May 24, 2020

Nagaland Post

Watch us on YouTube

www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXX No. 167

DIMAPUR, SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Life post COVID-19 lockdown SUNDAY POST SUPPLEMENT

Assam CM urges Rio to reopen inter-state border GUWAHATI, MAY 23 (PTI): Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal Saturday urged his Nagaland counterpart, chief minister Neiphiu Rio to reopen the inter-state border that was shut by the neighbouring state recently. In a telephonic conversation between the two leaders, Sonowal said there is a need to jointly fight the COVID-19 pandemic and pointed out that economic activities must continue unhindered.

Sonowal said that due to the sealing of the interstate border, livelihood of workers engaged in tea gardens in the border areas were adversely affected, according to an official statement. The sealing of the borders has also negatively affected the labour force working in the stone quarries and the movement of construction materials, he added. Sonowal urged Rio to take expeditious measures to reopen the border so that economic activities can be carried out.

Rio assured him to look into the request and take necessary steps to reopen the border, the statement said.

Sikkim reports first COVID-19 positive case GANGTOK, MAY 23 (PTI): Sikkim reported its first COVID-19 case on Saturday as a 25-year-old student who recently returned from Delhi tested positive for the disease, a senior official said.

The sample of the student was sent to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri for testing. The report came back positive, Health Department Director General-cumSecretary Pempa Tshering Bhutia told reporters here.

The student, who hails from Rabangla in South Sikkim district, is undergoing treatment at the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital here, he said.

The student was in Delhi to prepare for competitive examinations.

He travelled on a private bus from New Delhi to Siliguri last week and then took a SNT bus to Melli Check post on May 19, Bhutia said.

He was lodged at one of the designated quarantine centres in the South district, the official added.

He showed coronavirus-like symptoms of fever and chill on May 21 and was immediately shifted to the STNM Hospital, Bhutia said.

This is it!

“ I believe we’re the worst sufferers of lockdown.”

K Y M C

FOLLOW US ON @Nagaland_Post

Will try to restart intl flights before Aug: Puri

nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial

NATIONAL, PAGE 5

Dimapur transits stranded people

Staff Reporter

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 3 (NPN): Since the partial relaxation of train services throughout the country under the current extended lockdown 4.0, a few thousand passengers have either entrained or detrained at the Dimapur railway station since May 17, 2020.

It may be recalled that on Friday evening some 1463 stranded people of Nagaland arrived Dimapur by the Special Shramik Train from Chennai.

On Saturday, the same Special Shramik Train carried around 1600 migrants workers from Bihar, stranded in Nagaland. The train departed Dimapur railway station Saturday at around 9 p.m.

The special train, sponsored by the state government, left for Bapudhan Motihari (East Champaran), officials said. The passengers include 158 registered from Mokokchung, 348 from Kohima and the rest from Dimapur.

Earlier during the day, the district administration officials verified the documents and the medical team conducted thermal screen-

State WISE List of Stranded Returnees To Nagaland

162 759 111 21

16 165 372

Arunachal Pradesh

Gujarat

Manipur

Meghalaya

Tripura

Uttar Pradesh

West Bengal

Assam

ing of all passengers at DDSC stadium before issuing boarding tickets.

Prior to their departure, all passengers were provided with food packets and water bottles by the state government.

According to DPRO, Dimapur district administration led by DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi, Commissioner of Police Dimapur R. Tetseo, ADC Dimapur Lovitoly Sema and other officials were also present at the railway station.

The DPRO Dimapur also mentioned one of the passengers, Manoj Kumar Paswan (autorickshaw driver), who has been in Nagaland for the past 15 years. DPRO said Paswan

expressed gratitude and appreciation to the people of Nagaland for being helpful during all these years. He especially thanked state government for bearing all journey expenses in transporting them to Bihar.

“I will definitely come back to Nagaland once lockdown is completely lifted and situation becomes normal for me to carry on my business activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, on Saturday night over 200 persons were at the railway station to board the New Delhi-Dibrugarh-New Delhi train.

When contacted, officials at the station informed that, besides the special Shramik train, the railways

has started running daily trains between New DelhiDibrugarh-New Delhi after the Centre relaxed movement of trains. On a daily basis, at least around 150200 passengers leave from Dimapur station to other destination by these trains, an official said.

The Dimapur station also receives interstate stranded passengers by these trains, the official added.

According to official reports, at least 45 persons arrived by train from Delhi while 23 arrived from Sikkim by bus, three from Tripura, four Shillong, three from Guwahati and five from Delhi by private vehicles.

Delhi

Till 23/05/2020

Total -3367

Stranded migrants at Dimapur railway station waiting for special Shramik train Saturday night. (NP)

Bihar

Mizoram

Rajasthan

18

5

Sikkim

Tamil Nadu

41 1469 3

23 202

Control Room - Empowered Group Dimapur Contact 6009920884

Another special train carrying 426 citizens of Nagaland stranded in other states is expected to arrive in Dimapur on Sunday.

It may be mentioned that the Indian Railways had announced restoration of 100 pairs of passenger train services from June 1.

Booking for all trains com-

menced from May 21 at 10 am on IRCTC website.

Other regular Passenger services including all Mail/Express, Passenger and Suburban train services will remain cancelled until further advice. These new services will be fully reserved trains having both AC and Non AC classes.

Dead body to arrive by ambulance

Meanwhile, the body of the 23-year-old Naga girl, who died on board the Gurugram-Nagaland train Friday, will be brought to Dimapur by road after completing all formalities.

According to sources, the train stopped at Kanpur where UP police took the body to conduct post-mortem.

Two of the friends of the deceased also got off to accompany the body. Officials informed that the body would be brought by ambulance after completing all formalities like post-mortem etc.

Met deptt predicts heavy rainfall in NE NEW DELHI, MAY 23 (AGENCIES): Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted intense rainfall activity over Northeast between May 25 and May 27. According to IMD office, due to the influence of converging strong southwesterly winds from the Bay of Bengal, NE will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls between May 25 and 27.

Parts of North East have been experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall since past two days, it said, issuing a red alert specifically for Assam and Meghalaya on May 26 and 27.

IMD has also issued an orange alert in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh from May 24 to 27 for heatwave; in west and east Rajasthan for heatwave and severe heatwave; and in Vidarbha for heat wave. An orange alert is issued when a heatwave is likely to persist for more than four days or a severe heatwave for more than two days. It means high health concerns for the vulnerable sections, infants, elderly and persons with chronic illness and a warning to avoid exposure to heat, keep cool and hydrated.

India’s COVID-19 tally nears 1.3L Tension mounts along LAC between India and China The Indian troops are also resorting to “aggressive patrolling” in several sensitive areas including Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldi, they said.

The situation in Eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent faceoff on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to “disengage” following a meeting at the level of local commanders.

Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9.

In the last one week, local commanders of both the sides held at least five meetings during which the Indian side took strong note of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) erecting a large numbers of tents in areas in Galwan Valley which India

felt belonged to its side of the LAC, the sources said.

India on Thursday said the Chinese military was hindering normal patrolling by its troops and asserted that India has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management. At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also strongly refuted China’s contention that the tension was triggered due to trespassing by Indian forces on the Chinese side.

India’s response came two days after China accused the Indian Army of trespassing into its territory, claiming that it was an “attempt to unilaterally change the status” of the LAC in Sikkim and Ladakh. On May 5, around 250 Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even resorted to stone-pelting in the Pangong Tso lake area in which soldiers on both sides sustained injuries.

NPFLP accuses state govt of flip-flop on SOPs Organisations flay tax demand

Registration for one-time assistance till May 26: Govt

students to their native places.

However, a PTI tally of figures announced by states and UTs, as of 9.25 p.m., put the nationwide tally of confirmed cases higher at 1,28,840 and the NEW DELHI, MAY 23 (PTI): Chinese military is death toll at 3,782. fast increasing its troops in areas around Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, sending D I M A P U R , M A Y a clear signal that it was not 23 (NPN): Out of 1035 ready to end its confrontation COVID-19 suspected sam- with Indian Army anytime ples sent for testing, results soon, people familiar with of 988 samples have re- the situation in the disputed ported to be negative, while region said on Saturday. the results of remaining 47 Chinese side has particsamples are awaited, princi- ularly bolstered its presence pal secretary Home, Abhijit in Galwan Valley, erecting Sinha informed. Further, 30 around 100 tents in the last samples were tested through two weeks and bringing in Truenat machine, out which heavy equipment for con27 were negative and results struction of bunkers, notof 3 awaited (50 including withstanding the stiff protest samples sent outside).As by Indian troops, they said. on May 23, a total of 3986 There have been reports of persons were screened and multiple incidents of trans1809 persons were under gressions by Chinese troops facility quarantine. in several areas in Eastern

China brings in more troops; India maintains aggressive stance

Nagaland COVID-19: Results of 50 awaited

NEW DELHI, MAY 23 (PTI): The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases neared 1.3 lakh on Saturday with over 6,000 new cases getting detected.

The spike in the numbers has been sharp this week with nearly 5,500 new cases and 160 deaths get-

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 4 (NPN): Naga People’s Front Legislature Party (NPFLP) Saturday hit out at the state government over issuing numerous standard operating procedures (SOPs), which it said kept changing at regular interval and confusing everyone including the officers at the state and district level.

NPF legislature party said that the directives in the SOPs were not specific “giving rooms for speculation and aggravating the already poor management in place.”

The legislature party, which met at the residence of the Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang on May 23, 2020, alleged that the public were facing untold pain and suffering due to the inefficiency of the state government.

Even when the restrictions were lifted and interdistrict travel was permitted, the NPFLP said the state

ting reported on an average every day, according to data of different states and union territories, many of whom have found a large number of new cases among people having returned from other states in special trains and buses being run for taking migrant workers and

government failed to make adequate arrangement for safe travel of the people stranded within the state.

Asserting that the wellto-do had the ability to move in their private cars, the party, however, stated that the poor, who availed public transport, had no arrangement as public transportation was halted.

In this regard, NPFLP appreciated all the tribal bodies and individuals for stepping up and taking necessary steps to help people reach their home.

On the funds received for COVID-19 from the Centre, the party urged the state government use the fund judiciously while maintaining transparency and accountability.

Further, accusing the state government of passing the buck to the head of district administration, NPFLP said the burden of imple-

menting and maintaining home quarantine has also been passed on to the village councils, which it described as “distressing.”

It also pointed that the village council members were not medically sound to follow the protocol in managing people in quarantine centres.

Besides, NPFLP said that it would be impossible for villages to manage on their own since the state government did not allocate any fund to villages apart from the meagre amount received as 50% grant in aid.

NPFLP said the chief minister kept saying that the state government welcomed all Nagas from outside the state to return, however, it alleged that little has been done on the ground for their safe return. As regard, the legislature party has appealed to the chief minister and his colleagues to take

Ladakh in the last one week, and soldiers from the two sides were involved in scuffles on at least two occasions, authoritative sources said.

It is learnt that the Chinese army forcefully stopped movement of Indian troops on several occasions when they were carrying out patrolling in Pangong Tso lake area this week.

In the midst of the escalating tension, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane paid a quiet visit to the headquarters of 14 Corps in Leh on Friday and reviewed with the top commanders the overall security scenario in the region including in the disputed areas along the LAC, the de-facto border between India and China.

The sources said the Indian Army has been matching up to the Chinese buildup in both Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley and that it is in a much advantageous position in certain other sensitive areas in the region.

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 4 (NPN): Jotsoma Village Council (JVC), Chumoukedima Circle Chakhroma Public Organisation (CCCPO) and Dimapur Jotsoma Youth Organisation (DJYO) have strongly condemned the “illegal taxation” demand served on the proprietor of Progressive Motors Dimapur allegedly by cadres of a Naga National Political Group (NNPG).

JVC chairman Mego Nagi and secretary Rüdosielie Peseyie termed as “illegal act” the demand of taxation during such difficult times and said that such threats be viewed in all severity as it infringed basic human rights. JVC also appealed to the government and all stakeholders to hasten and address the Naga political issue as multiple taxation, extortion and illegal activities by “so called (Cont’d on p-5) NNPGs is a common evil

serious note of the sufferings of stranded people and arrange appropriate mode of transportation at the earliest. It said that the neighbouring states have been doing a commendable job to bring back their people.

However, NPFLP said Nagaland was still in a state of confusion and lacked vision and will. The legislature party lamented that people in the cities were making their own arrangement and travelling by road.

Meanwhile, NPFLP has reminded the food and civil supplies department to look into the proper implementation of the National Food Security Act and the PMGKAY. It expressed hope that transparency and accountability would be maintained and the ration card holders would receive their due share without manipulation.

faced by the society and the business community for decades.”

CCCPO: Expressing shock at the action by “some anti social elements calling themselves as national workers”, Chumoukedima Circle Chakhroma Public Organisation (CCCPO) through its president Neikhriehu Kense and general secretary, Khriebulie Peseyie stated that the authorities in the particular group needed to issue a public clarification “as to whether the act of extortion and intimidation was done under the authority of the group or it was commit by a few erring cadres.”

Further, CCCPO reaffirmed “one tax one government” resolution and wand that any group going against the will of the people would be “considered anti-social and will automatically lose the co-operation of our peo(Cont’d on p-5) ple.”

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 3 (NPN): The state government Saturday informed that the registration of stranded citizens which opened today, to avail one-time financial assistance through iamstranded.nagaland.gov. in portal, will be made available till 10 a.m. of May 26.

Informing this during his daily briefing, principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha also said that Till 4 p.m. of May 23, the state received 3985 applications. He also said that a total of 11,784 citizens had signed up in the nCOVID-19 Nagaland– Visitors App. During the past 14 days, Sinha said 2095 persons submitted their travel self-declaration while 1290 persons were being digitally monitored through the nCOVID-19 visitors App. K Y M C

2

Masks donated to CSOs for distribution

CSOs along with NMDA members during the programme held on Saturday. (NP)

Staff Reporter D I M A P U R , M AY 2 3 (NPN): Medico, a Dimapur based chemist, Saturday donated a total of 10,000 masks to Dimapur based Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to be distributed to those in need of masks.

The masks were handed over to Dimapur Districts GB Association (DDGBA), GBs Union Dimapur (GBUD) Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) and Dimapur District Village Council Chairman Association (DDVCCA) by Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association (NMDA) president, Ato Yepthomi.

Proprietor of Medico, Basu Damani, thanked the CSOs for taking the responsibility to distribute the masks. He also assured assistance in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

PDLSA contributes to quarantine centres: Peren District Legal Services Authority (PDLSA) contributed rice and other essential items to quarantine centres of Peren & Jalukie sub-division on May 23 at COVID19 Control Room, ADC office Jalukie. According to DIPR report, the contributed items were handed over to CMO Peren in the presence of other Medical staff and SDPO Peren by retainer lawyer PDLSA, Asungbe.

Legal pamphlets in different acts and dialects were also handed over to Medical department for quarantines by the PDLSA. SBI Dimapur: S B I employees’ Thrift & CoOperative Society Dimapur Nagaland, under its social responsibility initiative donation of face shield and mineral water to frontline workers, Dimapur on May 20 and 21. Items donated

were 150 face shields to the commissioner of Police (CP) and 100 face shields and 100 cartoon mineral water to the chief medical office (CMO).

NPCC minority wing Dimapur: Commemorating the 29th death anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) minority wing distributed rations to people affected by the lockdown at Thaheku village, Dimapur.

Hindu Samaj and Muslim community Kiphire: The Hindu Samaj and Muslim community of Kiphire town contributed mattresses and bedsheets to the district administration Kiphire for use in quarantine centres on May 22 at DC office.

According to DIPR report, the DC staff of Kiphire also donated a sum of Rs. 50,000/- towards the quarantine centres.

state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

‘Zunheboto prays for the world’ prayer meet held

Assam Rifles conduct civic action programmes

DIMAPUR: Various battalions of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) have been conducting civic action programmes across the state.

Ghaspani Battalion provides drinking water for quarantine facility at Medziphema: With critical paucity of water in maintaining 80 bedded quarantine facility set up at the corporative training centre, Medziphema, Ghaspani Battalion assisted the district administration in providing water on May 23. This initiative was appreciated by the administration and residents of Medziphema.

Shamator Battalion facilitates water pipeline to Kusong village: With scarcity of safe potable drinking water in the village, Shamator Battalion facilitated water pipeline for residents of Kusong and assisted residents in ferrying the pipeline and its subsequent installation at An inter denomination prayer programme in progress at Cultural Hall, Zunheboto, the water source. The service was appreciated by village on May 22. (IA Zunheboto) functionaries and residents.

DIMAPUR: An inter- was held strictly following He appealed the denomination prayer pro- the government protocol church leaders to coopergramme “Zunheboto prays guidelines of social dis- ate with the government for the world" organised tancing and other neces- in creating awareness on

by Zunheboto Town Sumi sary precautionary. the guidelines and precauBaptist Church (SBAK AiDelivering greetings, tionary measures to the D I M A P U R : Re g i o n a l responses received from zuto) under the banner of deputy commissioner (DC) citizens.

The DC also briefed Ayurveda Research Centre general public through this Pastor's Union Zunheboto Zunheboto, Peter Lichamo was held on May 22 at culthanked all the church the gathering about the (RARC), Dimapur has in- application will be an imleaders and the organiz- pandemic and common formed that the Ministry of portant area of examina- tural hall Zunheboto.

According to DIPR ers for holding the prayer precautionary measures to Ayurveda, Yoga & Natur- tion to establish our reach report, the prayer meet meet. be under taken for safety. opathy, Unani, Siddha and up to the common masses.

Homoeopathy (AYUSH) The release said the has developed “AYUSH app is the centre of a masSanjivani” mobile applica- sive exercise to study speciftion to evaluate the out- ic health seeking behavior of comes of measures adopted the public and all those who D I M A P U R : N S C N / in 2002 and served the and his name shall be by public for enhancing im- will volunteer to furnish in- GPRN has expressed nation with unwavering recorded in the pages of munity and keeping them- formation through this app grief over the demise of national spirit until his the Naga history and his selves safe in these testing will significantly contribute its khapur, late Hopeson last. sacrifices would be chertimes which had brought to the study of public health Makuimai, son of KeranWhile expressing that ished by all. the whole world at standin the country. ga Makuimai of Thonghis demise has left a void GPRN/NSCN has still.

In view of this, RARC lang Akutpa village under and would be deeply felt conveyed condolences In a press release, RARC Dimapur office stat- Dimapur has asked the peo- Makuilongdi (Zlr) region and difficult to fill, the to the bereaved family ed that in view of public ple to provide feedback by who breathed his last on NSCN/GPRN stated that members and prayed the health challenge posed by downloading the “AYUSH May 22 after a prolonged his selfless contribution to Almighty for the departed the Naga national cause to rest in peace.

COVID-19, the ministry of Sanjivani” Android app illness.

In a condolence AYUSH had listed inter- from the following link https://play.google. message, NSCN/GPRN ventions from different AYUSH systems of medicine, c o m / s t o r e / a p p s / through its MIP stated for preventive health mea- details?id=com.negd.ay- that, late Hopeson joined the Naga national service sures and also for boosting ushfeedback immunity during COVID19 crisis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RARC Dimapur said

RARC Dimapur informs on AYUSH app

NSCN(I-M) condolence

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Baby boy abandoned and found in Kohima Born on - 11/12/1976 – Died on - 19/04/2020 We, the bereaved family members of Late JANPENO YANTHAN would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual, friends, relatives, neighbours and well wishers who stood by us in prayer and supported us physically, materially, morally and financially at her sudden demise on 19/04/2020.

We regret our inability to thank each and every individual personally, but it is our humble prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

-Loving Dad, Mom, Sister, Brothers, In-laws, Nephew and Niece.

DP-2410

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DP-2413

DIMAPUR: The District Child Protection Unit Kohima informed that a baby boy was abandoned and found near Old NST Kohima town on May 22.

The baby boy was taken to hospital for medical test by Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Kohima and kept at Radiant Educational Society (Specialized adoption Agency) SSA Kohima.

Stating this, Kohima DCPO Povezo Puro informed the parents or relative of the baby child to claim the child by contacting the CWC Ko h i m a . C o n t a c t n o / 9436601013/8257013521.

news in Brief

K Y M C

DP-2406

Loving wife, children, grandchildren and relatives

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

17.02.1955 – 14.05.2020 Through this column we wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all our relatives, friends and neighbors who assisted and consoled us during the prolonged illness up till the day of death of our beloved husband, father and grandfather Late VIRZO KIRE on the 14th of May 2020. We regret our inability to thank everyone individually but each of your contribution is deeply acknowledged and appreciated.

GOD BLESS YOU Loving wife, children, son-in-law and grandchildren K-928

1 DEATH ANNIVERSARY st

DP-2399

of beloved Mother Late Chubakatila (Chuchuyimlang) 24-05-2019

DP-2411

Samagra Shiksha programme to be relayed by AIR: Samagra Shiksha Kohima, joint mission director Dr. Kevizakie Rio has informed that a radio broadcast shall be relayed at All India Radio in order to bring awareness about the right to education entitlement from Samagra S h i k s h a p r o g r a m m e.

Members of the SMCs, SMDCs, teachers, parents and students are requested to tune to AIR during these hours to know more about RTE entitlements. Timings from May 20 to June 24 will be morning schedule from 9:30 a.m to 12:20 p.m; Afternoon from 4 p.m to 5 p.m and Evening from 6:45 p.m to 7:10 p.m.

TSWV to provide meal pack to returnees: As part of humanitarian service, the Tsukaranka Society Wokha Village (TSWV) will provide free meal pack to the returnees and people with medical conditions, crossing Wokha village area to different districts during the lockdown. A press release from TSWV has informed that anyone in need of assistance/ meal is requested to inform TSWV at least 4 hours ahead of scheduled crossing of Wokha. One may contact the TSWV at 8259 904328/7005334874/9612 961258/8787552657.

We, the bereaved family members of Late T Pongu Khiamniungan who died on 21/05/2020 would like to appreciate and express our deepest gratitude to each and every individual, well wishers, relatives, friends and neighbours who stood by us physically, spiritually, mentally and financially during his brief illness and sad demise.

We regret our inability to thank each and every individual personally who stood by us during our darkest hours. However may the Almighty God shower His blessings for your love and support.

Today marks one year since you left us for your heavenly abode. But your love and prayer is still our guide. Though unseen and unheard but always near.

We miss you Oja. Loving, Children, In-laws, Grandchildren & Relatives.

Died 30th April 2020 The family member of LATE IMSUWADEN LONGKUMER of Mongsenyimti (Mokokchung District) wishes to express our profound gratitude to each individuals, neighbours, relatives, institutions, churches and well wisher who stood by us physically, spiritually, financially and essentially during the prolonged illness and demise of my beloved husband Late Imsuwaden Longkumer on 30th April 2020.

We deeply regret our inability to thank everyone individually but it is our humble prayer that the Almighty God will bless you abundantly. Your kind expression of sympathy is gratefully acknowledged and deeply appreciated.

We would also like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to:1. Doctors and staff of Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima.

2. Doctors and staff of Oking Hospital, Kohima.

3. Kohima Ao Baptist Arogo, (KABA) Bayavu Fellowship, Kohima 4. Shri. Tongpang Ozukum, Minister of Housing & Mechanical, Government of Nagaland 5. Shri. Temjen Imna Along, Minister, Higher Education & Technical Education, Tribal Affairs, Government of Nagaland.

6. Mongsenyimti Senso Telongjem, Kohima 7. Kohima Waromung Senso Telongjem, Kohima 8. Principal and staff of Government Polytechnic, Kohima 9. Officers and staff of PHED (Urban Division), Kohima 10. Eklektos Baptist Church, IG Road Kohima 11. Imkongtiba Zunga (Kohima Unit) 12. Sanguine Welfare Society, Kohima Loving wife, son and relatives.

K-931 K Y M C

3

State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

State intensifies preparedness level and preventive measures

DIMAPUR: With the arrival of stranded persons from Chennai and proceeding to their various quarantine centres, the government along with district administrations and frontline workers have been stepping up its preventive measures with great efficiency. Quarantine centres and health care facilities have been given stringent attention to accommodate the returnees. With many more stranded scheduled to arrive Dimapur, the district administration along with high ranking officials are trying to improve the procedure of receiving the returnees. Meanwhile, legislators continue to visit their respective districts to update on preparedness level and to ensure that frontline workers are doing their best. Officials from agriculture department have also been visiting farmers affected by natural calamities and to extend best possible help during such a situation. Civil organisations are also reminding public to be more careful and appealing to government to ensure that safety of public is kept as top priority.

Wokha DISTRICT

Dimapur DISTRICT

Zunheboto DISTRICT

Mmhonlumo Kikon chairing the coordination meeting with BTF Bhandari on May DPRO of Dimapur, Lolano Patton along with her office staff at Vikheho Swu along with health staff and ESSU members along with staff of CHC at 22. (DIPR) the briefing held on May 21 at Agri Expo Dimapur. (DIPR) others at one of the PHC. Aghunato sub-division on May 22.

Mmhonlumo Kikon attends coordination meeting with Block Task Force, Bhandari Advisor of Information Technology, Science and Technology and New & Renewable Energy, Mmhonlumo Kikon held a coordination meeting with the Block Task Force (BTF), Bhandari, on COVID-19 at the conference hall of the additional deputy commissioner, Bhandari, on May 22.

According to DIPR report, the advisor appreciated the BTF, Bhandari for its commendable state of preparedness and handling of the COVID-19 situation ever since its outbreak, observing that it was now ready with five quarantine centres and was in process of receiving stranded citizens. Stating that he has been in contact with some of the parents of stranded students personally in case there was any need for medical attention to

be given, he added, every returnee should be treated equally with care during these distressing times. He also told the BTF committees and its members to streamline a functional system for a smooth running of the quarantine centres. For redressal of needs arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, he asked the BTF to keep the concerned authorities and departments updated on time so that there would be no lapses in handling any kind of situations or eventuality. Advisor also called on the concerned departments, agencies or individuals engaged in distribution of rice or other essential goods to the public to continue to give transparent assistance and support to the government to overcome the present pandemic crisis together.

DPRO staff briefing held in Dimapur

In the meeting, additional deputy commissioner and chairman BTF, Bhandari on COVID-19, Tiameren Chang apprised on the present status of the quarantine centres and the sub division’s preparedness where Dr. Lawrence, medical officer, CHC Bhandari apprised on the COVID-19 activities of the Medical department. Advisor also provided COVID-19 materials such as PPE, PPE bed sheets, PPE/HIV kits sodium chloride, hand sanitiser and gloves, besides other essentials. Meeting was attended by BTF member departments including 7th NAP, SDPO, Medical, APRO, Lotha Lower Range Public Organization and students’ leaders, Lotha and Eloe Hoho Bhandari and church leaders.

Mokokchung DISTRICT Officials from agriculture department visits Mokokchung

Agriculture officials from Kohima during field inspection of affected areas.

Officials from department of Agriculture visited farmers in Mokokchung district on May 22 and 23, during which awareness on preventive measures and agricultural advisories against

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Has the state govt done g o o d i n p rov i d i n g financial help to stranded citizens?

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

A B C

ESSU visits area quarantine centres and CHCs

Easter n Sumi Students Union (ESSU) in coordination with the medical staff of Aghunato sub-division visited its area quarantine centres and community health centres (CHCs) on May 22.

A press release from ESSU stated that the team

reviewed the cleanliness, security among others etc at quarantine centres and CHCs. ESSU stated that the arrangements had been made as per the standard operating protocol.

ESSU expressed satisfaction at the preparedness

of the quarantine centres and CHCs by the leaders of all blocks.

Easter n Sumi Students Union further welcome the stranded Aghunato citizens and assures its full support to the leaders in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kohima DISTRICT Returnees from Chennai reach Kohima The returnees of Kohima, Longleng, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Phek, Kiphire and Zunheboto districts who had arrived from special Shramik train from Chennai to Dimapur reached Kohima IG stadium at 1:49 a.m on May 23.

According to DIPR report, a total of 399 returnees which included Kiphire

52, Wokha 37, Zunheboto 17, Longleng 8, Phek 45, Mokokchung 17, Kohima 50 and Tuensang 173 were received by jt. secretary Border Affairs and convenor of Reception Centre, Jamithung Lotha; ADC Kohima & co convenor of Reception Centre, Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa; CMO Kohima Dr. Vezokholu and her medical team and other district

and Police officials at IG Stadium, Kohima.

On their arrival, the returnees were made to wash their hands set up at the entry point followed by thermal screening, data entry and other necessary safety protocols were conducted by the management team, after which they were escorted to Meriema Quarantine Centre, Kohima.

State law & order report

Home department has issued the report on law & order across the state as on 22. According to DIPR report, from the state emergency operation centre control room COVID-19 joint secretary Hiazu Meru stated that 1 (one ) person violated the lockdown curfew order process and 6 (six) from various sections fine imposed under MV Act - Rs, 30,450. Further the report stated that 173 vehicles were challaned under various MV

Tuensang DISTRICT

Act. Shops for food grains and groceries, medicine milk were opened in all districts except Mokokchung.

There was no report of any shortage of food grains, groceries, milk, medicine in the state. Further, the report stated that, there was no restriction on movement of essential service providers like electricity, telecom facilities, medical facilities etc and personnel/workers in manufacturing units and commercial vehicles for dis-

tribution of essential commodities and e-commerce.

Suitable arrangements have been made for providing food & shelter to migrant workers affected by the COVID-19 restrictions from 2 (two) active relief camps where 57 (fifty seven) migrant labourers were housed and from 2 (two) active food camps more than 240 (two hundred forty) daily wagers/needy workers were provided with food and dry rations.

Mon DISTRICT

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

A

B

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

C

83% 17% 0%

WEATHER FORECAST May 24

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Partly sunny and pleasant

32 25

A morning t-storm in spots

29 20

Guwahati A shower and t-storm around 30 22

A morning shower; some rain

30 18

Itanagar Cloudy with a thunderstorm

25 20

Shillong

A shower and t-storm around 22 16

Kohima

A thunderstorm in spots

Dimapur A shower or t-storm in spots

A thunderstorm in spots

Tuensang A thundershower in spots

24 16 31 21 26 17 20 13

Mainly cloudy with a t-storm

23 19

Zunheboto Some sun, a t-storm in spots

23 15

Wokha

Raising concern over the safety of the public, the Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho (AMK) has appealed the department of Health and Family Welfare (DH&FW) that, all incoming returnees are tested at Dimapur and Kohima portals and only COVID negative be sent to the rest of districts so as to limit the spread of COVID if any.

In an appeal letter to principal director DH&FW by AMK president Kevinourheno Seyie and general secretary, Shürhivino Nakhro while appreciating the government authorities and agencies for bringing the stranded back, also expressed serious concern that if necessary measures were not taken to contain the disease, it may spread to various parts of Nagaland in the event that COVID-19 enters the state through the returnees from the red zones.

AMK also stated that, should any untested asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patient be sent to other part of the state resulting in community spread, the subsequent cost of testing and treatment of contacts could become explosively overwhelming and prohibitory in terms of both manpower and financial costs apart from loss of lives.

In this regard, the AMK earnestly appeals the government of Nagaland and especially the DH&FW to take all necessary steps and measures to test all the returnees so as to detect the disease in early and asymptomatic stages.

that, Vikheho Swu reviewed COVID-19 preparedness in Ghathashi and Ighanumi PHCs and conducted a meeting with VCCs, GBs, DBs and youth leaders and student body along with health staff. The meeting was chaired by SDO (civil) Pughoboto block.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

enforcing quarantine measures?  Yes.  No.  Can’t say .

Mkg

AMK appeals for testing all stranded returnees for COVID-19

Vikheho Swu, MLA of 13th A/C Pughoboto along with ADC and SDO (civil) Pughoboto visited Ghathashi PHC and Ighanumi PHC designated quarantine facilities on May 22.

A press release from CMO office district media officer, Shekho Sophie stated

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Q: Is the state govt strictly

Imphal

DPRO also thanked the legislators of Dimapur district with special reference to minister of PHED Jacob Zhimomi, district administration, police, director IPR for their support and encouragement.

Meanwhile, DPRO Dimapur extended gratitude to proprietor of D r e a m D r a g o n Fr u i t Farm, Lucy Thomas for acknowledging and recognising the efforts put in by DPRO staff and for donating protective gears including plastic face shield and washable cotton mask.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Next poll

Aizawl

COVID-19 were taught to the farmers. A press release from district agriculture officer and PD ATMA, Neikhotuonuo stated that, issues and problems faced by the farmers were also

deliberated including crop damages caused by natural calamities and insect-pests infestations. Field inspection of affected areas was also carried out by the officials. Around 500 numbers each of face masks and hand soaps were also supplied by the visiting team to be distributed to the farmers. The visit was headed

by Letkholal Hangsing, joint director and Dr. James Kuba, deputy director, Kohima along with officials and staff from DAO office, KVK and ATMA, Mokokchung. The district officers were further appraised to remain vigilant and dedicated towards the service of the farmers.

District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) Dimapur, Lolano Patton held a meeting with the DPRO office staff on May 21 at Agri Expo Dimapur.

According to DIPR report, DPRO Dimapur lauded her staff for continuing to discharge their duties sincerely in the fight against COVID-19. DPRO staff had been assigned duties in various locations of Dimapur, whereby the DPRO cautioned them to take all precautionary measures as they would be working in sensitive areas.

Legislator visits PHC facilities

Members of TDDF attending the meeting at conference Agri department officials during their visit to DC Mon along with other officials and civil organisation members. (DIPR) hall District Hospital Tuensang on May 22.

Tuensang district headquarter on May 22.

TDDF emergency meeting to streamline management of COVID-19 With the return of stranded persons from outside the state, an emergency meeting was held by Tuensang District Doctors Forum (TDDF) to streamline management of COVID-19 cases between doctors under chief medical officer (CMO) and MSDH Tuensang, on May 22 at conference hall District Hospital Tuensang.

A press release from TDDF, stated that the house resolved to work together in combating COVID-19 cases between doctors under CMO and MSDH Tuensang.

The house also discussed about exit plan and alternate arrangements if need arises. Meeting was chaired by secretary, TDDF, Dr. Senti Ao and attended by Dr. I. Moatemjen (CMO), Dr. Zathung Lotha (MS), Vertical Programme Officers and Medical officers from various district blocks.

Agriculture department officials visit Tuensang Department of Agriculture, senior officers team led by joint director Jocab Yanthan and deputy director Burwati Longkumer along with the officials and staff visited Tuensang on May 22.

A press release from the department informed that, purpose of the visit was to mobilize the extension personnel in motivating the farmers to cultivate all the potential areas under paddy and to extend farm areas into alternate farming systems for doubling income. The team also encouraged the farmers to increase seed replacement rate and grow more high yielding varieties and also to adopt integrated farming systems. Team also apprised

and created awareness on the impact of heavy rains, thunder squall and hailstorms leading to field crop damages, reoccurrences of FAW (Fall Army Worm) causing mild to severe infestation in standing crops.

The team toured the district to get a firsthand knowledge by interacting with the district and sub divisional officers, functionaries and farmers with field visitation, to monitor a way forward during COVID-19 lockdown for agricultural issues and measures. The team was accompanied by the district agricultural officers Tuensang, along with Keshai Village Council during the field visitation.

WHG online platform launched for Mon district

The World Help Group (WHG) online platform for Mon district was launched at National Informatics Centre (NIC), video conference room in the office of the deputy commissioner Mon on May 22.

According to DIPR report, Nimith Agarwal, the founder of WHG said the foundation has developed an online platform entirely

dedicated to cater to the needs of the individuals and families whose livelihoods were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic on essential requirements such as food, rations and basic medicines.

The platform has been developed by the WHG foundation in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

At present, the platform is in India and 15 other coun-

tries. This is the first of its kind in Nagaland. Mon district administration has tied up with WHG foundation to ensure that the poor and downtrodden communities get the help and assistance through this development. Civil societies also attended where Molosangla EAC chaired the programme and vote of thanks was pronounced by Vineet Kumar.

Phek DISTRICT Stranded persons reach Meluri

A total of 96 beds have been facilitated at the quarantine centre located in the outskirt of Meluri town. Five government buildings are being utilised as quarantine centre for Meluri sub-division. According to DIPR report, the number of

returnees as of May 21 counts to 11, including 9 males and 2 females, out of which 5 returnees are stationed at the head quarter quarantine centre while the other six returnees coming from green zone have been quarantined at their respective

village quarantine centre. Various NGOs churches and public have extended helping hands for combating the pandemic.

All churches under Meluri head quarter have volunteered to cook for the returnees on rooster system.

4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXx NO. 167 Dimapur, SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

Safety and precaution

W

ith the nation under the fourth lockdown extension due to COVID-19 pandemic the entire country has come to a virtual standstill and in its wake leaving lakhs of people stranded and in dire straits. Like other north eastern states, Nagaland also had to face the huge challenge of taking back several thousand Nagas stranded at various parts of the country. As per the information given by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday, during the inaugural function of the newly set up Bio Safety Laboratory-3 at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima(NHAK), so far 18,622 Nagas from the state who are stranded outside, have registered with the government portal iamstranded.nagaland.gov.in. So far, according to official sources over 3000 stranded Nagas returned from various parts of the country.

On Friday evening, some 1463 stranded Nagas arrived Dimapur from Chennai and were received by the Dimapur district COVID-19 committee headed

by Agriculture Production Commissioner and head of the committee Kikheto Sema IAS and others. It was also learnt that the returnees who arrived Friday from Chennai were the first batch from the designated Red Zone city. Sources said the Nagas in Chennai had worked out a plan by which those who were selected to be in the first batch was done under certain considerations. It was shocking to have learnt from the returnee-passengers that they were given only one meal and only tea and biscuits for the entire length of their two-day and three-night journey from Chennai that began at 11.30 a.m. on May 19. The ‘Special Shramik Train’ as it were, could not have had a better name. It was inhuman and this should be taken up seriously by the state with the railway authorities; especially considering that there were also many children travelling with their parents in the same train. The coronavirus has not only wreaked havoc on health and life of crores of people but also thrown millions out of jobs and brought economic ruin. Many students especially from the north east, were rendered homeless after hostels stopped providing lodging. Even those at guest houses were asked to vacate. Many who could not pay rent were literally driven out and had to seek shelter with friends and known people. The stranded citizens faced many hardships especially those from the north east who were racially abused. Hopefully all the returnees at various quarantine centres would test negative for COVID-19. In this regard, it may also be pertinent to remind ourselves that stigmatisation of the returnees is unfair. They have been placed at such a situation beyond their control. The chief minister Neiphiu Rio had appealed to people not to stigmatise the returnees but to lend their moral and other support during their hour of crisis. The other debating point is about quarantine. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. As per the guidelines of the central government, any person or group exposed to COVID-19 or who have had contact with those infected with COVID-19 but who have not developed symptoms, are to be kept separated from others in any facility for 14 days to ascertain if they have the virus or not. Any departure from the stipulated quarantine period would be counterproductive which the state government needs to ensure.

DailyDevotion Our Careful Unbelief

…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. —Matthew 6:25

Jesus summed up commonsense carefulness in the life of a disciple as unbelief. If we have received the Spirit of God, He will squeeze right through our lives, as if to ask, “Now where do I come into this relationship, this vacation you have planned, or these new books you want to read?” And He always presses the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration.

Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion. “…do not worry about your life….” Don’t take the pressure of your provision upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is unbelief; worrying means we do not believe that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never anything but those details that worry us. Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the Word He puts in us? Is it the devil?

No— “the cares of this world” (Matthew 13:22).

It is always our little worries. We say, “I will not trust when I cannot see”— and that is where unbelief begins. The only cure for unbelief is obedience to the Spirit.

The greatest word of Jesus to His disciples is abandon.

Quotes

When in doubt tell the truth. ~ Mark Twain

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

C

ovid-19 and the disruptions it has brought should make us reflect and rethink of the living we did before the global pandemic hit us.

Life as we knew until a few months ago seems like another time, another era.

The lockdown and the necessary measures to protect life have made us confront the fragility of life and the futility of all its seeming necessities. We busied ourselves to hoard more, to keep apace with trends, to consume without care, and enjoy comforts without toiling and without counting the costs.

This was another time.

The stranded migrants and their fear of survival in unconnected communities, the greedy hoardings by the capable, fearing scarcity, the weltering of vegetables, the wasting of fruitson their trees, and the threat of homelessness as rent went unpaid, are existential realities confronted as Covid-19 made its way through the cities.

We forgot to till the land

The Anthropocene human face limits.

Basic needs for bare minimum survival took the priority. The lifestyle of consumption and accumulation taken for granted has been shaken. Food, housing, consumption, movement, availability, and supply of basic needs became uncertain.

If there was aid, it was controlled and rationed.

Consumption habits have to change. Attitudes to life and worthwhile values require recalibrating.

The challenges encountered by migrants and labourers stranded in the cities, jobless and staring at starvation, receiving basic essential packages organised by charities direct one’s thoughts to home and the land left untilled, the house left empty or just elders and the children. At least in some villages, the reality of villages empty of young people has been a concern for some time, as young people left for the glamour of the cities.

The discrimination by caste practice that pushed the poor landless into the cities as migrant labourers is another context in the mainland, requiring critical analyses and solidarity of resistance with the victims of caste discrimination in the mainland.

As Nagas, Indigenous people, defined by our relationship and ownership of land from time before recorded history, the reorientation to living post-Covid 19 will do good to renew our relationship with the land.

From what we heard from our grandparents, and what some of us saw in practice, before the rapid market forces of globalization took hold of our life, the land provided the basic sustenance for all those who toil. For the lazy and the slothful, our grandparents had edifying stories to tell.

Despite moving away from the ways of the ancestors, a generation ago, most parents tilled the land. Suf-

ficient to supplement the salary and the wages, the fields and gardens provided the annual need of nourishment. There were hardly beggars and obesity was not a health concern.

Salaried but still many parents were weekend farmers. From this our time, it sounds more a romanticisation of a bucolic life. Indeed, for many Nagas who came of age in the late ’80s (yes, the time of Wham!, Duran Duranetc), will remember living with chickens, pigs, dogs and with wooden house floors, and water scarcity in winters. And of course, like Teyve, in Fiddler on the Roof, exclaimed, “we don’t eat like kings, but we don’t starve either” and of course, chicken was not an everyday affordable meal, but not as bad, as Teyvewryly humored “when a poor man eats a chicken, one of them is sick”.

We still had sufficient protein from the animals reared at one’s own house, from the peels and pales

of the kitchen. Ironically, today, the poor can afford chicken, while the rich afford fresh vegetables.

The privileged live such lives today (only more ordered and sanitized) while the poor and the discriminated and the exploited ones are crammed in rented rooms, working close to 12 hours a day, and hardly having sufficient to visit hometown without incurring debts for another year of laboring.

Surely, it is not an overnight change that has overtaken the Indigenous Naga people, the making has been long, with victimization, misguidance and foolishness of myopic and self-serving agenda of the few. And certainly, it would not be overnight remedy that life will return to ideal.

But, if the disruptions of Covid-19 made us reflect and reorient towards a different lifestyle with reordered priorities, what would it be for Nagas?

Will it be a return to ap-

preciate the land of our ancestors?

Long before Covid-19 came upon us, the privileged have begun to turn to the land – perhaps for pleasure or for some quality of home-grown food.

The culture of allotment gardening in cities such as London, New York, Berlin makes us wonder how we forgot our land.

Any reorientation of life post-Covid-19 has to include a fresh understanding and relationship with the material world and habits of consumption.

Greed and the insatiable desire to possess are demons that need to be confronted and overcome.

If sustenance is our lifestyle, remembering to till the land should bring victuals sufficient from one season to the next.

And this is a good beginning towards a better and flourishing future of Nagas as Indigenous people.

Dr. Atola Longkumer, Bengaluru

nagas’ socio-politico-economic crisis and the covid-19 pandemic

(From previous issue) agaland is 56 years since her statehood (1963). Our neighbouring state like Manipur (1972) is 48 years and Mizoram (1987) is 33 years after statehood. Now, can we take a moment to compare and contrast certain reality checks from these states to start with? Be it socially, economically or politically these states are equally confronted with crisis and even severely landlocked! Dear readers, where did it go wrong? If we are to track back, I think we got a wrong orientation.

And it is this. On the attainment of statehood, we learned to pick a job and did not learn how to work hard. We learned how to

N

buy from others. But didn’t learn how to produce, sell and supply to other people. Nagas’ job-orientation teaching is wrong. We failed to be work-oriented society. Nagas think that a small government job is good enough for survival.

It’s time to question such notion and then relearn, unlearn and reorient ourselves.

Towa r d s C a n a a n Mentality There was a nation in South America, rich oil producing nation in the 1950s and 60s. The government did well with the exports of lavish available oil and imported food supplies, clothing and medicines in lieu. The nation depended exclusively on salaried job

revolving around oil exports. There was no land produce and no additionally small industries. Then came the crisis in the oil exports when the prices of oil dropped globally.

The government eventually failed to pay the salaries to their strong millions of employees. There was high inflation and low standard of living. This crisis let them to become one of the poorest countries in the world with no employment and alternate resource. This impoverished state of affairs let them to a stateless society. And this state is none other than Venezuela.

If Nagas today only depend and choose to live on the ‘manna’ that comes from ‘others’, the same fate

awaits us. In case Indian government goes into a financial emergency, the government would eventually fail to pay her employees. Therefore, we cannot effort to depend solely on the manna but be dependent on the produce of the land. A shift from ‘manna’ to ‘Canaan’ mentality is rather imperative.

Yet another very poor nation in the Asia pacific, was stricken by corruption and poverty. This nation came to being in the year 1955. The then Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew developed many strategies to uplift and better the country. Among the rest, his first agenda was to uproot the cause of corruption. Second, to lead

by transparent policy making and thirdly, increase foreign trade through economic exchange of goods and services. This nation is Singapore, which rose from an impoverished state to one of the richest countries in the world. Which lesson should Nagas choose to learn and follow today?

Back to the Land concept How is Nagaland in terms of corruption, transparency and economic exchanges? Do we have any exchange? For instance, what do people trade from Mokokchung to the plains?

– Scrap! rest all truck go back to the plains empty (unexceptionally true with the rest of the districts). Henceforth, readers of this message; I

The rejoinder

(From previous issue) 1957. Those three men- of the Nagas of Nagaland. Plebiscite was conducted 3. I have learnt that tioned writers might be I have no hesitation to with success in Nagaland the Nagas formed the Naga ignorant of the situation claim that whatever may be and these political and Integration Council with that prevailed in Nagaland the retention of the politi- historical steps remained to members drawn from Na- from the middle of 1950s cal status of the Nagas till be the cornerstones for the galand and Manipur. Con- till the Ceasefire the then date is due to the political Naga National Movement sequently, all those Council Federal Government of initiatives so undertaken by irrespective of who particimembers from Manipur Nagaland (FGN) entered the Nagas of Nagaland and pated in it or not. Those in particular contested into with the GOI in 1964. we remain to be the major historical events which rethe Manipur Legislative The Nagas of Nagaland contributor and the sustain- mained to be the capstones Assembly election using faced maximum human ers of the Naga National for the political rights of the banner of the Naga right violations under the Movement throughout all the Nagas belonged to integration as its plank. oppressive operations by these decades. Having re- every Naga irrespective of Unfortunately all of them Indian army during this mained a mere onlooker to the State or the country to were defeated. The impli- period of time. Most of the struggles of the Nagas which one belongs. It is cation was that the kind the Naga villages were of Nagaland in those worst needles for any Naga to of referendum for Naga burnt down, and many days and having no experi- have misapprehension and integration was rejected villages were burnt down ence of such magnitude of misconception as though by the Nagas of Manipur to the extent of seven con- oppressions and suppres- those historical facts will at that time. secutive times. The Nagas sions and yet to question one day be used as the 4. By the resolution could not live at villages and cast aspersion against measuring scale pertaining of NNC, the ratio of spon- but had to live in jungles those political builders is to political dividends, if soring the Naga National for those who escaped from easy and yet it is never the any. Therefore, no Naga cadres on the basis of 10:1 arrest and the rest were justification. should neither become was effectively enforced in arrested and forced to live Indeed, I am grate- desperate nor consider the Nagaland. In other words, in centralised concentra- ful to those pioneers for the historical facts to be a roadto sponsor one cadre each tion camps maintained fact that I have been sur- block and so considered it by 10 households was com- by Indian security forces. viving with a status under to be an eyesore. Rather pulsorily implemented in Particularly the men folk in the political arrangements it is the bounden duty of Nagaland for the Naga Na- those camps were used as those pioneers made with- every Naga to protect and tional Movement (NNM) forced labour as I too lived out which I would have preserve its authenticity under NNC. Whereas, in such a camp for more remained as secondary citi- and originality of those this resolution was not than a year. The granaries zen in my own land today. historical facts. Whereas, implemented in other Naga were destroyed and the Those pioneers deserve whoever tries to distort, diinhabited areas. Thus the Nagas could not cultivate credit and not otherwise. lute or rewrite the original difference is that enrolment their fields properly re- Whereas, not only these history will only destroy it, of each NNC cadre in Na- sulting into severe famine three writers but many and such person will rather galand was mandated un- plus the unhygienic and others too from Manipur be the very enemy of the der the resolution whereas hostile jungle life resulted are so obsessed with the Nagas. the participation of the into widespread plague formation of NHTA, the Whereas, it is a other cadres from outside that killed unaccounted formation of NPC, the 16- serious matter of concern Nagaland was voluntary. numbers. Thus, the Nagas Point Memorandum and that the very article to 5. The writers were in Nagaland were sand- the subsequent creation which I am reacting is very critical and blamed wiched between the merci- of the State of Nagaland found to be the obvious those pioneers about how less Indian army oppres- tending to forget the ben- attempt to coercively paste the leaders disseminated sion and the uninhabitable efits accrued already from falsehood in the pages of the information and for the jungle life. Whereas, for the State of Nagaland by Naga political history. My purported failure to invite those of the Nagas who non-stakeholders. I once concern is to resist such atthe right Naga leaders from had not come through the said these people only love tempts of distortion under Manipur to a meeting of untold sufferings faced by the fruit but hate the tree any circumstances for the the Naga leaders which the Nagas of Nagaland are that produces the fruit. sake our political history eventually gave birth to today trying to undermine Just as the Naga and for our posterity. the formation of the Naga the commitment, the deter- Club was formed by the (Concluded) Peoples’ Convention on in mination and the sacrifices Nagas of Nagaland, the Z. Lohe Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this

submit to you that it’s time for us to return to the land, to ‘go back to the soil’, back to our villages. It’s time for us to work with our hands, on our own land and return to the harvest, produced from our land. Likewise, let us encourage each other to labour on our land and work hard. The will of God for the Israelites to live in the Promised Land was for them to return to the land and its produce. Let us encourage our young minds and each other to honest work and truth. Let’s all make a conscientious decision during this lockdown. Let us do whatever each one of us can do to uplift our land.

(Concluded) Yanglo Pongen (MKG)

Reader’s Post Appeal to principal director H&FW for posting of MO at Akuluto

Sir,

It could come as a shock to you as well to learn that Akuluto sub-division which is one of the oldest under Zunheboto District and in fact, one of the Oldest Primary Health Centers, has no Medical Officer posted yet. I therefore, as a concerned citizen of the said town address to you about this serious concern of the hour for your earnest approval.

Sir, it has come to my knowledge that soon after the promotion and transfer of the most sincere and dedicated medical officer by the name Dr. Hokugha Aye who considered this place as his own and served tirelessly to cater the need of the town and its periphery, the PHC has been functioning without a Medical Officer for almost or more than a year now. Akuluto town which is now upgraded to ADC HQ should at least employ a minimum of two Medical Officers but sadly the town has none.

Also, how can a medical officer from another town i.e. VK Town come as a proxy! when the medical officer himself has to be stationed in his own place of posting. A medical officer posted in some sub-division acting as a proxy for another sub-division is a shock!

A disgrace Sir! At such a time as this, when the Covid19 pandemic has triggered fear amongst the people, how can a Department ignore a sub-division which has a population in thousands who are solely depending on the PHC here! This is such a disgrace for the health department and a mockery to the people of both Akuluto and VK Town! In a panic situation and times as this, ignoring and treating a sub-division to such a lowest level may create another situation which is likely not welcoming for all of us.

I am sure the department must also be burdened with a lot of care but this issue is a matter of life and death. It is about the well-being and health of the people.

This appeal is the voice of thousand voiceless people and I am sure as a responsible and concerned officer who is holding a chair to correct errors and fix the loopholes, you will sincerely look into the matter with utmost priority especially so at an hour like this when the whole world is combating the lately most dreadful virus called Covid19.

Vikavi K Assumi. Concerned Citizen, Akuluto. newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

5

loan to all eligible borrowers Will try to restart intl flights before Aug: Puri Extend without fear of 3Cs: FM to banks

Hardeep Singh Puri

NEW DELHI, MAY 23 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday discussed the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

Sri Lanka is fighting COVID-19 effectively under Rajapaksa’s leadership, Modi wrote on Twitter.

“India will continue to support our close maritime neighbour in dealing with the pandemic and its economic impact,” he said.

The two, the prime minister said, agreed to accelerate Indian-assisted development projects in Sri Lanka and also strengthen investment links.

Modi congratulated Prime Minister Jugnauth for successfully controlling COVID-19 in Mauritius.

“Our people share warm and special ties, based on shared culture and values. Indians will stand by their Mauritian brothers and sisters at this difficult time,” he said.

An official statement later said President Rajapaksa briefed Modi on the steps being taken by his government to restart economic activity.

“In this context, both the leaders agreed on the need to accelerate Indianassisted development projects in Sri Lanka. They also discussed the possibilities of promoting investments and value-addition in Sri Lanka by the Indian private sector,” the statement said.

During the conversation, Modi conveyed his best wishes for the health and wellbeing of Sri Lankan people.

Another statement said Prime Minister Jugnauth conveyed his condolences for the losses caused

Narendra Modi

in India by cyclone ‘Amphan’.

He also thanked Modi for sending the Indian Naval Ship ‘Kesari’ to Mauritius as part of ‘Operation Sagar’, with a consignment of medicines and a 14-member medical team to help the Mauritian health authorities fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prime minister recalled the special peopleto-people ties between India and Mauritius and said New Delhi is duty-bound to support its friends during this time of crisis.

The prime minister conveyed his appreciation for the effective COVID-19 response mounted by Mauritius under Prime Minister Jugnauth’s leadership, which has resulted in no new cases being reported for several weeks.

He suggested that Mauritius could document its best practices, which would be helpful for other countries, especially island countries, in dealing with similar health crises.

The two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in various areas, including measures aimed at supporting the financial sector of Mauritius, and enabling Mauritian youth to study Ayurvedic medicine.

MOUNT CARMEL

HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, KOHIMA Near High School Ground Website: www.mchss.in

ADMISSION NOTICE FOR 2020

Arts Stream 1. Registration Forms for Class- XI is available at the School Office or can be downloaded from the school official website.

2. Direct Admission to first come first serve on merit basis.

K-930

Features: 1. Hostel facilities both for boys and girls with trained theologian warden.

2. Experienced and dedicated teaching faculties 3. Counseling facilities 4. Cognitive and Physical Development 5. To train children to be good, responsible and successful citizens For more information 9612548053, 9436645367, 9774926756

NEW DELHI, MAY 23 (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said banks have been asked to extend loans automatically to eligible borrowers without fear of 3Cs — CBI, CVC and CAG. She said clear instructions have been given in a meeting with CEOs and MDs of public sector banks and financial institutions on Friday that the banks should not be scared to extend loans as 100 per cent guarantee is being given by the government.

In case of default, the individual bank or official will be hauled up, she said in a conversation with BJP leader Nalin Kohli uploaded on the party’s social media platforms.

“Yesterday, I reiterated that by saying, if a decision goes wrong, and if there is a loss, the government has given 100 per cent guarantee now. It is not at all going to be on the individual official and on the bank, and therefore without fear they

WB seek Army’s help to restore infrastructure KOLKATA/ NEW DELHI,, MAY 23 (PTI): The West Bengal government on Saturday sought support of the Indian Army, railways and port for restoring essential infrastructure and services in the cyclone-ravaged areas of the state.

It also urged private entities to provide manpower and equipment for the purpose.

In a series of tweets, the Home Department said that the state government has mobilised maximum strength in a unified command mode for immediate restoration of essential infrastructure and services.

“Army support has been called for; NDRF and SDRF teams deployed; Rlys,Port & private sector too requested to supply teams and equipment (sic),” it tweeted.

It said that drinking water and drainage infrastructure is getting restored fast and the Public Health Engineering Department

Gram:Agricomplex Medziphema

banks have had in their minds earlier, and may have even now are absolutely well founded. In fact, through my last 7-8 months, I have spent at least three different times with the banks to say that the fear of the 3Cs as they refer to the CBI, CVC, and also the CAG should not be in their minds,” she said.

When asked about criticism about leaving many critical sectors, including hospitality, auto and civil aviation in the economic package, Sitharaman said the government has not taken a sectoral approach but a holistic approach.

“Except agriculture and the power sectors where reforms would be undertaken, other than that I have not come up with any sectoral reference. What has now become to be called as MSME package, it includes MSME, and also aims at touching others (sectors) too,…so the sectors that you are referring to can also benefit through this,” she said.

STATE NPFLP accuses state govt of flip-flops on SOPs (From p-1)

A damaged electric pole hangs close to a road, in the aftermath of super cyclone ‘Amphan’, in Kolkata, Saturday. (PTI)

has been asked to supply water pouches in areas where there is a crisis.

“Generators being hired where necessary. More than a hundred teams from multiple departments and bodies working for cutting of fallen trees which is the key to restoration of power in localities,” the Home Department said.

“WBSEDCL & CESC

asked to deploy maximal manpower, even while lockdown significantly affects the deployment potential of the latter. Police on high alert,” the it added.

The announcement came after protests in several parts of Kolkata and neighbouring districts over power and water crisis even three days after cyclone ‘Amphan’ hit the state.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged people to have patience as the administration was working tirelessly to restore normalcy.

Cyclone ‘Amphan’ has claimed 86 lives in the state and caused havoc in at least 14 districts, mainly in South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore.

Army joins relief operations in cyclone-hit West Bengal The Army, on Saturday, hit the streets of Kolkata and neighbouring Diamond Harbour to assist the state government in the removal of trees uprooted by the cyclone that crashed on the state on Wednesday. Besides blocking important roads, the fallen trees have brought

should take this automatic route in the sense, everybody eligible for additional term loan and additional working capital should be given,” she said.

As part of the Rs 20.97 lakh crore comprehensive economic package, the government announced the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) worth Rs 3-lakh crore for the MSME sector, hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.

It is being said the genuine bonafide decisions in the banking sector are being impacted because of the worry of undue harassment by 3Cs—Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Comptroller and Audit General (CAG).

The Finance Ministry has taken several steps to allay those fears including withdrawing some of the notifications which were causing fears among bankers, she said. “...concer ns these

down overhead electric cables in many areas, causing major disruption in the city’s power supply network.

In a number of areas in South Kolkata, power supply is yet to be resumed even after 72 hours since cyclone “Amphan” hit the city. Residents in the affected areas

have been holding demonstrations and blocking roads in protests. CM Mamata Banerjee has urged people to be patient and said the administration was working tirelessly to restore normalcy. According to the MoD spokesman, Wing Commander Mandeep Singh

Hooda, five Army columns, equipped with road and tree clearance equipment, have been deployed in Tollygunge, Ballygunge, Rajarhat and Behala in Kolkata and in Dimamond Harbour.

(From p-1) CCCPO also appealed to the higher authorities of NNPGs to rein in their “erring personnel” and keep them within limits in order to avoid “misunderstanding and ugly situations.”

DJYO: Dimapur Jotsoma youth organization (DJYO) through its president Avilie Nagi stated that numerous threats and harassment faced by Progressive Motors in general and “T.K Peseyie in particular was a cause of great concern.”

DJYO stated that it echoed the sentiments of Naga public on “one government one tax” and that it was ready to extend its cooperation to NNPGs as and when required. However, the organisation asserted that it vehemently denounced the “use of coercion in order to get their point across.”

Further, the organisation stated that the faction/ party in question would be held solely responsible should any harm befall the family members or staff.

(Affiliated to CBSE) Website: www.grioschool.com: E-mail: grioschool@yahoo.in

ICAR RESEARCH COMPLEX FOR NEH REGION

Cl-11 ADMISSION NOTICE

(Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Nagaland Centre, Medziphema, Nagaland- 797106

This is a general information to all who have submitted the New class-11 Registration Form for session 2020-21, are required to submit a photocopy of your HSLC marks sheet as and when the results are out.

For those who wish to apply for class-11 (Arts/Science stream) for session 2020-21, forms can be downloaded from the school’s website or can be collected from the school’s office. Filled forms must be submitted to the school’s office or through email on or before 03/06/20.

For more information, you may contact: 7005633048 / 8787477044

NOTICE INVITING E- TENDERING (NIT)

ICAR Nagaland Centre, Medziphema invites e-tendering for the following item as cited below.

1. Contractual Service 2. Supply & Installation of Ripening Chamber for Banana.

3. Supply & Installation of Rain Water Harvesting at Longleng District.

Tender Documents can be downloaded from Central Public Procurement Portal (Cppp) or http://www.icarnagaland.nic.in/ e-mail at icarnagaland@gmail.com / rcn. storesection@gmail.com Sd/Asstt. Admn. Officer DC-435

NAGALAND BIBLE COLLEGE

WITTER THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, WOKHA

Residential Course Qualification Duration B.D (Bachelor of Divinity) 10+ 2/P.U Pass Five years B.D (Bachelor of Divinity) Graduate (any stream) Four Years Extension Course Dip.C.S (Diploma in Christian Studies) 10 passed Two years B.C.S (Bachelor of Christian Studies) 10+2/ Dip. C.S. Pass Four Years Please note that the Extension courses are designed both for Christian Ministers and laity as well.

For further information interested candidates can kindly contact through: Mobile: 9862272186/8787629755 E-mail: wtcprincipal@yahoo.com or wtcvankhosung@yahoo.com

Organisations flay tax demand

G. RIO SCHOOL, KOHIMA

Phone:247241/247250 Fax :03862 -247241

(Affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College/University) Candidates who are committed and born again Christian willing to undergo theological training at WTC, are invited for the following programs, B.D residential course and Dip.C.S/B.C.S extension course, last date for submission of B.D admission forms is on or before, 30th May, 2020 and Extension course is on or before 30th Nov. 2020. Entrance test for the B.D program is scheduled on 4th & 5th June 2020. The intending candidates should have the following educational qualifications.

NPFLP also suggested that the government would take the testing of returnees with all seriousness and keep them under strict observation. It said the returnees should not be sent to their respective districts before ascertaining that they were negative.

Thermal screening alone should no longer be the basis on which a person is determined as negative or positive, NPFLP said.

With the presence of the BSL-3 laboratory in Kohima, NPFLP expressed optimism that Nagaland should be capable to test everyone so that state remained safe and protected.

K-914

Modi discusses COVID situation with Lankan Prez, Mauritius PM

international flights). Why not start them by mid-June or June-end or in July,” he added.

All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25 when the Modi government imposed a lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister said that the Vande Bharat Mission, which began on May 7, would be able to bring a total 50,000 Indians, who have been stranded abroad, home by the end of this month.

negative, and if you do not show any symptoms, then I think there is no need for quarantine,” he said.

With the spike in COVID-19 cases weighing heavily upon it, senior officials of the Tamil Nadu government have expressed concerns about resumption of domestic flights from May 25.

While most states are ready, Puri said few states have talked to his “senior colleagues (ministers) and questioned the necessity of restarting domestic flights so soon”.

The minister said during the session, “They said the Centre should delay it further by 2-3 days. So, they (ministers) asked the states to send the concerns in writing. But the states did not.”

“This will keep going on. When we are dealing with a situation like this, we should expect that there would be some hesitation.

But it is our (Centre’s) responsibility and we should make efforts to make those concerns.”

ONLINE ADMISSION OPEN (2020-21) Apply today by following the simple steps

 Visit our website – www.iicsmokokchung.com/nbc/application-2/  e-Application Form 2020-'21 KINDLY click the link below to fill the form https://forms.gle/wyE4dFwUV8NX5FSD7  Call us @ +919436607340/+919089868226 Courses

Duration 3 Years

M.Div. (ATA)

2 Years

M.Div. (DL) Non-ATA 3/4 Years

DC-436

When asked about the minister’s announcement on resuming international services, Vistara said it will await instructions and guidelines from the Civil Aviation Ministry. Other airlines did not respond to PTI when asked about this matter.

“I am fully hopeful that before August or September, we will try to start a good percentage of international civil aviation operations, if not complete international operations,” he said.

“We must have a more ambitious goal (regarding

Between May 7 and May 21, around 23,000 Indians have been repatriated through flights operated by Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express under this mission. Passengers have to pay money to book a seat on any repatriation flight being operated under the Vande Bharat Mission.

The minister said if some passengers do not have smartphones, it is not as if they will not be allowed to travel for they do not have Aarogya Setu app.

“We have said it is an advisory, it is preferable...

If you do not have Aarogya Setu app, you can give a self-declaration form,” he stated. Incase a passenger does not have the app, he or she can get tested for the virus two or three days before the flight’s departure, get that medical certificate, and just fill in the form that he or she is COVID-negative, Puri noted.

“If you have Aarogya Setu app, and if you have got yourself tested for COVID19 and have been found

WC-126

NEW DELHI, MAY 23 (PTI): India will try to restart a good percentage of international passenger flights before August, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said, three days after announcing resumption of domestic flights from May 25.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, few states have questioned the necessity to restart domestic services from Monday, he admitted, adding that some hesitation was expected even as the Centre has been trying to meet their concerns.

The minister, while addressing a Facebook Live session, clarified again that Aarogya Setu app is not mandatory for air passengers and they can instead give a self-declaration form.

Puri said during the session, “I can’t put a date on it (restarting international flights). But if somebody says can it be done by August or September? My response is why not earlier depending on what is the situation.”

B.Th. (ATA) Dip.Th. (ATA) C.Th. (Non-ATA)

3 Years 2 Years 1 Year

Eligibility Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized College B.Th. from a recognized Theological College with ‘B’ Grade and above B.Th. from a recognized Theological College with ‘B’ Grade and above 10+2 or Equivalent 10th Pass 8th Pass

6

international Qureshi calls UN chief to discuss will abide by the 18-yearKashmir issue old agreement, which seeks

‘Trump’s office discusses nuke test’

Washington, May 23 (Agencies): President Donald Trump’s administration has discussed holding the first US nuclear test since 1992 as a potential warning to Russia and China, the Washington Post reported Friday.

Such a test would be a significant departure from US defense policy and dramatically up the ante for other nuclear-armed nations. One analyst told the newspaper that if it were to go ahead it would be seen as the “starting gun to an unprecedented nuclear arms race”.

The report, citing one senior administration official and two former officials, all who spoke anonymously, said the discussion had taken place at a meeting on May 15. It came after some US officials reportedly claimed that Russia and China were conducting their own lowyield tests. Moscow and Beijing have denied the claims, and the US has not offered evidence for them.

The senior administration official said that dem-

Donald Trump

onstrating Washington’s ability to “rapid test” would be a useful negotiating tactic as the US seeks a trilateral agreement with Russia and China over nuclear weapons. The meeting did not conclude with any agreement, and the sources were divided over whether discussions were still ongoing.

Nuclear non-proliferation activists were quick to condemn the idea. “It would be the starting gun to an unprecedented nuclear arms race,” Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, told the Post.

He added that it would also likely “disrupt” negotiations with North Korean

leader Kim Jong-Un, “who may no longer feel compelled to honor his moratorium on nuclear testing.”

Beatrice Fihn of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the group that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, warned a Trump nuclear test could “plunge us back into a new Cold War”.

“It would also blow up any chance of avoiding a dangerous new nuclear arms race. It would complete the erosion of the global arms control framework,” she said in a statement.

The Trump administration has repeatedly shaken up US defense policy.

The Washington Post report came one day after Trump announced that he plans to withdraw from the Open Skies treaty with Russia, which was designed to improve military transparency and confidence between the superpowers.

It is the third arms control pact Trump has abrogated since coming to office.

Russia has insisted it

to lower the risk of war by permitting each signatory country’s military to conduct a certain number of surveillance flights over another member country each year on short notice.

European nations have also urged Trump to reconsider.

Facing re-election in November, Trump has also significantly hardened his rhetoric against China in recent weeks, repeatedly criticizing Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic which first emerged there.

He has made repeated but vague threats of retaliation against the chief US economic rival, which has denied all his accusations.

Earlier this month Trump called for involving China in new arms control talks with Russia, telling his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin they need to avoid a “costly arms race”.

It is not the first time Trump’s defense policy has raised concerns the administration is elevating the risk of nuclear war.

Islamabad, May 23 (PTI): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi telephoned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convey its concern over India’s decision to change the domicile law for Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the domicile rules, all those persons and their children who have resided for 15 years in Jammu and Kashmir or have studied for seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examinations in an educational institution in the Union Territory are eligible for grant of domicile. The Foreign Office said that Qureshi updated the UN chief on the situation in Kashmir.

The Foreign Minister “alluded to the recent domicile law in Kashmir, which was in violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention”.

He also claimed that India may resort to some “false flag” operation.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

S America becomes new Covid epicentre B r a s i l i a , M ay 2 3 (IANS): South America has become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, according to WHO. With a total of 334,777 COVID-19 cases, Brazil has since surpassed Russia as the country with the second-highest number of infections after the US. The rest of the continent has not fared much better. Peru has 111,698 cases, Chile 61,857, Ecuador 35,828 and Colombia 19,131 positive cases.

The rest of the continent is suffering in smaller numbers, but the rates of increase are not showing signs of flattening just yet.

"We've seen many South American countries with increasing numbers of cases and clearly there's a concern across many of those countries, but certainly the most affected is Brazil at this point," said Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies programme.

"In a sense, South America has become the new epicentre for the disease," he added.

Brazil reached the grim milestone after it reported

Relatives of a deceased person mourn during a mass burial of coronavirus victims in Manaus, Brazil.

20,803 new cases on Friday, while fatalities climbed by 1,001 to 21,215 on Saturday morning.

In Brazil, Sao Paulo state, home to 46 million of the country's 210 million people, accounts for 76,871 cases and nearly 30 per cent of the deaths. Next comes Rio de Janeiro, whose capital city is experiencing a coronavirus mortality rate of 12.7 per cent, almost double the national rate of 6.5 per cent, according to the IBGE statistics agency.

The country is now has its third health minister in a

month. Apart from promoting the use of chloroquine, the Brazilian government continues with lack of a clearly enunciated strategy to combat coronavirus, the peak of which in Brazil is expected in July.

President Jair Bolsonaro, meanwhile, continues to downplay the seriousness of the disease and is exerting pressure to reopen the country and resume economic activities of all sorts, this at a time when the country may be en route to surpassing the US as the world epicentre of the pandemic.

Abandon Cold War mentality: China to US Israeli PM Netanyahu corruption trial to open today

KAKURO

No. 9572 Yesterday’s solution No. 9571

No. 4191 Yesterday’s solution No. 4190

No. 3216 Yesterday’s solution No. 3215

Across 3. Frolics (5) 8. Weird (5) 10. Major artery (5) 11. Stick, shaft (3) 12. Kingdom (5) 13. Develops, grows into (7) 15. Abundant (5) 18. Spider's trap (3) 19. Hard and unyielding (6) 21. Authentic (7) 22. Assert (4) 23. House type (4) 24. Total loss of hope (7) 26. Entertains (6) 29. Narrow brooch (3) 31. Rope-making fibre (5) 32. A m a l g a m a t i o n s (7) 34. Prise (5) 35. Sheltered side (3) 36. Cereal plant (5) 37. Hold up (5) 38. Actions (5) Down 1. Brimless cap (5) 2. Bereaved husband (7) 4. Is indebted to (4) 5. R o o f o f t h e mouth (6) 6. French river (5) 7. Play for time (5) 9. Legendary bird (3) 12. S c o l d s , r e p r i mands (7) 14. Blokes (3) 16. Boy's name (5) 17. Eagle's nest (5) 19. Photographer (7) 20. Festive occasions (5) 21. Group of similar species (5) 23. Undervest (7) 24. Erase, expunge (6) 25. Ventilate (3) 27. Physical strength (5) 28. Cold dish (5) 30. Big (5) 32. Repair (4) 33. Fish (3)

A woman sits on a placard showing PM Netanyahu during a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel.

never received anything in return for the favours he is accused of offering.

The case is expected to last for several years, given the vast number of witnesses and documents that are expected to be presented.

Netanyahu has done his best to avoid this mo-

ment. During a three-year investigation, which was slowed by Netanyahu’s trips abroad and occasional security crises, he repeatedly claimed that investigators would “find nothing because there is nothing.”

He briefly tried, but failed, to win parliamentary

immunity from prosecution.

In March, his hand-picked justice minister delayed the trial by two months, citing coronavirus restrictions.

This week, judges rejected Netanyahu’s request to stay home on Sunday and allow his lawyers to represent him.

97 confirmed dead in Karachi plane crash

K a r ac h i , M ay 2 3 (PTI): Ninety-seven people were killed and two passengers miraculously survived a deadly crash after a Pakistan International Airlines plane with 99 travellers on board plunged into a densely populated residential area near the Jinnah International Airport here, officials said on Saturday.

Flight PK-8303 from Lahore crashed at the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir on Friday afternoon, minutes before its landing in Karachi, they said. Eleven

people on the ground were injured.

Sindh health officials have said that 97 people have been confirmed dead, while two survived the crash, Dawn News reported on Saturday.

Both the survivors are in stable condition and 19 victims have been identified, the report said.

The Airbus A320 aircraft of the national carrier had 91 passengers and a crew of eight.

A third person, who had earlier been identified as a survivor from the plane,

was later confirmed to be a resident of the area where the plane crashed. She was among the 11 persons, who were injured when the plane crashed into the residential area, damaging several houses, the report added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has set up a four-member board of inquiry to know the cause of the crash.

The board has been asked to complete the probe within the shortest possible time, according to an official notification by the Aviation Division of the government.

LAND FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE AT AOYIMKUM, DIMAPUR

LAND FOR SALE

7500 Sq.ft.

Price Negotiable (No Broker) Contact : 7005065320

SITE FULLY DEVELOPED WITH WATER BORING CONTACT : 8787638844

Near Dubagaon Gate

(PRIME LOCATION)

112 X 150

IN THE COURT OF

MRS. KHESHELI CHISHI, DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE ZUNHEBOTO : NAGALAND

No. JUD/SUCC-34/19-20/15

Dt. Zbto. the 22nd May 2020

Notice Calling Objection for the issue of Succession Certificate Whereas application was received from Smti. Vikheli, U/s 372 of Indian Succession Act, resident of Alahuto Colony, Zunheboto for Succession of Debts & Security of Late Hotoshe Sema.

Notice is hereby issued for filing objections to all who has interest in the said claim/s within thirty days from the date of publication to this notice.

(Mrs. Khesheli Chishi) District & Sessions Judge Zunheboto : Nagaland DP-2405

At Kukidolong, attached to National Highway.

Area = 31.5 puras Price = Rs. 250.00 per sq. ft.

(Negotiable) Contact # 8787838319

LAND FOR SALE

Following plots of land at Seithekima Basa, near Prayer Center, available.

Fully fenced 12 ft internal road provided to each plot Rs. 130/sqft. Bulk purchase negotiable.

1) 14 bighas 2) 3.125 bighas (120 x 315 sqft) Contact: 9366723347

OFFICE OF THE

DIMAPUR KHAR SENSO TELONGJEM DIMAPUR - 797112 : NAGALAND

FELICITATION

The Dimapur Khar Senso Telongjem, Dimapur Khar Fellowship and all the Khar bonafide citizens in general immensely congratulate Er. TIAMEREN, S/o Mr. & Mrs. Imtinungsang who was recently promoted to the post of Addl. Chief Engineer under the department of NPWD Govt. of Nagaland, Kohima.

Further the Senso Telongjem prays and wishes him success in his future endeavour.

(AOWATI) President DKST

(I. NOKDANG) Secretary DKST

DP-2371

sive gifts, such as cartons of champagne and cigars, from wealthy friends and offering favours to media moguls in exchange for favourable news coverage of him and his family.

In the most serious case, he is accused of promoting legislation that delivered hundreds of millions of dollars of profits to the owner of a major telecom company while wielding behind-the-scenes editorial influence over the firm’s popular news website.

Netanyahu has denied the charges, claiming he is the victim of an “attempted coup” by overaggressive police, biased prosecutors and a hostile media.

In the courtroom, the legal arguments are more likely to focus on his claims that his gifts were genuine shows of affection from close friends and that he

K-918

Su doku

Jerusalem, May 23 (AP): After entering the record books last year as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu will once again make history when he becomes the country’s first sitting leader to go on trial.

Surrounded by security guards, Netanyahu is set to march into Jerusalem’s district court for arraignment on a series of corruption charges on Sunday.

The stunning scene will push Israel into uncharted political and legal territory, launching a process that could ultimately end the career of a leader who has been undefeatable at the ballot box for over a decade.

Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases. He is accused of accepting expen-

DP-2408

Crossword

Chinese characteristics and continue to achieve greater victories. No one can stop China’s development and growth,” said Zhao.

“China’s policy toward the United States is consistent and clear. We are committed to developing a SinoUS relationship featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation,” Zhao said. “At the same time, we will firmly defend China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”

A stable and continuously developing Sino-US relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is also generally expected by the international community, Zhao said.

He urged the US to follow the trend of the times and work with China to bring bilateral relations back to the right track.

DP-2407

and hypes up the so-called “China threat,” as an excuse to trumpet the continuation of all-dimensional hardline policy against China.

In response to the US’ erroneous words and deeds to interfere in China’s internal affairs and undermine China’s interests in the past two years, the Chinese government has repeatedly stated its solemn position and made firm, strong response, Zhao said.

He emphasized that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have embarked on a development path suitable to China’s national conditions, made great achievements and contributed positively to world peace, stability and development.

“We will unswervingly continue to advance along the path of socialism with

DP-2414

Beijing, May 23 (IANS): China has urged the US to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias, and view China and ChinaUS relations in an objective and rational way.

The US must immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, harming China’s interests or undermining China-US relations, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, Xinhua reported.

Zhao made the remarks at a routine news briefing in response to a new China Strategy report by the Trump Administration, which was delivered to the US Congress recently.

“The new strategy report is the same as the US national security strategy report released in 2017,” Zhao said, noting it deliberately distorts China’s political system and strategic intention,

DP-2404

NE states warn against defying quarantine norms

Guwahati/Imphal/ Agartala, May 23 (IANS): Several northeastern states, including Assam, Manipur and Tripura have warned of strict action, including imprisonment, if anyone defies the quarantine protocols. A spike in positive coronavirus cases, especially in Assam has led the state governments to further tighten the measures to check the spread of COVID-19. With the return of thousands of people into Assam and other northeastern states from southern and western regions of India, 105 new cases have been reported in Assam alone in the past 24 hours, taking the state’s total count to 319 on Saturday noon.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other CMs of the northeastern region have warned the quarantine violators of action, urging the people to maintain the quarantine rules to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Deb, who also holds the Health and Home portfolio, said punitive actions, including six-month imprisonment, would be taken if the people especially those who are coming into Tripura outside the state violate the rules.He urged the people to observe “border curfew” along Tripura’s 856 km international borders to

Himanta Biswa Sarma prevent people from entering in jail. People returning to the northeastern state from Manipur from others parts Bangladesh, where since of India and abroad would March 18, 432 people have have to undergo mandatory succumbed to the dreaded 14-day quarantine”, Singh virus and 30,205 people have told media. Manipur was been infected. declared COVID-free by the Tripura has so far Chief Minister on April 19, reported 175 COVID-19 after two coronavirus papositive cases, including tients recovered, but with the 161 Border Security Force return of a number of people personnel and their family from southern and western members, with active cases region of India, 24 people count of 25. In Imphal, the have tested positive during Manipur Chief Minister said the past two weeks. those found violating the The Assam gover nquarantine protocol would ment has launched “Ruthbe prosecuted under the less Quarantine, With Big National Disaster Manage- Heart” scheme to check ment Act, 2005. “This is a the spread of coronavirus, very serious issue. Returnees under which suspected pafrom different parts of India tients must remain in 7-day breaching the procedure instiutional and 7-day home would be arrested and put quarantine.

Cancer patient among two recovered from COVID-19 in Mnp

Correspondent

IMPHAL, May 23: A 75year-old cancer patient is among two battling COVID19 after fresh test after treatment turned out negative on Saturday. She has been undergoing treatment at the COVID-19 care facility of RIMS hospital along her 48-year-old son after they both tested positive for the virus on returning from Mumbai where she had been for cancer treatment.

A 75-year-old woman and her 48-year-old son who hail from Moreh town of Manipur’s Tengnoupal district tested positive for the virus after their throat swabs were tested at the Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of RIMS on May 16 last.

The mother is a cancer patient and they returned to the state on a hired bus.

They tested positive while staying at an institutional quarantine centre in Imphal.

After treatment for about a week, they were tested again on Friday and the results received on Saturday showed negative for the virus. Their results certified by the principal investigator Dr Kh Solochana Devi of state level VRDL at RIMS confirmed their recovery.

The authority will declare them fully recovered from the disease after they will be tested again after 24 hours as per COVID-19 protocol.

With the two patients on the verge of being declared fully recovered, so far the state has reported

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECTORATE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION KOHIMA : NAGALAND No.ED/AEI-18/2020

Kohima, the 23rd May 2020

Dear Educators,

Have confidence in your ability?

Come forward ... Let the world see your talents!

Join hands with us in our efforts of promoting digital learning !!!

Original FHD / UHD video recordings are solicited for lessons/ topics stated in the Annexure attached herewith for broadcasting through DoSE Nagaland’s Youtube Channel & Facebook page.  Duration of each video: 20 Minutes.  Shoot your videos with Mobile/Camera of Resolution FHD 1080P and above.  Send the file through email to dosenl.digitaledn@gmail.com as Google Drive Attachment.  Best video recordings will be rewarded and producers of all videos selected for the broadcast will be honoured with certificates of appreciation.  Copy rightsof videos selected for broadcasting shall be with the Department of School Education, Nagaland.  Mention Class, Subject, Topic, Name of Teacher & Name of School in the email.  Name the video file in the following format: Class<space> Subject<space> Sl. No. of video<space>Your name Eg.: ClassVIII English Video1 Bijano

Sl. No. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Annexure Class VIII (As per Govt. Prescribed TextClass IX Class X books) Subject – English Subject – Subject – Social Sc. Chapter 5 Science Chapter 2 ‘The School Boy’ Chapter 4 Subject – English Subject – Subject – Social Sc. Unit I - Literature Maths Chapter 13 ‘Mountains and Rivers of Nagaland’ Section b (Poetry) ‘Mirror’ Chapter 1 Subject – Subject – Science Subject – Maths English Poetry Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 5 Subject – Subject – Maths Subject – Science Social Sc. Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Subject – English Subject – Subject – Social Sc. Chapter 6 Science Chapter 3 ‘This is Jody’s Fawn, Chapter 5

6.

Subject – Social Sc. Chapter 14 ‘Natural and Man Made disasters’

Subject – English Section a (Prose) ‘Toasted English’

7.

Subject – Science Chapter 3

Subject – Maths Chapter 4

Subject – Pol. Sc. Unit I Subject – English Chapter 3 Subject – History Unit II Subject – Education Unit III Subject – Economics Unit III Subject – Sociology Unit I Subject – Pol. Sc. Unit IV

Class 12 Sc.

Class 12 Com.

Last Date of Submission

Subject – Subject – 29th May Physics Acc. 2020 Unit I Unit I Subject – Subject – 30th May Chemistry Ent. 2020 Unit I Unit I Subject – Subject – 31st May Maths Bus. St. 2020 Unit I Unit I Subject – Subject – 1st June Botany Eco 2020 Unit III Unit IV Subject – Subject – 2nd June Zoology Acc. 2020 Unit I Unit II Subject – Subject – 3rd June Physics Ent. 2020 Unit II Unit II Subject – Subject – 4th June Chemistry Bus. St. 2020 Unit III Unit II (SHANAVAS C) IAS Principal Director Issued by DIPR

four recoveries from the contagion. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh congratulated doctors, nurses, paramedical staffs and authorities of RIMS hospital on the successful treatment of the two patients.

Meanwhile, with the detection of a new case, the number of COVID-19 infected individuals in Manipur rose to 27 on Saturday, of which 25 are active cases. COVID-19 Common Control Room of Manipur government, in a release today, confirmed that a 26-year-old male returnees from Chennai by train was found positive for the virus when tested at RIMS’s VRDL on Friday night.

He was among the 1140 returnees from Chennai who reached the state at Jiribam railway station on May 13 and has been lodged at a community quarantine centre at Mayang Imphal in Imphal West district.

He was admitted to an isolation ward of the RIMS hospital with stuffy nose and mild cough on May 19 following which his sample was collected on May 19 and tested for the virus on Friday night along with other 112 samples.

Bethany Hospital reopens after 40 days Correspondent Shillong, May 23: Bethany Hospital in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong, was re-opened on Saturday after it was sealed for 40 days following the outbreak of COVID-19 where its founder, Dr. John L. Sailo Rynthathiang was infected and succumbed to the virus.

Sailo, as fondly known, was the first COVID-19 positive patient who tested positive on April 13, and succumbed to the virus on April 15. His demise brought shock and panic in Meghalaya not only among the citizens, but frontline warriors too.

The State government allowed the Bethany Hospital to re-open after the District Medical & Health Officer of East Khasi Hills, Shillong Municipal Board and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board inspected the entire hospital.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma accompanied by Commissioner and Secretary for Health and Family Welfare, P. Sampath Kumar also visited Bethany hospital and paid rich tributes to the late renowned physician in the

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma lighting a lamp during re-opening of Bethany Hospital in Shillong. presence of his wife and other family members.

“I would like to tell the people and patients who regular visit Bethany that there is nothing to fear.

I think that life should go on and move on,” Sangma said. He said that the biggest tribute to Dr. Sailo will be for the team to continue with the good work and fulfil his vision for the people.

Sangma also thanked the entire Bethany Hospital team that responded to the pressure in a positive and cooperative manner.

“I also thank the network and the community for supporting the government and Bethany Hospital,” Sangma said.

B etha ny Ho spita l Spokesperson Dr. Kyntiewlang Sanmiet said the hospital has also reinstituted its policies and polished ways of working to prevent viral transmission.

“We want to share the good news that none of our staff was tested positive for COVID-19. As we move towards a new normal, be assured that we will do our best to continuously deliver quality patient care and hopefully this reopening will serve as a beacon of hope,” Sanmiet said.

Meghalaya recorded 14 cases of COVID-19 including Dr Sailo, out of which, 12 have recovered, and one patient is still positive.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND OFFICE OF THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER WOKHA : NAGALAND

NO.WKA-GEN-ENCR/230/2017/

Dated Wokha, the 22nd of May, 2020.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Whereas, it has come to the notice of the undersigned that large areas of Government Purchased lands are under encroachment at Yimparasa, Bhandari and Longayim by some unscrupulous individual/groups; And whereas, inspite of repeated directives both from the Forest Department as well as the District Administration, illegal activities are still being carried out with utter disregard to authority; And whereas, this is to notify all concerned that the Government Purchased lands at Yimparasa, Bhandari and Longayim under Wokha District are Government acquired lands with complete documents; Now therefore, anyone found guilty of encroachment, sale and/or purchase upon the said lands will be doing so at their own risk and the encroachers will be liable to be booked under the following relevant provisions of the law: SL. PENALTY NO RELEVANT ACT SECTION Imprisonment for a term which may extend to U/S 34 six months, or with fine which may extend to five The Nagaland Forest hundred rupees, or with both 1 Act, 1968 U/S 60(d) Imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both Simple imprisonment for a period which may 2 The Forest Conservation U/S 3(A) Act, 1980 extend to fifteen days Imprisonment of either description for a term The Nagaland Eviction of Persons U/S 17(i) which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both 3 in Unauthorised Occupation of Public U/S 17(ii) Eviction Land Act, 1971 Imprisonment of either description for a term which U/S 434 may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both The Indian Penal Code, Imprisonment of either description for a term 4 1860 which may extend to three months, or with fine U/S 447 which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both In addition, any village council found committing/abetting such encroachments would also be held responsible and necessary action would be initiated to curtail the developmental funds for those villages thereafter.

DP-2412

Sd/(ZUTHUNGLO PATTON, IFS) Divisional Forest Officer Wokha, Nagaland

DC-434

DC-

Subject – Maths Chapter 2 Subject – English Prose Chapter 6

Class 12 Arts

7

northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

K Y M C

K Y M C

8

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

Bundesliga: Dortmund down Wolfsburg 2-0 Osaka is highest-paid female athlete

Wolfsburg, May 23 (Agencies): Borussia Dortmund kept the heat on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich ahead of Der Klassiker with a 2-0 win at 10-man Wolfsburg on Saturday.

A sixth straight league victory for Dortmund was not nearly as impressive as last weekend's crushing of rivals Schalke but again moved Lucien Favre's challengers to within a point of Bayern prior to the late kickoff between the defending champions and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Raphael Guerreiro struck twice in the Revierderby and was on target once more, breaking the deadlock with his eighth Bundesliga goal of the season – his best return in a single league campaign.

Wolfsburg, who saw substitute Felix Klaus controversially dismissed with eight minutes remaining, stayed in the game and Dortmund toiled, but Achraf Hakimi's counter-attacking second clinched a precious triumph before Bayern visit Signal Iduna

Raphael Guerreiro celebrates with team mates after scoring his sides first goal during the Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg at Volkswagen Arena on Saturday.

of Guerreiro's clinical left boot.

Wolfsburg were picked apart by neat work down the right that freed Thorgan Hazard at the byline, with a low centre just evading a tumbling Erling Haaland

and instead reaching Guerreiro at the far post for a simple tap-in.

Hazard miscued from the edge of the area as the visitors pushed for a second before the break, yet they might have been pegged

No sporting event in near future: Rijiju

PL chief confident of June restart

New Delhi, May 23 (PTI): Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said India will not host any international event in immediate future and fans will have to learn to live with the new normal of sporting activities happening behind closed doors in the post COVID-19 world.

Rijiju’s statement gain greater significance in the context of the suspended IPL, which the BCCI wants to host in OctoberNovember in case the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia is postponed.

“We have been working for quite some time now to resume sporting activities but before that we have to think about practice and training. We are not going to have a tournament kind of situation immediately,” Rijiju was quoted as saying by India Today.

“We have to learn to live with the situation

Park for a mammoth meeting on Tuesday.

With that distraction looming on the horizon, u n c h a n ge d D o r t mu n d scarcely troubled their hosts here before the 32nd-minute opener came courtesy

Kiren Rijiju

where sporting events will have to be carried forward without spectators in stadiums and sports venues,” he added.

Talking specifically about IPL, which has been put on hold, Rijiju said it is the government’s prerogative to take a call on conducting any tournament.

“In India, the government has to take a call and it will take a call depending on the situation. We cannot put health at risk just because we want to have a

sporting event.”

“Our focus is fighting Covid-19 and at the same time we will have to work a mechanism to get back to normalcy. It is difficult to confirm dates but I am sure we will have some kind of sporting events this year,” he said.

Rijiju’s statement came close on the heels of Sports Authority of India (SAI) laying out a detailed Standard Operating Procedure for resumption of sporting activities across the country in a phased manner.

“In the background their (athletes) fitness and everything have been tracked. They are in touch with the coaches, the fitness experts, the high performance directors. We are monitoring each and every athlete who are of the higher stature, who played for India and higher clubs,” he said.

L o n d o n, M ay 2 3 (Agencies): The Premier League is “as confident as we can be” about England’s top-flight soccer league restarting in June, said chief executive Richard Masters.

The Premier League has been suspended since March 13 and June 12 has been identified as a possible date to restart. “We’ve taken the first step,” Masters told BBC Sport.

“It’s great for everybody, including the fans, to see our players back on the training ground.”

Masters said that the Premier League remains flexible on the date of resumption, contingency plans were needed and “curtailment” was still an option.

“We wouldn’t have taken the first step to get back to training if we weren’t convinced we had created a very safe environment for our players,” he said.

Life is important, training can take a back seat: Kom New Delhi, May 23 (Agencies): It’s a difficult time for athletes across disciplines in India as they struggle to resume training amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. India’s Olympic medal-winning boxer, Mary Kom said training can resume only with advance precautions but there is no rush.

“Difficult to resume training for everyone right now in my opinion, difficult to take that step in this situation. BFI needs to take advance precautions and I’m sure they will do everything to ensure safety measures are in place.”

BFI has also asked all athletes to give a written undertaking that they will be in full compliance with rules and protocols put in place by the government of India.

“Difficult to comment on this, but no one will be

Mary Kom

willing to take the risk, life is more important than training at the moment.

It’s a good idea, good intention, to come back after a long period and resume training as making a come back after 1-2 months will be very tough. Maybe the worry is whether we will perform in future or not,

but more clarity on the Standard operations procedures (SOP) is needed,” adds Mary Kom. Sports Authority of India has still not been able to offer any clarity in terms of specific dates, as to when training will resume in SAI centres and how will it ensure imple-

mentation of SOPs with strict adherence.

“Training can resume only with advance precautions, regular testing should be done for athletes, I’m sure no one wants to risk their lives to play sport at this time,” said India’s most decorated boxer.

Mary Kom also spoke on the rising number of cases of Covid-19 in India and specifically in Delhi.

“Cases are increasing because there is no lockdown, we have to be very careful to use sanitisers, wear masks and gloves. I’m a mother and I have kids, I worry the most about them, we have to fight this situation. A solution is not there, vaccine is not available, so training should resume only when there are advance precautions being taken. Everyone should be safe, whether at home or in camps.”

back within three minutes of the restart.

Mats Hummels, reportedly nursing a foot injury, made way for Emre Can at half-time, and Dortmund's reshuffled defence failed to halt Renato Steffen's run onto a smart Wout Weghorst pass, only for his powerful finish to clip the top of the crossbar.

Roman Burki swatted away a thumping Steffen volley as Wolfsburg maintained an improved second period, although Guerreiro drilled across the face of goal at the other end.

Dortmund soon settled the match as substitute Jadon Sancho raced into the final third and fed Hakimi for a simple second.

A VAR review saw Felix Klaus dismissed for a challenge on Manuel Akanji, bringing an end to any faint hopes of a Wolfsburg comeback.

No Dortmund supporter needs reminding of their next test at home on Tuesday. Wolfsburg are in action the same day with a similarly challenging encounter at Bayer Leverkusen.

Washington, May 23 (Agencies): Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has become the world’s highest-paid female athlete, displacing US rival Serena Williams at the top of the list.

According to Forbes magazine, Osaka, 22, a two-time Grand Slam champion, made £30.7m in prize money and endorsements over the past 12 months.

That was £1.15m more than the amount earned by 38-year-old Williams.

Both shattered the previous single-year earnings record of £24.4m set in 2015 by Russia’s Maria Sharapova.

Since Forbes began tracking women athletes’ income in 1990, tennis players have topped the annual list every year.

Osaka, whose father was bor n in Haiti and whose mother is Japanese, is 29th on the 2020 Forbes list of the world’s 100 toppaid athletes, four spots ahead of Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

The complete Forbes

According to Forbes, Naomi Osaka made £30.7 mn in prize money and endorsements over the past 12 months.

list, due to be released next week, has not featured two women since 2016, the magazine says.

The pair met in the 2018 US Open final with Osaka winning her first Grand Slam title in a highly controversial match in which Williams was given three code violations by the umpire.

The Japanese then won the 2019 Australian Open, although her form has since dipped and she has fallen

from world number one to 10th on the WTA rankings.

Williams had been the world’s highest-paid female athlete in each of the past four years, with Sharapova ruling for the five years before that.

Osaka has been a popular endorsement figure in Japan in the build-up to the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics, securing lucrative deals with global brands Nike, Nissan and Yonex, among others.

Desperate to play the IPL, says Buttler L o n d o n, M ay 2 3 (IANS): England batsman Jos Buttler feels Indian Premier League (IPL) has helped in the growth of English cricket and that’s why for him, the T20 league is the secondbest tournament after the World Cups.

“There’s no doubt that it (IPL) has helped English cricket grow and the numbers of players who were involved in the last few years,” Buttler said in the BBC Podcast ‘The Doosra’.

“It was something I was desperate to play. For me it’s the best tournament in the world, taking out the World Cups,” he added.

Buttler has been a part of two franchises in the IPL. He played for Mumbai Indians in the 2016-17 season and then moved to Rajasthan Royals in 2018.

Coutinho purchase option expired: Bayern B e r l i n, M ay 2 3 (Agencies): Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed the Bundesliga champions have not activated their purchase option for Philippe Coutinho and the clause has now expired.

Coutinho joined Bayern on a season-long loan deal from La Liga holders Barcelona at the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

The Brazil international arrived with the option to buy for €120 million (£107m/$131m) but Bayern have opted not to exercise the deal. “The option expired and we haven’t activated it,” said Rummenigge.

“We’re going to plan our squad for next season and we’ll see if he still has a role to play with us or not,” he added.

According to the World Cup winner, the league is like the fantasy cricket he aspired to play as kid, with top cricketers playing against each other.

“Some of the match ups you get to see in the I P L a r e g r e a t . Roya l Challengers Bangalore has been amongst the top three teams with (Virat) Kohli, AB (de Villiers) and (Chris) Gayle coming up and then to see them up against a (Jasprit) Bumrah or a Dale Steyn or (Lasith) Malinga.”

“As a kid growing up that is what you want to play -- fantasy cricket. Mix all the teams together what it will be like if Kohli and de Villiers play together,” he added.

Buttler has so far played 45 IPL matches in total in which he has scored 1386 runs at a strike rate of over 150.

Jos Buttler

Manu reluctant to start outdoor training

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS): Resumption of training has been the hot debate in sports ever since the government allowed for sports facilities and stadiums to be opened moving into Lockdown 4.0.

While the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Sports Ministry has said athletes can resume training adhering to safety guidelines, IOA General Secretary Rajeev Mehta said rushing back to training might not be a good idea and his sentiments have now been echoed by some athletes who aren’t too keen to start as yet.

Speaking to IANS, 2 0 1 8 C o m m o n we a l t h Games gold medal winning shooter said that she wouldn’t go for any camp unless she is convinced that it is truly safe.

“Unless and until they make it extremely compulsory or convince us that it

Manu Bhaker

is truly safe, I won’t go for any camp. We have been provided with electronic targets and facilities by SAI so I have been working on that at home. So unless and until there is some big tournament coming up or if the risk of the virus is truly off, I don’t see any reason to go back to training,” said the eight-time World Cup gold medallist.

Wrestler Pooja Dhanda has also said that they have got an idea on how to train effectively at home.

The SAI SOP made it clear that contact sports like wrestling and boxing will only have individual training at camps in the initial stages.

“I feel it’s better to wait at home considering the speed at which this virus is still spreading in the country,” she said.

“Wrestling is a sport where you need a partner to train and its constant contact and that is not allowed in the initial stages.

Individual training is exactly what we are doing at home anyhow so I don’t see any reason to take the risk of going outside all the way to the place where a camp may be held.”

Fellow wrestler Divya Kakran said that she will go only if she is convinced that it is safe enough. “If the situation around the virus is safe then I will go. If not then even if the lockdown ends, I won’t go,” she said.

Printed, Published and Edited by Geoffrey Yaden at G.M. Printers, Circular Rd. Dimapur-797112. Ph: Desk 248489, Fax: 225366, e-mail-npdesk@gmail.com. Adm.& Advertisement  :248267 Fax: 248500 e-mail-npostadvt@gmail.com Kohima: 2290567, R.N. 40978/90 RN/NE 707 K Y M C

K Y M C