nine districts.

People wade through a waterlogged street after rains at Nabin Nagar in Guwahati, Tuesday. (PTI) Barpeta is the district worst hit by the flood with around 1.95 lakh people suffering, followed by Goalpara with almost 29,000 people being hit, Dhemaji affecting over 15,000 and

Morigaon with over 10,000, the bulletin said.

In the 33 relief camps and distribution centres operated by the administration across five districts, the ASDMA said, 1673 people

Tripura CM Biplab Kumar reviews various NH projects

112 fresh COVID-19 cases in Tripura; count rises to 1,693

AGARTALA, JUL 07 ( AGENCIES): Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb, on Monday, directed officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure the timely completion of various road projects so that citizens would not be inconvenienced due to bad road conditions, reports The Northeast Today.

While addressing a review meeting for PWD officials in Agartala, the Chief Minister also took the time to review the progress of a bridge which is currently under construction over the Feni River.

Replying to the Chief Minister’s queries, a representative from the company responsible for the bridge’s construction informed that work is progressing according to plan and that the bridge will be completed

by December 2020.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary also briefed the Chief Minister on the current status of alternative national roads from Agar-

tala to Kurti Bridge via Khowai, Kamalpur and Kailashahar.

“After the completion of the alternative national roads project, the time it would take to travel from Agartala to Churaibari will be cut short. Citizens will also be able to travel from Agartala to Dharmanagar faster,” said the Chief Secretary.

PWD secretary, Sashi Ranjan Kumar, provided detailed information concerning the current status of the national highway from Churaibari to Agartala. He informed that land acquisition and forest clearance is completed and that the route will be converted into a double lane within the next two years.

Chief Engineer, Rajib Debabarma, informed that the tender process for 11 projects including National Highway (NH) 208- (A), 44 (A), 108 (A), 106 (B), covering a total length of 268 km, has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 3,193.26 crore.

Eight rhino poachers arrested

Diphu, Jul 7: In a major successful operation against the rhino poachers particularly at the high time of flood, when the animals particularly the one horned rhinoceros move to elevated grounds for safety and the poachers make best use of the situation to poach the defenseless animals.

Assam police from Rongmongwe police, Karbi Anglong district station in an operation arrested eight poachers and seized four 12 bore rifles assorted ammunition from their possession.

The apprehended poacher are; Eptarul Ishlam (27),Abdul Khalek (35),Krishna Bhumij(28), Amor Teron (20), Bijoy Teron (27), Uttam Singner (28) and Kanplong Terrang (28).A case has been registered in Rongmogwe police station (Case No. 04/2020 U/S 511/34 IPC, Sec. 9/51 of WLP Act (1972) r/w Sec 25 (1-A) under Arms Act . Involvement of local tribal youths of Karbi Anglong in the poacher’s gang has raised concern among conscious section of the society. (Correspondent)

Agartala, Jul 7 (PTI): As many as 112 people tested positive for COVID19 in Tripura, taking the northeastern state’s tally to 1,693 on Tuesday, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has said.

Gomati district registered the highest number of fresh cases at 41 followed by Khowai (40), West district (14), Sepahijala (9), Dhalai and South district (three each) and Unakoti and North districts (one each), he said. “Alert ~112 people found COVID-19 positive today in Tripura out of 1,260 samples tested,” Deb tweeted late on Monday.

Of the 1,693 cases, 474 are active, while 1,218 people have recovered and one patient has died, officials said, adding that 73,059 samples have been tested so far.

are taking shelter currently with gratuitous relief materials such as rice, dal, salt and mustard oil.

Other relief materials such as tarpaulin, milk, potato, candle, drinking water, match box, biscuit, wheat bran, face mask and soap are also distributed among them.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Neamatighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town, while its tributaries Disang at Nanglamuraghat in Sivasagar, Jia Bharali at NT Road Crossing in Sonitpur and Kopili at Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat.

The floods have damaged embankments, roads and many other infrastructure at various places in Dhemaji, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Karbi Anglong, Dhemaji and Charaideo districts, the ASDMA said.

Massive erosions have been witnessed at different places of Bongaigaon, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts, it added.

In the Kaziranga National Park, home to onehorn Indian rhinos, floods have claimed lives of 47 animals.

cards involving 2,80,776 beneficiaries were identified,” Das told IANS. He said that PDS ration and other items are giving to beneficiaries after biometric authentication to prevent pilferage and frauds.

Tripura Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Monoj Kanti Deb said that after the BJP-led government came to power in the state in March 2018, these fake ration cards had been cancelled.

“These forged ration cards were issued during the previous (Left Front)

Manipur government employees cease work amid COVID crisis

Correspondent

Correspondent

Diphu Jul 7: After Khonsing Rongpi, in charge of Health & Family Welfare Department, four more executive members of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council tested COVID positive on Monday night. The affected executive Members are; Amarsing Tisso, Rupsing Teron, Ramsing Timung and Kache Teronpi along with another Sengkan Ronghang, a student and resident of Diphu Amid the continuing lockdown of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council secretariat, authorities have locked the Krishi Bhawan i.e. the Agriculture office after a top official of the office tested positive.

Meanwhile, secretaries, deputy secretaries and scores of government officers opted for swab test.

It may be mentioned that a number of citizens have appealed to the authority to impose complete lockdown of all urban areas of Karbi Anglong district, particularly Diphu town, after a sudden spike in COVID cases.

IMPHAL, JUL 7: College teachers on Tuesday joined the cease work strike of government employees of Manipur which commenced on Monday.

At a time when the state is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, employees of the state government launched indefinite cease work strike demanding implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendation under the aegis of Manipur Government Services’ Federation (MGSF). The employees’ body alleged that even after it agreed to implement the 7th Pay Commission recommendation with effect from April 2020, it was yet to be implemented. The association claimed that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government on June 8, 2018 that the DA/DR of state government employees will be enhanced at par with the central government employees from April 1, 2020.

The cease work strike has so far not affected the government’s fight against COVID-19 as employees

G u wa h at i , J u l 7 (PTI): Assam’s COVID19 tally crossed the 12,000mark on Monday with 786 more people testing positive for the disease, including 598 from the capital city, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The total number of positive cases in Assam now stands at 12,522. The state has 4,623 active cases, Sarma said in a tweet.

“Alert ~ 786 new cases detected in Assam today, with 598 cases from Guwahati City alone. Please follow #SocialDistancing, wear #mask & maintain hygiene,” he added.

In a separate tweet, Sarma said 449 patients recovered from the disease and were discharged from various hospitals across the state during the day.

So far, 14 patients have died of the disease, while

7,882 have been cured and discharged from hospitals, he added.

Besides, three more patients have migrated to other states, the minister informed.

Guwahati city has reported a total of 4,334 COVID-19 cases so far, of which 3,891 were detected in the last 13 days.

Meanwhile, Silchar Lok Sabha MP Rajdeep Roy, who is a doctor, was quarantined after one of his colleagues tested positive for COVID-19.

Roy is one of the directors of the Jeevan Jyoti Hospital, where a female gynaecologist has tested positive, officials said.

The BJP leader and his entire team at the hospital have given their samples for COVID-19 tests and the results are awaited.

The Barpeta district administration has declared

government,” Deb said at an official event.

The Minister claimed that of the 2.81 lakh persons found benefiting from fake ration cards, a large number may be Bangladeshi nationals.

“Despite a thorough inquiry, there was no trace of a majority of these 2.81 lakh people against whom PDS commodities were issued for many years.”

Das said that with 100 per cent Aadhaar number seeding, end-to-end computerisation of PDS was completed in Tripura in 2018 for transparency and quick services, and inter-

matter were yet to be issued by the government.

Reminders have been submitted three times by FEGOCTA to the government but there was no positive response, he added.

Somorendro informed that college teachers working in the quarantine centres will be performing their duties with black badges and the association will support the movement of Manipur Government Services’ Federation (MGSF) which has around 1,40,000 members.

The strike will however not cover duties or activities coming under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the general secretary announced. He said that this time FEGOCTA will not retreat unless the state government issues an order adopting the 7th UGC Pay and Regulations, 2018.

At the sametime, he asserted that without implementing national policy of UGC and priority to HRD in Manipur, Central government’s missions like ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ ‘Sabka Vishwash’ and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ will not be able to be achieved.

A security personnel stands guard during the strict lockdown imposed by the Assam Government to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Nagaon the sub-divisional judicial magistrate’s court in Bajali a containment zone after an employee tested positive.

The court complex has been

Total lockdown for a week in West Karbi Anglong Guwahati, Jul 7 (PTI): Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district administration has announced total lockdown for a week from Wednesday, becoming the third district in the state to impose restrictions to prevent spread of coronavirus.

Deputy Commissioner Syed Isfaqur Rahman in an order issued on Tuesday imposed total lockdown under the Disaster Management Act in the Municipal Board areas of Hamren, Baithalangso and Donkmokam and also in areas under Kheroni police station from 7 p.m of July 8 till 7 a.m of July 15.

The weekend lockdown, already in force since July 27, will continue be-

under essential service categories, including frontline workers like doctors and nurses are yet to join the strike. The strike will however certainly add burden on college students already impacted by the pandemic as teachers under the aegis of Federation of Government College Teachers’ Association (FEGOCTA), Manipur have joined the strike.

The teachers’ body has suspended the online classes and boycotted the examinations, admissions and other academic activities of government colleges with effect from Tuesday.

While announcing the cease work strike, FEGOCTA general secretary N Somorendro told reporters today that the decision to commence the strike was taken up as a part of agitation against the state government’s failure to implement the 7th Pay for the government colleges and teachers of technical institutes.

He alleged that though the state cabinet had already approved the 7th UGC Pay and Regulations, 2018 in February this year, necessary orders regarding the

Assam’s COVID-19 tally crosses 12,000-mark with 786 new cases

yond July 15 in the Municpality areas and sub-urban areas.

Kamrup (Metro), under which Guwahati city falls and has reported a high number of 3,891 cases since June 24, had imposed shutdown since June 28 while Dima Hasao district imposed it from July six for two weeks.

Establishment of the Deputy Commissioner, including Treasury establishments, defence, police and security, fire and emergency services, disaster management, electricity, water sanitation, Municipal staff required for emergency services will be allowed to function during the lockdown, the order stated.

Hospitals and retail

Tripura cancels 62K fake ration cards Agartala, July 7 (IANS): The Tripura government has cancelled 62,340 fake ration cards identified after computerisation of the PDS system, officials said here on Tuesday.

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Director Tapan Kumar Das said that after the cancellation, the number of ration cards has come down to around nine lakh that benefit 36 lakh people in the state.

“After the computerisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Tripura, 62,340 fake ration

Four more KAAC executive members test positive

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

state portability of ration cards system introduced last year.

“Tripura is the first state in northeast India to complete the digitalisation of the entire PDS. The central government has appreciated Tripura government’s work in digitalisation,” Das said.

The PDS computerisation is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the National Informatics Centre and is being introduced in all states and union territories across the country.

medical outlets, government officers and employees who are employed under Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, bank branches with skeletal services have been allowed to function while ATMs shall operate.

Quarantine facilities shall operate and ongoing construction works related to medical care and construction for COVID care centres are allowed.

Print and electronic media, including newspaper distribution, are allowed but it is advised that minimum number of persons should come out in the open.

Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services shall continue with persons having specially assigned

duties being allowed to come out while vehicles of health, fire, law and order and emergency services are allowed.

Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services, IT and IT enabled services allowed to work from home with emergency repair crew allowed movement subject to prior permission and passes from appropriate authority.

Petrol pumps and gas agencies are allowed to operate during the lockdown but LPG products will be distributed at the home of customers while transportation of petroleum to other districts are allowed to move through highways, the order stated.

Landslide on NH-10 cuts off Bengal-Sikkim road link Ko l k at a , J u ly 7 (IANS): A massive landslide on Tuesday resulted in the collapse of a National Highway which connects West Bengal with the Himalayan state of Sikkim, virtually snapping the road connectivity in the northeastern region.

National Highway (NH) 10 connects Sikkim’s capital Gangtok to West Bengal’s Kalimpong and Siliguri. The landslide occurred near 29-Mile near Kalimpong, amid heavy to very heavy rains during the week. The landslide was caused due to heavy rain in

the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.

According to sources, the local administration is currently busy carrying out clearing operations. But the progress to clear out debris from the hilly stretch is slow as the landslides are still active in monsoon.

Meanwhile, the Met department officials have predicted heavy to very heavy rain in three West Bengal districts - Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar between July 9 and July 12 which might trigger flood-like situations in large swathes of north Bengal.

sealed for sanitisation.

Assam has so far tested a total of 4,71,221 samples for COVID-19, the daily bulletin of the state Health

and Family Welfare Department said. It further said that the doubling rate of the disease has come down to 13 days.

BEFORE THE MARRIAGE OFFICER DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

Marriage Regd. No 26/2020

Dated Dimapur, the 3rd July/2020

NOTICE OF REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE

I, Marriage Officer, Dimapur, Nagaland hereby give notice under Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, that a petition for registration of marriage has been filed by Bhupen Chetri aged about 28 years, S/o Shri Jagat Bd Chetri, resident of Singrijan Village, Dimapur and Yamuna Chetry, aged about 24 years, D/o Shri Min Bd Chetry resident of Singrijan Village, Dimapur before me on 3rd day July 2020 and whereas 4th August 2020 has been fixed for registering their Marriage. Objections, if any, are to be furnished on or before the aforementioned fixed date.

DP-3076

ADDL. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CUM MARRIAGE OFFICER DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

IN THE COURT OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DIMAPUR, NAGALAND

NOTICE

Dt. Dimapur the 6th July 2020

No.Rev-1/90-D/5573-74 /Notice is hereby given that Shri/Smti Wati Ao, resident of Padumpukhuri who has applied for issue of mortgage clearance concerning to Patta No. 728, Dag No. 1092 measuring an area 00-04-00 located at Block No/Village Padumpukhuri Mouza No. 3, which has been mortgage in the NIDC Bank/Society.

Claims & Objection if any on the aforesaid land may be submitted in written in the Court of the undersigned on or before 15/7/2020.

Sd/Deputy Commissioner Dimapur : Nagaland DP-3083

IN THE COURT OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DIMAPUR, NAGALAND

NOTICE Dt. Dimapur the 6th July 2020 No.Rev-1/90-D/5570-71/ Notice is hereby given that Shri/ Smti Sentimenla Pongener, resident of Dimapur who has applied for issue of mortgage clearance concerning to Patta No. 125, Dag No. 166 measuring an area 00-04-10 located at Block No/Village 1, Mouza No. 3, which has been mortgaged in the SBI, Bazar Bank/Society.

Claims & Objection if any on the aforesaid land may be submitted in written in the Court of the undersigned on or before 15-7-2020.

DP-3082

Deputy Commissioner Dimapur : Nagaland

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

No pullback of Chinese troops from Ladakh

NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (IANS): The Indian military sees no pullback of Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops and material from Pangong Lake and Depsang in eastern Ladakh, sources said on Tuesday.

The disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops has happened in Galwan valley, Hot Springs and Gogra post in Ladakh sector.

However, it has not been verified on the ground yet.

The disengagement started after a two-month military standoff and it is happening “as per agreed terms in the Corps Commanders’ meeting”.

Sources said Chinese soldiers were seen removing tents and structures at patrolling point 14 in the Galwan valley where on June 15 Indian and PLA soldiers were engaged in brutal hand-to-hand fighting. A total of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed in the worst clash between the two armies in four decades.

As per the agreement between the Corps Commanders, a buffer zone of at least 1.5 km on both sides of the Line of Actual Control has to be created in these areas. Sources said that in Galwan valley, the water level of the Galwan river has risen suddenly due to melting of snow, which could have forced the Chinese to move from the area faster.

The Indian Army is reported to be using drones to verify

Chinese movement as physical verification has been hindered by the rising waters of the Galwan river.

But at Finger 4 of Pangong lake, the most conten-

tious issue between the two sides, sources said there was almost negligible pullback of Chinese troops with a similar situation at Depsang.

At Pangong Lake, Chinese troops have moved upto Finger 4 where they have brought over 120 vehicles and a dozen boats.

The Chinese army has also

opened up a new front in the area near the Depsang Bulge, a table-top plateau north of Galwan. They have built camps and deployed vehicles and troops.

The Pangong Lake is divided into 8 fingers. The mountainous spurs jutting out into the lake are referred to as fingers. India has been claiming fingers 1 to 8.

There is also an Indian post near Finger 4. India claims the entire stretch till Finger 8. The area between Finger 5 and 8 has been a matter of dispute as China also claims it. It has often witnessed confrontations.

China has made an attempt to change the status quo by putting up shelters and setting up a camp in areas that were under Indian control so far. Military commanders from both sides are in constant touch with each other.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said both sides were “taking effective measures to disengage and ease the situation on the border”.

“We hope India will meet China halfway and take concrete measures to carry out what both sides agreed to, continue to closely communicate through diplomatic and military channels, and work together to cool down the situation at the border,” Zhao told a news conference.

However, India remains cautious and the army and air force are on high alert.

5

CBSE reduces 30 percent syllabus for Classes 9 to 12

NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (AGENCIES): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been asked by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) to reduce the syllabus for classes 9 to 12 by 30 per cent. The decision has been taken after asking for suggestions from stakeholders on the same.

Through a tweet, the HRD Minister had informed that he received over 1,500 suggestions from different stakeholders.

“Considering the importance of learning achievement, it has been decided to rationalize syllabus up to 30 per cent by retaining the core concepts,” the HRD minister wrote in a tweet. “Looking at the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and the world, #CBSE was advised to revise the curriculum and reduce course load for the students of Class 9th to 12th,” he added.

In an official statement, the CBSE said, “The Heads

of Schools and Teachers may ensure that the topics that have been reduced are also explained to the students to the extent required to connect different topics.

However, the reduced syllabus will not be part of the topics for Internal Assessment and year-end Board Examination.”

Further, for Classes 8 and below, CBSE-affiliated schools will have the freedom to rationalise the syllabus on their own, as reported by The Indian Express.

Recently, the other central board – Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) – had announced to reduce their syllabus for class 10 and 12 by 25 per cent to “make up for the loss in instructional hours during the current session 2020-21” As reported by The Indian Express earlier, Rather than recommending the reduction of a full chapter, the Board asked NCERT to suggest topics and themes

which are “either repeated or overlapped or learning outcomes related to it are being covered under other chapters” In a meeting of Union HRD Minister and state education ministers earlier this year, Delhi Deputy CM and Education Minister Manish Sisodia had also raised the concern and asked to drop chapters from not only school textbooks but also for JEE Main and NEET entrance exams scheduled to be held next year. However, the decision on JEE Main and NEET will be taken by the exam conducting body – National Testing Agency (NTA).

With a delay in starting classes for the new sessions and a major section of students not being able to attend the online classes due to lack of proper infrastructure, several parents had been demanding to reduce the syllabus for the upcoming batch. This decision would come as a respite to them.

Road infrastructure worth Rs 20k Rahul asks why no mention of Farmer gets Rs 10-cr electricity bill crore for Ladakh to get a push Galwan in MEA statement on talks

BRO Director General Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh briefs Rajnath Singh on the progress of construction activities in border areas, in New Delhi, July 7. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (AGENCIES): India is set to expedite road projects in Ladakh worth Rs 20,000 crore amid the ongoing India-China border tussle. In a review of all road projects, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has given instructions to speed up all projects.

Sources said this includes the realignment of a track on the strategically significant Durbuk-ShyokDaulat Beg Oldie Road that was one of the triggers for the current India-China standoff which started two months back.

Rajnath Singh recently held a meeting with officials from the Defence Ministry and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for road construction

in these areas.

Apart from the road constructions, 30 bridges are also under construction to improve connectivity to forward area close to the Line of Actual Control.

Sources privy to these developments told India Today TV that a total of 30 permanent bridges are under construction and road infrastructure worth approximately Rs 20,000 crore, including highways and tunnels, are under various stages of planning and construction. These projects, they said, will enhance connectivity in the region.

“Road infrastructure is to be enhanced in a short span keeping in mind the current standoff that could stretch for months,” an offi-

Protection to Dua extended in sedition case NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (PTI): The Supreme Court Tuesday extended till July 15 the protection granted to senior journalist Vinod Dua from any coercive action in a sedition case filed against him by a local BJP leader in Himachal Pradesh over his YouTube show.

A bench headed by Justice U U Lalit, in a hearing conducted through video conferencing, restrained the Himachal Pradesh police from arresting Dua in the case and decided to hear the journalist’s plea next Wednesday. It also said that Dua, who has joined the police probe through virtual medium, is not required to answer supplementary questions. Earlier, the top court had granted protection from arrest to Dua till “further orders” in the sedition case.

cial said. The Border Roads Organisation is also maintaining the airfields at Leh, Thoise, Kargil and DBO. In current circumstances, air activity has increased as the Air Force is involved in not only maintaining operational readiness for its fighters, but also in transporting troops and material to forward bases. Good road connectivity will be a boost for the military and civilians living in forward areas.

Amid the escalation at the Line of Actual Control, enhancing connectivity in eastern Ladakh is on priority now. The Changthang region, which includes two sub divisions- Durbuk and Nyoma-is most crucial as far as road infrastructure is concerned, sources said.

NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (PTI): A day after India and China started de-escalation at the border, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked the government why status quo ante was not insisted upon by New Delhi and why the territorial sovereignty of the Galwan Valley does not find mention in the government’s statement.

“National interest is paramount. Government of India’s duty is to protect it,” he said on Twitter.

“Then, Why has Status Quo Ante not been insisted on? Why is China allowed to justify the murder of 20 unarmed jawans in our territory? Why is there no mention of the territorial sovereignty of Galwan valley?,” he asked. Gandhi shared the statements put out by the Indian and Chinese Foreign Ministries after the talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian NSA Ajit Doval.

He highlighted how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China in its statement made a mention of the Galwan Valley, but the Indian External Affairs Ministry did not do so.

“The right and wrong of what recently happened

at the Galwan Valley in the western sector of the China-India boundary is very clear. China will continue firmly safeguarding our territorial integrity as well as peace and tranquility in the border areas,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement. NSA Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang agreed on an expeditious withdrawal of troops, holding that a complete disengagement at the “earliest” was necessary for full restoration of peace in border areas and both sides should not allow differences to become disputes.

Doval and Wang, who are special representatives for boundary talks between the two countries, held a telephonic conversation on Sunday during which they had a “frank and in-depth exchange” of views on the recent developments in the western sector, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday. Significantly, Chinese troops began removing tents early on Monday and started to withdraw from Galwan Valley, the site of a violent hand-to-hand clash between the two militaries on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, government sources said.

NAGALAND UNIVERSITY

JAMMU, JUL 7 (AGENCIES): A poor farmer from one of the remotest border villages of Mendhar subdivision in Poonch district received a rude shock when the Power Development Department (PDD) sent him Rs 10-crore electricity bill for the month of May, 2020.

Ironically, electricity in this border belt of Poonch

Eligible candidates are invited for Walk-in-Interview for filling up the following vacancies under the scheme National Hydrology Project (NHP) funded by World Bank under Water Resources Department, Nagaland, Kohima on contractual basis for a period of one year and flexible for extension thereafter.

Sl. No. 1

Name of the Post GIS Expert (Middle Level)

2

GIS Expert (Junior Level)

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY Starting Date for Online Application : 15th July, 2020 Last Date for Online Application : 21st August, 2020 Application in the prescribed form is invited for admission to B.Tech degree programme in School of Engineering & Technology, Dimapur in the following five disciplines: 1. Agricultural Engineering & Technology 2. Biotechnology 3. Computer Science & Engineering 4. Electronics & Communication Engineering 5. Information Technology HOW TO APPLY Only Online application will be accepted. Admission brochure can be downloaded from university website http://www.admission.nagalanduniversity.ac.in ADMISSION HELPLINE 8731826326/ 7005575652/ 9615826725/ 7906748596 Email: set.admin@nagalanduniversity.ac.in Address: Administrative Building, Nagaland University Residential Campus, Land Mark Colony, Dimapur, Nagaland - 797112 For further query refer the Admission Brochure.

DC-588

(SAPU CHANGKIJA) Dean

Mendhar, two days ago. The bill generated against Consumer ID 0107040013753 is for the period of one month from May 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020. The exact amount mentioned in the bill is Rs 10,08,38,138.00.

After receiving the bill, Hanief approached the sarpanch and the latter brought the matter into the notice of the authorities concerned.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT NAGALAND: KOHIMA ADVERTISEMENT

(A Central University established by An Act of Parliament 1989)

Admission Notification - Academic Session 2020-21

district is a luxury.

“Uninterrupted power supply in this belt is still a distant dream,” said Nadeem Khan, a local activist.

“One month electricity bill worth Rs 10 crore is really a shock for the poor farmer,” he added.

Mohammed Hanief of Gugran village was sent the bill from the office of the AEE, PDD Sub-Division

No. of Emolument Qualification Posts per month One (01) Essential: ` 50,000 Master’s degree in Remote Sensing & GIS/Geo-informatics or Master’s degree in relevant subject or equivalent with PG Diploma in RS & GIS from recognized and reputed institutions/university.

Relevant Subjects: Water Resources Planning/ Civil Engineering/ Geography/ Earth Sciences.

Desirable: Good Knowledge of GIS & RS/ CAD, Web enable GIS system, Ms office.

One (01) Minimum Qualifications: ` 35,000 Master’s degree in Remote Sensing & GIS/Geo-informatics or Master’s degree in relevant subject or equivalent with PG Diploma in RS & GIS from recognized and reputed institutions/university.

Relevant Subjects: Water Resources Planning/ Civil Engineering/ Geography/ Earth Sciences.

Desirable: Good Knowledge of GIS & RS/ CAD, Web enable GIS system, Ms office.

Scheme National Hydrology Project (NHP)

National Hydrology Project (NHP)

Experience: • At least two years experience in planning and designing geospatial database for water resources projects (for GIS Expert Middle Level).

• Skills in Computer Aided Design (GIS based) of Water Planning, Management and Development (for GIS Expert Middle level).

• Adept in GIS based analysis on raster and vector data including development of customized ArcTools and Python Scripts for handling repetitive tasks.

• Experience in catchment and river network delineation is a requirement for the middle level expert.

• Familiarity with methodology for extraction of physiographic parameters for preparation of synthetic unit hydrograph, familiarity with HEC Geo Ras and HEC Geo HMS for developing catchment models will be a plus for the middle level expert.

• Knowledge in Computer, Remote Sensing and GIS tools, Mapping of Data with six months or more experience (for Junior level).

• Fluency in English, both oral and written.

• Competence in relevant report writing.

NOTE: 1. The GIS Expert shall be appointed for one year starting from the date of his/her appointment. The contract may then be extended for another year after the successful assessment by the review committee.

2. Candidates must submit self attested photo copies of the following documents: Admit card of HSLC for age proof, ST, Indigenous Certificate, No Objection Certificate from HoD for those already in service, Educational Certificates from HSLC onwards with 3 Passport Photos.

3. Application form may be collected from the office of the Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Nagaland, Kohima on any working day W.e.f. 9th July 2020.

4. No individual call letter shall be issued.

5. The last date for submission of Application Form is 24th July 2020.

6. List of qualified candidates to appear the interview will be put up in the Office Notice Board on 28th July 2020 and the date of the interview will be displayed on the notice board on the same day.

7. A candidate can apply for both the post provided it is mentioned in the Application Form.

Sd/(Er. Hotovi Ayemi) Chief Engineer Water Resources Department Nagaland: Kohima Issued by DIPR DC-590

6

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXx NO. 212 Dimapur, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

Commodity and commoners

E

ven before the lockdown pushed prices beyond the roof, prices of every item in the market has been witnessing steady rise, making essential commodities almost beyond reach of the lower section of society, especially those earnings lesser than Rs.10,000 a month. Those earning lesser are condemned to their fate and have to live with the constant fear of having to miss one meal if prices continue to escalate. Due to lockdown or under the plea of lockdown, the government had to provide essential and basic food commodities to thousands and this in a way also greatly reduced the quantity meant for those living below the poverty line(BPL). However, even this little measure of great help is snatched by those who have been diverting food items to the open market where one kilogram of rice available under BPL for Rs.3 is sold at around Rs.20 a kilogram in the open market. Other food items outside the FPS are also rising sky high. The rise is particularly startling in non-vegetable items such as meat, fish or poultry products. A kilogram of pork that used to be sold at around Rs.180 has shot up to around Rs.300 per kilogram. Fish that used to be sold at Rs.180-200 a kilogram is now being sold for around Rs.250 and above. Live chicken is never sold on weight basis but depending upon the wisdom of the seller. A two-kg live chicken that used to be sold for Rs.700-Rs.800 is now sold at Rs.1200-Rs.1500. Everybody accepts that lockdown has practically cut off or greatly reduced the supply chain. However, this has led to hugely inflated prices of various commodities in the market.

The common man is the worst suffer because all he gets from both the politicians and government is lip service. The common people who have to pay sky high prices will continue to suffer because no one is interested in protecting their rights. This is a grim scenario but it reveals the economic plight that continues to confront several thousand families in Nagaland who are left to grapple with day to day conditions. Government servants may or may not be hit as hard; mainly because they are getting fat salaries which get fatter every ten years. Prices of fuel have been raised more than twelve times and the state has also gone ahead in adding cess under the plea of COVID-19. Based on a rough study some time back, this newspaper found that prices of commodities such as vegetables and meat items were spiraling up. The meteoric rise in prices of food items does not augur well for the common people unless there is some serious action on the part of the government. When prices of commodities in Dimapur rise, they have a cascading and multiply effect on the prices in other districts. It is undeniable that lockdown that has pushed up cost of living also poses a serious possible social problem.

The authorities have to take a serious view on this issue and ensure that those who manipulate market prices and promote black marketing and profiteering must be discouraged. The challenge is whether the state government can open a kind of local cooperative market to ensure that unscrupulous traders don’t play around and manipulate the market.

F

irst ever Census carried out over Naga Hills was in 1891, under the leadership of A.W. Davis the then Deputy Commissioner of Naga Hills district, in fact, the British intended to exercise demographic census in 1881 itself, however due to passive tribal attitude of Nagas with disturbing prevailed environment that extended the proposal further, however, Maharani of England desired her subjects to be census and counted. Therefore, accordingly the 1891 census had divided into 5 (five) charges:1. Kohima Covered: (a) Kohima station and cantonment, (b) Kohima-Golaghat Road, (c) Lazema.

2. Dimapur covered: (a) Dimapur and Nichuguard, (b) Barpather, (c) Rengmas, Mikhirs and Kacharis 3. Henima covered: (a) Kacha Nagas, (b) Kukis.

4. Wokha covered: Lotha (Nagas) 5. Mokokchung covered: Ao (Nagas) The enumerations started in the month of December with 2 (two) supervisors and completed before the end of February, except in the case of Rengma mauzadar. Altogether 51 enumerators were employed including 4 (Four) literate Angami Naga and one head constable of police.

1. 5 military policemen and the pandit of Bargoan School were employed in Wokha subdivision.

2. 12 enumerators of four military policemen, the pandit of the Umgma School and seven teachers in the employed of the American Baptist Mission, took the census of Mokokchung Sub-division.

Census for delimitation

3. Eight Mauzudars, one muharrir and one civil were deputed to plains and low hill mauzas.

4. Four literate Angami Nagas, one fourth clerk of Deputy Commissioner Office and one military policeman census in Kohima station.

5. Fifteen i.e. eight muharrirs of PWD and seven clerks of DC office covered the Kohima-Golaghat Road.

This census gave the population of 1891 with 120762 persons, including newly Sub-Division established of Mokokchung in 1890, as re-distribution scheme proposed by Mr Davis and Captain Woods to the Chief Commissioner in 1889 with 26382 populations. The demographic census of present Mon, Longleng, Kiphire and Tuensang regions were not indicated. Whereby as per comparison, 1901 census has shown negative growth @ 15.98% downward, the very reason could be due to re-distribution proposal that sliced out the Rengma Hills, Mikhir hills and certain adjoining areas of Dimapur to the nearest adjacent blocks of Golaghat, Sibsagar and Nowgong districts of present Assam without Nagas’ consent. Thenceforth with such unilateral rearrangement by British Government, there is regular decadal census over Naga Hills being carried out as an opportunity to enrol this far, with the first census exercises done in Tuensang frontiers called North East Frontiers Agency (NEFA) in 1951 and 1961 respectively as shown.

There also simultaneously arrangement of Interim Body (IBM) was formed on 18th February 1961, with 42 Interim Body Members from every tribe and were fairly represented as shown.

Angami – 6 Chakesang - 3 Rengma - 2 Zeliang - 2 Kuki - 1 Kachari - 1 Ao - 4 Sema – 4 Lotha – 4 Konyak – 4 Sangtam – 3 Chang – 2 Yimchunger – 2 Khianungan – 2 Phom – 2.

The mentioned body assisted in formation of statehood till it got dissolved on 30th November 1963 and thereby Nagaland declared the 16th statehood of Union India, on 1st December 1963, carving out of Kohima and Mokokchung.

Further the newly born state held its first general election in January 1963, whereby unfortunately Kukis and Kacharis disappeared their lone Interim seats and Rengmas too reduced to 1 (one) from 2 Interim seats.

Delimitation rather distribution of 60 (sixty) Assembly Constituencies across the state were allocated in 1972-3 based on 1971 census of 516499 populations. Mokokchung district registered the highest of 82562 populations, while Peren district had the lowest population of 16674 heads, where Wokha district turned out to be the most populated compounded Assembly constituencies @ 9646 members for per Assembly constituency as per 1971 census. Dimapur inflated abnormal growth rate from 15767 of 1961 census to 42002 of 1971 census with 166.39 % upward graphic. Kohima with 52 % increased and Mokokchung district climbed from 58352 populations of 1961 census to 82562 of 1971 census showing 41.49 % inflation.

Of course Delimitation appeared to be determined and derived from tribal context based on 1971 census populations, and by merit of demographic enrolment of populations, Mokokchung district allotted 10 Assembly Constituencies at rate of 8256

persons per Constituency, whereas Tseminyu-12 A/C of Kohima district had the lowest populations of 7965 souls amongst all, thereby the bottom line of accuracy and effectiveness of 1961 and 1971 census remain as main contention of bone even today. Let us introspect with true consciences and honesty. However, on the other hand, many Nagas could not be enumerated in 1961 and 1971 census due to undying nationalism spirit against Indian census being carried out particularly in around Kohima adjoining areas, with prejudices of paying more house and persons taxes, none to blame but with huge amount of ignorance and fear of dire consequences as narrated, therefore the variations of 600–1700 populations were bound to differ from constituencies to constituencies in pipeline with ethnical interest in most of the places.

Whatever history has been created by our pioneers and political legends in the interest of Nagas in the past 50 years is gone and gone forever, and by the virtue of 1971 census, Nagas have reaped the fruits by size and figures. But when an opportunity of Equality arrived in 2001 -2, to be re-arranged and rectified unto parity, majority of Nagas stood ‘tooth and nail’ to defer the Delimitation process from various angles including state government by rejection of 2001 census, of course, certain section of Nagas pursued the subject matter with justifiable reasons in their hands stating of abnormal growth rate of 2001 census with unrealistic, inconsistency, erroneous and which is shown itself in 2011 census and it happened.

However, upon 2020 Delimitation process, anybody trying to sabotage

Customary practice of eating dogDailyDevotion meat in Nagaland: A Way Forward All Efforts of Worth and Excellence Are Difficult

Enter by the narrow gate….Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life….

—Matthew 7:13-14 If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in— it stirs us up to overcome. Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory?

God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus, and “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). But we have to “work out” that salvation in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12). If we will only start on the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God has placed within us. But a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us.

Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10), and God will not shield us from the requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.

Quotes

Quality is not an act, it is a habit. ~ Aristotle

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

1.

All cultures and communities have particular food habits which are uniquely their heritage. One could take great offense with paneer being spoilt milk, or with the eating of various meats.

However, that would not be respecting the food habits of my friends belonging to different cultures. We cannot impose a uniform code of food ethics on all, especially when we all come from different cultures.

2. However, in a crosscultural context, there needs to be sensitivity. When I enter my vegetarian Hindu friend’s house, I do not take meat products as gifts, or when my vegetarian Hindu friend comes to my house for a meal, then I will not offer him chicken curry. As that would be disrespectful. Equally, it would be disrespectful, if I offer paneer and brinjal curry to my Naga friends when they visit me. We must know how to wisely work in cross-cultural contexts with sensitivity.

3. Now coming to dogmeat, there is something deeper. Dogs in many cultures are considered as companions to humans and also are raised as pets. Hence apart from vegetarians, even a large number of non-vegetarians would have a problem with the consumption of dogmeat. And yet, given this love for our pets, we must still not forget the cross-cultural principle that enables happy co-existence of a diversity of cultures. Just as one person’s noise can be another’s music, it is possible that one man’s pet, taboo or even deity is

another person’s food. This should not be seen negatively.

We already have examples of that in the consumption of beef and pork. Therefore, there is nothing wrong if dog-meat is consumed by a particular community. All other cultures must respect it, just as their food habits are respected. There can be no compromise on this crosscultural principle, otherwise, it will lead to colonialism and oppression.

4. Having said that, dogeaters can keep in mind a few things as part of being sensitive to cultures and individuals that perceive their food differently: a. There is something we can learn from meat-eating communities that open restaurants in pre-dominantly vegetarian states. They use local terms for the meat and not use English or Hindi terms. They insert their local language word and even have it as a dish on their menu.

This act of re-naming and re-branding is a dialogical act of sensitivity and of huge convenience. Let’s no longer use the term dog-meat, but use a local term for it. This re-branding will go a long way in drawing away unnecessary attention. To put it bluntly, a majority of those who find this offensive will now be ignorant of the fact. And as the saying goes, ignorance is indeed bliss. b. Of course, there must be rules governing the raising and procurement of these delicacies as there are for every other delicacy.

Nothing is above the law and no one can take the law into one’s hands. So, there should

be laws about not stealing and eating your neighbour’s chotamaas. Nor shooting it at the guise of trespassing.

There should be hygiene laws for proper raising, like we have for piggeries. There should be laws for selling, so that the market is properly organized. c. The lazy answer is to prohibit it completely or equally allow it in an unregulated fashion. The tough answer is to do the research and find innovative solutions that will not only be sensitive to other cultures in our globalized world, but to find a solution that will also preserve our customary practices and allow us to celebrate our cultural cuisines without any intimidation or fear.

I think we can do this much. But if still someone has a problem, then it is their problem. They need to resolve it within themselves, in terms of engaging with those who belong to different cultures. We all live in glass houses, when it comes to food habits. All our food might be offensive to others.

There is no food that can be universally termed as pure or impure. This should therefore not be taken to be either a religious issue or as a spiritual problem, in a universal sense. It is a human and cultural issue. Let us, therefore, amicably, and respectfully, engage with it in the spirit of cross-cultural well-being and goodwill. Even as I respect your food habits, however different, kindly respect mine too! Thanks.

Dr. Brainerd Prince, Panchsheel Vihar, New Delhi 110017

or derailment of ongoing Delimitation Process may be an indications of marginalising upon unprivileged section of Nagas, before the eyes of equality and justice, and nothing could be termed more than tantamount of defeating the Constitutional rights. Who had patiently waited for ‘Equality train Express’ arrival from Delhi for nearly two decades now.

Today Nagas have grown into huge inequality among ourselves, due to imbalanced and in proportionate representative in decision body making, that obviously leading us to improper distributions of employment avenues and development sector, and uneven distributions of economy is also the prime element of low per capita income of deprived sections, again this results many unwanted elements in our society. To cite an example, out of 60 Assembly Constituencies in Nagaland, the lowest Constituency has 7329 Electorates as per final e-roll of 2020, while the highest Ghaspani-1, Assembly constituency with 68383 electorates, with such an elephant and rat figures existing and struggling for too long in every spectrum of life.

But how brave and irresponsible is our Government endorsing 2020 delimitation process to be deferred further in the name of Naga Solution, as a matter of fact, the present Government together with every responsible organisations should grasp this ongoing Delimitation Exercises as Golden opportunity to flatten the curved with an open arms, any opposition may not convince so called equalitarian, rather non-cooperation only magnifying our weaknesses and incompetency towards fellow citizens, above all

the present incumbent authority is defeating the very purpose, Since Nagas demographic pattern has drastically changed unlike 1971 census, and now Nagas are eagerly longing for this moment. Because every Nagas want to grow unison and move forward together hand in hand at par, otherwise how long the marginalised Naga sections will wait and watch to be corrected, Nevertheless in my opinion and free from all vices, the honourable Cabinet decision of endorsing Delaying of Delimitation Process was too early and one sided story only through short-cut theory, without public discourse and sentiments. Moreover 11 (eleven) tribal Hohos bating against the exercises of long awaited Delimitation process in the name of “Naga Solution” first is immature and irresponsible approach, since Naga political aspirations belong to entire stakeholders, all have contributed and sacrificed equally as per capacities and every souls of Naga long and yearn for SOLUTION on priority without compromising at any cost, but how long is the arrival of Naga Solution, may not be within this century again or tomorrow? Therefore, mixing of Delimitation Process with Naga Solution is rather confusing and nothing short than ‘Delaying in tactics policy’ at the cost of equilibrium, because they are of two lessons and chapters that need to be taught in separate class rooms. So let there be smooth implementation of Delimitation process by Commission over outdated Delimitation of 1974, as far as the Equality and Justice of Indian Constitution speak.

David Jemu, Billy Graham Road, House No. 26 Sector-6, Kohima

Honourable Governor Shri. R.N. Ravi effects!

(From previous issue...)

In reading the Governor speech, one can sum up the positive and negative effects in having Shri. R.N. Ravi as the Governor of Nagaland, where the positive effects and negative effects will be a contradiction in itself for its recipient, the Naga tribes.

Positive effects: As he accurately pointed out the backgrounds of Nagaland, he appears determined to take actions to push Nagaland forward in terms of building infrastructures, reducing government corruptions, increasing employment opportunities for youths, eradicate Naga Armed groups rights to collect taxes and thus push for state economic growth. Having said it, accomplishing it will be a herculean task.

Negative effects: The writing on the wall is clear now for National national workers and the public, whether we wish to see it or not. That as political analyst Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty pointed out in her article, (Has Governor Ravi’s Bid to Assert Control Jeopardized the Naga Peace Accord?, The Wire,30.06.2020) that the past peace accords between the Centre and the armed groups and agitation leaders in Northeast have been of three broad kind, she put Naga peace talk in the third category: the Centre factionalizes its potential interlocutor before

bring some groups to the table and tiring them out through a long peace process-during which their networks and sources of funding are weakenedso that a watered down peace accord may be handed over for an honorary exit. In some cases, agreement may be not be necessary at all. It may prod some leaders to join state politics instead (ULFA- pro-talks, Kuki groups in Manipur etc). For good or worse, the fate of Nagaland will be decided by the decisions of the NPGs. Governor’s letter dated 16th June may be the first move for now, but final checkmate to Nagaland government and NPGs is just a matter of time from now. Almost one year before Nagaland Govt., NPGs and some CSOs register opposition to governor’s letter conveying to invoke provisions of Article 371A (1) (b), Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty had hinted governor might try take the charge of maintaining law and order as Governor is bestowed with power by the said article to overrule Chief Minister to maintain law and order.

(With J&K status revoked, alarm bell rings in Nagaland, The Wire, 09.08.19).

In the face of such political fiasco, the common man lives on unperturbed by the looming dark clouds or sunshine.

(Concluded) Pakinrichapbo, Advocate, Samziuram village, Peren.

Reader’s Post

Not everyone consumes dog meat

Sir,

Many ignorant people still think that Nagas largely consume dog meat.

They must realise that not all Nagas do this. It is quite astounding how powerful a stereotype can be, and media being a powerful tool, influences people daily. However, without facts, stereotypes can be alarmingly incorrect and worse when hate speech is involved. I am thankful for what the state government has done, because dogs deserve much more than we know.

They’re loyal and can feel connections. That’s as real as any connection that anyone might feel.

Akumtula Aier, Dimapur

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

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

7

Students object to govt’s decision to 3 more arrested for Kanpur ambush not scrap final year exams in varsities IG probes ‘letter’ written by slain officer

KANPUR/ LUCKNOW, JUL 7 (PTI): Police on Tuesday arrested three more people for the killing of eight policemen in an ambush at a village near Kanpur, amid a simmering controversy over gangster Vikas Dubey’s alleged links with police and politicians.

Police appointed an Inspector General to probe into an unverified letter that surfaced on social media, purportedly written weeks before his death by Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Mishra. It had alleged links between the Chaubeypur station officer and the gangster.

Also, Inspector General (Civil Defence) Amitabh Thakur asked Uttar Pradesh police chief to probe the then Kanpur SSP Anant Deo, now a DIG, to whom the purported letter was sent.

Police said there is no trace of the letter in their records, but they will continue to investigate the matter.

DSP Devendra Mishra, posted as the Bilhaur circle officer, was among the eight policemen gunned down allegedly by the henchmen of Vikas Dubey in his Bikru

NIA arrests Pulwama resident for 2019 attack SRINAGAR, JUL 7 (PTI): The NIA has arrested a Pulwama resident for allegedly providing logistical support to terrorists involved in planning the attack on a CRPF convoy that left 40 jawans dead in the south Kashmir district in February last year, officials said on Tuesday.

Bilal Ahmed Kuchey, a resident of Kakpora of Pulwama district, is the seventh person to be arrested in connection with the attack.

The sawmill owner was on Monday produced before a designated court in Jammu which sent him to National Investigation Agency custody for 10 days, the officials said.

They said he had allowed the terrorists to use his house as a hideout and also provided them with high-end mobile phones used for communication with Pakistan-based handlers of the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The same mobile was used by Adil Ahmed Dar, the suicide bomber, for recording his video, they said.

The site of the attack at Bikru village near Kanpur where eight cops were killed.

village when they went to arrest him past midnight last Thursday. Chaubeypur station officer Vinay Tiwari, mentioned in Mishra’s unverified letter, is among the four policemen suspended for their possible role in tipping off the gangster about his arrest.

Police on Tuesday said they have arrested three more people -- Dubey’s relative Shama, neighbor Suresh Verma and domestic help Rekha.

R e k h a ’s h u s b a n d Dayashankar Agnihotri, a key member of the Dubey’s gang, is already behind bars, arrested Sunday after an encounter in which police shot him in the leg.

Police have named 21

people in the FIR registered after the attack. The FIR also mentioned 50-60 unidentified people.

The Kanpur police released the photos of 15 criminals said to be close to Dubey. They are putting up posters carrying the pictures of these alleged criminals, most of them carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 for their arrest.

Vikas Dubey, with a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh on him, remains elusive.

His posters too have been plastered at road toll plazas, including those in Unnao, Kanpur Nagar, Auraiya, Fatehpur and areas near the India-Nepal border.

Police have issued alerts in Lakhimpur Kheri, Maha-

rajganj, Siddharthnagar, Bahraich and Gorakhpur to stop Vikas Dubey from escaping across the border intro Nepal.

Lucknow Range IG Lakshmi Singh on Tuesday began a probe into the letter purportedly sent by DSP Devendra Mishra by visiting the office of Circle Officer (Bilhaur), the post held by him. The IG questioned the staff, checked records and computer data, said an official. She also seized a computer hard disk, pen drives and some documents, the official added.

The then Kanpur SSP Anant Deo, to whom the letter was supposedly sent, called it a fake. He said the signature on it did not match

that of the slain officer. The letter was also undated and carried no serial number.

But Inspector General (Civil Defence) Amitabh Thakur has sought an inquiry into the alleged closeness between Deo and Jai Bajpai, a “frontman” of gangster Dubey. In his letter to Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police H C Awasthy, he sought the removal of Deo from the Special Task Force, where he is now posted as Deputy Inspector General, while an inquiry is on.

A video clip from 2017, apparently shot while Dubey was being interrogated by the STF after his arrest in Lucknow, has also appeared on social media.

In the clip, the alleged gangster suggests he has links with two local BJP MLAs, Bhagwati Sagar and Abhijeet Sanga, and the district panchayat chief.

He is heard claiming that Sagar and Sanga had helped him in the past when he faced police action.

Both leaders denied this.

“My constituency is Bithoor in Kanpur and people from the adjoining village come to me for help,” said Sanga. He added that on several occasions he had recommended action in support of people who were against Dubey.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury KOLKATA, JUL 7 (PTI): Leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Tuesday said the retreat of the Chinese Army in Ladakh vindicated the argument that intrusions had indeed taken place on the Indian side of the LAC and asserted “we will not budge an inch” before status quo ante is restored at the border.

The senior Congress leader had earlier asked the Modi government not to be in “denial” over the incursion by the Chinese military into Indian terri-

tory.

“Unlike Indian army, Chinese forces are not accustomed to withstand harsh & inhospitable glacial weather of Himalayan mountain which may trigger to the extent of the retreat of the Chinese army, that too again vindicates our arguments that huge intrusions occurred into our territory,” Chowdhury said in a tweet.

“They may try to leave other occupied strategic areas as a fait accompli. But we won’t budge an inch till th quo ante is restored,” he

wrote on Twitter.

In the first signs of easing tensions, the Chinese military on Monday began a limited pull-back from a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh, a day after NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed on completing the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC “expeditiously”, government sources had said. Doval and Wang, who are designated Special Representatives on Sino-India boundary question, held a telephonic conversation on Sunday during which they had a “frank and in-depth exchange” of views and agreed that a “complete disengagement” of troops at the “earliest” was necessary for full restoration of peace in the border areas, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in hand to hand combat in the Galwan Valley during the violent face-off last month on the normally peaceful border.

There were military casualties on the Chinese side as well.

CHENNAI, JUL 7 (PTI): The Centre has issued a notification on CBI taking over investigation into the deaths of a father and son duo belonging to Tuticorin district, the Tamil Nadu government said on Tuesday.

Following Chief Minister K Palaniswami’s letter to Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a probe by the Central agency into the deaths of Jeyaraj and Bennicks, “the Central government has now issued a notification (on CBI taking over investigation into the case),” an official release here said.

After announcing a CBI probe recently, Palaniswami had written to the Home Minister.

The CB-CID is presently handling the case as per the direction of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Five police personnel including an inspector have been arrested so far.

Bennicks and Jeyaraj died on June 22 and 23 respectively after alleged torture

by Sathankulam police in Tuticorin district following their arrest on June 19.

registered on the basis of a complaint filed by a nun of Jalandhar diocese.

The senior priest of the Roman Catholic Church filed the revision petition following the dismissal of his discharge plea by a trial court in March this year.

The rape case against the Bishop was registered by police in Kottayam district.

In his plea filed before the High Court, the priest argued that he was implicated after he questioned the financial dealings of the victim nun. The bishop had filed the discharge plea in the trial court just ahead of commencement of the preliminary hearing on charges against him.

In her complaint to the police in June, 2018, the nun had alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by the bishop during the period between 2014 and 2016.

The bishop, who was arrested by the Special Investigation team which probed the case, has been charged with wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation.

prioritise lives over exams in pandemic.”

“India is 3rd worst COVID-19 affected country.

Things might deteriorate further by September. Both offline and online exams remain a big NO in these difficult times. It is really painful to see MHA-MHRD-UGCDU not caring for students’ welfare,” tweeted Mithuraaj Dhusiya, a teacher at Delhi University’s Hansraj college.

Another Twitter user said, “Why guidelines on conducting exams are changed frequently? It’s difficult for students to appear in exams due to ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Why students can’t be promoted and assessed on the basis of previous year results?”

Union Human Resource Development (HRD)

Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Monday said that it is important to safeguard health and safety of students but also equally important to ensure academic credibility and career opportunities.

Final year exams in universities will have to be conducted by Septemberend this year, the HRD Ministry announced on Monday, deferring the schedule from July in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases.

However, students unable to appear in final year exams in September will get another chance and universities will conduct special exams “as and when feasible”, according to a revised guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (PTI): Demand for work under the MGNREGA has more than doubled in this fiscal, so far, due to the COVID-19 lockdown and about 42 per cent of the total allocation of Rs 1.01 lakh crore for the employment scheme has already been distributed among states, sources said on Tuesday.

The way demand for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has “sharply” increased this year, it seems a sizeable amount will be required to meet demand, they said. To provide relief to migrant workers who returned to their villages from across the country during the lockdown, the Centre has expanded the ambit work offered under the scheme. It now includes toilet construction and dragon fruit plantation, sources in the government said.

They said only the labour cost for construction of toilets, part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, will be paid under the MGNREGA. Besides this, dragon fruit

plantation, which is mostly done in northeastern states, has also been included in the list of works, the sources said Officials in the Rural Development Ministry said the ambit of work has been expanded to provide as many opportunities as possible to engage migrant workers who have returned to their native states.

Sources in the ministry also suggested that additional funds might be required for the MGNREGA as the demand for work under it has more than doubled compared to last year.

Out of the Rs 1.01 lakh crore total allocation for the employment guarantee scheme, which also includes the Rs 40,000 crore allocated under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Rs 43,000 crore has already been allocated to states, they said.

If the existing rate of rise in demand for work remains, a substantial amount will be required for the implementation of the MGNREGA in the existing financial year, sources said.

Sikkim University

SU/REG/Acad/F-1/13/2019/Vol-III/290

Dated: 08/07/2020

ADMISSION NOTICE

Sikkim University announces admission for the Academic Year 2020-21 for Post Graduate programmes in the following departments: 1. Anthropology (MA/M.Sc.)

12. Geology (M.Sc. and M.Sc. in Environmental Science)

23. Microbiology (M.Sc.)

2. Bhutia (MA)

13. Hindi (MA)

24. Music (MPA)

3. Botany (M.Sc.)

14. History (MA)

25. Nepali (MA)

4. Chemistry (M.Sc.)

15. Horticulture (M.Sc.)

26. Peace and Conflict Studies and Management (MA)

5. Chinese (MA)

16. International Relations (MA)

27. Physics (M.Sc.)

6. Commerce (M.Com.)

17. Law (LLM)

28. Political Science (MA)

7. Computer Applications (MCA)

18. Lepcha (MA)

29. Psychology (MA/M.Sc.)

8. Economics (MA)

19. Limbu (MA)

30. Sociology (MA)

9. Education (MA, M.Ed)

20. Management (MBA)

31. Tourism (MTTM)

10. English (MA)

21. Mass Communication (MA)

32. Zoology (M.Sc.)

11. Geography (MA/M.Sc.)

22. Mathematics (M.Sc.)

The advertisement notice for Under-Graduate, M.Phil and Ph.D programmes will be notified separately.

The details of courses and other admission procedure to be followed are available on University website at www.cus.ac.in. Last date for submission of online application form is 31.07.2020 (up to midnight).

Sd/Registrar DAVP-21318/11/0001/202

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION NAGALAND : KOHIMA-797004

NO. DTE/ ESTT-2/12/2018-19/

Dt. Kohima, the th July, 2020.

PRESS RELEASE

DC-568

KOCHI, JUL 7 (PTI): In a set back to rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking to discharge him from the sexual assault case filed against him by a nun.

Justice V Shircy directed the deposed Bishop of Jalandhar diocese to stand for trial in the rape case, which was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by a nun of same diocese in Kerala.

The court dismissed the plea by the bishop, admitting the prosecution argument that there was prima facie evidence against Mulakkal in the rape case, which was

NSUI members stage a protest against UGC for conducting exams in the universities in New Delhi. (PTI)

notified Demand for work under MGNREGA India shouldn’t budge an inch till status on‘Centre CBI taking over quo ante restored at border, says Adhir Sathankulam case’ has ‘sharply’ increased: Sources

HC rejects Bishop Mulakkal’s discharge plea in nun rape case

Franco Mulakkal

NEW DELHI, JUL 7 (PTI): Students across the country have objected to the HRD ministry’s decision to not cancel the final year exams in universities in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they feared community spread of the infection and not examinations.

The students launched multiple petitions online and took to Twitter to raise their objection using hashtag “Student lives matter”.

“We, final year students are not testing kits for government. We are not in fear of exams about exam rather there is a fear of community spreading. You can maintain social distancing in exam centre but what about hostels where we have common washrooms, common mess,” an online petition signed by over 46,000 students said.

Another petition launched on change.org and signed by over 75,000 students said, “Due to this COVID-19 pandemic. We all are facing many problems and issues in our dayto-day life, we appreciate the rules and regulations of the Indian government in this situation. But there are too many things to be noticed from student’s side.

Can the government not

This is to inform all the candidates who have applied for Nagaland State Entrance Examination (NSEE-2020) through forms (hard copy) or email/online, that the list of applicants along with rejected list has been uploaded in the Department Website: www.dtenagaland.org.in.

Candidates are informed to cross-check their details provided in the forms, also those who have remarks in remarks column are instructed to submit the incomplete documents/ payment receipt at the earliest in not their forms will be summarily rejected.

Candidates can submit the incomplete documents in the office of the under-signed during working hours or email it to: dtenagaland@ gmail.com.

(Er. Arjun Singh) Director Issued by DIPR DC-589

nomic activities are reviving.

The GST revenue collection in June rose to Rs 90,917 crore from Rs 62,009 crore mopped up in May and Rs 32,294 crore in April.

Kant further said the pandemic is a massive challenge not merely for India but for the whole world, including the US and European countries.

“Every crisis is also an opportunity. Therefore, this crisis is also going to have huge losers and winners.

India can decide whether it wants to lose or whether it wants to win,” he said.

Kant stressed that India must pick up 12-13 areas of growth that are going

HDFC Bank cuts interest rates

Mumbai, Jul 7 (IANS): The HDFC Bank has reduced the marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) on loans across tenors by 20 basis points with immediate effect. Following the reduction, MCLRs of the bank will range from 7.10 per cent to 7.65 per cent. The bank’s overnight MCLR now stands reduced to 7.10 per cent and its onemonth MCLR is 7.15 per cent. One-year MCLR will now be 7.45 per cent, while three-year MCLR stands at 7.65 per cent.

Liquidity to MSMEs rises; sanctions cross 1.14 lakh cr New Delhi, Jul 7 (IANS): The Government is going all out to ensure that liquidity concerns of the MSME sector are addressed on priority under its Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).

As of July 4, 2020, public sector and private banks have sanctioned loans worth over Rs 1.14 lakh crore under the 100 per cent Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, of which more than Rs 56,000 crore has already been disbursed.

There has been a big jump in sanctions in the last couple of weeks and just in last three days up to July 4, sanctions have increased by close to Rs 5,000 crore while disbursement has increased

by Rs 4,000 crore.

In a tweet, office of finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “As of 4 July 2020, the total amount sanctioned under the 100 per cent Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by #PSBs and private banks stands at Rs 1,14,502.58 crore, of which Rs 56,091.18 crore has already been disbursed.”

The ECLGS scheme is the biggest fiscal component of the Rs 20 lakh crore SelfReliant India Mission pack-

Crossword

Sudoku

KAKURO

age announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in May. To ensure that the scheme achieve its objective of providing adequate liquidity to the MSME segment during the current difficult period, the finance ministry regularly held meetings with the banks.

A finance ministr y statement said that banks from both public and private sector have contributed to the success of the ECLGS. Of the Rs 56,000

crore disbursement, public sector banks have released Rs 35,500 crore to about 13,70,000 MSME accounts while private banks have disbursed Rs 20,500 crore to about 1,55,000 accounts.

The scheme would help more than 30 lakh units of MSMEs and other businesses restart their businesses post the lockdown.

As part of the Aatmanirbhar package, the government had announced its plans for Rs 3 lakh Crore as additional credit to MSMEs and small businesses. Such enterprises were to be eligible to receive up to 20 per cent of their existing borrowing as additional loans at interest rates which were capped.

Gold jumps Rs 102; silver declines New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI): Gold prices in the national capital jumped by Rs 102 to Rs 49,228 per 10 gram on Tuesday amid rupee depreciation, according to HDFC Securities.

The precious metal had closed at Rs 49,126 per 10 gram in the previous trade.

Silver, however, declined by Rs 249 to Rs 50,573 per kg from Rs 50,822 per kg in the previous trade.

“Spot gold prices for 24 carat in Delhi were up by Rs 102 amid rupee depreciation,” HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel said.

No. 9617 Yesterday’s solution No. 9616

No. 4236

Yesterday’s solution No. 4235

No. 3260 Yesterday’s solution No. 3259

Across 3. Seraglio (5) 8. Insurgent (5) 10. Prison rooms (5) 11. Deity (3) 12. Yellowish-pink colour (5) 13. Book of words (7) 15. Respond (5) 18. Sports trophy (3) 19. Hi-fi (6) 21. Weariness (7) 22. Biblical murder victim (4) 23. Joke (4) 24. Being in excess (7) 26. Maltreats (6) 29. Pelvis (3) 31. Sensational (5) 32. Naturists (7) 34. Thin candle (5) 35. Pitch (3) 36. Exhibit buoyancy (5) 37. Established by law (5) 38. Stinks (5) Down 1. To father (5) 2. Health-check (7) 4. Soon (4) 5. Card game (6) 6. Noisy riotous fight (5) 7. Mis-hit golf shot (5) 9. Engage in pugilism (3) 12. Abundant (7) 14. Incision (3) 16. Star sign (5) 17. Sounds a horn (5) 19. Non-metallic element (7) 20. Artificial waterway (5) 21. Thighbone (5) 23. Planet (7) 24. Demure (6) 25. Cover (3) 27. Hector (5) 28. Stringed instrument (5) 30. Drinking tube (5) 32. Body part (4) 33. Droop (3)

on road to recovery. Prices have shown a marginal decline whereas demand has been steadily coming back.

Actions have been taken by the government on the recovery package and the RBI has also reduced repo rates by more than 100 basis points since the lockdown.

This augurs well for the industry.

“Our data suggests that search activity is almost back at pre-COVID levels and this is therefore the right time for developers to grab the attention of the homebuyers through attractive deals and offers,” he added.

The markets of Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru -- India’s bestperforming markets in the pre-COVID-19 phase -witnessed maximum price decline but least drop in consumer demand, indicating that homebuyers are now active in these markets and are looking for exciting deals.

Gurugram and Noida in the National Capital Region (NCR), which were already facing headwinds for quite some time, re-

sisted downward pressure on price.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) fared slightly better compared with other regions, despite being worst-hit by COVID-19.

The average price decline was in the range of 0.4 and 0.8 per cent.

The Chennai residential market clocked a 2.3 per cent year-on-year growth, but the recent pandemic brought a 3.1 per cent decline in prices in Q2 2020.

Around 87 per cent of the city’s demand falls under the 2- and 3-BHK configuration, showing domination of mid-segment consumers.

In Delhi, prices dropped across most budget categories, with the highest price decline witnessed in the premium properties costing more than Rs 15,000 per square feet.

In Q2 2020, affordable houses, especially 2- and 3-BHKs, which cost below Rs 10,000 per cent square feet, witnessed better traction compared with other configurations, making up for a substantial three out of four property searches in the national capital.

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI): The rupee declined by 25 paise to end at 74.93 against the US currency on Tuesday due to dollar buying by foreign banks and gains in the greenback in overseas markets.

Forex traders said foreign fund inflows and easing crude oil prices supported the rupee while factors like strong dollar and rising COVID-19 cases dragged down the local unit.

The r upee opened weak at 74.74 at the interbank forex market and fell further to touch an intra-day low of 74.97.

The unit settled at 74.93 against the US dollar, down by 25 paise over its previous close of 74.68, marking its second straight day of losses.

T h e d o l l a r i n d ex , which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.26 per cent to 96.97.

On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex ended 187.24 points, or 0.51 per cent, higher at 36,674.52. The NSE Nifty was up 36 points or 0.33 per cent at 10,799.65.

US may ban Chinese social media apps

Washington, Jul 7 (Agencies): Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that the United States is “certainly looking at” banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, suggesting it shared information with the Chinese government, a charge it denied.

“I don’t want to get out in front of the President (Donald Trump), but it’s something we’re looking at,” Pompeo said in an interview with Fox News.

U.S. lawmakers have raised national security concerns over TikTok’s handling of user data, saying they were worried about Chinese laws requiring domestic companies “to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.”

Pompeo said Americans should be cautious in using the short-form video app owned by China-based ByteDance. “Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party,” Pompeo remarked when asked if he would recommend people to download TikTok. In response to his comments, TikTok said it has never provided user data to

LAND FOR SALE At Padumpukhuri, Dimapur

Area : Any size available Price : Rs. 290 per sq. ft.

No Filling Required No Broker Contact Nos : 9862128679 8014690505 DP-3049

LAND FOR SALE 1. Near Full Nagarjan Price : 250/- per sq. ft.

2. Kushiabill Price : 300/- per sq. ft.

Area/plots available as per budget Contact No. : 8732002080 8787470411 DP-3050 STOLEN HERO DESTINY 125 SCOOTY Owner : Imtisunep Ao F/Name : Temsuchujang Ao Registration No : NL07AE 5033 Engine No : JF17EJKGF00655 Chassis No : MBLJFW05XKGF01914 Colour : Noble Red Lost Place : Duncan Basti Lost Date : 03/07/2020 Contact No : 8729929756

China. “We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked”, TikTok said in an emailed statement.

The app, which is not available in China, has sought to distance itself from its Chinese roots to appeal to a global audience.

Pompeo’s remarks also come amid increasing U.S.China tensions over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, China’s actions in the former British colony

of Hong Kong and a nearly two-year trade war.

TikTok was recently banned in India along with 58 other Chinese apps after a border clash between India and China.

It was also reported on Monday that TikTok would exit the Hong Kong market within days, after China’s establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the city. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of freedoms and far-reaching autonomy under a “one country, two systems” formula agreed with Britain.

PUBLIC NOTICE This is to declare that the plot of land covered under Block No. 4, Dag No. 57 and Patta No. 175 is legally sold as per registered sale deed and official document.

The land was purchased from Mrs. Boholi Wotsa R/O House No. 171, Nepali Bosti, proprietor of King David School Dimapur and ownership legally transferred as in official documents signed by competent official authorities.

Therefore, the legal owner hereby issues this public notice that henceforth any trespasser(s) to the said plot will be prosecuted as per the law.

DC-591

RUTSA DRIVING SCHOOL KOHIMA Govt. License No. RTA-K/DRV/SCH/2011/1

ADMISSION ANYTIME

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BRICKS FOR SALE 1st Class Bricks Available

Satyam Co. Ltd. Rate Rs. 10/At Monday Bazar, Near Pine Mount School, Padumpukhuri, Dimapur.

Home Delivery Rate Rs. 11.50 including all taxes.

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Amitabh Kant

to emerge as winners for tomorrow and listed out areas like data, artificial intelligence, genomics, mobility, and creative industry.

“We must identify 1213 sectors where India must become a global champion and really drive vigorously with full energy,” he said adding that those sectors will take India to sustain high growth over the next 10-12 years and create a vast number of jobs.

On the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Kant said it is not about isolation and anti-globalisation.

“It is about getting the best from the world. It’s about creating world-class products. It’s not about protectionism. It’s about abilities of Indian companies to create world-class products, capture the Indian market and then use the strength of the domestic market to penetrate the global market,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with the aim to make India a self-reliant country.

New Delhi, Jul 7 (IANS): Property prices across top eight cities in the country declined 1-5 per cent in April-June quarter amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Magicbricks Propindex Report Q2.

The report said that in April prices slumped by 2-9 per cent, but later recovered.

It said that as India’s economy has started getting back to a ‘new normal’ following the COVID-19 outbreak and the national lockdown, the real estate sector has also started to witness some green shoots as homebuyers are back in the market, though in lower numbers across tier-I cities.

It suggests that the property buyer market sentiments are on the path to recovery with the buyer searches on the property portal set to surpass the pre-COVID levels, indicating robust underlying fundamentals on the demand side.

Commenting on the PropIndex, Sudhir Pai, CEO, Magicbricks, said: “India’s real estate sector is

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NEW DELHI, Jul 7 (PTI): Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Tuesday said green shoots are visible and the economy, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, will bounce back soon.

The pandemic has impacted economic activities severely as the country had to go through a nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus.

The government had to announce a slew of measures, including fiscal package, to boost the economy.

“I am a great believer that India will bounce back.

We are already seeing green shoots in the economy. We are seeing that key sectors like FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) have already come back.”

“I am hopeful that we will bounce back and bounce back with a vengeance,” he said while speaking at ‘FICCI FRAMES 2020’.

The slowdown in economic activities led to a decline in the government’s revenue collection.

However, with the gradually unlocking, eco-

Dimapur, Jul 7 (NPN): SBI Mokokchung Branch has informed that the ‘clearing house operations’ in Mokokchung will be discontinued on July 15. With the discontinuation of operations of ‘Clearing House’, all the banks will start using Cheque Truncation System (CTS) at their respective branches in Mokokchung for payment of cheques.

The new system will be more efficient, safer and faster for customers of the banks, it informed.

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Indian economy will bounce back, says Kant

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 business SBI Mkg informs Property prices fall 1-5 per cent in Rupee tumbles on clearing by 25 paise to house operations April-June across top cities: Report 74.93 Vs dollar

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Israel warned against annexation plan

UNITED NATIONS, JUL 7 ( AGENCIES): A group of former world leaders urged European leaders on Friday to keep pressuring Israel against annexation of parts of the West Bank, warning against complacency after Israel made no move to take over the territory on July 1, reports The Indian Express.

The Elders, founded

by Nelson Mandela in 2007, said in letters to the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and the European Union that they should insist to Israel that annexation would have negative political and economic consequences for bilateral and regional relations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had aimed to start the process

by Wednesday, saying he wanted to begin annexing West Bank territory in line with President Donald Trump’s Mideast plan.

But Israeli Cabinet minister Ofir Akunis said the annexation process had been delayed, telling Israel’s Army Radio station

9

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

Benjamin Netanyahu

on Wednesday that officials were still working out the final details with their American counterparts.

He said he expected the annexation to take place later in July.

The two-state solution, backed by the U.N. Security Council and the vast majority of the international community, envisions an independent Palestinian state in the entire West Bank “territory Israel captured from Jordan in 1967” and Gaza, with agreed land swaps.

The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of

their state but the future of Jerusalem is considered a final status issue to be decided in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

The Trump administration’s peace plan, unveiled in January, envisions bringing some 30% of the West Bank under permanent Israeli control and gave a green light for Israel to annex that territory. The plan would establish a disjointed Palestinian state with limited autonomy in carved-up pockets of the remaining land. The Palestinians have vehemently rejected the plan as

pro-Israeli. The delay cast further uncertainty over whether Israel will ultimately follow through on the explosive annexation initiative, which has also drawn fierce international condemnations from some of Israel’s closest allies.

The United Nations, the EU and key Arab countries have all said annexation would violate international law and undermine the already diminished prospects of establishing a viable independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The Elders, led by former Irish President Mary Robinson with Mandela’s widow Graca Machel and former U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon as co-chairs, said annexation “is fundamentally contrary to the long-term interests of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples.” They said annexation “will not dampen future Palestinian demands for rights and self-determination, but destroying hopes in a two-state compromise will increase the risks of future

violence in one of the most combustible areas in the world.” The Elders called on EU leaders to consider suspending the 27-nation’s Association Agreement with Israel if annexation goes ahead in any form.

They also recalled the United Kingdom’s “historical and abiding responsibility” as the colonial power in pre-1948 Palestine.

The Elders’ appeal followed an appeal from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Israel to call off the annexation plan.

In a front-page article Wednesday in Yediot Ahronot, one of Israel’s largest newspapers, Johnson wrote that as a “passionate defender of Israel”, he was fearful that annexation will fail in the country’s objective of securing its borders, “and will be contrary to Israel’s own long-term interests.” “I profoundly hope that annexation does not go ahead”, he said.

“If it does, the UK will not recognize any changes to the 1967 lines, except those agreed between both parties.”

52 killed in Japan due to torrential rain

A man walks on heavily damaged road following a heavy rain in Kumamura, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan Monday. (AP/PTI)

Tokyo, Jul 7 (IANS): The death toll due to the torrential rain in Japan’s Kyushu region increased to 52 on Tuesday, with the government issuing its highest alert as the Chikugo river in Oita prefecture overflowed.

Kumamoto prefecture registered the highest number of victims at 51, while 11 people were reported missing, The Japan Times

quoted authorities as saying. The 52nd victim, a woman in Omuta Fukuoka prefecture, was found at her submerged home on Monday night and was confirmed dead Tuesday at a hospital.

In Omuta, about 200 people were left stranded at two evacuation centres after floodwaters surged in the area. The Chikugo River, the largest in the Kyushu

region, overflowed in Hita, Oita prefecture, prompting a local meteorological observatory and the land ministry to issue the highest-level alert to residents on Tuesday morning.

The death toll from the heavy rains that started in the early hours of July 4 is expected to climb as search efforts for the missing continued at sites hit by landslides and floods.

Three pubs in England close Protest in Nepal against chinese Schools partially re-open in Sri Lanka after COVID-19 positive tests interference in internal matters

guidelines in line with government advice.

Crowds were seen across England on “Super Saturday”, as thousands flocked to enjoy a pint, reports the BBC. There were reports of arrests and early venue closures around the country, but police said a majority of people had acted responsibly.

UK pub and hospitality trade bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing.

Contact details only need to be taken from one person in a group and must be kept for 21 days.

Suicide cases increase in Nepal during lockdown

Bolsonaro tests COVID positive

Kathmandu, Jul 7 (IANS): At least 1,647 people have committed suicide during the lockdown period in Nepal which was imposed first imposed in March due to the COVID19 pandemic, police said.

A total of 1,647 cases were filed as of June 27 in police stations all over Nepal, with an average of 18 people killing themselves every day since the enforcement of the lockdown, Xinhua news agency quoted the Nepal Police as saying on Monday.

The number of suicide cases has jumped by a whopping 25 per cent as compared to the record maintained before lockdown.

A total of 414 people had committed suicide one month before the lockdown but now the number has reached an average of 549 suicides a month.

Jagannath Lamichhane, a global mental health rights activist, attributed the suicides to the

falling economy during the pandemic.

“The uncertainty of economy has caused fear amongst the people,” he said He warned that if the government fails to support the public economically, more people will commit suicide.

“Daily wage workers were immediately hit as they have been displaced from city areas, now middle class or working class, small and medium sized entrepreneurs will feel the insecurity in the days to come,” Lamichhane told Xinhua on Monday.

According to Lamichhane, the government needs to come up with an education campaign and for the long run it needs to introduce economic packages for people economically affected by the pandemic in Nepal.

The Himalayan country has so far reported 15,964 COVID-19 cases, with 35 deaths.

Jair Bolsonaro

SAO PAULO, JUL 7 ( AGENCIES): Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for Covid-19 in an escalation of the health crisis that has engulfed Latin America’s largest economy, reports Hindustan Times.

“I’m perfectly well,” Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil in a live interview, after announcing the result of his test.

He added he is taking hydroxichloroquine, an anti-malaria medicine he’s been touting as being effective against the virus though its use hasn’t been authorized by most health experts globally and could carry dangerous side effects.

The 65-year-old president, who during his campaign to reopen the economy called the virus “just a little flu,” has repeatedly disobeyed medical recommendations to avoid contamination, mingling in crowds without a face mask and giving people handshakes.

Researchers identify compounds that halt Covid-19 virus replication New York, Jul 7 (IANS): In a fight against Covid-19 pandemic, the researchers have found several existing compounds that block replication of the coronavirus (SARSCoV-2) within human cells grown in the laboratory.

According to the study, published in the journal Cell Research, the inhibitors all demonstrated potent chemical and structural interactions with a viral protein critical to the virus’s ability to proliferate.

“With a rapidly emerging infectious disease like Covid-19, we don’t have time to develop new antiviral drugs from scratch,” said study researcher Yu Chen from the University of South Florida in the US. “A lot of good drug candidates are already out there as a starting point.

But, with new information from studies like ours and current technology, we can help design even better (repurposed) drugs much

faster,” Chen added.

The most promising drug candidates - including the USFDA-approved hepatitis C medication boceprevir and an investigational veterinary antiviral drug known as GC-376 - target the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro).

Mpro is an enzyme that cuts out proteins from a long strand that the virus produces when it invades a human cell.

Without Mpro, the virus cannot replicate and infect new cells.

Mpro represents an attractive target for drug development against Covid19 because of the enzyme’s essential role in the life cycle of the coronavirus and the absence of a similar protease in humans.

Since people do not have the enzyme, drugs targeting this protein are less likely to cause side effects, they explained.

The research team identified four leading drug candidates as the most potent and specific for fighting Covid-19.

These inhibitors rose to the top after screening more than 50 existing protease compounds for potential repurposing.

These are Boceprevir, a drug to treat Hepatitis C, GC-376, an investigational veterinary drug for a deadly strain of coronavirus in cats, which causes feline infectious peritonitis and Calpain inhibitors II and XII, investigated in the past for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other conditions, also showed strong antiviral activity.

“All four compounds were superior to other Mpro inhibitors previously identified as suitable to clinically evaluate for treating SARS-CoV-2,” the study author noted.

students were subjected to temperature checks, frequent washing of hands and wearing face masks.

seen an over 90 per cent recovery rate with 1,917 patients out of the total detected been successfully treated and discharged.

Active patients are now down to 161, official statistics from the Health Ministr y showed. The deaths stood at 11.

Capital Colombo resumed economic operations at the end of May after being shut for nearly two months to prevent a further spread of the virus, and since then the country has seen the gradual re-opening of several sectors.

OFFICE OF THE

TSUNGIKI STUDENTS' UNION WOKHA : NAGALAND

FELICITATION The office of Tsungiki Students' Union with immense pride and honour, take the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Mary N. Odyuo, Assistant Professor, SASRD, Nagaland University, wife of Mr. Tsenthungo E. Ngullie of Tsungiki Village on conferment of Ph.D under the Department of Agricultural Extension from Nagaland University based on the topic, "Performance Assessment of National Rural Livelihood Mission in Nagaland.

The Union wishes her all success in her future endeavours.

Lucy Kikon President TSU

Renchamo Kikon Gen. Secy.

TSU

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working through a list of customers who had left details at the weekend and staff were awaiting their own test results.

In Batley, West Yorkshire, the Fox and Hounds said a customer had called to say they had tested positive for coronavirus.

Meanwhile the landlord of the Village Home Pub in Alverstoke, Hampshire, said his team were awaiting test results after someone in a member of staff ’s “family bubble” tested positive.

All three pubs had previously posted about implementing new social distancing and safety

London, Jul 7 (IANS): Just days after reopening following a three-month closure, Three pubs in England have shut after customers tested positive for the novel coronavirus, it was reported on Tuesday.

They were among hundreds of venues that welcomed customers after three months as lockdown measures were eased, reports the BBC. But crowds descending in some towns and cities prompted fears social distancing was being disregarded. The Lighthouse Kitchen and Carvery in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, said it was “slowly”

Standing Committee meeting.

A number of political party leaders have termed the Chinese envoy’s series of meetings with the ruling party leaders as interference in Nepal’s internal political affairs, the paper said.

This is not the first time that the Chinese ambassador has intervened in Nepal’s internal affairs at a time of crisis. One-anda-half months ago, when the NCP’s intra-party feud reached the climax, Hou held separate meetings with President Bhandari, Prime Minister Oli and other senior leaders including Prachanda and Madhav Nepal.

The differences between the two factions of the NCP -- one led by Oli and the other led by Prachanda on the issue of power-sharing -- intensified after the prime minister unilaterally decided to prorogue the budget session of Parliament on Thursday.

The Prachanda faction, backed by senior leaders and former prime ministers Madhav Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal, has been demanding Oli’s resignation.

NOTE OF APPRECIATION We the Tenants of Silver Jubilee Memorial Building, Sumi Baptist Church Purana Bazar located at Burma Camp would like to express our profound gratitude and appreciation towards the Pastors, Deacons and Believers of Sumi Baptist Church Purana Bazar, East Dimapur for being very compassionate and considerate towards us by waiving off house rent for one month i,e June 2020 (rental amount of 1,13,000/- per month) during this critical lockdown situation covid-19 pandemic.

May the Almighty God bless you for your kind gesture abundantly.

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The Lighthouse, The Fox and Hounds and the Village Home are all closed. PicsGoogle Street View.

Kathmandu, Jul 7 (PTI): Dozens of student activists carrying placards with anti-China slogans staged a demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy here on Tuesday to protest against Chinese ambassador Hou Yanqi’s interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.

The activists belonging to the Nepal Students Union, the students’ wing of the main Opposition Nepali Congress party, held demonstration after the Chinese envoy intensified consultations with leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party to save embattled Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who is known for his pro-Beijing leanings.

Hou met with top NCP leaders and former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal within the past 48 hours as hectic negotiations for power sharing were going on between Prime Minister Oli and dissident group led by ruling party’s executive chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda.’

The political future of 68-year-old Oli will be decided on Wednesday during the ruling party’s

C olo m b o, J ul 7 (IANS): Schools across Sri Lanka have partially re-opened after being shut for nearly three months, as the spread of COVID-19 has been put under control in the island nation, it was reported on Tuesday.

According to the Education Ministry, schools re-opened on Monday for grades 13, 11 and 5, leading to nearly 800,000 students returning back to school across the country, reports Xinhua news agency.

Strict health guidelines were followed as students were subjected to temperature checks, frequent washing of hands and wearing face masks.

Chairs and desks were kept one metre apart in each class room and students were informed to speak to each other from a distance.

The Education Ministry said that under the third phase, schools would re-open for grades 10 and 12 students on July 20, and under the fourth stage from July 27, schools would reopen for the rest except for grades 1 and 2.

All sports activities and tests however have been cancelled until further notice, the Ministry said.

Sri Lanka has so far reported 2,078 positive COVID-19 patients but has

Silver Jubilee Memorial Building, SBC Purana Bazar.

Tenants: Burma Camp, Dimapur.

FELICITATION

Chudi Jami Wokhao-Rui, with immense pride, conveys its heartiest congratulations to Er. Moyithung Lotha, S/o Late Mr. Orinimo Jami, for his promotion to SDO under NPWD, Mr. Lichanthung Jami, S/o Late Mr. Tsenbemo Jami, for securing 1st Division with distinction in Mathematics in HSLC Examination 2020 and all successful Chudi Jami Wokhao-Rui candidates in HSLC Examination 2020. Wokhao-Rui den wish the best to all its members in their future endeavours.

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WOKHAO-RUI DEN

Infotainment

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

Depp accuses ex-wife of lying in libel action SCA releases video song ‘Say goodbye to corona (Covid-19)’ H ollywood star Johnny Depp began legal action against a British tabloid on Tuesday over allegations he had physically abused his ex-wife, the actress Amber Heard, accusing her of lying and conducting extramarital affairs.

Depp, the 57-year-old star of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, for libel over an article Wootton wrote in April 2018 calling him a “wife beater”.

Depp’s lawyer David Sherborne said in a written opening statement to London’s High Court, where both actors were seen arriving earlier, that the libel case involved “well-known actor Johnny Depp” and “allegations that he seriously physically assaulted his former wife, the actress, Amber Heard”.

“Not just once but on at least 14 different occasions it is now said, causing her such serious injuries and being so violent that it led Ms Heard to fear for her very life,” Sherborne said.

He said Heard had first aired the allegations

Johnny Depp

in May 2016 when she obtained a restraining order against Johnny Depp at a Los Angeles court when she appeared to have bruises on her face caused in an incident six days earlier.

“There is a substantial body of evidence ... which clearly demonstrates that this was a lie manufactured by Ms Heard and her friends,” Sherborne said.

In papers submitted to the court, Depp’s team also said Heard had begun an affair with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk in early 2015 shortly after they had got married and had engaged in at least one extra-marital relationship with her co-stars, with actor James Franco named.

The case is set to last for three weeks, the judge,

Andrew Nicol, said. Depp took the stand at the beginning of the trial and Heard is also expected to give evidence.

Depp, wearing a dark suit and glasses and speaking in a deep clear tone, was asked about transcripts and recordings made of discussions and arguments between them.

“I have a tendency to talk quietly,” Depp said

Himesh Reshammiya, Javed Ali join ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs’ judges panel

Tom Meighan sentenced for assaulting ex-fiancee

ing care of their feelings, we will take the show ahead.

In fact, Alka, Himesh and I already have a great rapport and connection, so we will surely have a great time. I know that the shoot system won’t be normal and it will be a whole new level of experience, but I feel everyone is very mature to make sure the safety of the kids and each member is in place. In fact, this time around appreciation of the performances by the kids will be more with virtual hugs, since we won’t be able to touch them,” he added.

Himesh has been associated with Zee TV for over two decades now. “Most recent was during the Silver Jubilee celebration of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’. Being a mentor on the show several times, returning to ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs’ is like a homecoming for me after the immensely successful season of ‘Li’l Champs’ in 2017 that had a record run of 8 months,” he said.

om Meighan has been sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to assaulting his former fiancee.

The 39-year-old music star admitted at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to attacking Vikki Ager on April 9, with the court being told that a child had witnessed the incident and had reported the assault to the police.

The court was also told that Tom ‘’smelt heavily of intoxicants’’ during the assault. Tom initially denied the charge of assault - which was captured on CCTV footage - but changed his plea after watching video footage and telling police it was ‘’horrible’’.

Naeem Valli, the prosecutor, said that the attack had left the victim with bruises and ‘’a reddening around her neck’’. The musician has been given an 18-month community order and will be required to complete five days of rehabilitation.

Himesh Reshammiya

S

inger-composer Himesh Reshammiya and singer Javed Ali are set to join Alka Yagnik as judges in the eighth season of “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs”.

Himesh and Javed are stepping in for singers Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu, who were part of the show before the lockdown, but have opted out owing to prior commitments.

“It feels great to be a part of the show once again, it’s like going back to your family after a while. I joined

Javed Ali

the franchise as a judge for the first time in 2011. I had even hosted ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ in 2012 and then judged the longest running and historical season in 2017 as well. So, I’ve had some special memories with the musical franchise,” said Javed.

“To be honest, I definitely can’t fill the shoes of the legends who were judging this season prior to the lockdown, but I will judge the show in my own style. I am very emotional towards kids, so while tak-

T

when his lawyer reminded him about the wood-panelled court’s poor acoustics.

Lawyers for The Sun said in their opening written statement that: “The Defendants will demonstrate that the description of Mr Depp as a ‘wife beater’ is entirely accurate and truthful.

“They will show that the sting of the articles is correct – namely that the claimant beat his wife Amber Heard causing her to suffer significant injury and on occasion leading to her fearing for her life,” they said.

The couple met on the set of the 2011 film “The Rum Diary” and married in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce after 15 months and days later obtained a restraining order against Depp.

She has accused him of physical abuse during their relationship, allegations he denies.

Their divorce was finalised in 2017 when the restraining order was dismissed and Depp agreed to pay Heard a previously announced sum of $7 million.

(Reuters)

SCA members and other guests after the release of video song. (NP)

T

he much awaited song “Say goodbye to corona (Covid19)” by Sargam Cultural Association (SCA), Dimapur, dedicated to frontline workers amidst the Coronavirus pandemic was released through Youtube on Tuesday in Dimapur.

The song and lyrics composed by Kamal Kumar Acharjee is about the value of patience, discipline and perseverance in

daily life, as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Host of artistes participated in the making of this song, where Nokrang Longkumer arranged, did the mixing and mastering, while videography and editing was done by Justin Lakra.

The musicians in the video feature Abhjjit Kumar Deb (Bappida) on Bass, Rubel Acharjee on

Keys, Nirupam Shome on Guitar, Sohel Acharjee on drums.

The female vocalists were Pooja Kachari Pati, Vinika Yepthomi, Echenaro Longchari, Riya Dakhal, Rokovino Pucho Peseyie, Tsuthula Yim & Srabanee Acharjee, while the male vocalists were Bidyut Mazumder, Rajat Ghosh, Prem Mech, Arijit Sharma, Wricheek Biswas.

(Staff Reporter)

Brad Pitt looks set to star in ‘Bullet Train’

T

he 56-year-old actor will be directed

by David Leitch in the motion picture, which is based on the Japanese Novel ‘Maria Beetle’ by Kotaro Isaka.

Sources told Variety about Pitt’s involvement in the movie, and the script will be written by Zak Olkewicz.

Leitch - who helmed ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ - and his wife Kelly McCormick will produce the film, through their company 87North, as will Antoine Fuqua and Kat Samick, while Brittany Morrissey will executive produce.

Pitt starred in sci-fi movie ‘Ad Astra’ last year, as well as ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, for which he won an Academy Award and Golden Globe prize for Best Supporting Actor.

At the Globes, which took place in January, Pitt took the time to thank his co-star Leonardo DiCaprio in his acceptance speech.

He said: ‘’I also have to thank my partner in crime, LDC. ‘’Before ‘The Revenant’ I used to watch year after year his co-stars win awards and get up and thank him profusely and I know why. ‘’He’s an all star, he’s a gent. I wouldn’t be here without you, man. I thank you.’’

And referring to his pal’s on-screen death in 1997’s ‘Titanic’, he quipped: ‘’Still, I would have shared the raft.’’

DiCaprio previously admitted he and Pitt both ‘’clicked’’ on the set of the movie.

He said: ‘’What was ver y interesting about working with Brad was this strange inherent comfort and ease that we really both clicked into day one. ‘’It didn’t need a lot of prep work. We talked about the script, and we instinctively knew that dynamic and relationship, and who these guys were to one another.’’

(Contactmusic)

Brad Pitt

Bhansali couldn’t work with Govt to come up with SOP for Country singer Charlie Daniels dies at 83 Sushant due to date issues: Police shooting films: Javadekar

T

Sanjay Leela Bhansali arrives at Bandra police station to record his statement in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide, in Mumbai, July 6. (PTI)

M

umbai Police on Tuesday said Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was planning to cast late actor Sushant Singh Rajput in four films, but due to unavailability of his dates the movies were offered to other actors.

Rajput (34) was found hanging at his suburban Bandra residence on June 14.

The Bandra police, who are probing professional rivalry angle in the case of Rajput’s death, recorded the statement of Bhansali on Monday.

During questioning, it came to light that Rajput was not able to work with Bhansali as his K Y M C

dates were not available, said a senior police officer probing the case.

The police are probing why Rajput was not able to do films with Bhansali and are examining his contracts with other production houses.

All important details in the case are being investigated, the official said, adding that the police have so far recorded statements of 34 people, including Rajputs family members, close friends and colleagues.

The police are also waiting for a response from Twitter on the alleged tweets posted from Rajputs micro- blogging handle

and circulated on social media just before his death, he said.

The official also said the CCTV footage of the building where Rajput resided has been taken into custody for investigation. There was no CCTV installed in the late actor’s house, he added.

The police earlier sent viscera from the actor’s body, and the gown which he allegedly used to hang himself for chemical and forensic analysis at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in suburban Kalina.

The forensic lab report is awaited, the official said.

(PTI)

he government is coming up with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for shooting films in India in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and is also set to provide incentives for production to accelerate restarting of film-making, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the inauguration of ‘FICCI FRAMES 2020, a convention on the business of entertainment, Javadekar said all stakeholders need to work together to make progress and harness the soft power of India -- media and entertainment.

“Government is coming up with a standard operating procedure for shooting films in India in the light of the pandemic,” the Information and Broadcasting minister said.

“Further, to accelerate the restart of film-making that had come to a standstill as a result of COVID, it is also coming up with incentives of production in all sectors, including TV serials, film-making, co-production, animation, gaming. We will be announcing these measures shortly,” he said.

Javadekar also said that more than 80 foreign film producers have taken advantage of the film facilitation office.

They have got a single window clearance for shooting their films in India, Javadekar said.

He said the discussions at ‘FICCI FRAMES’ would certainly throw up new and innovative ideas that can be acted upon.

Virtual inaugurations are the new normal and those virtual spaces are the new places for real partnerships, Javadekar said. (PTI)

C

Charlie Daniels

ountry music band leader Charlie Daniels, singer and fiddler player on the Grammywinning hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” died on Monday at age 83 at a hospital in Tennessee, his publicist said.

Daniels, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, died from a stroke, according to a statement from his publicist, Don Murry Grubbs.

A fiddler, guitarist, singer and songwriter, Daniels founded The Charlie Daniels Band in 1972 and maintained a busy tour schedule for decades with more than 100 dates each year. The band’s hits included “Uneasy Rider,” “Long Haired Country Boy” and “In America.”

“I love what I do,” Daniels said in a bio posted

on the band’s website. “I look forward to entertaining people. When show time gets here, I’m ready to go, ready to go play for them.

It’s a labor of love.”

The 1979 song “Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which featured Daniels on vocals and fiddle, has been called one of the best country songs of all time. The song, the story of a young man who challenges the

devil to a fiddle-playing contest, won a Grammy for best country vocal by a group.

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, Daniels began his career playing in a bluegrass band before moving to Nashville to work as a session musician for artists including Bob Dylan. He also recorded gospel albums and won a Dove Award in 1995.

In 1980, Daniels played himself in the movie “Urban Cowboy” starring John Travolta.

“An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor, and a true road warrior, Daniels parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children, and others in need,” a statement on the band’s website said.

(Reuters)

Happy 90th Birth Anniversary

C. YETOVI YEPTHO ASUKHOMI 08.07.1930 - 08.07.2020

May God in His magnanimity bless you with good health and long life.

Happy Birthday.

K-1195

Zheliho & Visheli Daughters K Y M C

La Liga: Sevilla close in on CL berth

Players of Sevilla and Eibar fight for the ball during their La Liga football match.

Madrid, Jul 7 (Agencies): Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos struck the decisive goal and pulled off a last-gasp save as a makeshift goalkeeper as his side beat Eibar 1-0 on Monday in La Liga to home in on a return to the Champions League.

The Argentine broke the deadlock in the 56th minute by sliding in at the far post to bundle in a cross from Jesus Navas, and then

pulled on a goalkeeper’s jersey for the final minutes after keeper Tomas Vaclik was carried off on a stretcher deep into added time.

Coach Julen Lopetegui had made all five of the permitted substitutes so could not bring on a reserve keeper but Ocampos proved up to the task by repelling a shot from Eibar keeper Marko Dmitrovic in the 11th minute of added time.

Dmitrovic had come up from his area to contest a late corner and almost snatched an equaliser but fired straight at Ocampos, who spread his arms to turn the shot away.

“I like to play in goal in training but I never imagined I would end up playing in goal in a match in the last few minutes but I’m always ready to help the team in any position,” Ocampos said.

Venue selection for 2026 WC delayed Zurich, Jul 7 (Agencies): A final decision on the venues for the 2026 World Cup being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico has been significantly delayed by the Covid-19 outbreak.

FIFA’s chief tournaments and events officer Colin Smith said they had initially hoped to finalise venues by spring 2021 but that timeline was based on having started the process in March and conducting two rounds of inspection visits by year end.

“Obviously now we have had to delay that,” Smith said on a conference call ahead of Tuesday’s virtual workshop with the 17 U.S. cities under consideration. “It is very difficult to give a final date because we don’t know when the start date is.”

The workshop was originally set to be held in March in person but was

delayed due to the virus.

Canada and Mexico, who each have three candidate cities, held their workshops earlier this year before COVID-19 lockdowns.

The U.S. candidate cities are Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay area, Seattle and Washington. FIFA will select up to 16 of the 23 venues put forward in the joint bid.

Smith said the deci-

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

sion on which venues to pick will be made based on criteria like their location, time zones and weather conditions rather than simply try and showcase different parts of the country.

“Nothing is set in stone from our point of view. We want to look at the whole picture,” said Smith.

“We look at all those considerations and ultimately what we are looking to do is to come up together with U.S. Soccer the best list of stadiums for hosting this tournament.”

“Before I went in goal the goalkeeping coach told me not to go far from the goal and the ball came towards me, I was able to push it away and we got the three points.”

T h e v i c t o r y g ave fourth-placed Sevilla a sixpoint cushion over fifthplaced Villarreal with four games remaining.

Eibar meanwhile remain in danger of relegation, occupying the final spot outside the bottom three with a six-point lead over 18th-placed Real Mallorca.

Earlier, Real Sociedad’s slim hopes of finishing in the top four practically ended with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Levante on Monday, as Alexander Isak’s 12th-minute strike was quickly cancelled out by a goal from Levante’s Jose Luis Morales.

Sociedad were fourth in the standings in March when action in La Liga was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic but have only picked up five points in seven games since the re-start.

They are seventh on 51 points, while Levante are 12th on 43 points.

Rangnick to become AC Milan coach

Milan, Jul 7 (Agencies): AC Milan will appoint Ralf Rangnick as their new head coach and technical director at the end of the Serie A season.

The 62-year-old will replace Stefano Pioli as head coach and club legend Paolo Maldini as technical director. Rangnick is currently head of sport and development with Red Bull, and has been head coach at RB Leipzig on two occasions.

The German has also coached Stuttgart, Schalke and Hoffenheim, but has never worked as a manager outside of his homeland.

Rangnick was understood to have been a contender to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in 2018, as well as Sam Allardyce as England manager in 2016, and has been cited by Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel as a key influence on their careers.

Indonesia lowers expectations for U-20 World Cup Jakarta, Jul 7 (IANS): Indonesia has downgraded its expectations for the forthcoming 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be played in the country, said the country’s football association.

Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chief Mochamad Iriawan had previously said the country should aim for the tournament’s semifinal stage, though the new target is for Indonesia merely to get through the competition’s opening stages, reports Xinhua news agency.

“So, at least, we have to pass the cup’s preliminaries, and we will be thankful if we can go to the quarterfinals,” said Iriawan.

Six groups will compete in the 2021 FIFA U20 World Cup, which will be played in Indonesia from May 20 to June 12, 2021.

Ahead of the tournament, delegates from football’s world governing body FIFA will inspect six of the stadiums to be used.

FIFA delegates are slated to visit Indonesia in September to closely look at and assess the condition of venues of the U-20 World Cup.

A damp towel is the best thing, says Ngidi on saliva ban Cape Town, Jul 7 (IANS): South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi feels a damp towel could be a way out to help bowlers who will not have the luxury of using saliva to shine the ball in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Once they said there’s no saliva, a few of the batsmen posted on the group that now they are going to be driving on the up so already we can see what type of mentality the batsmen are coming with so now we have to find a game plan to get the ball to swing. Probably a damp towel is the best thing but you’ve got to find something somehow, to shine it,” Ngidi told ‘ESPNCricinfo’.

The ICC has temporarily banned the use of saliva on balls to curb the spread of the deadly health disease.

A high-performance squad of 45 players was given the greenlight to resume training last week and are currently practicing in groups of no more than five players at their domestic franchise grounds in South Africa.

“We have to book ses-

Lungi Ngidi

sions now so there are certain groups of guys that come in at a certain time and when they are done, another group comes in,” Ngidi said.

“As the bowlers, we each have our net. We each have our balls. There is no touching and hardly any communication as well. Before going to gym, you have to let them know so they can sanitise the area before you come in and sanitise once you leave for the next group. There’s temperature checks at the gate, there’s hand sanitisers, we fill out

forms, it’s a whole process before you can actually bowl a cricket ball. It’s very frustrating but also very necessary at this point.”

There will also be the ‘3TCricket’ competition on July 18, which would mark the resumption of live cricket in South Africa following the coronavirusforced break.

The Solidarity Cup will see 24 of South Africa’s top players feature in three teams - The Eagles, Kingfishers and The Kites - playing two halves in a single match.

Stay focused: Lampard to Abraham amid contract talks Lo n d o n, J u l 7 (Agencies): Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has warned Tammy Abraham not to let protracted contract talks affect his performances.

Abraham has scored 15 goals during a breakthrough season with Chelsea, but the England striker has failed to find the back of the net since January 11.

The 22-year-old reportedly came close to agreeing an improved contract earlier in the season during his hot streak.

But his only start since the coronavirus hiatus was in the defeat at West Ham last week as the more experienced Olivier Giroud earned Lampard’s faith.

Abraham’s fellow youngsters Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori have all signed new Chelsea contracts over the past year.

Frank Lampard and Tammy Abraham

Yet to follow suit, Abraham has just under two years remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge.

Yet Lampard expects him to stay focused as four th placed Chelsea chase a qualification for the Champions League.

“I think Tammy’s contract, we are not at a critical level with it,” said

Lampard.

“I will leave it with him and the club to discuss that side of it. I don’t think it is something that is clearly in his mind now, at least it shouldn’t be. What needs to be in his mind now is these games we have coming up and how much he can give us on the pitch, whether coming on as a

sub or starting the game.”

Lampard has told Abraham the only way to force his way back into the side is to working harder than ever in training.

“He has had a really good season, he hasn’t scored as much in the second half of the season,” he said.

“But as a young player it is always clear when you have these periods there is only one way out of it and that is work and repetition in training. I think that is where Tammy is at. I think the contract will hopefully look after itself between him and the club and he just needs to focus on giving us that Tammy that we had earlier in the season.”

“He was giving defenders so much of a problem in games and scoring regularly and it all came from how he was training and working in the week.

That is just what he has to sustain all the time.”

Bundesliga: Werder to remain in the top-flight Cricket returns with Eng-WI series

Players of Bremen and Heidenheim in action during a relegation match in Heidenheim, Germany. (AP/PTI)

Heidenheim, Jul 7 (Agencies): Relieved Werder Bremen sealed their Bundesliga survival for next season on away goals after a dramatic 2-2 draw at second-division Heidenheim in Monday’s nerve-racking relegation/ promotion play-off, second-leg with the crucial second goal scored in added time.

“I’m just happy and glad that we made it after all that,” said Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt as K Y M C

the play-off finished in a 2-2 draw on aggregate.

“We were dead so many times this year, we always came back,” he added after Bremen had only qualified for the relegation play-off on the last day of the season.

“It’s an incredible pressure that is off us all.

Every criticism was justified, but chapeau to the boys.”

Bremen, who won the last of their four German league titles in 2003-04,

preserve their record of the most seasons spent in the Bundesliga by any club while Heidenheim remain in the second tier.

After Heidenheim conceded an own goal within just three minutes, their striker Tim Kleindienst equalised on 85 minutes to keep the hosts’ hopes alive.

However, Bremen’s survival was confirmed four minutes into added time. Replacement forward Fin Bartels beat the

defence and set up Swedish defender Ludwig Augustinsson to fire home his first goal of the season and his team’s crucial second.

In the dying stages, Bremen defender Theodor Gebre Selassie then conceded a penalty when he fouled Heidenheim midfielder Tobias Mohr in the box.

Kleindienst fired home the resulting penalty in the eighth minute of added time, but it was too late.

Bremen made a flying start when Heidenheim centre-back Norman Theuerkauf gifted his former club an own goal after just three minutes.

With ten minutes gone, a long-range shot

by Bremen forward Milot Rashica had to be tipped over the crossbar by the Heidenheim goalkeeper.

It was 1-0 at the break, but Heidenheim flew out of the blocks in the second half and had Bremen under pressure before forcing the equaliser.

With the clock ticking down, Heidenheim drew level on 85 minutes when midfielder Tobias Mohr clattered the crossbar and Kleindienst tapped home the rebound before both teams scored in the dramatic closing stages.

Fans are not allowed in German grounds since the league restarted in midMay after a two-months hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, there were curious scenes midway through the second-half when a group of young people appeared briefly in the main stand before quickly being ushered away.

Heidenheim, who finished third in the second division, had been bidding for their first Bundesliga season, while Bremen, who finished third from bottom in Germany’s top flight, preserve their status.

West Indies captain Jason Holder during a nets session at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England. (AP/PTI)

Southampton, Jul 7 (IANS): Following a fourmonth long hiatus put forward by coronavirus pandemic, cricket is all-set to resume with England taking on West Indies in a threeTest #raisethebat series starting on Wednesday.

All eyes will be on allrounders Ben Stokes and Jason Holder in Southampton as they will lead their respective teams on the pitch at Ageas Bowl to mark the beginning of this historic series.

This will be the first time when international cricket will be played with new set of changed rules put forward by International Cricket Council (ICC) looking at the virus threat.

Bowlers won’t be able to use saliva on match balls, players will have to refrain from celebrating together

and the stadium will be devoid of fans.

The other big change for this clash will be Stokes wearing the armband in place of regular Test skipper Joe Root, who left the biosecure bubble and returned to Sheffield for the birth of his second child.

“The fantastic stats he (Root) has...it’s going to be a bit of an advantage for us. He is one that keeps England batting together,” West Indies pacer Kemar Roach had said during a video conference leading to the first match.

“He has done fantastic for the last couple of years.

But also it is a bit of a disadvantage as there are some new guys coming in that we have to work out and see what their weaknesses are.

So it goes 50-50 I can say but as I said once we hit our

straps and put the ball in the right area, we stand a very good chance.”

West Indies had famously beaten England 2-1 during the previous series between the two sides that was played in the Carribbean Islands.

A draw in the series would be enough for them to retain the Wisden trophy.

But the stumbling block for the visitors is that they haven’t beaten England in England since the tour of 1988.

The two set of teams will also show their support for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement by wearing a logo on their shirts. The emblem was designed by Alisha Hosannah, the partner of Troy Deeney, professional footballer and captain of Premier League side Watford Football Club.

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Spurs beat Everton; reignite Europa ambition

Players of Tottenham and Everton fight for the ball during their Premier League match.

season. That is something that now might be beyond the Toffees after this defeat, which leaves them four points behind their hosts and Carlo Ancelotti’s men never did enough to take anything out of the game, which was low on attacking quality throughout.

It was a forgettable opening 20 minutes, with Spurs dominating possession but pedestrian in their approach.

They did not look like scoring through conventional methods so it was no surprise that a huge chunk of luck was involved in

them taking a 24th-minute lead.

Harry Kane’s blocked shot found its way to Giovani Lo Celso, whose shoton-the-turn was heading well wide until Keane’s deflection took it past Jordan Pickford.

They could not build on that platform, though, and continued to labour in attack, with Pickford’s spilling of a corner the closest they came to scoring again.

Their lead was almost wiped out in first-half injury time as a misplaced pass allowed Everton to break

‘ICC should take final call on T20 WC’

BWF cancels China Masters, Dutch Open

LO N D O N, J u l 7 (Agencies): Tottenham reignited their European ambitions with a 1-0 win over Everton which saw team-mates Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min clash at half-time.

Michael Keane’s firsthalf own goal gave Spurs a much-needed three points that sees them up to eighth in the Premier League and back in the Europa League race.

But tensions were high as Lloris and Son were involved in a heated exchange which involved pushing and shoving, and they had

New Delhi, Jul 7 (IANS): Australia’s second largest city Melbourne is set to go for another round of lockdown for six weeks from midnight Wednesday as the coronavirus has reared its ugly head in Victoria. And this has further confirmed that this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia is practically not possible. Even as the ICC keeps delaying the announcement, BCCI hopes that the official call will now be taken with this latest development.

Despite ICC’s Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) chief Ehsan Mani as well as Cricket Australia making it clear time and again that hosting a T20 World Cup in the October-November window is practically impossible, the ICC hasn’t made an official announcement and that hasn’t impressed the Board of Control for Cricket in

to be separated by teammates.

Jose Mourinho, who celebrates a 200th Premier League win as manager, may well view the clash, where Lloris was angry at Son’s perceived lack of effort, as a positive and the pair were later seen hugging at the start of the second half and again at full-time.

It was far from an entertaining display from Mourinho’s men, but with their Champions League hopes seemingly over they are at least in with a shout of a place in Europe’s second-tier competition next

India (BCCI).

A BCCI official said that it is only the ICC which has kept speaking about delaying the inevitable, announcing a postponement, even as Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings wrote to the international body that it looks highly unlikely that a T20 World Cup can be hosted in these trying times.

“As it is there were so many logistical difficulties and that is perfectly understandable. The Australian government has been addressing the public health issue efficiently and there are regulations in place

which are crucial to address the challenges. In that background even Cricket Australia has been practical in their assessment of the situation.”

“With this present situation where Melbourne is in lockdown, the ICC really must take the final call of closure on the issue if they have any concept of responsible decision making,” the official said.

Not just CA chairman Eddings, but also Mani, who is also the PCB chief, recently told the media that the T20 World Cup cannot be held in a bio-secure environment.

Kuala Lumpur, Jul 7 (Agencies): Badminton’s BWF Tour Super 100 events in China and Netherlands have been cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday.

The China Masters, originally scheduled for February and March, was initially postponed until May and then moved again to August, while the Dutch Open had been due to take place in October in Almere, Netherlands. Both Super 100 tournaments have now been removed from the BWF’s revamped calendar.

However, badminton’s World Tour is due to restart with the Taipei Open during the first week of September, followed by the Korea Open a week later. The seasonending World Tour Finals in Guangzhou, China has been pushed back a week and will now conclude on December 20.

and Richarlison, fit again after an ankle injury, fizzed a shot just wide.

Spurs skipper Lloris was not happy with Son for his part in the build-up to that chance and let him know at half-time. The France goalkeeper ran over to Son to chastise him and the pair had to be separated by team-mates and they pushed and shoved each other.

If Son was at fault, he nearly made up for it early in the second half as he had a good chance to double Spurs’ lead.

Toby Alderweireld pinged a superb ball over the top of the defence and Son latched onto it but his low shot was saved by Pickford.

The South Korean was in the thick of the action and had two more chances in quick succession.

First he curled an effort just wide from the edge of the area and then, after a Lucas Moura burst, stung the palms of Pickford, who made a good low save.

That was the extent of Spurs’ attacking threat as Everton came on strong in search of an equaliser.

They did not really test Lloris into any meaningful action, though, as they looked as limp as their opponents in attack.

D o m i n i c C a l ve r t Lewin flicked an effort straight at the Spurs keeper, who also made a routine save from Moise Kean at the death.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

Colombian FA fined for WC ticket racket Bogota, Jul 7 (IANS): The Colombian football federation (FCF) has been fined for irregularities related to the sale of World Cup qualifying tickets, the country’s competition authority has said.

The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC), as the watchdog is known, said the FCF, two merchandise companies and 17 people were ordered to pay 18.35 billion pesos ($4.9 million).

I n d iv i d u a l s s a n c tioned include Colombian football federation president Ramon Jesurun and his predecessor Luis Bedoya.

Superintendency of Industry and Commerce said the group formed a cartel that sold tickets for World Cup qualifiers from October 2015 to October 2017 at “excessively high prices.”

The scheme was allowed to prosper after Bogota-based firm Ticketshop was awarded the right to sell match tickets without a competitive bidding process, according to investigators.

Another company, Ticketya, was then hired to resell tickets at up to 3.5 times their original value, SIC said.

The Colombian football federation (FCF) has denied any wrongdoing and said it would appeal the decision.

IPL will only be staged abroad as a last resort: BCCI

NEW DELHI, Jul 7 (Agencies): India’s cricket board will only consider staging the Indian Premier League (IPL) abroad as a last resort if there is no other way to salvage the lucrative limitedovers tournament this year, a top BCCI official has told Reuters.

The annual tournament was originally scheduled to begin on March 29 but was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19.

India’s death toll from the pandemic surpassed 20,000 on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates have offered to host the league but BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal said the board was optimistic about staging it on home soil.

“We’ve to consider India first and then think of overseas,” said Dhumal.

“They have sent these proposals in case we want to organise it there. We will

discuss it in the next IPL governing council meeting where we will take a call.”

The 2009 edition of the franchise-based league, which coincided with India’s elections, was held in South Africa and the UAE hosted the early matches of the tournament five years later for the same reason.

The BCCI, facing a $535 million loss of revenue if it cannot stage the IPL this year, would be keen to slot it into the Twenty20 World Cup’s October-November window if that event was unable to go ahead in Australia due to the pandemic.

The uncertainty around the World Cup, the BCCI has said, has created a scheduling headache for cricket boards trying to recoup some of the losses caused by the pandemic.

“Everybody is under the pressure because of the uncertainty,” Dhumal added.

Barcelona ‘unlikely’ to sign Neymar Madrid, Jul 7 (Agencies): Neymar’s proposed return to Barcelona has essentially been ruled out by club president Josep Bartomeu, who says the transfer market will be negatively impacted by the coronavirus crisis.

Barca lured Neymar to Camp Nou from Santos in 2013 and he went on to help the club win eight major trophies, including two La Liga titles and the Champions League.

The 28-year-old scored 105 goals in 186 appearances for the Blaugrana in total, while forming a deadly attacking trinity alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

However, Neymar decided to leave Catalonia in the summer of 2017, with it suggested he was looking to emerge from Lionel Messi’s shadow and stake a claim for the Ballon d’Or award.

The Brazil interna-

Neymar

tional became the world’s most expensive player when he swapped Barca for PSG in a €222 million (£201m/$250m) deal, but has since struggled to live up to that hefty price tag.

Injuries and off-field issues have overshadowed Neymar’s time in the French capital, and he admitted last year that he would like to go back to Camp Nou to rediscover

his love for the game.

Barca failed to re-sign their former talisman in 2019 but continue to be linked with the PSG forward ahead of the summer transfer window, with Quique Setien’s current squad lacking a spark in the final third of the pitch.

When asked if Neymar will be targeted when the market reopens, Bartomeu attempted to dismiss

the ongoing speculation by insisting that the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to prevent any big-money deals from taking place.

The 57-year-old said, “Such an operation is unlikely because the situation of all the clubs in Europe is very difficult.”

Bartomeu went on to address the criticism Barca have faced for selling Arthur Melo to Juventus in exchange for Miralem Pjanic, insisting the Bosnian midfielder had long been on the club’s radar.

He said, “Pjanic is a player who has wanted to sign for us for a long time.

He was highly sought after and there was a Barca player who wanted Juve.

But it is an exceptional situation.”

“It is not to balance finances because we would have sold other players for whom we had offers.

Arthur is a player who is highly valued.”

Croatia ready to host India for training ahead of WC qualifiers Nadal to play at Madrid Open New Delhi, Jul 7 (Agencies): The Indian national team will be welcomed in Croatia to train before their 2022 World Cup qualifiers scheduled in October and November, according to Goal.

In a letter addressed to the President of AIFF (All India Football Federation), Praful Patel, his Croatian counterpart Davor Suker, has expressed the eagerness to assist India to help the Blue Tigers prepare better for the remaining fixtures.

The Croatian Federation would provide hospitality and help organise friendly games, provided the Indian team wishes to hold the preparatory camp in the European nation.

International travel is currently banned due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and if the situation improves, India might exercise the option of conducting the training camp abroad. Since the game against Qatar is scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar, the AIFF’s preference is to conduct the camp in Od-

Coach Igor Stimac with Indian football team during a training session.

isha. However, it depends on the state regulations and the Covid-19 situation which will play a major role in the team being able to play friendly matches.

It must be noted that football is back on in Croatia and the country has also eased restrictions on foreigners entering the country. The Blue Tigers, who are currently ranked 108th in the world and

19th in Asia, last played against Oman in the World Cup qualifiers (1-0 loss for India).

Before the lockdown started in March, national team head coach Igor Stimac had summoned 23 players for a camp that was supposed to start on March 9. He had also called up another 20 players to join on March 16, 2020, after the conclusion of the Indian

Super League (ISL) season but the camp had to be eventually cancelled.

India are winless and have registered three draws after five rounds of fixtures in Group E. Qatar, who are unbeaten, are leading the group with 13 points and Oman are second with 12.

The games remaining for India are against Qatar (H), Bangladesh (A) and Afghanistan (H). India could

resume their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign on October 8 when they take on Qatar.

According to the tentative schedule worked out by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), India will then face Bangladesh on November 12, whereas their last group stage fixture against Afghanistan is likely to be played on November 17.

Madrid, Jul 7 (Agencies): Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will play the Madrid Open, which begins the day after the men’s final at the U.S. Open.

The announcement casts further doubt on whether Nadal, 34, will defend his title in New York amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Open is slated to run August 31-September 11, while the Madrid Open, which Nadal has won five times, is set for September 12-20.

The French Open, which Nadal has won 12 times, will run from September 27 to October 11.

Nadal has yet to announce his plans for the U.S. Open but previously expressed concern about coming to New York from Europe amid the pandemic.

“Well, it is not an ideal situation, honestly no,” he said last month. “If you ask me today if I want to travel today to New York to play a tennis tournament, I will say no, I will not.”

“In a couple of months, I don’t know how the situa-

Rafael Nadal

tion is going to improve.

Hopefully, it’s going to improve the right way, and I’m sure the people who organize the event, the U.S.T.A., want a safe event, same as the French federation.”

Losing Nadal would be a major blow for the U.S. Open, which will carry on without fans or media.

Roger Federer is done for the season with knee surgery and is focusing on 2021, including the Olympics. Novak Djokovic re-

cently tested positive, then negative, for COVID-19 and has also not announced his plans for the year’s remaining two majors.

The three men are locked in a historical battle for all-time supremacy.

Federer has 20 career majors, Nadal 19 and Djokovic 17. Serena Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, will shoot for No. 24 at the U.S. Open, which would tie Margaret Court for No. 1 all-time.

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