March 28, 2021

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 111

DIMAPUR, SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Vijayveer, Tejaswani shoot gold

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sports, Page 8

DTFs directed to strictly enforce all SOPs, guidelines DIMAPUR, MAR 27 (NPN): State government has directed all district task forces (DTFs) to strictly enforce all the existing guidelines and SOPs for preventing the spread of COVID-19 during celebration of the upcoming Holi festival, Good Friday, Easter and other festivals in the State. In a communiqué, principal secretary, home, Abhijit Sinha, stated that the Centre has expressed concern over the rise in the number of COVID cases and deaths in several States in the recent past and has sought strict enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and the prescribed SOPs for the various activities.

Therefore, all DTFs have been asked to take necessary steps for reiterating among the public the utmost need to following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour during the celebration of upcoming festivals to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Besides creating wide awareness, DTFs have been asked to take appropriate action as per law against anyone found violating the existing guidelines and SOPs.

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Earth safe from asteroid for 100 years, says Nasa international, Page 7

Over 90 killed in Myanmar in Bengal, Assam vote in Phase-I one of bloodiest days of protests

Nearly 80% turnout in WB, over 72% in Assam till 5pm: EC

NEW DELHI, MAR 27 (PTI): A voter turnout of 79.79 percent was recorded in West Bengal and 72.14 percent in Assam till 5 PM on Saturday in the first phase of assembly elections in these states, the Election Commission said.

Voting was held in 30 assembly constituencies in West Bengal and 47 seats in Assam in this phase with a total of 21,825 polling stations. During the polls, 10288 each of Ballot Units (BUs), Control Units (CUs) and VVPATs were used in West Bengal and 11,537 each of BUs, CUs and 37 VVPATs were used in Assam. One control unit, on VVPAT and at least one ballot unit make an EVM. “Non-functioning rate during the poll is lesser than experienced in last few polls,” an EC statement said without elaborating.

The poll panel said it had laid great emphasis on ensuring transparent and vigilant mechanisms for conducting elections that are free of inducement and

People wait to cast their vote at a polling station during the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls, Saturday. (PTI)

intimidation.

In West Bengal, nearly 74 lakh electorate across 10,288 polling stations had registered to exercise their franchise in this phase. Voting was held in 47 assembly constituencies of Assam with a total of 81 lakh electorate registered across 11,537 polling stations. The number of polling stations had increased as the number of voters per polling station was reduced from 1,500 to 1000 keeping social distancing norms in mind due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a major push in conducting free and fair elections, live monitoring and webcasting mechanism for more than 50 percent of polling stations, including critical and vulnerable polling booths, were put in place to ensure safe and secure atmosphere in poll-

ing areas. The Commission, state chief electoral officers, district election officers and the observers could watch live streaming and keep a close watch on these polling booths in Assam and West Bengal. Webcasting arrangements were put in place for 5,392 polling stations in West Bengal and 5,039 polling stations in Assam, the EC said. All the polling stations were directed to follow COVID-19 safety protocols.

Sporadic violence marks Bengal polls

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from various places that went to polls on Saturday during the first phase of the West Bengal assembly election.

Polling process in some areas was marred by violence and scuffle.

In the Kanthi Dakshin seat of Purba Medinipur district, voters staged protests outside a polling booth over alleged malfunctioning of an electronic voting machine (EVM). The agitators blocked a road outside a polling station at Majna, claiming that the VVPAT slip showed results in favour of a particular party, no matter which outfit they voted for. A contingent of central forces was sent to the area to control the situation, an EC official said, adding that the VVPAT machine was eventually replaced.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during a rally in Paschim Medinipur, claimed that the BJP has manipulated EVMs and used central forces to intimidate the voters.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s younger brother Soumendu claimed he was attacked in Kanthi by TMC supporters. He also alleged that his car was vandalised, and his driver sustained injuries in the attack.

At Mohonpur in the Dantan assembly constituency, four persons were injured in clashes between workers of the TMC and the BJP, after alleged attempts to capture booths were made by some of them.

NAYPYITAW, MAR 27 (AGENCIES): Security forces killed more than 90 people across Myanmar on Saturday in one of the bloodiest days of protests since a military coup last month, news reports and witnesses said.

The lethal crackdown came on Armed Forces Day. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader, said during a parade in the capital Naypyitaw to mark the event that the military would protect the people and strive for democracy.

State television had said on Friday that protesters risked being shot “in the head and back”. Despite this, demonstrators against the February 1 coup came out on the streets of Yangon, Mandalay and other towns.

The Myanmar Now news portal said 91 people were killed across the country by security forces. A boy reported by local media to be as young as five was among at least 29 people killed in Mandalay. At least 24 people were killed in Yangon, Myanmar Now said.

“Today is a day of shame for the armed forces,” Dr Sasa, a spokesman for CRPH, an anti-junta group

Anti-coup protesters hide behind a barricade during the crackdown on March 27. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

set up by deposed lawmakers, told an online forum.

Meanwhile, one of Myanmar’s two dozen ethnic armed groups, the Karen National Union, said it had overrun an army post near the Thai border, killing 10 people - including a lieutenant colonel - and losing one of its own fighters. The deaths on Saturday would take the number of civilians reported killed since the coup to well over 400.

“This 76th Myanmar armed forces day will stay engraved as a day of terror and dishonour,” the EU delegation to Myanmar said.

“The killing of unarmed civilians, including children, are indefensible acts.”

In Naypyitaw, Gen Min Aung Hlaing reiterated

a promise to hold elections, without giving any timeframe. “The army seeks to join hands with the entire nation to safeguard democracy,” he said in a live broadcast on state television.

International pressure on the junta increased this week with new US and European sanctions. But Russia’s deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin attended the parade in Naypyitaw, having met senior junta leaders a day earlier.

“Russia is a true friend,” Min Aung Hlaing said.

Diplomats said eight countries - Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand - sent representatives, but Russia was the only one to send a minister.

COVID-19 second wave rages across India 62,258 fresh cases, 291 deaths in 24 hours NEW DELHI, MAR 27 (AGENCIES): India reported more than 60,000 fresh COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, according to a Union Health Ministry update released on Saturday.

The country reported 62,258 fresh COVID-19 cases, this is the highest single-day spike since October 2020.

With the addition of

No new COVID case reported in State DIMAPUR, MAR 27 (NPN): No new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from across the State on Saturday, keeping the total caseload to 12229.

The active cases also stood at five while a total of 11979 patients have recovered from the infection till date.

Further, the distribution across various categories include 4691 cases from the armed forces/police, 1874 returnees, 5091 traced contacts and 573 frontline workers.

This is it!

“They’re promising free laptop, rations, scooter, TV, fridge, electricity etc.

It’s same as offering cash for vote.”

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fresh cases reported in the past 24 hours, India’s total COVID-19 case count reached 1,19,08,910. Apart from the fresh cases, 291 COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours. The nation’s COVID19 death toll has reached 1,61,240. In the past 24 hours, 30,386 COVID-19 recoveries were registered. So far, 1,12,96,023 people have managed to recover from the virus in the country. The number of active COVID-19 cases now stands at 4,62,647.

The recovery rate dropped to 94.85%, as per the Saturday

update. According to Health Ministry, the number of active cases and deaths account for 3.80% and 1.35% of total COVID-19 cases, respectively.

On the vaccination front, 5,81,09,773 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered thus far as part of nationwide inoculation campaign. Data released by the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) showed that 23,97,69,553 samples have been tested for COVID-19 as of March 26, 2021. Out of these, 11,64,915 samples

were tested just on March 26, 2021.

The recent surge in COVID-19 cases has the state governments spooked.

Maharashtra, which is the worst hit among all the states, has been recording more than 30,000 fresh cases for the past three days. On Friday, Maharashtra had recorded 36,902 fresh cases which were 59.27% of the total fresh cases registered across the country.

On Thursday, CM Uddhav Thackeray had announced a night curfew for entire state from March 28 in order to curb spread of coronavirus.

Prez Kovind to undergo bypass procedure NEW DELHI, MAR 27 (PTI): President Ram Nath Kovind was on Saturday shifted to the AIIMS here for a planned bypass procedure which is expected to be performed on Tuesday, a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The president’s health condition is stable and he is under the care of experts, it said. Kovind, 75, had undergone a health check-up at the Army Hospital (R&R) here following chest discomfort on Friday morning. “The President of India, Shri Ram

Nath Kovind has been shifted to the AIIMS, Delhi, in the afternoon today (March 27, 2021). Post investigations, doctors have advised him to undergo a planned bypass procedure which is expected to be performed on the morning of March 30, Tuesday.

Appreciation award for Naga doctor Spl. Correspondent

G U WA H AT I , M A R 2 7 (NPN): One of Nagaland’s prominent doctor-- senior Pathologist and head, health care & research laboratory and officer in-charge of Bio-Safety Laboratory (BSL) at NHAK, Dr. Vinotsole (Tina) Khamo was given the “Award of Appreciation 2021” by city-based Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, a premier cancer institute of the region, for her outstanding contribution in the field of oncology in the State.

The award was given away by Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute’s director Dr AC Kataki at Hotel Palasio here on Saturday evening. Dr. Khamo, who is also the principal investigator of Population Based Cancer Registry in Nagaland, was among six prominent doctors of the Northeast to have received the award in the field of Oncology.

Dr. Khamo receiving the award.

Accepting the award, Khamo acknowledged Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute for having instituted the award to acknowledge the services rendered by the oncologists in a region where prevalence of cancer was quite high.

She expressed the hope that the award would serve as an encouragement to others to serve the people with renewed determination. Dr. Khamo called for greater mass awareness and more research on the subject, particularly on

some specific types of cancer prevalent in the region.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Kataki said the award was instituted in 2019 to acknowledge services of doctors working in the field of oncology in the Northeast, who have been rendering yeoman services despite several limitations like lack of proper infrastructure. However, he said the awards could not be given away in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides Khamo, other recipients of this year’s awards are Dr Ravi Kannan from Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre Silchar, Dr Gautam Majumdar from Agartala’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee RCC, NHM Mizoram mission director Dr Eric Zomawia, Arunachal Pradesh Cancer Control Programme’s State nodal officer Dr Sam Tsering and Pratishruti Cancer & Palliative Trust, Dibrugarh.

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state

ITC Avakhung guest house inaugurated

Neiba Kronu with officials of industries & commerce and others.

DIMAPUR: Minister planning & co-ordination, land revenue, parliamentary affairs, Neiba Kronu inaugurated the Guest House & Marketing Shed at International Border Trade Centre (ITC), Avakhung, Phek district on March 26. The

trade centre was constructed by the department of industries and commerce, Nagaland.

In his speech, Neiba Kronu mentioned the significance of the newly established ITC which he hoped would strengthen

the relationship between India and Myanmar and improve the economy of both the countries.

However, he said that the success and progress of the trade centre would depend on the people; their participation, extensive

utilisation, hospitality and cooperation.

Referring to India’s Act East Policy, Kronu also emphasised on the prospects of trade with Myanmar. In this regard, he said that trade between Myanmar and Nagaland would open up trade with other South East Asian nations.

He informed that the intermediate road from Lazaphuhu to Avakhungvia Akhegwo would commence soon and that the Washiho cement factory would have more scope.

Kronu requested the public to cooperate with the concerned authorities during the construction of road so that the road projects were completed in time.

He was accompanied by public leaders of CPO and Puchory Hoho.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021

news in Brief NSF senior consultative meeting: Naga Students’ Federation has informed that a senior consultative meeting would be held on March 29, 12 p.m. at Hotel Japfü. All senior members of NSF have been requested to attend the meeting.

Dead body recovered: Dimapur police have informed that one unidentified dead body of a suspected non-Naga male (around 60 years) was recovered at marketing shed near Essar petrol pump, Walford Dimapur. On completion of all legal formalities the dead body was shifted to district hospital Dimapur for PM examination and identification. Claimant/relatives/ friends of the deceased have been informed to contact OC, east police station Dimapur.

TSUD convenes meeting: Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) has convened a meeting on March 29, 1 p.m. at Tenyimi union complex for the upcoming general conference. All the organising committees and sub committees have been requested to attend the meeting.

One drowned in Kiphire KIPHIRE MAR 27 (NPN): One 14th NAP (IR) consta- Project director, DRDA Phek, Keyirangding Hegui along ble, aged around 30 years, reportedly drowned at Zingki with others at the inauguration of rostrum and gallery River near Kiphire on Saturday. The dead body was later at Khezhakeno village on March 27. retrieved from the river and was sent to his hometown after the formalities. Sources informed that it was an accidental drowning. (Correspondent)

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, MAR 27 (NPN): Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) held its annual general meet here on Saturday at town hall, super market, Dimapur.

In his speech, chief guest of the programme, DMC administrator, Albert Ezung stressed on the importance of community participation for all round development and peaceful coexistence.

Ezung maintained that DUCCF being one among the prominent frontal organisations in Dimapur was the reason why Dimapur had a success story to tell with regard to the pandemic.

He added that it was during troubled times that leaders emerge and lauded DUCCF for their support and cooperation towards

DMC during the pandemic.

He added that with the support of DUCCF, DMC was able to discharge its duties successfully.

Maintaining that quality of leadership was crucial for positive transmission in a society, he urged upon DUCCF leaders to select the next leaders who could carry the legacy forward.

Asserting on the importance of leaders at grassroots level, Ezung observed that leadership at community level was very important and when the grassroots level do not function well, the society would not go forward.

Ezung further admired the peaceful coexistence of different communities in Dimapur, be it Naga or non Naga. He urged upon the gathering to maintain the same and to do away with the evil practices of tribal-

nagalandpost.com Poll

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, the bereaved family members of Late MOATEMSU (Ungma) 2nd NAP I/C No.11292 Regd No.10754. would like to express our profound and heartfelt gratitude to all the friends, well wishers, neighbours and individuals who stood by us physically, spiritually, financially and with your sincere prayer at the sudden and sad demise of my beloved husband on 12.03.2021.

We specially express our sincere thank to: 1. Shri. Sharingain Longkumer. Speaker, NLA. Govt.of Nagaland.

2. Shri Toshipokba, Ex. MLA. 3. Mr Kilang, Grace Home,Tuli 4. All Ranks and Files of 2nd NAP Bn. Alichen.

5. Ungma Village Council 6. Ungma Baptist Church.

We deeply regret our inability to mention and thank each and everyone in particular. However, you all are close to our hearts for the unconditional support during our bereavement. We pray that our Rich Lord bless you all abundantly.

From Loving Wife, Children, Parents, In-Laws and Relatives

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Q.: D o r e c e n t c l a s h e s reveal govt’s failure to prevent them?

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, May the name of the Lord be praised. – Job 1:21

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

A

B

C

84% 14% 2%

Lockdown to stop the rapid spread of COVID19 in the country?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST march 28

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Very hot with hazy sunshine

39 22

Partly sunny and very warm

33 15

Guwahati Hazy sunshine and very hot

37 17

Very warm with hazy sunshine 33 10

Itanagar Hazy sun and hot

33 18

Shillong

Hazy sunshine

27 14

Kohima

Hazy sunshine

28 14

Dimapur Hazy sun and hot

Plenty of sunshine

Tuensang Sunny Wokha

Loving wife, children, grandchildren, in-laws & relatives

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Next poll

Mkg

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Q: Is there need for another

Imphal

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––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

Aizawl

LATE IMKONGMEREN 17.07.1970 – 22.03.2021 We offer our heartfelt thanks to all the friends, neighbors and well-wishers who visited our home, attended the service, burial and provided emotional and practical support for us at this difficult time, we are truly grateful. May God bless you all.

MKC-96

DMC administrator, Albert Ezung speaking at the DUCCF annual general meet on Saturday. (NP)

Zanghei Elunglung and invocation by director and pastor, Divine Harvest, Rev. Dilip Singh.

Songs were also presented by Naga Hindi singer, NK Naga while Dreamz Unlimited performed for the gathering.

Presidential address was delivered by DUCCF president, Tsenthungo Nyamo who also handed out prizes and certificates to winners of inter colony drawing and poem competition.

DP-1321

ism and hatred.

Stressing that Dimapur was among the fastest growing city in the Northeast, Ezung expressed concern over the increase in population which not led to rapid urbanisation and posed problems, resulting in limitation of resources.

He later urged the gathering to continue providing community participation for an all round development.

E a r l i e r, t h e p r o gramme was chaired by

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DUCCF holds annual general meeting

Hazy sunshine

Zunheboto Sunshine

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36 19 30 14 22 10 29 19 27 12

1946 – 20.03.2021

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4: 7

Through this column, we the bereaved family members of Lt. Kropale Kikhi would like to express our profound and heartfelt gratitude to all those who stood by us and shared our grief and emotion spiritually, physically, financially and with prayers at the sudden demise of our mother and my wife who left us for her heavenly abode on 20 of March 2021.Your unfailing love, support, kindness and presence comforted us and gave us the strength to look upward with hope of her eternal rest in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We convey our special thanks to the different organisations of Tenyiphe II Village for their immense help and support during her fateful journey.

Though we are unable to thank each and everyone individually, yet it is our humble prayer that the Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

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Loving husband, children, in-laws, grandchildren and relatives

LATE NAIK NEIZETO YHOSHU 2 NAGA Regt. (MASHKOH) 05.10.1988 – 17.03.2021 Through this column, we the family of LATE NAIK NEIZETO YHOSHU, son of ZHAVILIE YHOSHU of Kigwema village, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual who stood by us and supported us spiritually, physically, financially and many other ways at the sudden demise of our beloved Neizeto. Your love and comfort in our times of deep sorrow will be remembered. It is our prayer that Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

We extend our special gratitude to:1. Shri. Medo Yhokha, Advisor, Technical Education & Election, Govt. of Nagaland.

2. Col. Pankaj Kumar Chand, Commanding Officer, 2 Naga Regiment (MASHKOH).

3. Visalie Leno (SM) and all Ranks and Files, 2 Naga Regiment (MASHKOH).

4. Col. Neeraj Sood, SC. Commanding Officer, 164 TA Naga (H&H).

5. Jagdish Singh (SM) and all Ranks and Files, 164 TA Naga (H&H).

6. COR (Kumaon & Naga Regt. & Kumoan Scout).

7. 95th INF Brigade.

8. Military Hospital Shimla.

9. 165 TA Assam Regt.

10. 57th Mountain Division.

11. 25 WEU. 12. 13th Dogra Regt.

13. IGAR (North) Kohima.

14. Kigwema Village Council.

15. Kigwema Women Society 16. Kigwema Youth Organization.

17. Churches of Kigwema Village.

18. Fellowship TCP (Kigwema Village) 19. Teachers from St. Paul School Phesama.

20. Relatives from Mao. Loving Wife, Son, Family members & Relatives K-664

Born in : 1959 – Died on : 19/03/2021 Through this column, we the bereaved family members would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who stood by us emotionally, financially, materially and physically during the prolonged illness and sudden demise of our beloved mother Lt. Ave Yeptho (Huvezolu Chizo) at Lhomithi Village.

Your act of kindness shown to us shall never be forgotten.

We regret our inability to thank each and every individual but pray that God Almighty bless you abundantly.

We convey our special thanks to: 1. Lhomithi Baptist Church.

2. Lhomithi Youth Department.

3. Lhomithi Women Department.

4. Lhomithi Families.

5. Phisami Union, Dimapur.

6. Tuzatsu Baptist Church, Phek.

7. Dr. John Yepthomi.

8. Dr. Rembeni S. Yepthomi.

9. Y. Zhimo Colony.

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From Loving husband, sons, grandchildren & relatives K Y M C

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021

COVID SOPs maintained in Assam first phase polls

A health worker checks the body temperature of a woman as she arrives to cast her vote. (PTI)

Guwahati, Mar 27 (PTI): The fear of COVID looms large and Assam’s voters stepped out of their homes with caution to exercise their franchise and they seemed satisfied with the facilities to check the spread of the virus in polling stations in the first of the three-phased election in 47 of the 126 assembly constituencies.

Besides, voters were happy with arrangements to take care of children while their mothers voted, and ferry people with disabilities to polling stations.

For 65-year old Amiya Gogoi of the Duliajan assembly constituency, not casting her vote due to the pandemic was not an option as she has sincerely voted in every election since she

came to her marital home as a bride 45-years ago.

“My husband and I have never stayed away from any election but this time we had doubts with Corona cases again increasing and both of us are co-morbid,” she said.

Her two sons, who are also voters, went early to the polling station and returned reassured that strict COVID protocols are in place and their parents can exercise their rights without worry, she said.

Bank official Dilip Phukan of the Dibrugarh constituency was also initially hesitant to go to the polling station.

He ventured out to exercise his franchise after his friends in the district administration assured

CLC observes freshers’ and parting social day

Kukuto Khuli speaking at the programme. (NP)

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, MARCH 27, (NPN): City Law College (CLC) Dimapur celebrated its freshers’ day cum parting social day Saturday, at the college premises.

Special guest, proprietor of Hukuto Mission School, Kukuto Khuli, who is also the GB of Bamunpukhuri spoke on the values and importance of customary laws passed down from generations to generations.

He added that the customary laws began from establishment of new village, where every word of leaders/chief became oral laws and villagers recognised and followed the unwritten laws.

Khuli further asserted that customary laws though

unwritten had special place for women and safeguarded the peaceful gender.

Stating the customary law courts had been set up in every district, subdivision and outposts, he suggested the graduating students to urge the state government to reserve the post of Dobashis (DB) for law students, maintaining that any post held by qualified persons would become a respectable post.

In his address, CLC principal, Leonard Aier stated that justice was the foundation of society and if misused, it wold destroy the foundation of life. He congratulated the outgoing students and prayed that they would practice law in the right manner.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by Lijabeni Kikon and special number presented by Wati Pongen and Theja. A short speech was also delivered by chairman, CLC, while invocation invoked by lecturer, CLC, Mezuhulhousieno.

Speeches on behalf of the freshers as well as outgoing students were delivered.

him that COVID-19 safety measures such as wearing masks, marked places for voters to stand in a queue, availability of sanitiser and thermal scanner and disposable gloves for touching the EVMs are in place.

Anima Tanti, a worker of Gopal Tea Estate in Golaghat district, with a threemonth-old child was not willing to go to vote but on seeing her neighbours dressed in their holiday best, she too was tempted and wore a colourful saree to join them, taking her little daughter along.

“When I reached the polling station, I was surprised as a ‘baideu’ (elder sister), on seeing me with a baby, took me aside to a beautifully decorated room with toys and other child care facilities. Another baideu there took care of my baby while I finished voting,” a happy Tanti said.

There are 479 polling stations where only women polling personnel have been deployed with 128 of them turned into model polling stations and decorated aesthetically with Assamese handicrafts, including the ‘japi’ (traditional headgears), bamboo crafted gates, designs made with ‘gamosas’ (traditional towels) and ‘rangolis’ at the entrance.

3

northeast/State

Kanhaiya Kumar calls Cong-AIUDF country’s enemy, state Modi ‘biggest liar’ advanced in all sectors under BJP: Sonowal Compares Himanta to Kansa of Mahabharata Morigaon (Assam), Mar 27 (PTI): CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar hit out at BJP on Saturday calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “the biggest liar” and comparing the saffron party’s top Assam leader Himanta Biswa Sarma with King Kansa, the tyrant ruler of Mathura in the Mahabharata.

The former JNU students union president termed Modi’s statement in Bangladesh, where he is on a visit, about going to jail for that country’s freedom as a “big lie”.

He urged the people of Assam, where the threephase poll for the state assembly began on Saturday, not to support those who are selling the resources of the country in the name of nationalism.

Launching a scathing attack on Modi, the Left youth leader questioned whether annually two crore jobs have been created or black money has returned to the country as was promised by him in 2014.

“What has happened in five years? How are the same people seeking votes again? When I came here someone said that I can be a challenge to Modi. I said

Kanhaiya Kumar

that to challenge Modi one has to be the biggest liar of the world”.

Referring to Modi’s comment in Dhaka, Kumar said, “Have you heard what has he (Modi) said in Bangladesh? He said he had also contributed in Bangladesh’s freedom struggle, that he had participated in satyagraha and went to jail... Only BJP leaders can create such level of lies,” Kumar said.

In the Bangladesh war, India supported the freedom movement in that country and Pakistan opposed it. “So a question arises that where was Modi on his satyagraha ?

“Was he put behind the bars by the Pakistan government or the Indian government? It is nothing but a big lie,” Kumar said while campaigning for CPI candidate Munin Mahanta. Modi had said in Dhaka on Friday that he was part of a satyagraha held to back the liberation of Bangladesh. It had led to political slugfest back home.

Guwahati, Mar 27 (PTI): Slamming the Congress-AIUDF alliance as the country’s “enemy”, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said if it is elected to power it will “endanger” Indians living in the state and strengthen illegal immigrants.

He expressed confidence that people will solidly back the BJP-led NDA in the polls due to its development and peace efforts.

He also played down speculation about the next chief minister if the BJPled alliance retains power, saying the state government worked like “team Assam” in the last five years and the party’s goal is to win the polls.

The BJP’s decision to not name its chief ministerial face has set off the speculation with Sonowal’s powerful ministerial colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma being seen as another strong probable for the job besides him.

Sonowal told PTI that Assam has advanced in all sectors under the BJP rule, and the government has worked to unite all sections of society, resulting in durable peace.

He asserted that the BJP, if elected to power, will establish an “errorfree” National Register of Citizens, a poll promise of

Sarbananda Sonowal

the party, to ensure that all Indians are included and no illegal immigrant finds its way in.

Asked about his assessment of the state poll results, he noted the BJPled alliance has set a target of 100 plus seats and expressed confidence that it will achieve it.

Voting for the first phase of polls in 47 of the total 126 seats was held on Saturday.

Making light of the Congress’ promise of not implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the state if it comes to power, Sonowal said it cannot do anything as this is a central law.

He termed the Congress-All India United Democratic Front alliance as an “enemy of the country”.

“Those who stand for foreign infiltrators can never by the country’s well-

wishers. If the CongressAIUDF comes to power, its government will endanger Indians living in the state and strengthen illegal infiltrators. If this alliance wins, it will work for them,” he claimed.

Illegal immigration has long been a sensitive issue in the northeastern state which has seen numerous protests by indigenous communities over the decades against it.

Sonowal, who was associated with All Assam Students’ Union and Asom Gana Parishad before joining the BJP, has been a key figure of the movement as it was on his plea that the Supreme Court struck down Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983, which was enacted by the then Congress government and was criticised as ineffective against the problem of illegal immigration, mostly from Bangladesh.

Earlier Congress governments gave space of illegal immigrants while his government has taken many steps against them and advanced the cause of Assam’s “self-respect”, he said.

The AIUDF under Badr uddin Ajmal was forced after the Supreme Court struck down the law to further the cause of illegal immigrants, he alleged.

STATE

Various organisations condemn March 22 killings DIMAPUR: Various organisations have condemned the killings of three persons on March 22 along DimapurPeren border area by some assailants.

LHD: Lotha Hoho Dimapur (LHD) has condemned the killing of the three innocent persons stating that the heinous act underscored “the urgent need for strong resolution to reject all acts of terrorism and to unite in the face of this shared and growing threat.”

LHD general secretary W Rainbow Ngullie called upon law enforcing agencies to conduct proper investigation and bring those responsible to justice. Further, LHD conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family members and urged the government to enforce “effective legislation and restrictive measures with sincere commitment to ensure protection of democratic values and safety of citizens”.

ASTD: Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) in a condemnation note through its president stated that “when Nagas are seeking for peace and tranquillity to prevail in the state, this kind of human act disturbs the whole society.” ASTD urged upon the gover nment in

power to book the culprits at the earliest and grant justice before it proliferates beyond control. Further ASTD conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for their soul to rest in peace.

AYO: Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has expressed anguish over the March 22 incident where three precious lives were lost. AYO president Kekhrie Pfukha and press secretary Sedevikho Angami said the horrific incident has shocked the entire Naga people and alleged that the heinous act was “perpetrated by senseless, armed and trained intruders numbering around 30-40 who pumped bullets on the three innocent villagers, also indulging in the sadistic madness of dismembering and even burning the death bodies.” It alleged that the intent of the “barbaric act was evidently clear and pre-planned since handwritten notes were left at the site.”

While stating that disputes and altercations exists between all sections of people, AYO said such inhumane and diabolical approach chosen by the merciless killers was outrightly unacceptable and calls for immediate retribution from the law enforcers.

It claimed that as per

information and gathered evidences, “arms and weapons meant for the cause of Naga national cause were used to kill our own, which throws aspersions on the principles and stand of the group and their commitment to the Naga struggle itself.”

While the protracted Naga movement finally at a crucial stage of settlement, AYO said this horrific incident has revealed the true colour of those handful of goons with their sinister agenda to further their own selfish motives using weapons procured from the blood and sweat of Naga people.

Condemning the despicable actions of such nefarious persons, AYO urged Nagas “to be wary and not nurture such evil entities, using violence and intimidation for their personal gain while creating irreparable divisions within the Naga family”. It must be ensured that the entire Naga people shut their doors on these evil people, AYO added. AYO said it was “unfortunate that the term ‘no man’s land’ is being used conveniently to justify the disputation and the killings of innocents”. It said that all the Naga territories or lands have a legitimate and ancestral owner. “Every

Naga community knows and accepts that to be true; likewise, the Zeliang community is the sole ancestral owner of Peren district, and they have shared ancestral and traditional boundary with the Angamis since time immemorial,” it said.

“No community have the ancestral right over Lamhainamdi other than the Zeliang community, and AYO acknowledges this to be true,” it added. AYO therefore urged the government to take all necessary measures in ensuring justice and apprehend the anti-social elements at the earliest. Further, AYO conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members and said that AYO stands and assures full cooperation with the bereaved members and the entire Zeliang community at this sorrowful time ASUD: Ao Students’ Union Dimapur (ASUD) has vehemently condemned the murder of the three persons and assured its full support.

ASUD through its president Moayanger Jamir and general secretary Aoneken Walling urged the concerned authority to leave no stone unturned in identifying and booking the culprits at the earliest and award befitting punishment. ASUD also

requested Nagas not to turn this into a communal issue for it would only worsen the situation but to have faith in the law.

The union further extended its condolence to the bereaved family.

KU: Konyak Union (KU) has condemned the barbaric incident stating that when all Nagas were yearning for peace and stability, such incident and conflict within the tribes or communities reflected negative image, mindset and concepts of Nagas to the outside world.

A condemnation note through its media cell stated that justice should be strongly delivered and directed law enforcing agencies to book the culprits according to the rule of law.

Further, the union conveyed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family members.

W C H : We s t e r n Chakhesang Hoho (WCH) has condemned the killing of the three persons stating that the state government should

leave no stone unturned to see that justice is upheld and further escalation of violence is prevented.

A condemnation note through its president, Dietho Rahkho and joint secretary Zasekhoyi Ringa urged the government to bring about a permanent solution to the prolonged disputing matter before things get further blown-up.

It further conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.

CSU: Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) has condemned the killing of three innocent lives.

A condemnation note through its president Vetho Vadeo and general secretary Avezo Kevin Kapu stated that “no legitimate cause can ever be achieved by acts of violence.”

It urged upon the law enforcing agencies and the state government to bring the culprits and award befitting punishment.

Further, CSU conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family members.

Unity College observes 14th freshers’ day Lhouphi Sorhie Rülei Ki inaugurated in Kma

Dr. Malini B Sharma speaking at the 14th freshers’ day at Unity College. (NP)

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, MAR 27 (NPN): Unity College observed its 14th freshers’ day at the college campus, with assistant professor of department of genetics and plant breeding, SASRD, Dr. Malini B Sharma as the chief guest.

Encouraging the freshers, the professor stated that life would have challenges but they were always inspirational.

She maintained that graduation meant one would develop ideas, start observing, analysing and making decisions which K Y M C

were vital for the society.

She further asserted that graduating years were where one would have to capture maximum knowledge and in the students, the lecturers see thinkers, philosophers, politicians and policy makers of the society.

Further, the professor advised the students to enjoy college days with responsibility and accountability.

Delivering the welcome address, principal of the college, Dr. Lichumo Enie urged students not to be ordinary in order to strive for the best.

He maintained that self discipline and time management was the road to success and advised them to allow the college to open up doors of exclusive and rewarding opportunities.

Earlier, UCSU general secretary, Talikaba Longkumer delivered welcome speech on behalf of the seniors while Akash Yadav delivered speech on behalf of the freshers.

Release of college magazine and journal was also initiated by the guest of honour and a song was present by Itihito H Kiba.

Muttan Hangbe E Chang and Martha Patton were crowned as the 14th Mr. and Ms. Fresher.

Correspondent

Kohima, MAR 27 (NPN): With the advancement in technology there is a need to preserve and document tradition through various means including video, audio and photos besides observing it, said Khriehu Liezietsu, MLA. He was speaking at the inaugural of “Lhouphi Sorhie Rülei Ki” constructed

by Keneikhrie Peli (batch) from T. Khel, Kohima village in commemoration of silver jubilee of Chapru, here on Saturday at Sepfüzou colony.

He pointed out that people

should understand the difference between tradition and religion since there had been times when people often get confused between the two while celebrating the biggest Angami festival Sekrenyi.

He lauded Keneikhrie peli for coming up with a visionary initiative to construct the rest house which he said would be of huge service to the state.

He further said members of the batch had demonstrated unity and camaraderie by cultivating a field together and rearing fishes besides organising free health camps at nearby

villages. Kohima village council chairman Helievio Solo said that there was need for the four khels to fix a date to celebrate Sekrenyi collectively since they had been observing the festival separately of late.

Earlier, Pelevizo Solo hosted the prog ramme while land owner’s message was delivered by Neisazo Sorhie.

Keneikhrie peli members Kekhrievilhou Solo and Thepfuhulie Belho gave short speeches and renowned Naga singer, Methaneilie Solo presented some of his popular numbers.

DSSU condemns alleged rape of minor girl in Dmu DIMAPUR: Dimapur Sümi Students’ Union (DSSU) has condemned the alleged rape of a five year-old girl by a 55 year-old man, a permanent resident of Tening under Peren district and presently residing at half Nagarjan, Dimapur on March 19.

DSSU president, Vitopu Ayemi and general secretary, Vitoka N Rochill said the union was utterly stunned after learning

about the hideous crime of rape committed.

Condemning the “ghastly act,” the union said that such type of “abominable person” was not worthy of calling himself a human.

Further, DSSU urged the law enforcement officers to investigate the matter and deliver justice. The union expressed hope that the law enforcers would deliver proper judgement as deemed to the accused.

K Y M C

4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXxI NO. 111 Dimapur, SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021

Divided and disarrayed

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s the BJP determinedly seeks to grab Bengal, the last major state holding on to east India; then steamroll over the union territory of Puducherry after tripping the besieged and helpless Narayanasamy-led Congress coalition where it had no MLA and brimming with confidence of winning over 100 seats in the 126-member Assam assembly to retain power; it seems there is no stopping the saffron juggernaut. India is at the crossroad of democracy where the ruling party’s prime minister and top leaders of the party are on perpetual electionmode and determined to extend a one-party rule across the nation. Laws are either being amended or ignored as the party in power, ruled by a one-man regime, aided by a succulent cabinet, a partisan executive, a pliant media and a friendly judiciary-is changing the entire polity of the nation. Democracy has become the means to an end while probing voices are stifled in the face of a clueless and growing irrelevant opposition. In such an environment, liberals and intellectuals continue to speak of the need for a united, strong, meaningful, committed, credible and responsible opposition in order to stop attempts to homogenise India. However, the space for opposition, presently occupied by the Congress fails to inspire as the grand old party is rudderless and leaderless to pick up the gauntlet. Across India, its spaces are consumed by regional and subregional forces, with no impact on the national character or say in the current autocratic policy-making processes. An uncontested and unchallenged ruling regime is escaping away with virtually every decision that creates fissures in the society and causes social and economic pain- from demonetization to flawed GST, to the new farm laws that have stirred the peasantry into protests all over. If lack of a dialogue and consensus marks the functionality of the Modi government, a complete collapse of deliberations within and outside plagues the Congress’ functionality at local, regional, state and national levels.

The Congress is in dire need of a course correction but that is unlikely. The Indian National Congress of 2021 is anything but a political instrument of the masses or for the masses that it once was. At best, it’s a group of clueless leaders with little or no connect with the people of India or little or no connect with their own historic past. Worse, the Congress appears desperate to remain relevant that has led to having no formal position on anything. This is amplified by its contradictory stand vis-a-vis the Left. In the ongoing election in West Bengal, the Congress has allied with the Left but in Kerala, it is locked in a bitter fight against the ruling Left Front government. Again, in Kerala, NCP, an ally of the Congress in Maharashtra, is in alliance with the Left, while in Bengal, NCP is backing TMC. Even JMM, a coalition partner of Congress in Jharkhand, is campaigning for TMC in Bengal with another ally, the RJD. These developments clearly suggest that the opposition is deeply divided and opportunistic and this does not augur well for democracy. These should not make the BJP lose sleepless nights as it has nothing to fear, unless results of elections in five states determine otherwise.

DailyDevotion Spiritual Vision Through Personal Character

Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place… —Revelation 4:1 A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, “Friend, come up even higher.” There is also a continuing rule in temptation which calls you to go higher; but when you do, you only encounter other temptations and character traits. Both God and Satan use the strategy of elevation, but Satan uses it in temptation, and the effect is quite different. When the devil elevates you to a certain place, he causes you to fasten your idea of what holiness is far beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear or achieve. Your life becomes a spiritual acrobatic performance high atop a steeple. You cling to it, trying to maintain your balance and daring not to move. But when God elevates you by His grace into heavenly places, you find a vast plateau where you can move about with ease.

Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level. We have all been brought to see from a higher viewpoint. Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light.

Your growth in grace is not measured by the fact that you haven’t turned back, but that you have an insight and understanding into where you are spiritually. Have you heard God say, “Come up higher,” not audibly on the outer level, but to the innermost part of your character?

“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing…?”

(Genesis 18:17). God has to hide from us what He does, until, due to the growth of our personal character, we get to the level where He is then able to reveal it.

Quotes

Avoid popularity; it has many snares, and no real benefit. ~ William Penn

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021

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t is all because of the will of the Father God that the Nagas of Nagaland had to inhabit the land called Nagaland.

Nothing had ever happened without the will of God as found in Acts 17:26 “From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” NIV. Therefore, the 16-Points Memorandum of 1960 and the subsequent creation of the State of Nagaland as the 16th State in the Union of India with the incorporation of the Art 371(A) in the Constitution of India were so definitely according to the will of God. Thus, how and what had to happen to the Nagas of Nagaland, had happened at the right time by the will of God no matter how busybodies are fond of critically analyzing it from time to time.

The State of Nagaland was thus created for the indigenously aboriginal inhabitant Nagas of Nagaland and the other indigenous inhabitants of others who had been in the territory prior to the creation of the Statehood in 1963. It was indeed a miracle that the Art 371(A) was enacted by Parliament for the ownership of the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland over the land and its resources, for protection and preservation of religion, language, custom, tradition and culture of the citizens of Nagaland pertaining to which no act of Parliament will have overriding power notwithstanding Parliament being the supreme law making authority of India.

N eve r t h e l e s s, t h e State of Nagaland and its successive Governments had never taken any initia-

The Indispensability of RIIN tives for enumeration of the bona fide inhabitants of Nagaland for registration and record. Till today, even after 58 years of its existence, the Govt. of Nagaland does not have a single proper record on who is and who is not her aboriginal citizen. The Govt. has only the decadal census figures which are inclusive of Tom, Dick and Harry, and at times those figures are erroneously prepared.

In the event of a sovereign nation having no proper and accurate record on the bona fide citizenship of her subjects, that nation becomes everyone’s country. In other words, a sovereign/Independent nation remaining ignorant of who are and who are not her bona fide citizens tantamount to no man’s nation as any stranger can stake claim to be a citizen of that nation. Such a nation’s sovereignty does not necessarily become absolute. There is no such sovereign nation on earth that remains casual about her citizenship. If a recognized village in Nagaland is bereft of its bona fide citizenship records, that very village becomes to be no man’s village as any outsider or foreigner can stake claim himself /herself to be a bona fide citizen of that village. Similarly, so long as the State of Nagaland remains obscure about who is and who is not her aboriginal citizen, Nagaland remains to be everybody’s State. In other words, Nagaland remains to be no man’s land but everyone’s land.

Whereas, the State of Nagaland has its definite territory of its own of 16,579 sq. km when it became a State in the Union of India. Whereas, Nagaland has its indigenous inhabitants who are

the aboriginal land owners inhabiting the State of Nagaland much before the creation of Nagaland as a State in India. Whereas the State of Nagaland and its resources, both beneath and above the surface of the land, belonged to the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland and that any benefit accrues out of it belongs to the bona fide inhabitants alone. Whereas, the indigenous inhabitants, the aboriginal inhabitants, of Nagaland have its inherited culture, tradition, languages, religion and customary practices which are to be preserved and protected from its possible dilution and destruction in due course of time. Thus, to protect and preserve whatever in Nagaland is naturally and historically belonged to the aboriginal inhabitants, the GoI had provided the Special Protective Article at 371(A) in the Constitution of India.

Whatever measure is undertaken by the State Govt. of Nagaland for the purpose of protecting the basic rights and interests of the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland within the parameters of Art 371(A) is therefore legitimate under this article. Accordingly, the State Govt. of Nagaland enacted a law pertaining to the criteria by which who is and who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland vide No.AR-8/8/76 Dated, Kohima, the 28th April, 1977, the Prohibition of land acquisition by non-indigenous citizens of Nagaland by the Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment Act), 1978 vide Nagaland Act No. 8 of 1978 and then bringing the District of Dimapur under the enforcement of Inner Line Permit (ILP) vide No.CON-3/PAP/65/10

Career options in Nutrition

W

e eat food for getting energy and we also get engaged in different activities for which we need good food for good health. We have been studying about the importance of balanced diet since our school days. In simple we can say that nutrition is must for pour progress. Well, nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It includes ingestion, absorption, assimilation, biosynthesis, catabolism and excretion. In simple it is the process of taking in food and transferring it into energy and additional essential nutrients vital for our life. It plays a pivotal role in leading a healthy life.

In a country like India there is a paradox which tells us that there are people who can easily afford nutritious foods where as there are millions who still needs it. There are scopes of experts to work in the field of ensuring nutrition to children of this country in many parts like rural areas or people belonging to financially marginalized communities. We are talking about it because nutrition can be a career options for many in India and also in abroad as there are changes in lifestyles.

There are courses like nutrition and dietetics in many colleges and universities which can be pursued after completing senior secondary or graduation. There are graduations, post graduation, diploma courses available in the country and in abroad. Aspirants shall get a broad understanding of clinical nutrition, food science, sports nutrition, public health nutrition and its control on human health and well-being. A Nutrition professional offers supervision to people, families, and organizations on how to change food, lifestyle, etc for healthy living.

Career opportunities in the field of nutrition includes Certified Nutrition Specialist, Clinical Dietician, Dietetic Technicians, Holistic Nutritionist, Licensed Nutritionists, Nutrition Specialties, Registered Dieticians, Registered Nurses, Rehabilitation Counsellors, Sports

Nutritionist, etc. Student may also choose home science or community science as a subject of their studies if they want to be in the field of nutrition.

Nutritionist may work in different sector which includes government as well as private sector. They may also become self employed and start their own ventures. Some of the area where they may work includes Hospitals (Government and Private), Multinational Corporations, Research and Advocacy, Schools, Private Clinics, Nursing Homes, Community Health Programmes, Wellness Centers, Fitness Clubs, Health Product Companies, Diabetic Clinics, International Organisations like UNICEF, etc The Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition or POSHAN Abhiyaan or National Nutrition Mission, is Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on 8 March, 2018 from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, the POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan directs the attention of the country towards the problem of malnutrition and address it in a mission-mode. 16th March to 31st March is POSHAN fortnight and many activities are carried out to ensure proper nutrition. Programme like POSHAN Abhiyan reminds us the importance of nutrition and the scopes in the field of nutrition.

Apart from working in the community there are options in the metros too due to increase of lifestyle diseases. Aspirants with employability skills and qualification may work in both urban and rural areas when it comes to nutrition.

As mentioned earlier there are also scopes to start new ventures or begin with startups related to nutrition.

Ranjan K Baruah (Ranjan K Baruah is a career mentor and skill trainer and can be reached at bkranjan@gmail.com)

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Dated, Kohima, the 9th December, 2019 were all done for self protection and none of these was detrimental to anyone or to any community from any other State.

Similarly, the PDA Govt. had taken the right decision to under take Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of the State of Nagaland (RIIN), and for which a Commission headed by Mrs. Banuo Z. Jamir, IAS (Rtd) was constituted and who submitted the Commission’s report which is now lying with the Govt. of Nagaland.

This exercise should have been done by any of the previous Governments and yet none bothered about it till the present PDA Govt. decided to undertake it resolutely is highly appreciable. In fact, Nagaland is behind time to streamline its genuine citizens from those of the non-indigenous citizens, a priority being ignored for decades. For the survival of the indigenous inhabitants, the bona fide landowners, of Nagaland, RIIN is indeed indispensable. Under any circumstances, RIIN has to be conducted, and the sooner the better. The future of the next generations of the Nagas of Nagaland can be protected only when the State Govt. prepares the unadulterated record on who are and who are not the owners of Nagaland.

Whereas, to ignore the conduct of RIIN is definitely detrimental to the interest of the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland for the reason that such neglect keeps Nagaland ownerless. In other words, keeping Nagaland without RIIN makes Nagaland to be the common property of both the indigenous and the non-indigenous citizens including those people

from outside Nagaland who will definitely flood our small State sooner than later. Thus, not conducting RIIN is crime against the posterity and having RIIN is doing justice to the deserving inhabitants.

Whereas, implementing RIIN is the bounding basic responsibility of the existing State Govt. and the failure is betrayal to the indigenous citizens of Nagaland.

Whereas, the citizenship of the State of Nagaland has been in disappointing dismal. The ground realities are that, over the years, the unbridled civil administration has been issuing limitless number of Temporar y Residential Certificates (TRC), Permanent Residential Certificates and Indigenous Certificates to anyone who wanted it.

Whereas, no competent authority and no District Administration had ever maintained any record on to how many of such vital documents were issued.

Because of the casualness and the irresponsibility of the administration, the citizenship in Nagaland has been in shambles. As a matter of fact, unrecorded number of noncitizens of Nagaland is in possession of Nagaland’s Indigenous certificates.

The unrecorded number of people from mainland India are in possession of the vital Nagaland’s Indigenous Certificate itself is a mockery of the system of issuance of such document rampantly even through private syndicates.

Should the Indigenous Inhabitants, particularly the aboriginal Nagas of Nagaland, remain silent spectators to the prevailing system being in haywire?

Are we to rely on hired labourers from mainland to replenish the system?

Is there anyone scare of those who opposed the RIIN exercise? Is there anyone having wrong perception that urging the State Govt. to expedite the implementation of RIIN to be a contradiction to PDA with political motive? Is not RIIN the noble plan of PDA Govt. for common interest requiring unconditional support of all the indigenous citizens of Nagaland? Was not Nagaland created to give due benefit to its bona fide citizens?

When the facilities and opportunities accrued out of the State of Nagaland are denied to the genuine citizens of Nagaland due to undue interference and overindulgence of non-genuine citizens, the outsiders, can the Nagas of Nagaland in particular get any of such opportunity or facility from Govt. of Assam or Manipur or Arunachal? How long the prevailing system of Nagaland remaining to bear the responsibility of breastfeeding people belonging to other States? How long Nagaland allows itself to be over-milked by exploiters? How long the Nagas of Nagaland in particular remain obsequious as secondary citizens in our own land?

Whereas, when a better opportunity is expected to come to protect and defend Nagaland? What better option or mechanism is considered better and more democratic and more legitimate to be adopted for safeguarding Nagaland than RIIN? Should there be any sensible elected Member amongst 60, such representative is expected to rise and become vocal for RIIN implementation.

If at all PDA stands for Nagaland, why comes the lethargy and hesitation to implement the RIIN? Z. Lohe

New tool to fight antimicrobial resistance

team of researchers at the Department of Biotechnology’s Hyderabad-based National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (DBT-NIAB) has developed a new technique to detect the presence of an antibiotic called Oxytetracycline (OTC) in milk samples.

Oxytetracyclineis known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and is one of the extensively used antibiotics in veterinary practices.

Its excessive consumption can cause antimicrobial resistance.

The new tool can help in several other ways also since consumption of milk having residual antibiotics can cause serious health complications like development of hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity, reduced growth and metabolism too. At present, the kits used

for antibiotic detection are imported and have limited availability with costs of more than Rs 100/- per test.

The new technique developed by NIAB scientists’ promises to help address the problem. It has been found to reduce the cost without compromising on the quality of detection. The kit has the sensitivity to detect up to 5 ng/ml ofs oxytetracycline in cow, buffalo, and goat milk within 10 minutes. The permissible limit as per the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is 100 ng/ml.

The researchers said these tests can be performed at the doorstep of farmers, at the level of dairy organizations or milk collection centres or by the consumers themselves.

The cost of the test will be

between Rs 25-50/test. “We are in the process of finding a suitable partner for technology transfer”, they said.

The study was conducted

by KomalBirader, Pankaj Kumar, T. Yathirajarao, Jeannie Alice Barla, Shashidhar Reddy, and Pankaj Suman.

They have submitted a research paper on their work to Elsevier’s journal for Food Chemistry. It has been accepted for publication.

Keywords: Research, Department of Biotechnology, Hyderabad, DBT, NIAB, antibiotic, milk, broad-spectrum, antimicrobial, veterinary, health, hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity, metabolism, import, cost, test, technique, scientists, sensitivity, detection, cow, buffalo, goat, FSSAI, farmers, dairy.

(Indian Science Features)

Reader’s Post Sir,

Social Conflict

Social conflicts is prevalent everywhere and it needs to be given proper attention and constant watch in any manner to control the overall situation for the sake of security of the people as a whole in the present society specially in the Nagaland context. It is more of the opinion that, the state should not be accepted as the highest group; rather the state was a means to the maximum welfare of the people and not as a sacred institution. The deafening silence of legislators regarding the 22nd March 2021 incident is not very acceptable in the present civilised society and by the electorate in a democratic form of Government.

Social justice and equal opportunities must be available to all people to develop their personalities. No person should be deprived of those social conditions which are essential for his/her development. The issue of social justice is associated with equality and social rights. Social justice is available only in a kind of society where the exploitation of man by man does not exist. Social and political justices are intimately connected because a politically unjust society can never be socially just. Social justice also implies that the material and moral benefits of planning are available to all persons and not few privileged people. So there must be a synthesis between liberty, equality and fraternity.

Y.L Jami IAS (Retd), Kushiabill

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.

India, B’desh want stability and peace: Modi

Modi, Hasina launch new train between India and Bangladesh

PM Narendra Modi hands over the COVID-19 vaccine to PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, in Bangladesh. (PTI)

ty for many years and during his visit to Bangladesh in 2015, he had expressed desire to visit Orakandi, which has come true now.

This place is a pilgrimage site for the spiritual relationship between India and Bangladesh, he said.

“I was speaking to some people here. They were saying who could have thought that India’s Prime Minister would visit Orakandi,” Modi said, adding that he was feeling the same emotions as felt

by the Matua community members in India after coming to Orakandi, from where Harichand Thakur disseminated his pious message.

Orakandi is the abode of Hindu Matua community, a large number of whom are residents of neighbouring West Bengal.

Prime Minister Modi announced that India will upgrade one girls’ middle school and set up a primary school in Orakandi.

Mamata’s purported audio clip stirs row in Nandigram TMC questions authenticity of audio clip Kolkata, Mar 27 (PTI): A huge controversy erupted on Saturday amid the polling for 30 assembly seats in West Bengal, with the BJP releasing an audio clip where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is purportedly heard cajoling a BJP leader from Nandigram to rejoin the TMC and help her win the seat.

Baner jee is pitted against her former protege and now the BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, the spring board that propelled her to power in 2011, dislodging the Left Front from power after a 34-year unbroken rule.

A BJP delegation, led by party general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya, met the state’s chief electoral officer and handed over the tape, claiming Banerjee was using her official position to influence the outcome of the bitterly contested assembly poll.

The ruling TMC questioned the genuineness of the audio tape, but asserted that since Pralay Pal was a former TMC leader who switched over to the BJP, there was nothing wrong with Banerjee trying to woo him back.

Pralay Pal said Mamata sought his help to win Nandigram.

Pal, who pledged his allegiance to the Adhikari family, whose two members are still TMC Lok Sabha members, claimed Banerjee personally called him up and asked him to help her win the Nandigram seat.

“You should help us win Nandigram. Look, I know you have some grievances, but that’s due mostly to the Adhikaris who never allowed me to get into Nandigram or East Midnapore.

I will take care of everything henceforth,” Banerjee purportedly told Pal, a BJP official in East Midnapore, the district where the Adhikari family holds sway.

Pal, however, was not game.

“Didi, you called me and I am honoured. But I can’t betray the Adhikaris as they have stood by me

through thick and thin,” he was heard saying in the audio clip.

He later told TV news channels that Baner jee called him up and requested him to return to the TMC, a proposal he declined. “I am now working for the BJP and can’t betray them,” said Pal. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio tape.

Sharing the clip of the purported conversation, BJP’s social media head Amit Malviya tweeted, “Massive! Mamata Banerjee calls Proloy Pal, BJP’s district Vice President in Nandigram and pleads for help! Proloy tells her that he was humiliated in TMC, and he, along with this family, cannot betray the BJP. Pishi is definitely losing Nandigram and TMC Bengal.”

Dhaka, Mar 27 (PTI): A new passenger train connecting Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri on the Indian side was inaugurated jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina via a video conference on Saturday. This is the third passenger train after Maitree Express (Dhaka-Kolkata) and Bandhan Express (Khulna-Kolkata) running between the two neighbouring countries.

The new passenger train, ‘Mitali Express’, was jointly inaugurated by Modi and Hasina at 6:38 pm on Saturday from the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon here via a video conference, local vernacular news website BanglaNews24.com reported.

The new inter-country passenger train was

launched on the occasion of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary and golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence, it said. The train will run between Dhaka Cantonment and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal via Chilahati, a border railway station in Bangladesh. The distance between Dhaka and Chilahati is 453 km and from Chilahati to New Jalpaiguri is 71 km.

R a i lw ay M i n i s t e r Nurul Islam Sujan, Director General of Railways Dhirendra Nath Majumder and other senior officials were present at the Dhaka Cantonment Station during the inauguration. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reporters at a briefing that the service will start when normalcy is restored.

Passage of GNCTD bill ‘murder of democracy’: Gehlot Jaipur, Mar 27 (PTI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday termed as “murder of democracy” the passage of a bill giving primacy to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor over the elected government and alleged that the Modi government wanted to run the country in a “fascist manner”.

His remarks came a day after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against his OSD Lokesh Sharma in connection with alleged phone tapping in the state.

Referring to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021, Gehlot expressed apprehension that if this continued, the Modi dispensation could abolish the powers of state government by bringing in such laws if the BJP lost elections in any state.

In a series of tweets, he also alleged that the BJP was pumping money in West

Banerjee asserted that the saffron party’s fate will be sealed after the first phase of the polls. “The BJP is bringing in goons from outside Bengal to places where the party has some foothold.

I will urge the women of the state to come out with ‘hata and khunti’ (ladle and spatula) and confront the hoodlums.”

She further requested the Election Commission to ensure that the assembly polls are conducted in a fair manner. “Delhi’s Amit Shah wants to conduct the polls in Bengal. With due respect to the Election Commission, I urge the poll body to see to it that the elections are held in a free, fair and impartial manner,” the CM underlined, taking a swipe at the home minister. The TMC chief also said that she will be putting up in Purba Medinipur’s Nandigram constituency, where polls are scheduled on April 1, to keep an eye on the activities of ‘Mir jafars’ (traitors).

Bengal to capture the state by hook or by crook and termed it “a part of its politics without principles”.

“The people of West Bengal will give them a befitting reply by keeping them away from power. Bengal will never go with such a communal and corrupt political ideology of BJP,” he tweeted.

Alleging that the GNCTD Act was passed by the Modi government to curtail the rights of the Delhi government, Gehlot said that abolishing the power of an elected government is against the spirit of democracy.

Amaravati, March 27 (IANS): Amid resurging Coronavirus infections in Andhra Pradesh, Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan on Saturday cancelled Holi festival celebrations and party at the Raj Bhavan.

“A n d h r a P r a d e s h Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan has decided not to organise Holi celebrations at Andhra Pradesh Raj Bhavan in Vijayawada this year, due to rise in number of Covid-19 cases,” said a Raj Bhavan official.

Harichandan appealed to the people to stay at home and celebrate Holi following Covid guidelines.

He told people to maintain social distance, wear a mask, regularly wash hands with soap and use a sanitizer.

The Governor also appealed to all the eligible people to get vaccinated for Coronavirus as it helps in breaking the pandemic’s chain of infections.

Fire at Mumbai hospital: FIR names HDIL’s Wadhawans

Confront BJP-hired goons with ladle and spatula: Mamata Ko l k ata , M a r 2 7 (PTI): Alleging that the BJP was bringing in goons from outside to stop people from exercising their franchise in Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged women to “confront the hoodlums with ladle, spatula” and other cooking utensils.

Addressing two public rallies at Narayangarh and Pingla in West Midnapore district, the TMC boss dubbed bête noire Suvendu Adhikari and his family as “traitors”, and claimed that one member of the household was seen distributing money among people on Friday night, hours before 30 assembly constituencies of the state went to polls.

“Yesterday, one of the Adhikari brothers was seen distributing money... Women in the area caught him red-handed and asked the police to arrest him. They also handed over 30 goons, all hired from outside, to the police,” she said.

Ashok Gehlot

Andhra Governor cancels Holi party

Mumbai, Mar 27 (PTI): As the fire at a Bhandup mall which claimed the lives of nine COVID-19 patients admitted at the hospital in the same building was finally doused on Saturday, a case has been registered against HDIL promoter Rakesh Wadhawan and five others for `culpable homicide’.

T h e b l a z e, w h i c h broke out early Friday morning at Dreams Mall in suburban Bhandup and spread to Sunrise Hospital, a COVID-19 facility on its top floor, was doused completely after 40 hours, a fire department official said.

Bhandup police on late Friday night registered a case in connection with the incident against six persons including Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd promoter Rakesh Wadhawan and his son Sarang who are, allegedly, directors of the mall.

No arrest has been

made so far.

“Rakesh Wadhawan, Nikita Amit Singh Trehan, Sarang Wadhawan and Deepak Shirke, who are directors of the mall, and Amit Singh Trehan and Sweety Jain, who are directors of the hospital are named in the FIR. Nikita Trehan is also a director of the hospital,” said a police official.

IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 34 (common intention) have been invoked, he added.

The Wadhawans had been earlier booked in the PMC Bank fraud case.

“During the probe so far we found several lapses.

There was mismanagement in terms of security and the fire safety equipment was not checked regularly,” the official said.

The four-storey (ground plus three) mall houses as many as 1,108

shops, but 40 per cent of them are closed, he said.

Sunrise Hospital was converted into a Covid Care Centre in January, the official said.

The fire broke out in a shop shortly after Thursday midnight and spread to the hospital on the top floor.

Nine COVID-19 patients died due to suffocation as a result of the fire, while two other patients had already died due to coronavirus just before the fire broke out, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

Altogether 78 patients were being treated at the 107- bed hospital at the time of the incident, the BMC said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who visited the spot on Friday afternoon, had said permission was granted to the hospital to run a COVID-19 centre temporarily.

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Dhaka, Mar 27 (PTI): India and Bangladesh want stability, love and peace instead of instability, terror and unrest in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he underlined that the two friendly neighbours want to see the world progressing through their own development.

Prime Minister Modi made the remarks while speaking to the Matua community members after offering prayers at their temple in Gopalganj’s Orakandi - the birthplace of Hindu mystic figure and community’s spiritual guru Harichand Thakur.

“Both India and Bangladesh want to see the world progressing through their own development.

Both the countries want to see stability, love, and peace instead of instability, terror, and unrest in the world,” Modi said.

Modi said he was waiting for this opportuni-

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national

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021

crashes Padum Pukhuri GBs Over 1.5k COVID cases in Delhi for 3rd day Aircraft near Bhopal; dismiss head GBship claim

The national capital has registered 1,558 new infections which pushed the tally to 6,55,834.

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI): Delhi reported over 1,500 coronavirus cases for the third day on the trot on Saturday, while 10 more people, highest in around two-and-a-half months, succumbed to the disease, the health department said.

The national capital has registered 1,558 new infections which pushed the tally to 6,55,834, while over 6.38 lakh patients have recovered from the virus.

This is the highest number of cases since December 15 last year when 1,617 people tested positive

for the virus, according to official data.

The city had recorded 1,534 cases on Friday, 1,515 cases on Thursday, 1,254 cases on Wednesday and 1,101 cases on Tuesday -- the first time since December 24 that the number of cases crossed the 1,000mark.

The active cases rose to 6,625 from 6,051 on Friday.

The positivity rate stood at 1.70 per cent, a health department bulletin said.

The positivity rate was 1.80 per cent on Friday, 1.69 per cent on Thursday, 1.52 per cent on Wednesday,

1.31 per cent on Tuesday, 1.32 per cent on Monday and 1.03 per cent on Sunday. Ten more people died from the pathogen on Saturday, taking the number of fatalities to 10,987. It is the highest number of deaths since January 13 when 11 people succumbed to the disease.

A total of 91,703 tests, including 59,648 RT-PCR tests, were conducted a day ago, the bulletin said.

The number of people under home isolation rose to 3,708 from 3,312 a day ago. The containment zones rose to 1,506 from 1,307 on Friday, it said.

The caseload in Delhi on January 1 had stood at over 6.25 lakh and the total fatalities were 10,557.

The number of daily cases had started to come down in February. On February 26, the month’s highest daily count of 256 cases was recorded.

However, the daily cases begun to rise again in March and it has been steadily increasing over the past few days.

No possibility of lockdown in Delhi: Satyendar Jain

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI): Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday dismissed any possibility of imposing another lockdown in Delhi, saying it was not a solution to check the spread of the coronavirus that is again surging rapidly.

Jain said there was a logic behind the lockdown enforced earlier as nobody knew then how the virus propagates. “It follows a 14day cycle -- between a person catching the infection and recovering from it. Experts said the virus will die if a lockdown is imposed for 21 days,” Jain told reporters.

“Authorities kept on extending the lockdown, but the virus did not die. I don’t think lockdown is a solution,” he said.

There is “no possibility” of imposing another lockdown in the city, Jain said. Jain said action will be taken against those found violating the directions issued for Holi celebrations.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority had on Tuesday ordered that there will be no public celebrations in the national capital during upcoming festivals such Holi and Navaratri. The government has set up a number of teams to ensure that people adhere to its directions on Holi. District magistrates and police have created district-wise teams. Legal action would be taken against violators, he said. The minister added that there were enough hospital beds available for coronavirus patients and it could be increased if the need arises. “Only 20 per cent of the beds are occupied currently,” he said.

Around 90,000 tests are being conducted in Delhi every day, which is five times the national average, the minister said, adding that random testing is being done at railway stations and the airport to check people coming from outside.

three injured

Bhopal, Mar 27 (PTI): An aircraft being used for conducting a survey crashed near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday due to a technical snag, leaving three persons, including the pilot, injured, police and Raja Bhoj airport officials said.

“The small-body aircraft was flying towards Guna from Bhopal when it crashed in an agricultural field near Badwai village in afternoon,” Gandhi Nagar police station in-charge Arun Sharma told PTI. He said all the three persons on board sustained minor injuries. They were given primary treatment, but none of them was hospitalised, Sharma added.

Raja Bhoj Airport Director Anil Vikram said the pilot, a co-pilot and another person, who was working for a private company engaged in conducting a survey, were on board at the time of the incident. Vikram said the aircraft crashed due to some technical snag.

DIMAPUR: Dismissing the claim of Kahuto Awomi that he was still serving as head GB Padumpukhuri village, the GBs of Padum Pukhuri village have clarified that Kakuho was no more GB at Padum Pukhuri village. In a joint statement, GBs of Padum Pukhuri village stated that he was relieved of his GBship as per the recommendation of Sumi community Padum Pukhuri and his removal was resolved by the village council meeting dated November 2, 2020.

Recently, Kakuho, while denying his involvement in alleged March 20 assault incident at Purana Bazar ‘B’ village, claimed that he was appointed as “Head G.B. of Padumpukhuri Village” vide Order No. GEN-1/2009-D/1285760 on March 30, 2010 and was still serving as head GB Padumpukhuri Village.

However, GBs of Padum Pukhuri village, clarified that Kakuho was appointed as GB against the vacated post by late Honivi Sema

head GB in 2010 on the recommendation of Sumi community and as forwarded by the village council. They said there could be “typographical error in his appointment order copy otherwise the government never appoints any individual as head GB as it is prerogative of the village authority to choose/ select their head GB.” Further, the signatories said that Padum pukhuri village council meeting dated June 14, 2014 selected Dhanpati Mech as head GB on seniority basis by resolution and he continues till date wherein. They said Kakuho was very much present in that meeting and one of the signatories.

Therefore, the signatories said they “outrightly condemn his self-claim as head GB rather advise him not to make such cheap publicity.” The signatories include head GB Dhanpati Mech, GB Soremo Lotha, GB Kikhu Semy, GB Imna Aier, GB Shiuto Tikhiri, GB Noken Longkumer and GB Vihokhu Swu.

Angry farmers tear clothes Impasse on farmers will end if Smriti Irani challenges Kamal Hassan of BJP legislator in Punjab farm bodies are willing: Tomar for an open debate with BJP candidate

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No. 4493 Yesterday’s solution No. 4492

No. 3517 Yesterday’s solution No. 3516

Gujarat likely to table Bill against ‘Love Jihad’ Gandhinagar, Mar 27 (IANS): The Gujarat government in all likelihood will table a Bill to amend the ‘Dharma Swatantrya’ (Freedom of Religion) Act, 2003 in the ongoing Budget session of the Assembly to combat forceful religious conversions, better known as ‘Love Jihad’.

The amendment will seek to prohibit and punish religious conversions promising better lifestyle, divine blessings and impersonation.

After Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Pradesh passed ordinance prohibiting forced religious conver-

sion to check what it calls ‘Love Jihad’, Gujarat is also likely to introduce a Bill to punish those who forcefully convert girls on the pretext of marriage.

“The amendment to the Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill will be presented in the ongoing Budget session with certain changes to combat ‘Love Jihad’,” Gujarat Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja had told the press earlier.

The Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act (2003) seeks to deal with religious conversion through allurement,

force or by misrepresentation or by any other fraudulent means. However, the state government believes that there have also been episodes of religious conversion promising better lifestyle, divine blessings and impersonation. There is an emerging trend where women are lured to marriage for the purpose of religious conversion, said the state government.

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that really knows the issues well, gives solutions and implements policies.”

Reeling out statistics on infrastructUre development, she said the Centre has built 10 crore toilets nationwide, of which 90 lakh was in Tamil Nadu.

Similarly, the PM initiated the Jandhan scheme through which government was able to directly transfer money to people’s accounts, benefiting 40 crore

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No. 9874 Yesterday’s solution No. 9873

Smriti Irani

people all over the country, of which 90 lakh were in Tamil Nadu The state received 1.25 crore drinking water taps of the five crore installed in India in the last two years, she said, speaking in Gujarati and Hindi.

A central government scheme through which farmers get Rs 6,000 annually had benefited 10 crore of them and 50 lakh of them were in Tamil Nadu, the minister said. The Centre has also sanctioned 11 medical colleges and an AIIMS for Tamil Nadu, she said.

“All this was possible because the people of India blessed and elected Narendra Modi as Prime Minister... who chose to be the first public servant of the nation,” she said

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The protesters did not allow the legislator to reach the venue. His vehicle was also disfigured with black paint.

A video of his heckling has gone viral on social media, in which the police could be seen trying to protect and ensure the safety of the legislator.

Coimbatore, Mar 27 (PTI): Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday challenged actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan to have an open debate with Vanathi Srinivasan, BJP’s candidate for Coimbatore South constituency, after he took on the Centre on issues of development in his campaigns.

Haasan is also contesting from this Constituency.

Addressing the ‘North India Community Outreach Programme’, organised at Gujarati Samaj here, the BJP leader recalled that she had participated in a debate with him a few years back.

“I challenge Kamal Haasan to come for a debate with Vanathi Srinivasan, to prove to the people who is it

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when Narang reached Malout in Muktsar district to address the media at the BJP party office there. The protesters, who had gathered there ahead of the arrival of the BJP MLA, told Narang that the farm laws passed by the Centre were against the farmers and they should be revoked.

Tomar said. To a query, the Morena MP said the BJP is in a very strong position in TMC-ruled West Bengal, where polling was held for the first phase.

Thousands of agriculturists, mainly from Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting since past four months at Delhi’s border points, demanding a rollback of three new farm laws, terming them “antifarmers”. The Centre in September last year enacted the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

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Arun Narang’s clothes were allegedly ripped off by the protesters, who also threw black ink on him as soon as he arrived there.

Gwalior (MP), Mar 27 (PTI): Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday said the deadlock over the ongoing farmers’ agitation will end the day the leaders of farm unions decide to sort out this issue. “The government will also find a way out. The Centre is ready for talks and wants to resolve the issue,” Tomar told reporters.

He reached here after campaigning for the BJP for the Assembly polls in Assam, where voting for the first phase was held on Saturday. “The incumbent BJP government in Assam worked well. After a long period, the people of Assam witnessed peace, development and a sense of security under this government. The BJP will come to power again in that state,”

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Chandigarh, Mar 27 (IANS): Angry over the three Central farm laws passed by the Parliament in September last year, a group of protesting farmers on Saturday heckled Arun Narang, the BJP legislator from Abohar, in Punjab’s Malout town, the police said.

Narang’s supporters said the Abohar legislator was injured after he was attacked by a group of unruly men. His clothes were allegedly ripped off by the protesters, who also threw black ink on him as soon as he arrived there.

The BJP leaders left the spot in a huff, alleging that the Congress government in the state was behind the incident.

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021

SC acquits prime suspect of ‘Technical or human errors’ likely Earth safe from asteroid allPakcharges in Pearl murder case behind Suez Canal blockage: Official for 100 years, says Nasa

of Earth on 5 March, passing within 17 million km (10 million miles) of the planet.

Astronomers were able to use radar observations to refine their estimate of the asteroid’s orbit around the Sun, allowing them to confidently rule out any impact risk in 2068 and long after.

“When I started working with asteroids after college, Apophis was the poster child for hazardous asteroids,” said Mr Farnocchia.

“There’s a certain sense of satisfaction to see it removed from the risk list.”

He said Nasa was “looking forward to the

science we might uncover during its close approach in 2029”.

The close approach Mr Farnocchia referred to will happen on 13 April, 2029.

On that date, the asteroid is expected to pass within 32,000 km of the Earth’s surface.

That is about one-tenth of the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

During that 2029 close approach, Apophis will be visible to observers on the ground in the Eastern Hemisphere of Earth, which includes Asia, Africa and parts of Europe.

Iran, China sign landmark 25year cooperation agreement

Taliban threaten attacks on foreign troops after May 1

DUBAI, Mar 27 (Reuters): Foreign ministers from China and Iran, which are both subject to U.S. sanctions, signed a landmark 25year cooperation agreement on Saturday.

“Relations between the two countries have now reached the level of strategic partnership and China seeks to comprehensively improve relations with Iran,” China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted by Iran’s state media as telling his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

“Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation, but will be permanent and strategic,” Wang said ahead of the televised signing ceremony.

“Iran decides independently on its relations with other countries and is not like some countries that change their position with one phone call,” he said.

Wang met President Hassan Rouhani ahead of the signing of the agreement in Tehran, which is expected to include Chinese investments in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure.

Rouhani voiced appreciation for Beijing’s support within Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and called for more coronavirus vaccine exports to Iran, the worst-hit coun-

try by the pandemic in the Middle East.

“Cooperation between the two countries is very important for the implementation of the nuclear accord and the fulfilment of obligations by European countries,” Rouhani said, according to his official website.

“Regarding the coronavirus vaccine, it is necessary to increase cooperation between the two countries, and we want more vaccines from China to be provided.”

U.S. President Joe Biden has sought to revive talks with Iran on the nuclear deal abandoned by former President Donald Trump in 2018, although harsh economic measures remain in place which Tehran wants removed before any negotiations resume.

“Under the new administration, the Americans want to reconsider their policy and return to the nuclear accord, and China welcomes their move,” Wang said. “We will provide more coronavirus vaccines to Iran and Iran is our priority for the vaccines.”

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the agreement was a “roadmap” for trade, economic and transportation cooperation, with a “special focus on the private sectors of the two sides”.

Kabul, Mar 27 (IANS): Taliban militants have warned that they will resume attacks against foreign forces if they do not withdraw from Afghanistan by the May 1 deadline, in response to US President Joe Biden offering an unclear timetable on when American troops would be pulled back.

“All responsibility for the prolongation of war, death and destruction will be on the shoulders of those whom committed this violation,” dpa news agency quoted the insurgent group as saying in a statement on Friday.

The May 1 deadline is part of an agreement the US administration under former President Donald Trump signed with the Taliban in February 2020 in Doha.

It is now under review by the Biden administration. Under the deal, the US promised to withdraw all US and international forces from Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban vowed to cut ties with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Since the signing of the deal, there have been no attacks on US-led NATO forces in the country.

However, the Taliban has intensified attacks against the Afghan government.

Biden invites 40 world leaders to virtual Leaders’ Summit on Climate

Washington, Mar 27 (PTI): US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to the Leaders’ Summit on Climate to underscore the urgency and the economic benefits of stronger climate action, the White House said.

The two-day summit will be held virtually on April 22-23 and will be telecasted live for public viewing.

“It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow,” the White House said on Friday. Besides Modi, other leaders invited for the summit include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian

Joe Biden

President Vladimir Putin, Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and UK PM Boris Johnson.

Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering are the other two leaders from South Asia to be invited for

the two-day mega conference on climate change.

The White House said a key objective of both the Leaders’ Summit and the COP26 will be to catalyse efforts to keep limiting warming 1.5 degree Celsius’ goal within reach. The summit will also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good paying jobs, advance innovative technologies and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts, it added.

By the time of the summit, the United States will announce an ambitious 2030 emissions target as its new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, the White House said.

The MV Ever Given has been wedged diagonally across the span of the Suez canal since Tuesday.

tugboats and excavators to free the bow and propellers of mega-ship in order to reopen the canal. Rabie noted that on 10.30 pm Friday the propellers had been able to spin, although not at full speed.

However they were jammed again due to the changing tide, he said, adding that rescuers had to resort to excavators again overnight to continue the dredging process.

“The type of soil we’re dealing with is very difficult to manage, as are the tides which affect the vessel due to its size and its cargo

load,” he added. Rabie also noted that the blockage had caused “no fatalities or pollution”. The ship’s grounding is holding up some $9.6 billion worth of cargo each day between Asia and Europe, according to Lloyd’s List data. Rabie estimated that Egypt is losing some $12-14 million in revenue from the canal for each day it is closed.

The United States also said it was ready to send support, including a team of US Navy experts. Rabie thanked the US for its support along with China and the United Arab Emirates.

OFFICE OF THE

KEZOMA UNION KOHIMA KOHIMA : NAGALAND

FELICITATION

The Kezoma Union Kohima (KUK) with immense pride and honour would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to the following individuals for their outstanding performance in their respective fields.

1. Miss KELENEILE ZECHO, D/o Mr. KEZEHO ZECHO for securing top position in B.Sc. Zoology Dept. at Model Christian College, Kohima, Nagaland during 2020.

2. SEPOY MEDOYO NAKI, S/o Lt. VILEZO NAKI Assam Regiment 42nd Battalion the Rashtriya Rifles, performing the duties of Scout in Company Commander’s Quick Reaction Team in Jammu and Kashmir in fighting terrorist and awarded the “SENA MEDAL” (GALLANTRY).

May the Lord continue to bless and guide you as you shoulder new responsibilities.

KIKROSA NAKI President Kezoma Union Kohima

THUKHUZO KISOTSO Gen. Secy.

Kezoma Union Kohima

KEHOVI THAMI Treasurer Kezoma Union Kohima

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Nasa said the Apophis asteroid no longer poses a threat to Earth within the next century.

Daniel Pearl

of Ahmed Omar Sheikh are dismissed.” The case has become a tipping point of contention in relations between the US and Pakistan as Washington has raised serious questions over the proceedings of the case.

On January 28, the Supreme Court issued a short order after hearing appeals filed by the Pakistan People Party (PPP) leg of the Sindh provincial government and Pearl’s parents, challenging the decision of the Sindh High Court, which acquitted the four suspects of all charges.

The Sindh High Court had commuted the death sentence of Sheikh to seven years and acquitted three others, who were serving life term in the case.

Suez, Mar 27 (AFP): Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority chief said Saturday that strong wind was not the main reason for the grounding of the MV Ever Given cargo ship in the waterway.

“Strong winds and weather factors were not the main reasons for the ship’s grounding, there may have been technical or human errors,” Osama Rabie said at a press conference in Suez.

“All of these factors will become apparent in the investigation,” he added.

Asked when the ship could be afloat again, he suggested it was possible “today or tomorrow, depending on the ship’s responsiveness to the tides.” The MV Ever Given, which is longer than four football fields, has been wedged diagonally across the canal since Tuesday, blocking one of the world’s most vital waterways in both directions.

The canal authority chief said over 300 vessels are now treading water at either end of the canal, which links the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Addressing journalists in Suez, Rabie outlined Egypt’s efforts with

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L o n d o n, M a r 2 7 (Agencies): Earthlings can breathe a sigh of relief after US space agency Nasa confirmed the planet was “safe” from a once-feared asteroid for the next 100 years at least.

Nasa had deemed Apophis to be one of the most dangerous asteroids to Earth after its discovery in 2004.

Close calls in 2029 and 2036 were predicted and later ruled out. A slight threat still remained for 2068.

But now Nasa has dismissed that threat based on new analysis of the asteroid.

“A 2068 impact is not in the realm of possibility any more, and our calculations don’t show any impact risk for at least the next 100 years,” Davide Farnocchia, a scientist who studies nearEarth objects for Nasa, said in a statement on Friday.

Named for the ancient Egyptian god of chaos and darkness, Apophis is estimated to measure 340m (1,100ft) across - about the length of three UK football pitches. The asteroid recently made a distant flyby

Islamabad, Mar 27 (IANS): In a 2-1-majority judgment in the 2002 murder case of American journalist Daniel Pearl, the Pakistan Supreme Court held that the entire evidence is shrouded with doubts, with prosecution failing to prove the four accused guilty. Giving out the judgment, the court acquitted the prime suspect in the murder case, Britishborn Pakistani Ahmed Omar Sheikh of all the charges.

“Hence Criminal Appeal No 602/2020 filed

by Ahmed Omer Sheikh is allowed. He is acquitted of all the charges. He shall be released from jail if not required to be detained in any other case,” maintained the majority judgment.

“Criminal Appeals No.599 to 601 of 2020, filed by the state against acquittal and Criminal Petitions No1085 and 1086 of 2020 filed by the parents of Daniel Peal against the acquittal of Fahad Nasim Ahmed, Syed Salman Saqib and Sheikh Muhammad Adil and for enhancement of sentence

Happy 75th Birth Anniversary

S. VUXUTO ACHUMI Akukau Shenakusami On this blessed and joyous occasion, we want to thank you for all the love and sacrifice that you made for us and for putting us first before everything and anyone else. We are ever grateful to God for blessing us with you as our loving father. We wish you long life, good health, joy and peace. May God bless you this day and forever.

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Loving Wife, In-Laws, Children and Grand Children

At least 32 killed in Egypt train crash Cairo, Mar 27 (Agencies): At least 32 people have been killed and 165 injured in a train crash in central Egypt, officials say.

Carriages derailed and overturned when two passenger trains collided near the city of Tahta, Sohag province. Emergency brakes were activated on the train in front by “unknown individuals”, causing the train behind to crash into it, the country’s railway authority said.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi pledged tough punishment for those responsible.

“Anyone who caused this painful accident through negligence or corruption, or anything similar, must receive a deterrent punishment without exception or delay,” he tweeted. The incident happened about 365km (227 miles) south of the capital Cairo.

One of the trains was travelling between the southern city of Luxor and the Mediterranean port of Alexandria, while the other was travelling between the capital Cairo and the city of Aswan in southern Egypt.

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sports India’s dominant run in the ISSF World Cup continues

Vijayveer, Tejaswani shoot gold

Vijayveer Sidhu and Tejaswini won gold medals on Saturday. (PTI)

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI): India’s Vijayveer Sidhu and Tejaswani claimed the gold medal in the 25m rapid fire pistol mixed team event to extend the country’s dominant run in the ISSF World Cup here on Saturday.

This was India’s 13th gold medal of the World Cup, and with eight silver and six bronze medals also in the kitty, India’s tally stands at a whopping 27 medals. Sunday is the last day of the World Cup.

In an all-Indian gold medal match, Sidhu and Tejaswani comfortably beat the duo of Gurpreet Singh and Ashok Abhidnya Patil 9-1 at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.

In the Qualification 2, Gurpreet and Patil finished at the top with a total score of 370 while the team of 16-year-old Tejaswani and 18-year-old Sidhu aggregated 368.

On Friday, Sidhu won the individual silver medal in the 25 rapid fire pistol

event ahead of Anish Bhanwala and Gurpreet.

However, the Indian pair of Kynan Chenai and Shreyasi Singh missed out on a podium finish as they settled for the fourth place in the trap mixed team final of the prestigious tournament.

The home team lost to Turkey’s Safiye Sariturk and Yavuz Ilnam 35-38.

Kynan, who finished fourth in the individual men’s trap on Friday, began badly but improved as the mixed final progressed, even

Harden ‘feels like the MVP’ after Brooklyn beat Detroit Pistons

James Harden helps Brooklyn Nets beat the Detroit Pistons 113-111.

London, M a r 2 7 ( Ag e n c i e s ) : Ja m e s Harden says he feels like he is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player after helping the Brooklyn Nets beat the Detroit Pistons.

The 31-year-old scored 44 points with 14 rebounds and eight assists as the Nets won 113-111.

Brooklyn have won 24 of their 31 matches with Harden in the team since he joined them in January.

Asked about the MVP

award, Harden said: “Do I feel like I belong in the discussion? I feel like I am the MVP.” The MVP is given to the best performing player of the season and is voted for by members of the NBA media.

Harden, who was voted MVP in 2018, averages 26 points for the Nets this season.

“Numbers are showing it for itself, and we’re winning. That’s all I can

say,” he said.

“I don’t want to be speaking individually on myself. I am just going to leave it at that.”

Elsewhere, the Minnesota Timberwolves overturned a 19-point secondhalf deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 107-101.

T h e L o s A n ge l e s Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 100-86, despite LeBron James missing his fourth match in a row with an ankle problem.

Tendulkar tests positive for Covid; family negative Mumbai, Mar 27 (IANS): Former India batsman and captain Sachin Tendulkar has tested positive for Covid-19.

The world’s highest run-getter in Test cricket and ODI cricket shared the information on his twitter handle on Saturday.

“I have been testing myself and taking all the recommended precautions to ensure Covid is kept at bay,” said Tendulkar.

“However, I’ve tested positive today following mild symptoms. All others at home have tested negative.”

“I’ve quarantined myself at home and am following all the necessary protocols as advised by my doctor,” the batting maestro added.

“I want to thank all the healthcare professionals who are supporting me and many others across the country. Take care all of you,” he concluded.

Te n d u l k a r s c o r e d 15,921, the most runs in Test cricket history. His 18,426 in ODIs is also the most by anyone in the format. The 47-year-old is also the only one to have hit 100 centuries in international cricket.

ODI Super League: India in 8th spot

Orleans Masters: Garaga-Panjala in men’s doubles final

New Delhi, Mar 27 (IANS): India are at eighth position in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League table after the second ODI on Friday. India have played five matches, won two and lost three to garner 19 points. They lost one point due to slow over rate.

Their opponents in the ongoing series England lead the table with 40 points just like Australia although the European team is ahead of its archrivals on net run-rate. New Zealand are third while Afghanistan are fourth, both on 30 points after playing three matches each.

Orleans (France), Mar 27 (IANS/PTI): India’s Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnu Vardhan Goud Panjala stormed into the men’s doubles final of the Orleans Masters Super 100 badminton tournament here on Saturday.

They defeated Callum Hemming and Steven Stallwood of England 21-17, 2117 in just 35 minutes.

The Indian duo, playing their first event together this year, will take on either Indonesian pair of Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani or fourth-seeded English combination of Ben Lane

finished as the top scorer of the league with 12 goals. He had 11 goals before the final day while Antwi and Majcen had 10 each. All three scored in their last matches and Bidyashagar emerged on top.

Gokulam had more possession in the first half but it was TRAU who got the lead through their season’s hero Bidyashagar Singh in the 24th minute.

Miami, Mar 27 (Agencies): Second seed Naomi Osaka picked up where she left off at last month’s Australian Open, winning her first match since lifting the title in Melbourne. Osaka earned her place in the Miami Open third round on Friday with a hard-fought straight-sets victory over Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.

Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady was knocked out in the second round by 58th-ranked Sara Sorribes Tormo. Brady’s defeat was the major surprise on Friday, with Sorribes Tormo fighting back from a set down to win.

Osaka extended her winning streak to 22 matches, although it was not easy against Tomljanovic. The Japanese got the edge 7-6 (7-3) 6-4, firing down 36 winners, including 13 aces in a match lasting one hour, 38 minutes.

“This is my first match since Australia, so I just really wanted to play well,” Osaka said in her on-court post-match interview. “I kind of feel like I’m at home here, because

and Sean Vendy in the title clash on Sunday. Krishna and Vishnu had a slender 4-2 early on but the English pair soon jumped to a 11-8 lead at the break. However, the Indian pai soon caught up at 13-13 and marched on to seal the opening game.

In the second game, Krishna and Vishnu slowly moved ahead to a 11-7 advantage at the interval and even though their rivals narrowed down the gap to 15-17, the Indian duo ensured there was no hiccups.

However, the other Indians in fray -- fourth seed Saina Nehwal in the women’s singles, and eighth-seeded

I grew up [near here] for World number 14 Bramost of my life.” Tom- dy succumbed to in-form ljanovic did Monterrey Open seminot go finalist Sorribes Tormo d o w n 3-6 6-4 6-1. Brady had without a dream run to the fia fight but nal at the Australian was let Open last month but down by 24 came back to earth unforced erwith a thud against rors. Osaka the Spaniard, who will next has won 10 of face her past 11 Sermatches. biT h e m a t c h lasted two hours, 22 minutes, with Sorr i b e s To r m o finding the edge in the last as Brady’s firstserve percentage dropped to 30.8 per cent. Brady’s defeat comes a few weeks after being humbled by Anett Kona n taveit in less than qualifier Nina Stojanovic an hour in the Qatar Open in the third round. first round.

Garaga and Panjala celebrate after winning a point.

women’s doubles pair Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy -- lost in their respective semi-final matches.

Saina lost to unseeded Line Christophersen of

Denmark 17-21, 17-21 while the Ashwini-Sikki pair went down to Thai top seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai 1821, 9-21.

Ivory Coast, Morocco latest teams to qualify for Cup of Nations finals CAPE TOWN, MAR 27 (Reuters): The Ivory Coast and Morocco added their names to the list of qualifiers for the next Africa Cup of Nations after they booked a place in the 24-team field on Friday.

The Ivorians won 3-0 away in Niger with captain Serge Aurier playing a central role with an early goal and two assists in the win.

It secured a top two finish for the Ivorians in Group K. A goalless draw away in neighbouring Mauritania

Gokulam Kerala FC players celebrate during their 4-1 triumph over TRAU FC in the I-League on Saturday.

TRAU, they fell short of getting the title.

This is Gokulam Kerala’s first I-League title and the league has now got a different winner for the sixth straight season.

Mohun Bagan had won the title last season but they merged with Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK and moved into the ISL. TRAU’s Bidyashagar won the Golden Boot as he

Osaka extends winning streak to 22; Brady out of Miami Open

as Shreyasi too missed a few shots while finding the target on other occasions.

The Indian duo shot 141 in the qualifications to qualify in the fourth place for the bronze medal match behind Sariturk and Ilnam (143), who made up for his partner’s off-colour outing with his consistent showing.

The Italian team of Alessia Iezzi and Valerio Grazini topped the qualifications with 145 while the Slovakian pair of Zuzana Rehak Stefecekova and Adrian Drobny was second with 143. In the final, Iezzi and Grazini prevailed over the Slovaks Stefecekova and Drobny 39-36 on the shotgun range.

The medal-less outing in trap notwithstanding, a dominant India continued to lead the standings with 13 gold, eight silver and six bronze for a total of 27 podium finishes. Three finals are lined up on the last competition day on Sunday -- men’s 25m rapid fire pistol team, trap team women and trap team men.

As many as 294 athletes from 53 countries are taking part in the tournament, the last major international outing for pistol and rifle shooters before the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

meant Morocco finished top of Group E. Congo kept up second place in Group I when it held already-qualified Senegal to a goalless draw in Brazzaville. Congo is two points above third paced Guinea Bissau, which had condemned Eswatini to bottom place in the group when it won 3-1 in Manzini earlier on Friday. It means Guinea Bissau must beat Congo at home in its last qualifier on Tuesday to take a place in the finals.

Gokulam FC thrash TRAU FC 4-1 to win I-League title New Delhi, Mar 27 ( Ag e n c i e s ) : G o k u lam Kerala FC registered an exciting 4-1 win over TRAU FC on the final day of I-League 2020-21 to win the title on Saturday. Both Gokulam Kerala and TRAU needed a victory on the final day of the season to win the title and the Kerala side trumped the Manipuri team to bag the coveted title.

Goals from Sharif Mukhammad, Emil Benny, Dennis Agyare Antwi and Muhammed Rashid in the second half helped Gokulam Kerala FC get the win and the trophy. Gokulam Kerala is the first Kerala side to win the I-League, News 18 reported.

Churchill Brothers FC Goa were simultaneously playing against RoundGlass Punjab FC and had to win their game and hope for a draw in Gokulam Kerala vs TRAU. Churchill did get an edgy 3-2 win over Punjab but with Gokulam beating

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021

Gokulam pushed after going down but the Manipuri side held on to the lead and went into the break leading 1-0.

However, Gokulam came with renewed vigour in the second half and troubled TRAU immensely.

They were awarded a free kick in the 69th minute and a minute later, Sharif, with a clever flick, found the back of the net from the free kick to bring Gokulam back

in the game.

From there Gokulam got the lease of life and pushed even harder. Benny and Antwi scored in quick succession within three minute of each other to give the Kerala side a commanding lead. TRAU had a golden chance to pull one back in the 80th minute and put Gokulam under pressure in the final few minutes but missed the big chance.

However, the drama didn’t end there. Vincy Barretto was shown his second yellow card and hence, the red card in the fourth minute of stoppage time, leaving Gokulam with 10 men for the last couple of minute.

However, with what was the final kick of the game, Rashid found the back of the net to rub salt on TRAU’s wounds.

Despite a fantastic season, TRAU were found wanting in the final while Gokulam dominated them and took the title.

(L to R) Mairidin Newmai, who won gold in flyweight 56.7kg along with silver medallists, Arsenba Ozukum (lightweight 70.3kg) and Kekhrieneitso Angami (featherweight 65.8kg) at the Global Association for Mixed Martial arts India (GAMMAI) national open selection at Fiton Sports in Bangalore.

IOC to cull accredited personnel due to Covid-19 at Tokyo Olympics Lausanne, Mar 27 (IANS): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to grant accreditation only to those people who have essential and operational roles at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. This step will significantly reduce the number of accredited people at the Games which will begin on July 23.

The decision was made on Friday by IOC’s executive board which has either cancelled or reduced the IOC guest programme, invitations to former Olympic athletes and a number of other programmes.

It will also not grant accreditation to any accompanying guests in any category, Xinhua reported.

The IOC said the Japanese government required a very significant reduction in the number of accredited participants who do not have essential and operational responsibilities for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The IOC added that it had discussed the matter with all national and regional Olympic committees, as well as all the in-

Demonstrators protest against the Tokyo Olympics on March 25 in Tokyo.

ternational federations. It added that it has received support from them.

“Many of them are already making a big effort to significantly reduce their number of accredited people and are also seeking in this respect the guidance and leadership of the IOC,” the IOC said in a statement.

As a measure to check the spread of Covid19, the Tokyo 2020 organising committee has already barred overseas spectators from entering Japan during the Games, and has also decided not to allow non-Japanese volunteers to serve the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

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