25 Jan 2023

Nagaland

3rd ODI: India beat NZ by 90 runs; sweep series 3-0

Discontent grows within state BJP

Staff Reporter/Correspondent

DIMAPUR/KOHIMA,

JAN 24 (NPN): Upping the ante against the 40:20 seat-sharing arrangement with NDPP, all 60 mandal presidents of State BJP have threatened to resign en masse if the central party leaders did not review/ revoke the agreement.

Party workers and supporters and some BJP aspiring candidates continued their dharnas across the State on Tuesday with some demanding 30:30 seatsharing arrangement, while a section demanded contest from all 60 seats.

According to sources, union home minister Amit Shah at his meeting with party workers at Niathu Resort on January 6 had reportedly rejected demand of party workers for increase in seat share for BJP at least up to 25 and NDPP to 35.

BJP sources told Nagaland Post that the BJP central leaders are unwilling to create any situation just on the eve of polls. They said the claims by state party workers will have to be proved if the party can win at least a minimum of 15 or even the total 20 seats it is going to contest.

At Dimapur, all 60 BJP

Dimapur police to act against noise pollution

DIMAPUR, JAN 24

(NPN): Dimapur police have prohibited bursting of fire crackers, use of loudspeakers, beating of drums or tom-tom or blowing of trumpet or any sound producing instrument or musical instrument or any sound amplifier at night (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.) except in public emergencies.

In an order issued on Tuesday, commissioner of police (CP) Dimapur, Kevithuto Sophie, stated that the move was in compliance to the National Commission tor Protection of Child Right letter and in view of the ensuing school examination.

mandal presidents staged a protest in Naga Shopping Arcade area, joined by some intending candidates. They put up banners some of which read as: “When Meghalaya has only 2 BJP sitting MLA and contesting from all 60 mandals then why NAGALAND is given a step motherly treatment allowing only 20 seats out of 60 seats, “Why Shri. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam CM has the authority to decide the future of another State? Why not Modi?”; “BJP Nagaland to select our own candidate”; “Why national BJP is being dictated by its regional alliance partner?” etc.

Talking to Nagaland Post at the protest site, some of the protestors claimed that all mandal presidents had “personally signed” and submitted a joint resolution at the State executive meeting held at Dimapur in June 2022. The meeting urged upon both the Central and State leaders to do away with the seat-sharing agreement with NDPP and instead set up candidates in all 60 seats in the 2023 Assembly polls.

The resentful workers also said that the mandal presidents had also categorically stated that they would not accept even 30:30 seat

sharing. As the protesters at the venues were clearly in no mood to accept anything short of contesting all 60 seats, Mandal president of 2 Dimapur II Assembly constituency (AC) N Tsuknung Jamir said the dharna was meant to display total opposition against the seatsharing deal with NDPP.

Mandal president of 3-Dimapur-III AC Ananto H Zhimomi demanded that the Central leaders let the State BJP decide on the matter. “We don’t want others to decide the fate of BJP Nagaland,” he insisted.

He stated that the mandal presidents had in their June 2022 representation, categorically demanded that seat-sharing agreement signed by NDPP secretary general Abu Metha and BJP in-charge of Nagaland Nalin Kohli be revoked.

Ananto further warned that in the event the central BJP leaders fail to accede to their demands, the mandal presidents would have no option but to resign en masse.

He also claimed that none of the leaders of the party who had signed the seat sharing pact with NDPP , had ever consulted the mandals or even enquired about the status or position of their

respective candidates. Zhimomi said they would not have protested if the party strength was the same as it was in 2018 (when the party agreed to contest 20 seats).

The mandal heads expressed apprehension that in the current situation, the BJP would break up and more division created within the party.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that deputy chief minister Y. Patton and BJP president Temjen Imna Along had met Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Guwahati and discussed about the crisis.

Pughoboto BJP

Meanwhile, BJP Pughoboto mandal workers have appealed to the State party leaders to honour the party’s practice of rewarding meritocracy, hard work and good performance that it had been upholding till now.

Addressing media persons at State BJP office, Kohima, mandal adviser Vixepu Swu said Pughoboto AC mandal was declared the best performing in the State and therefore insisted that the party should honour it. Swu said at a time when people were sceptical of joining BJP due to various underlying

ENSSU backs ESH resolution

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): Eastern Nagaland Sumi Students Union (ENSSU) has strongly affirmed to support the Eastern Sumi Hoho (ESH)’s resolution adopted at Nikiye village on October 25, 2022, wherein it declared that Sumi community of Eastern Nagaland “shall continue to exist within the state of present Nagaland in the event of Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation demand is considered by the government of India.”

ENSSU president Isukha Sumi and general secretary Tonika G Aye also reaffirmed the position and decision of ESH that Sumi tribe of Eastern Nagaland would participate in the forthcoming polls and exercise their franchise as provided by Art 326 of the Constitution. In this regard, ENSSU directed all its federating units to participate in the ensuing assembly election and exercise their franchise on February 27, 2023.

75% of sitting Nagaland MLAs are crorepatis, says ADR report

NE W DELHI, JAN 24 (IANS): Seventy-five per cent of the sitting MLAs of Nagaland are crorepatis, while 3 per cent have declared criminal cases against themselves, revealed an Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report on Tuesday. The report said that out of 60 sitting MLAs analysed, 45 (75 per cent) are crorepatis.

Party-wise, 32 out of the 42 MLAs are from the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), 9 out of 12 from BJP, 3 out of 4 from Naga People’s Front (NPF) and 1 out of 2 Independent MLAs have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.

ADR and the Nagaland Election Watch have analysed criminal, financial and other background details of the 60 sitting MLAs based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates

Overloaded

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): Transport Commissioner’s office, Motor Vehicles department has warned that overloaded heavy vehicles would be penalised.

The department stated that if any of its authorised officer had any reason to believe that a goods vehicle or trailer was being used in contravention of Section 113 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, he or she would direct the driver to take the vehicle to a weighing device, if any, within a distance of 10 km from any point on the forward route or within a distance of 20 km from the destination of

HC complex issue: Dr. Chumben dismisses Cong charges

DIMAPUR, JAN 24

(NPN): Law & Justice adviser Dr Chumben Murry has dismissed All India Congress Committee (AICC) media coordinator Mahima Singh’s allegations of irregularities in construction of the new high court complex at Kohima as false.

In a statement, Murry claimed that after having taken over as adviser of Law & Justice department seven months ago, he had been closely monitoring the construction of the new high court complex and had visited the site twice, second time being last month. He clarified that, for the information of Ms Singh, it was

not a ghost complex.

He noted that Singh sounded assertive but, while some of her observations related to UCC and CAA relevant to Nagaland were appreciated, her rantings on the high court complex had been fed with falsified information made to confuse people and amount to mudslinging.

He said Congress might do well to dwell on its goodness, if any, rather than resort to cheap gimmick of futile finger pointing and should act like a major party.

Murry stated that the project was approved in 2011 when Congress was in power at the Centre, but

it unfortunately did not ensure that sufficient fund was provided to it unlike in Manipur and Mizoram. Hence, he claimed that the State government under the able statesmanship of chief minister Neiphiu Rio boldly started the project with meagre State funds.

He admitted that the project that was to be completed within three years took unusually long time because of meagre fund flow, CBI case, protracted monsoon and Covid-19 pandemic.

As per the revised detailed project report (DPR), he said the total project cost for the high court complex

and residential quarters was Rs 122 crore, of which only Rs 34 crore had been sanctioned against physical achievement of 95%.

He mentioned that the cost of residential quarters for judges was Rs 38 crore with a physical achievement of 65 percent against a release of meagre Rs 10 lakh.

Murry stated that he appreciated the contractor for the good physical achievement in spite of low funding. He also invited Mahima Singh or any other sceptic to visit the magnificent “nowhere to be seen” complex under construction situated in northern Kohima area.

North East Democratic Front party launched

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN):

Barely a month ahead of the State assembly elections, a new political party under the name “North East Democratic Front” (NDEF) was launched in Dimapur Tuesday with the motto “power to the people”.

Addressing media persons at East Inn, Dimapur, president of the newly floated party Lima Longkumer said the party has been formed with the commitment to restructure North East in the spirit of true democratic and responsible tiers of government so as to achieve a just equitable society.

He said the party, with members from other North

Eastern states like Assam and Meghalaya, would be a platform for the gen-X and new age politics, adding that the region needed new crusade with new opportunities and hope.

“Allow us to be your rainbow. Allow us to use yours and our knowledge and political experiences for the benefit of

our states. There are so many unsolved issues to be solved and we believe together we can provide the best solutions”, he said.

NEDF spokesperson, Bendang said that though the front was recently registered with the Election Commission of India, it was yet to get the

heavy

prior to the 2018 Assembly elections and bypolls conducted thereafter.

The report said that the average of assets per sitting MLA is Rs. 5.14 crore.

It said that the average assets per MLA for 42 NDPP MLAs analysed is Rs. 5.73 crore, 12 BJP MLAs Rs. 3.68 crore, 4 NPF MLAs Rs. 5.34 crores and two Independent MLAs have average assets of Rs. 1.13 crore.

While two MLAs (3 per cent) have declared criminal cases against themselves, two (3 per cent) others have declared serious criminal cases. On education details, the ADR said that 19 (32 per

cent) MLAs have declared their qualification to be between class 8 and class 12 pass, while 40 (67 per cent) have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above and one declared himself as illiterate.

On age details, the report said that 10 (17 per cent) MLAs have declared to be between 31 and 40 years, while 32 (53 per cent) are between 41 to 60 years.

There are 17 (28 per cent) MLAs who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 and one is aged above 80. The report said that out of the 60 MLAs analysed, none are women.

vehicles to be penalised

the vehicle for weighment. And if upon weighing, the vehicle was found to carry excess weight in contravention of the provision of Section 113, he or she might direct the driver to offload the excess weight at his own risk and not allow the vehicle or trailer to move from that place until the excess weight was offloaded. The department stated that the driver would have to comply with such directions.

Further, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 200 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1989 as amended by the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act

2019, the State government had (vide notification no. TPT/MV/3/2013, dated 12th November) already empowered officers not below the rank of assistant road safety and enforcement inspector under the Motor Vehicles Department and sub-inspector of police to impose a fine of minimum Rs 20, 000 and Rs 2,000 per excess tonne under Section 194 of MV Act, 1988.

According to the department, overloading on highways and roads was becoming a major cause of concern in the State. It claimed that the problem of overloading of heavy ve-

No official vehicles to be misused: CEO Nagaland

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar has asked all political parties, candidates or any other person connected with election including ministers, MLAs, personnel secretary, personnel assistant to ministers, advisors and MLAs to not misuse official vehicles for campaign, electioneering or election related purposes, as per instructions/ guidelines of the Election Commission of India.

CEO said that official vehicles include all vehicles belonging to Central and State government, PSUs,

joint sector undertakings, local bodies, Municipal corporations, municipalities, marketing boards (by whatever name known), cooperative societies, Autonomous DCs, or any other body in which public funds, however small a portion of the total, are invested and also vehicles belonging to defence ministry and central police organizations under MHA and state governments.

EC guidelines states that there shall be a total and absolute ban on use of official vehicles except officials performing election related duty.

NLA Sectt. informs on clearance certificate

hicles was so serious that it was not only causing damage to road infrastructure, leading to rapid deterioration of roads and resulting in increased maintenance and transportation costs in the State where most of the roads lacked quality, but also increased the possibility of unnecessary loss of lives.

The department specified that overloaded vehicles threatened road safety and contributed to many fatal accidents, stressing that the overloaded vehicle not only put the driver at risk but also passengers and other road users.

No chopper service

from Feb 24-Mar 3

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): Nagaland State Transport (NST) department has informed that the State Helicopter Service would remain requisitioned on standby with effect from February 24 to March 3, for the ensuing assembly elections. In a press release, NST general manager Er. Atovi Kiba Sema has, therefore, requested the travelling passengers to bear with the department for the inconvenience.

DC Chumou issues

travel advisory

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN):

recognition. While informing that the party would not be contesting the forthcoming polls, Bendang, however, said NEDF would act as a mediatorand provide a platform to independent candidates post elections.

NEDF member and intending candidate from Meghalaya, Batskhem Marbaniang said he joined the party keeping in mind the spirit of unity of all North Eastern states.

Member from Assam, Rajen Timung claimed that NEDF would act as an umbrella party for the whole of the North East and called upon the youth to get involved in politics. He said Nagaland would not develop unless youths get involved in politics.

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) secretariat has informed all members of the 13th NLA about the guidelines of obtaining the “clearance certificate” from the secretariat, which will be issued from January 31.

MLAs have been asked to produce the treasury challan in accordance with the allotment order of the condemned vehicle (reserved price/ depreciated value), if not to surrender the vehicle.

All MLAs are to collect the allotment order of their condemned vehicles from the transport branch of NLA secretariat from January 27, 2023 onwards during office working hours.

They have also been requested to clear all the outstanding dues of medical advances and advances TA/DA.

MLAs who have been allotted room in the Legislator’s Home have been asked to hand over the room keys and also to return the Assembly Library books.

In order to facilitate the progress of road construction and in the interest of public, the deputy commissioner (DC) Chümoukedima Abhinav Shivam has restricted all heavy vehicles from plying between Punglwa to Thekrejuma road with effect from January 24 till February 2. In this regard, DC has advised all to plan movement along the route accordingly.

R-Day celebration to be live streamed

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): State home department has informed that the state level function for celebration of the 74th Republic Day at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, Kohima on January 26, 2023 would be live streamed on the MyGovNagaland and DIPR YouTube Channel from 8:45am onwards.

outages continue in Pakistan despite minister’s claim of restoration

(L) BJP mandal presidents along with some of the BJP intending candidates in Dimapur during the protest and (R) Pughoboto BJP karyakartas staging a dharna outside the State BJP office in Kohima on Tuesday.

Members of the newly launched NEDF party in Dimapur. (NP)

Nagaland gears up for general election 2023

DIMAPUR: In

ous

DLMTs, NOs, DEO

& RO meeting: A meeting of the District Level Master Trainers (DLMTs) and Nodal Officers (NOs) with the District Election Officer (DEO) and Returning Officer (RO) of Longleng was held on January 13 at the Conference Hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Longleng.

According to a DIPR report, Longleng DC and DEO and ADC and RO briefed the gathering on guidelines and instructions of the Election Commission of India, and the time frame to be followed up with strict compliance for smooth conduct of general election.

The sequence of training schedules for sector magistrate, presiding officers, polling personnel, SST, FST, VST, VVT, MCMC, counting agents, accounting team and other committees and agents related to election was framed. The trainings to be begin from February 1.

The report informed that the election flying squad team along with video surveillance team in the district have been activated to check violation of model code of conduct.

NO and MTs appointed: The DC and DEO Longleng has appointed

LONGLENG DISTRICT

BDO, Angam Longho as the Nodal Officer (NO) and G.S. Rao, V.S, Chingdom, TOT and Mahabir GHA, assistant professor as master trainers for webcasting and offline videography.

Postal ballot paper: The DC and DEO, Longleng has notified all the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) under Longleng district to distribute Form 12D to all the eligible absentee voters, under respective polling stations, who wish to cast their vote through postal ballot paper.

According to a DIPR report, DC and DEO has informed that the eligible absentee voters, who can cast their vote through postal ballot paper, are those persons belonging to the class of person employed in essential services, who on account of the compulsion of their duties are not able to present in their polling stations on the day of polling; senior citizens (above 80 years) of age; Person with Disability (PwD) attached with disability certificate issued by the appropriate authority under the Rights of Person with Disability Act. 2016; Covid-19 suspect or affected person certificate from competent health authority to be attached.

NEWS IN BRIEF

DMC cleanest colony competition: Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has informed that the award ceremony of DMC cleanest colony competition for 2022 will held on January 28 at 2 pm at Town Hall, Super Market. Therefore, DMC has requested two representatives from Naga Council, DUCCF, DNSU, Naga Women Hoho, GB’s union, Dimapur and one representative from each colony and one from the sanitation committee of the respective colony to attend the programme.

‘Partners meet’: Jesus Calls Ministry will be holding a fellowship “Partners’ Meet” on January 25 at 2:30 pm at Sangtam Baptist Church, Duncan Basti, Dimpaur. The ministry has therefore called the well-wishers to come and be blessed with the family members. NSCN (Niki) recovers: NSCN/GPRN (Niki) has informed that it has recovered one Etios Liva (Toyota) bearing Engine No. M25G160058B2 and Chassis No. MBJK30ET908047809. NSCN (Niki) has informed the owner of the vehicle to claim the vehicle within seven days from the date of publication of the notice. The owner has been asked to contact at 9366022688. NNC informs on 77th anniversary: Naga National Council (NNC) Urra Nagaland informed all the regions of Nagaland who were not able to attend the main programme at Kohima to observe it’s 77th Anniversary on February 2, 2023 at their own respective jurisdiction. In a press release, NNC joint secretary Acuyi Vadeo appealed to all the churches of Nagaland to hold a time of prayer on that day to safeguard “our Naga Nation”.

It has been informed that only such voters whose particulars are found correct in Form 12D shall be issued postal ballot paper and shall not be allowed to vote at the polling stations. The fill up form 12D should be submitted to the returning officer of the respective constituency on or before February 4.

Requisitioning of Govt employees/staff: In connection with requisitioning of government employees/staffs for election duty, the DC and DEO Longleng, Dharam Raj has instructed all the HoDs/ AHoDs under Longleng district not to grant leave to those employees/ staffs who are requisitioned / drafted for election duty.

In case of inevitable situations/circumstances, the DC and DEO informed that proper consultant should be obtained from the DC and DEO office before granting any leave.

District level standing committee constituted: In order to ensure observation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and smooth conduct of general election, the district level standing committee has been constituted with DC and DEO, Longleng as chairman and additional superintendent of police, EAC HQ Dr. Sam-

uel Akho Konyak, DPRO, president/ secretary/representatives of all political parties, President PPC, PSC, Phomla Hoichem and Assistant Election Officer (AEO), Longleng as its members. The first meet of the committee was held on January 20 at the Conference Hall of DC Longleng office.

MCC toll-free number: In connection with the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in Longleng district, District Contact Centre (DCC) with tollfree number 1950 at the DC & DEO office, Longleng has been operationalized for complaint redressal. According to a DIPR report, 24x7 Control Room with adequate manpower and logistic facilities had been activated with strict instructions for prompt redressal and disposal of the complaint. The control room numbers are - 8794607805 / 7005579036.

MCMC constituted: District-level Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC) for Longleng has been constituted headed by DC and DEO, Longleng as chairman, and ADC and Returning Officer, assistant election officer and ARO and District Public Relations Officer, Longleng as members.

DNYE condemns alleged murder attempt

DIMAPUR: Dimapur Nkonjan Yanthamo Ekhung (DNYE) has strongly condemned the alleged murder attempt on Zubemo Ngullie by unidentified masked miscreants on January 22 at his residence, Blue Hill Colony Wokha. A press release by DNYE, chairman Tsenjamo Lotha, vice chairman Rabenthung Kikon and Secretary Chichanthung Ngullie, claimed that miscreants entered the residence of Ngullie and assaulted him

and his wife and looted more than Rs. 3 lakh cash and seized all the mobile phones of the family.

Expressing serious concern over the incident, DNYE said that such act of “terror and robbery” should be condemned by all right thinking citizens and urged the law enforcing agencies to book the case and take immediate action and serve befitting punishment against those culprits at the earliest.

Dimapur police recover bodies

DIMAPUR: Dimapur police has informed claimant/ relatives/friends of Sukumar Banik (63), non-local, R/O Medziphema to claim the body by contacting the officerin-Charge, East Police Station, Dimapur at 7085055020.

In a separate notice, Dimapur police PRO also informed that on January 23, one unidentified non-local male (50) dead body was found lying on the side of the road opposite to Traffic Zone-I Office below fly over bridge Dimapur. On completion of all legal formalities the body was shifted to District Hospital Dimapur Morgue for PM examination / identification. PRO has asked claimant/ relatives/friends of the deceased to contact officer-incharge, east PS Dimapur at 7085055020 to claim the body.

Assam Rifles conduct various activities

DIMAPUR: Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General of Assam Rifles (IGARNorth) conducted various activities across Nagaland.

Kohima Bn: Kohima battalion of Assam Rifles conducted a security meet on January 22 at Chakhabama COB of Kohima district, with an aim to discuss and update about the prevailing security situation existing in the area, on upcoming Republic Day celebration .

PRO Defence informed that sharing of information for any untoward incidents, coordination and convergence on the issues of mutual interest between security forces and public were also deliberately discussed during the conduct of the meeting.

Attendees were informed about likely security threats in the region and also about the relentless efforts of the Assam Rifles to maintain peace and harmony in the region.

During the meet, the locals were also updated and informed about the recruitment in the Armed Forces.

The security meet was attended by a total of 20 GBs and village council chairmen from Kezoma Urban Station and neighbouring villages.

Mon Bn: Mon battalion of Assam Rifles organised drug awareness lectures on January 22 at Chenmoho and Longshen Villages of Mon district under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan of government of India. PRO Defence stated that the lecture was conducted in order to address the pertinent issue of drug addiction which has become a menace especially among the younger generation leading to dangerous

consequences, not just for the drug user, but within the family circle and the society at large. Medical Officer, PHC Chenmoho, Dr Leei spoke on the issues of drug addiction and exhorted the gathering to shun the spread of drugs and other illicit substances.

In a separate event, Mon battalion of Assam Rifles conducted medical camp on January 23 at Wangla village in Mon District. The medical camp was organised under AR CAP project and was attended by 179 villagers.

Tuensang Bn: Tuensang battalion of Assam Rifles organ ised a secu -

rity meeting on January 24 at Chenloisho Wangto, Mon district. According to PRO Defence, the security situation during Republic Day and impending elections, was discussed in the meeting. The meeting was organised in presence of village council, GBs, student union and local population.

Chieswema Bn: Chieswema battalion of Assam Rifles as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav organised mini marathon on January 23 in Chizami, Phek district.

Ghaspani Bn: Ghaspani battalion of Assam Rifles organised a free medical check-up camp on January 23 at Old Showuba Village, Chumukedima.

The medical team also focused on creating awareness about precautions to be taken in wake of recent surge in Covid-19 cases.

In a separate event, the Ghaspani battalion organised a free medical check-up camp for the residents of Molvm village, Chumukedima district, Nagaland on January 24 as part of Assam Rifles civic action program.

KOHIMA DISTRICT

Training for BLOs: A training for the Block Level Officers (BLOs) of Kohima district was held on January 24 at the Conference Hall of DC Kohima office.

According to a DIPR report, the training was imparted in connection with the distribution of Form 12D for absentee voters for the category of senior citizens, Person with Disabilities (PwDs) and COVID-19 suspects.

BLOs of 8 Western Angami A/C; 9 Kohima Town A/C; 10 Northern Angami I A/C; 11 Northern Angami II; 14 Southern Angami I AC; 15 Southern Angami II AC attended the training session. The resource persons for the trainees were ADC Kohima Rhosietho Nguori, SDO (C) Nokpai Konyak, EAC Kezocha and Nodal Officer (ETPBS/PB) Molosangla and AEO Olivi Thurr.

TUENSANG DISTRICT

Schedule for polling personnel training: Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer, Tuensang, Nokchasashi has informed that government employees under Tuensang district have been drafted to perform the election duty as presiding officer, 1st polling officer, 2nd polling officer, 3rd polling officer, and grade IV.

According to a DIPR report, the training for 1st round would be held on February 2-3; second round on February 16-17 and final round on February 21-22. All the Heads of Offices under the Tuensang district have been directed to depute all the listed officials under their respective establishments to attend training. The DC has warned that any department officials who fail to attend the election training/ duties shall be prosecuted under the election laws.

on

informed all the concerned that all credit bills

vouchers of expenditure i.e., POL, refreshment, stationary, hire charges of private vehicles, remuneration of polling parties, and miscellaneous, etc. done during the election process, which does not have the assistant election officer’s seal and signature would not be accepted during the payment of dues after completion of elections by DEO.

MOKOKCHUNG DISTRICT

Training for SOs/ magistrate and SC: A training for sector officers/ magistrate and sector commander under Mokokchung district for the upcoming general election was held on January 24 at the Conference Hall of Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung office.

According to a DIPR report, during the training session, a powerpoint presentation on roles and responsibilities of sector officer was presented by Dhri-

tishree Bordalai, DC office ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship.

District level master trainers also demonstrated handling of EVMs to the officers

Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung, Shashank Pratap Singh and Superintendent of Police Mokokchung, Manoj Kumar while attending the training briefed the officers present to diligently attend the training for smooth conduct of upcoming election.

National Christian Council holds joint meeting

DIMAP UR: National Christian Council (NCC) Nagaland held a joint meeting with key leaders on January 22 at Eastern Bible College, Dimapur to jointly organise a NCC programme for wholistic peace and progress, especially for minorities.

In a press release, NCC Nagaland media cell informed that minister of state for minority affairs, government of India, John Barla would be the chief guest of the proposed programme.

During the meeting, NCC Nagaland president, Rev. Dr. TN Lotha Jr shared about NCC ministry from the NCC website https://nationalcouncil.in and informed the members present that NCC exists to serve the country by promoting peace and communal harmony.

The media cell stated that NCC collaborates with all like-minded organisations that were serving various communities and deal with the issues for rendering wholistic service to the needy in empowering them economically, socially and spiritually.

The media cell said NCC leaders were passionate about human rights and

Christian rights and has represented the Christian minorities, Dalit/Tribal and Women’s issues in the United Kingdom Parliament in Parliament hearings and in the United States Senate in senatorial hearings, in the European Union and United Nations in New York, Geneva and in other Countries in the UN Conferences.

“NCC is faithfully and fruitfully participating in the mission of God in making disciples and providing shelter, education, food and waters to thousands of people resulting in wholistic peace and salvation”, stated the release.

The m edia cell in -

formed that “very significant ideas” were contributed to make the programme successful by leaders namely Geoffrey Yaden, Editor Nagaland Post, Dr. Philip, Jt. Director (Rtd.SE.), president intellectual wing NCC Nagaland, Dr. S., Dr. Andrew Ahoto president Nagaland, vice president

North East India YMCA and Dr. S. Aomangyang Walling, director (RtdAnimal Husbandry Dept). Leaders from various churches and organisation attended the joint meeting chaired by NCC Nagaland general secretary, Rev. Vanpong Phom. The meeting concluded with a prayer by Dr. Walling.

Today,

as we did.

Though you are gone, your legacy of wisdom, integrity and courage remains a blessing

To the people you left and will go on forever.

Your spirit of excellence will live on through us and we promise to live up to all your expectations.

Till memory fades and life departs, you live forever in our hearts.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

-Philippians 1:3

preparation of the upcoming general election to 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), vari-

meetings, and trainings were held and information and notifications disseminated by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland and respective district and sub-division administrations.

Information

election expenditure: Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Zunheboto has

and

BLOs of Kohima district at the meeting. (DIPR)

Training on postal ballots, ETPBS etc at Pughoboto. (DIPR)

AR personnel and public leaders at the security meet.

Leaders from various churches and organizations after the meeting.

Orange festival at Rüsoma Village

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JAN 24 (NPN): A two-day Orange Festival 2023 held began at Rüsoma Village Ground Kohima on January 24.

The Third edition of the Orange Festival was organized by Rüsoma Village Council in partnership with Orange, winter best Vitamin ‘C’ (Horticulture Department), Jacie (Soyabean) Taste & Tastee, (Agriculture Department), Organic Coffee Bar (Land Resources Department), BACKBONE of the Village (RD Department) and Publicity & Media (IPR Department).

A DIPR report stated that speaking as the “Fest Father”, Additional Director, Rural Development, K. Neibu Sekhose said organizing such festival reflects the unity and oneness amongst the villagers under the good leadership of the village council.

He said the festival would set a good example to the rest of the Nagas and would also benefit the villagers as well as neighboring villages towards economic growth. Neibu hoped that the village would continue to uphold

the spirit of oneness and intensify orange farming for economic prosperity in the future.

In his short speech, District Horticulture Officer, S. Senka said that

that horticulture crops such as Oranges were more resilient to changes in weather conditions (climate change).

It may be noted that orange farming at Rüsoma Village has become one of the main sources of income for the villagers/ farmers, where they generated cash in terms of lakhs annually.

It was learned that presently out of 78,000 orange trees, 13,000 trees have been harvested, 20,000 trees were at the initial stage, and 35,000 trees were yet to harvest in a week. The villagers were hopeful that in 5-10 years, income generation annually will cross Rs. 4 to 5 crore.

DIMAPU R: Along with the rest of the country, the National Girl Child Day was observed in Kohima and Dimapur on January 24.

In Kohima, the day was observed at Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home (KODH).

A report by DIR stated that at the observation programme, Social Welfare Commissioner and Secretary and Administrator NSSWB Martha R.Ritse addressed on POCSO Act 2012, which protects children from offenses of sexual assault and harassment and serious punishment to offenders.

She also asked the children present to call the government provided Number of child helpline1098/181 in the event of such cases.

Horticulture was one of the major drivers for economic growth in the country and more remunerative than other allied sectors which also provides employment possibilities. Senka said

KVK Kohima holds Scientific Advisory Committee meeting

the meeting, principal scientist and head, Dr. Ruokuovilie Mezhatsu briefed the gathering about the SAC meeting and presented a detailed annual progress report of KVK Kohima from January 2022 to January 2023.

The proposed Annual Action Plan (AAP) for the year 2023-24 was presented by ACTO (GPB), Dr. Martina Shitiri. After thorough discussion and deliberation, the house unanimously approved the AAP 2023-24.

The meeting was chaired by district agriculture officer, Tseminyu, Ruovilhou Riilho and was attended by deputy commissioner Tseminyu, Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi besides various districts officers of agriculture, animal husbandry & veterinary services, sericulture and other line departments, progressive farmers, farm women club and farmers producer organization. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by ACTO (animal science), Dr. Paihem Michui.

Earlier, Chairman, Rüsoma Village Council Kehouchükhrie delivered the welcome address, Convenor, Orange Festival, Khrielie Chase gave the keynote address and Hd. GB, Kruzolie Zhale said the vote of thanks. Compere of the day’s programme was Kekhrie Pfukha.

In the competition, the best stall award was won by Ura Vie Thejasinuo Zhale and largest stall by Vikuolie Keyientsu.

Director Tosheli Zhimomi shared the importance of National Girl Child Day where she said that the significant step towards girls seeking to address gender imbalance and discrimination against the girl child.

Earlier, R Juliana Medom supervisor NSSWB chaired the programme, children of KODH presented a special number titled ‘A million Dreams’ and a skit.

Additional Director Nokcharenla delivered the vote of thanks.

NEI VBS Dimapur informs

DIMAPUR: North East India (NEI), VBS Christians education ministries has informed all the churches that NEI, VBS Christians education ministries leadership and teachers training will be held from March 14 to 17, at Life Spring Corner, Dimapur. NEI VBS has requested all the churches to send their representatives with recommendation from pastor or secretary with full sponsorship, including Rs. 3500, light bedding, bible notebooks and scissor per person. The registration will begin at 11 am and orientation service at 3 pm.

ACWA convention from Jan 27-29

KOHIMA, JAN 24 (NPN): Angami Catholic Women Association (ACWA) will be holding its 23rd convention from January 27-29, 2023, on the theme, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished” at Sts Peter & Paul Church, Zhadima.

ACID, NDWM Nagaland commemorate: Assisi Centre for Integrated Development (ACID) in collaboration with National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM) Nagaland Region through the support of MZF commemorated “National Girl Child Day” on Tuesday at the Assisi auditorium under the theme, “Digital generation our generation”.

A press release by ACID stated that the main purpose of commemorating the day was to spread awareness about the importance of nurturing girls.

Director of Assisi centre, Sr Pramila said the day

was to create awareness about the need for equality between both male and female child, adding that the issues on gender inequality and disparity was on rise. She also underscored the importance of empowering girl child on leadership, education and gender equality and added that girls needed to be empowered to maximize their potential.

The programme was compere by Abigail while Sr Geeta highlighted the importance of the day and Punam delivered the word of gratitude. The programme was attended by 240 parents and children.

DIMAPUR: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kohima held its 15th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meet -

ing on January 20 at KVK Conference Hall. A press release by KVK Kohima stated that during

Oranges on display at the festival. (NP)

Children at the National Girl Child Day in Kohima. (DIPR)

The meeting in progress at KVK conference hall.

EC special observers ask Tripura officials to take foolproof steps for Feb 16 polls

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 24: A BJP leader in Manipur was shot dead by gunmen who came in a car near his residence in Thoubal district on Monday.

The police arrested two persons allegedly behind the assassination of Laishram Rameshwor Singh (57), the convener of ex-servicemen cell BJP Manipur Pradesh.

Police said that the two persons who came on a XUV car without registration number shot the state BJP leader while he was standing at the gate of his residence at Thoubal Kshetri Leikai in Thoubal districton Tuesday, around 10.30 am. A bullet hit Rameshwor on his chest. He was immediately evacuated to Imphal’s Raj Medicity hospital where he succumbed to injuries after a brief medical treatment.

The motive behind the assassination of the former soldier and convener of the Ex-servicemen Cell of the state BJP unit was yet to

be ascertained even as the police arrested the assailants, in a follow up action.

The driver of the car which the assailants used was arrested by a team of Thoubal district police while the prime accused was arrested by a team of Imphal West police commandos. The police also recovered the XUV car used by the assailants.

The arrested prime accused was identified as Ayekpam Keshorjit (46)

of Haobam Marak Irom Leikai of Imphal West district. He was arrested after surrendering to the Imphal West district police commandos with a license gun he allegedly used in committing the crime this late evening.

Earlier, a team of Thoubal police who acted swiftly after the shooting incident arrested the driver identified as Naorem Ricky Singh (24) of Keinou village in Bishnupur district,

PLA cadre, overground worker arrested

to the Singjamei police station along with the articles seized from them after lodging a case against them, the source added.

The arrest came amid the tightened security measures being in place across the state, particularly in the capital city in view of the boycott calls given by various rebel outfits to the celebration of Republic Day of India on January 26.

presently staying at Haobam Marak.

Addressing a news conference, Thoubal Superintendent of Police Haobijam Jogeshchandra said that the prime accused, Ayekpam Keshorjit, shot at Rameshwor with his license gun at close range after alighting from the car.

After firing a round, he left the place hurriedly with the same vehicle they came with. The SP said that after committing the crime,

the vehicle drove towards Imphal and after dropping the prime accused in front of a private hospital in Imphal, the driver drove the vehicle further toward the house of the prime accused.

“We have initiated an investigation to establish the motive behind the assassination” of the exservicemen who joined politics after retirement, the SP said.

Earlier in the day, chief minister N Biren Singh, while condemning the killing in strongest terms, assured booking of the assailants, during a meeting with the family members and leader of a joint action committee (JAC) formed in connection with the murder.

“I am aggrieved to learn about the tragic incident and extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved family. The state government has launched an investigation into the case and those involved will face appropriate actions as per the law, Singh wrote in his Facebook page.

AGARTALA, JAN 24

(IANS): Three special observers of the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday asked officials in Tripura to take foolproof steps to hold the February 16 Assembly polls in a free, fair and transparent manner.

The observers, who arrived in Agartala on Monday, held meetings on Tuesday with senior civil and police officials.

On Tuesday afternoon, they will hold meeting via video conferencing with District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of the state’s eight

Border MoU signed with Assam to

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JAN 24:

Ahead of the Meghalaya Assembly election, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) released its election manifesto and 10 pledges on Tuesday and promised to revoke the MoU on border deal signed between Assam and Meghalaya and a slew of financial packages if the party is voted to power.

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 24: Manipur police arrested an active cadre of RPF/PLA along with an overground worker of the armed rebel outfit amid the tightened security measures for the upcoming Republic Day celebration.

Thirty-three year old rebel Tourangbam Sanjit alias Nongdren was arrested along with the over-ground worker Landy Potshangbam (32) during a raid at the house of the rebel at Kwakeithel Laishram Leikai by a team of police commandos attached to Imphal West district police

on Monday afternoon, the police said. Two mobile phones, five ATM cards and one each of a debit card, pan card, driving license, a laptop and a car allegedly used by them in carrying out extrajudicial activities were recovered, the police said.

The police accused them of extorting money from the government and private institutions and businessmen in Imphal West as party fund while alleging that they worked under the outfit’s finance and goods tax commander Pudhiba of RPF/PLA currently based in Myanmar.

They were handed over

Police and security forces have been carrying out mopping operations at selected sensitive areas across the valley districts, particularly in the twin capital districts as a preventive measure. The police assisted by state and Central security forces have intensified round-the-clock patrolling in and around the core area of the capital.

Rebel groups were imposing separate total shutdown across the state on the day with the Co-ordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of five major rebel groups, giving a 18-hour total shutdown in the entire state on January 26 boycotting the Republic Day.

TMC national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, released the party’s manifesto and promises in the presence of senior party leaders including TMC legislature party leader Mukul Sangma, state party president Charles Pyngrope and vice-president George Lyngdoh, TMC legislature party leader in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien, TMC state in-charge Manas Bhunia.

So far the TMC announced 52 candidates for the February 27 elections to the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

“If TMC comes to power, the government would pay women of each household, unemployed youth, individuals engaged

in the tourism sector, families with children in government-run schools and farmers, monthly and annual financial assistance ranging from Rs. 800 to Rs. 2500,” the manifesto promised.

Before release of the manifesto, the TMC had launched a couple of flagship programmes — ‘WE Card’, or the Meghalaya Financial Inclusion for Women Empowerment Scheme (MFI WE) and Meghalaya Youth Empowerment (MYE) - - to empower the women and youth of the State.

Buoyed by its popu -

list dole outs in WB, the party has now gone beyond promising “all individuals engaged in the tourism sector” a monthly honorarium of Rs. 2500.

Wooing the unemployed youth, TMC promised a monthly allowance of Rs. 1000 under the Meghalaya Youth Empowerment scheme for unemployed youth between the ages of 21-40 years. The party moreover promised to create 3 lakh job opportunities in the state within 5 years.

Additionally, one lakh laptops would be provided to all higher secondary and

districts.

Some political parties, including the main opposition CPI-M led Left Front, are trying to meet the observers to apprise them about the latest prepoll scenario.

The observers are Yogendra Tripathy, retired IAS officer of Karnataka cadre; Vivek Johri, former Director General of Police of Madhya Pradesh; and B. Murali Kumar, IRS officer, who was special observer in the Assembly elections of Gujarat (2022) and West Bengal (2021).

After Tripura, the observers will proceed to

another poll-bound state Meghalaya, where elections will be held on February 27. Besides the special observers, the EC has also appointed five other categories of observers -- general, police, expenditure, micro and counting.

The poll panel has so far deployed around 200 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in Tripura and more CAPF comprising Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force companies are expected to arrive in the state.

manifesto

Empowerment scheme. Under it, the 2.8 lakh identified workers would be provided skill training, provided free healthcare, term insurance and provident fund benefits, the manifesto read.

The party has assured a 25 per cent increase in gra nts for healthcare, education, death-marriage assistance and disability pension to workers under the Meghalaya Building and Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.

college-going students.

“All farmers of the state would get Rs. 10000 annually under the Farmers’ Assistance Rural Meghalaya scheme. Direct Benefit Transfer of Rs. 1200 annually to all families having their children in government run schools, beside a pension of Rs. 1000 to PWDs single mothers, widows and senior citizens of the state,” the TMC assured.

Further, the TMC also promised a social security scheme for the workers in the unorganized sector dubbed Meghalaya Unorganized Sector Training and

The TMC has pledged a double-digit economic growth and to double the GDP size in the next five years. Assurance to create 1.3 lakh new Micro Small and medium Enterprises in the next five year and resume scientific mining in the state were the other pledges in the manifesto.

Banerjee said the party has “factored in” the expenses involved in dishing out these “social assistance” in this cash-strapped state and also provided some figures.

“The state has money, but the (outgoing) government didn’t want to spend,” the TMC leader said.

GUWAHATI,

JAN 24(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always prioritised the energy sector of the North East, Petroleum and Natural Gas

The prime minister’s priority is to put the region on a high growth trajectory and he is putting great emphasis on the energy sector, Puri said while participating at the run-up event to the India Energy Week event here on Monday night.

The India Energy Week will be held from February 6 to 8 in Bengaluru.

Without giving details, the Union minister said several big projects in the sector are also in the pipeline in the region. The petroleum and natural gas minister was also present at the signing

AGARTALA, JAN 24

(IANS): Tripura’s ruling coalition member Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has been holding seat-sharing talks with both current ally BJP and Opposition Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) for the February 16 Assembly polls, reports the Sentinel.

IPFT president and State minister Prem Kumar Reang on Sunday said that they held a closed-door meeting with the TIPRA leaders led by party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya

Deb Barman in Guwahati on Saturday.

“We are now talking with both the BJP and the TIPRA. Our seat-sharing talks remained inconclusive so far. Once this is finalized we would announce it before the public”, the veteran tribal leader told IANS. The IPFT, since 2009, has been demanding to make the areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) as a full-fledged State while the TIPRA, since 2021, has been demanding elevation of the TTAADC areas by

granting of ‘Greater Tipraland State’ under Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution.

After the Saturday’s meeting in Guwahati, Reang said that the Central Government and the BJP did not respond to their demand and if the BJP fulfilled its demands, “we would certainly fight the forthcoming polls jointly”.

“Deb Barman has been wholeheartedly fighting for the cause of the indigenous tribals. We are ready to fight the elections together. Talks are going on among us”, Reang said. On his part,

Deb Barman told the media in Guwahati that leaders of both the parties have started talks for merger or fighting the polls together, during which issues on common flag and symbol would be discussed.

About alliances with any other party, he said: “The party or parties which would give written assurance supporting our demand, we would forge electoral alliance with them. It is completely false propaganda that we would go into alliance with BJP or Congress or CPI-M”.

of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and the Assam government to set up three bamboo nurseries that were signed on the occasion.

He also interacted with farmers who are supplying bamboo on a sustainable basis to Assam Bio-Refinery, the first of its kind 2G (second generation) Bio Refinery with bamboo biomass as feedstock, implemented by Numaligarh Refinery Limited. The second generation biorefineries use a nonpetroleum based process for the production of fuels and chemicals with low greenhouse gas emissions.

NEW DELHI, JAN 24 (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate has arrested the managing director of a Manipur-based company in a money laundering case linked to a Ponzi scheme through which numerous investors were duped to the tune of Rs 580 crore.

The federal probe agency on Tuesday said in a statement that it also seized Rs 34 lakh in cash and froze bank deposits worth over Rs 1.34 crore after it raided multiple locations of Lamjingba Group of companies and its MD Sanasam Jacky Singh in Gurugram (Haryana), Kolkata (West Bengal)

and Manipur recently.

Singh was arrested on January 21 and a court later sent him to ED custody, the agency said.

The probe pertains to a “large-scale Ponzi scheme operated by Sanasam Jacky Singh and as a result of the searches, Rs 34 lakh cash, documents like copies of property documents, list of investors, details of funds collected from the investors, foreign investments etc. have been seized,” it said.

The money laundering case of the ED, filed under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems

from seven FIRs filed by the Manipur Police against the accused.

The police alleged, the ED said, that the accused “cheated more than 15,000 investors in Manipur, misappropriated and siphoned off investor’s funds.”

“They had collected funds to the tune of more than Rs 580 crore from the public with a promise of exorbitant returns,” the police said in its complaint.

“The company closed its door to the investors since the first quarter of 2020 without returning the promised funds to the investor,” the police FIR said.

AFFIDAVIT

AGARTALA, JAN 24 (IANS): West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee would visit pollbound Tripura on February 6 and 7 to address election rallies and meetings.

Trinamool’s Tripura state President Pijush Kanti Biswas said that before her visit, party’s national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and a host of Bengal leaders would address election rallies across the state.

Talking to the media,

Biswas, accompanied by party Rajya Sabha member Sushmita Dev and state party in-charge Rajib Banerjee, said that the party’s candidates would be announced at the earliest and the central leaders are scrutinising the applications of the possible candidates.

“129 applications from all over Tripura submitted before the leadership willing to be the party candidates in the February 16 elections. Alliance with any other party not yet finalised,” he said.

I, Smti. Murivolu Rhakho, aged about 37 years, daughter of K. Shievotso Rhakho @ K. Shevotso Rhakho, resident of Jerico II, Phek, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follow :-

1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India and a resident of the above mentioned address.

2. That in Aadhaar Card my father's name is recorded as K. Shievotso Rhakho which is actual and correct name, whereas in HSLC Admit Card bearing Roll number 351187 and in birth certificate bearing Registration No. 477/08 dated 07/05/2008 issued by Registrar of Births & Deaths, Phek New Town, Dist. Phek, Nagaland my father's name is erroneously entered/spelled as K. Shevotso Rhakho.

3. That I am swearing this affidavit for the purpose of declaring that the names K. Shievotso Rhakho and K. Shevotso Rhakho are one and the same person. That henceforth, the actual and correct name/spelling of my father is K. Shievotso Rhakho.

4. That I do hereby verify that the above mentioned statements are true to the best of my knowledge and nothing is false. Deponent

Solemnly affirm before me by the deponent on this 21st day of January, 2023.

Regd. No. 49/2023 Date : 21/01/2023 dp-365/23

(Inset) Laishram Rameshwor Singh. One of the alleged assailants behind shooting of state BJP leader arrested by police.

EC team holding meeting with senior civil and police officials in Agartala.

An active cadre of PLA and an overground worker arrested by police commandos in Imphal West district.

Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said.

Trinamool Congress releases election manifesto for the Meghalaya Assembly polls. (IndiaToday NE)

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri (R) participates at the run-up event to the India Energy Week event in Guwahati. (PSU connect)

SNIPPETS

PARADIP (ODISHA), JAN 24 (PTI): A college in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district has lodged a police complaint over a fake notice directing all girl students of the institute to mandatorily have a boyfriend before Valentine’s Day on February 14. The ‘notice’ bearing the forged signature of the principal of SVM Autonomous College has gone viral on social media. Principal Bijay Kumar Patra said, “We have seen the fake notice. Some mischievous elements have made it viral. This has been done to malign the reputation of our college.” The principal also alleged that his signature was misused to tarnish his image. “I have filed a complaint with the police,” Patra said.

7 bodies found in Maharashtra river

PUNE, JAN 24 (PTI): The bodies of seven members of a family, including three children, were found in a riverbed in Pune district of Maharashtra, police said on Tuesday. The deceased included an elderly couple, their daughter and son-in-law, and three grandchildren, a police officer said citing the preliminary information. Four bodies were found on Monday and three on Tuesday near Pargaon bridge on the Bheema river on the outskirts of Yavat village in Daund tehsil, around 45 km away from Pune city. The bodies have been fished out, he said, adding the cause of the death and circumstances are under investigation.

Boy injured in Jharkhand IED blast

CHAIBASA, JAN 24 (PTI): A boy was injured on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by outlawed CPI(Maoists) exploded in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, a police officer said. The incident occurred when the 13-yearold, boy, who was on his way to a market, came under the impact of the blast triggered by the CPI (Maoists) near Arahata village, the officer said.

SC amends passive euthanasia order

NEW DELHI, JAN 24 (PTI): In a bid to make the guidelines on “living will” more workable and less cumbersome, the Supreme Court on Tuesday removed the condition that mandated a magistrate’s approval for withdrawal or withholding of life support to a terminally ill person.

Living will is an advance medical directive on end-of-life treatment.

The Supreme Court’s 2018 order on passive euthanasia wherein it recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and an aspect of Article 21 (right to life) notwithstanding, people wanting to get a “living will” registered were facing problems due to cumbersome guidelines, prompting a reconsideration by the apex court.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice K M Joseph said the document will now be signed by the executor of the living will in the presence of two attesting witnesses, preferably independent, and attested before a notary or Gazetted Officer.

“The witnesses and the notary shall record their satisfaction that the document has been executed

voluntarily and without any coercion or inducement or compulsion and with full understanding of all the relevant information and consequences,” the bench, also comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and Justice C T Ravikumar, said.

As per the top court’s 2018 judgement, a living needed to be signed by the person making the will in the presence of two witnesses and a Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC).

The top court also agreed to the suggestion that the executor shall inform and hand over a copy of the advance directive to the family physician, if any.

It also okayed the suggestion that in the event of the executor becoming terminally ill and under -

Delhi Police step up security ahead of Republic Day

NEW DELHI, JAN 24

(PTI): The Delhi Police have stepped up anti-sabotage checks, verification drives and patrolling in the national capital ahead of Republic Day to thwart any untoward incidents, officials said on Tuesday.

Anti-sabotage checks are being conducted in markets, high footfall areas and other prominent places by the Bomb Disposal Team along with dog squads, police said.

The police are checking hotels and lodges as well as sensitising the staff there to inform police immediately about any suspicious person or activity, they said.

All Assistant Commissioner of Police and Station House Officers have been holding meetings with members of the Residents Welfare Association and Market Welfare Associations and

Drop amendments to IT Rules: INS

NEW DELHI, JAN 24 (PTI): The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) on Tuesday urged the government to drop the draft amendment to the IT Rules that requires social media platforms to take down news or information declared fake by the Fact Checking Unit of the Press Information Bureau.

The INS also asked the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) to initiate consultations with stakeholders to create a mechanism that would ensure factual accuracy of reports about government business on media sites and meet highest standards of fairness and due process.

It noted that, by definition, the role of the Press Information Bureau as the nodal agency of the government is to disseminate information about its programmes, initiatives and achievements.

Last week, the ministry had issued revised Draft Amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, that seeks to direct social media platforms to take down news or information identified as “fake” by the Fact Checking Unit of the Press Information Bureau.

The INS said the amendments would grant the responsibility of checking statements related to the central government to its own agency and imbue it with the power of the law.

“By legislating to become a judge in its own cause, the government, through a proposed amendment to a set of rules which have otherwise also caused concern, is taking a step to effectively muzzle criticism and even fair comment,” it said.

Media bodies such as the Editors’ Guild of India, the Press Association, DigiPub Foundation of India, News Broadcasters and Digital Association have already urged the government to “expunge” the amendment.

briefing them about security measures in place for Republic Day, police said.

The Delhi Police has also been creating awareness on social media and asking people to alert them about any suspicious person, activity or article, they said.

Tenant and servant verifications are also being done, police said, adding that surprise checks are being conducted at hotels, guest houses and ‘dharamshalas’, police said.

Several districts have also conducted mock drills to check their preparedness for anti-terror measures, police said.

According to officials, anti-terror measures have been intensified in coordination with other security agencies since Delhi has always been a target for terrorists or anti-social elements.

going prolonged medical treatment with no hope of recovery, the treating physician, when made aware about the Advance Directive, shall ascertain the genuineness and authenticity of the document.

The top court had earlier chastised the Union government for not enacting a law on passive euthanasia as laid down in its 2018 judgement, saying it was abdicating its legislative responsibility and passing the buck on the judiciary.

Observing that this is a matter where the chosen representatives of the country should debate, it had said the court lacks the requisite expertise and is dependent on the information provided by the parties.

More than four years after its landmark order on passive euthanasia, the top court had agreed to modify its 2018 guidelines on “living will”.

It was considering a plea seeking modification of the guidelines for the Living Will/Advance Medical Directive issued by it in 2018.

The court had in its March 9, 2018 judgment recognised that a terminal-

ly ill patient or a person in a persistent vegetative state may execute an advance medical directive or a “living will” to refuse medical treatment, holding that the right to live with dignity also included “smoothening” the process of dying.

It had observed that the failure to legally recognise advance medical directives might amount to “non-facilitation” of the right to smoothen the dying process and that dignity in that process was also part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The court had laid down principles related to the procedure for execution of advance directives and spelt out guidelines and safeguards to give effect to passive euthanasia in both circumstances where there are advance directives and where there are none.

“The directive and guidelines shall remain in force till Parliament brings a legislation in the field,” it had said.

The verdict had come on a PIL filed by NGO Common Cause seeking recognition of the “living will” made by terminally-ill patients for passive euthanasia.

Digvijaya’s remarks on surgical strikes ridiculous: Rahul Gandhi

JHAJJAR KOTLI/JAMMU, JAN 24 (PTI): Snubbing Digvijaya Singh for questioning surgical strikes, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed his comments “ridiculous” and said the armed forces are doing their job “exceptionally well” and do not need to give any proof. Gandhi, who faced a volley of questions from the media on Singh’s remarks on surgical strikes and the Pulwama terror attack, said he and the party completely disagreed with his statement.

“There are people who will say ridiculous things during conversation. I am sorry to say so about a senior leader, he said a ridiculous thing,” Gandhi told a press conference here. “We have full trust in our army. If army performs any task, there is no need to give any proof. I completely disagree with his statement and this is the official position of the Congress party that it is personal point of view of Digvijaya Singh,” he added. Singh on Monday had questioned the surgi -

cal strikes and accused the government of peddling lies.

Addressing a public meeting during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh alleged that the government did not agree to the CRPF request of flying its personnel from Srinagar to Delhi and 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives in Pulwama in 2019 to a terror attack.

“They talk of surgical strikes. They claim to have killed so many people but no proof is given. They are ruling by peddling a bundle of lies,” Digvijay who has often courted controversy with his comments, said.

Why it took you so long: BJP to Rahul Why did Rahul Gandhi take so long to publicly declare his respect for the armed forces, the BJP asked on Tuesday, slamming the former Congress chief for dismissing Digvijaya Singh’s controversial comments on surgical strikes as his “personal opinion”. It also asked the Congress to make its stand clear on the issues of terrorism and national security.

BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress has a habit of projecting uncomfortable views of its leaders as their personal views and asked if there is any limit to such opinion.

“The question is what is the standard of these leaders when it comes to respecting our armed forces. Indians do not seek proof of their heroics but salute them,” Prasad told reporters, noting that Singh has a history of taking controversial stands.

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Says armed forces do not need to give proof

Fake notice asks college girls to have boyfriends

Rahul Gandhi

Wrong way on right way

It is unfortunate that the ruling party government at the Centre and the country’s highest legal forum, the Supreme Court, are engaged in public debate over which of them- executive or judiciary- should have the final say in appointment matters. A rare public attack on the Supreme Court by government ministers is reviving a debate about whether elected representatives should have a say in choosing the country’s arbiters of justice. This recent skirmish is yet another instance of an oftenwitnessed confrontation between the two pillars of democracy over each other’s supremacy. The debate between the government and the Supreme Court is over whether the Collegium system should have the final say in appointment of judges? The collegium, which includes the Supreme Court’s five senior-most judges, recommends potential candidates for appointments. These recommendations are to be vetted and approved by the government. In case of an impasse, the collegium’s position is required to be considered final. In a recent instance of departure from the established procedure, the government returned 19 recommendations made by the collegium, but 10 of these were recommended a second time. Union law minister Kiren Rijiju, spearheading the government attack said India was the only country where judges appoint judges, and called the collegium system “opaque”. He has taken several swipes at the socalled collegium system over the past few months. More fuel was added at the November 2022 hearing in the Supreme Court over a batch of petitions to evolve an independent and neutral mechanism for the appointment of an Election Commission saw a high-pitch exchange between the judges and senior counsel representing the Narendra Modi government. The central government came into the Supreme Court’s firing line for neither framing a law that defines the process of appointment of election commissioners nor laying down the eligibility criteria for their appointment. The top court spoke out on the need to “insulate” the Chief Election Commissioner’s office against political pressures, suggested the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India(CJI) in the selection panel and questioned the short tenures of the ECs/CEC. It even summoned the records of former bureaucrat Ajay Goel’s recent appointment as one of the two election commissioners to “understand the procedure followed”. What the Modi government attempted in 2015, a year after storming to power at the Centre, was in tabling a bill – The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) – to replace the collegium system. However, the bill was quashed by the Supreme Court. The NJAC sought to give the executive a say in judicial appointments, which the top court said infringed upon judicial independence. The Law Minister would have been part of the NJAC, which would also have included representatives chosen by the Prime Minister. On December 7,2022 newly elected vice president of India Jagdeep Dhankar lashed out at the Supreme Court for scrapping the NJAC. If government has its way then the composition of the judiciary would be reflected by judges inclined to the ruling party or its ideology. A case in point is the American system where the incumbent president selects judges to the Supreme Court. If the president is Republican chances are conservative judges will be appointed. And if a Democrat is president, chances are that liberal and left oriented judges would be appointed. The view of Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde was explicit that the issue was about safeguarding the independence of the judiciary from political influence.

Saluting Every Voter, CEC on National Voters’ Day

Today, January 25, marks the foundation day of Election Commission of India, also celebrated as National Voters’ Day (NVD) since 2011. Its purpose is to sensitize the citizens of India about their rights and responsibilities as voters. The Election Commission (ECI) was established on January 25, 1950 on the eve of the first Republic Day.

The Constituent Assembly gave it a Constitutional status under Article 324 to ensure independence of its functioning and decision making. Establishing a permanent, central and autonomous Commission to conduct elections based on the adult suffrage in an era of low literacy and non-existent electoral rolls is a tribute to the foresight of the Constituent Assembly.

The institution’s competency, impartiality and trustworthiness have been upheld in 17 Lok Sabha elections, 16 elections each to the office of the President and Vice President, 399 Legislative Assembly elections till date.

The 400th assembly elections are underway. Contrary to occasional international experiences, election results in India have been never in dispute.

Individual elections petitions are adjudicated by relevant High Courts. The ECI has earned the trust of both political parties and citizens of India. The commitment is to enhance and deepen it.

Strong and inclusive electoral participation is crucial for building a robust democracy.

Elections in a vibrant democracy should be more than free, fair, regular and credible.

They ought to be popular and participatory as well, in order to bear their full weight upon governance.

The right to vote is power only when exercised. We are reminded of a saying of Mahatma Gandhi- If leaving duties unperformed we run after rights, they escape us like a will-o’-the-wisp”.

India is the world’s largest democracy having 94 crore plus registered electors. Still the actual voting figure of 67.4 percent in the last general elections (2019) leaves a lot to be desired.

The challenge is to motivate the missing 30 crore electors to the booth. Missing voters have many dimensions like urban apathy, youth apathy, domestic migration, others.

As in most liberal democracies, where enrollment and voting are voluntary, persuasive and facilitative methods are best.

This entails targeting the low voting constituencies and underperforming segment of voters.

The ECI has already institutionalized systems for facilitating two crore plus voters of age eighty years and above, eightyfive lakh PWD voters, enrolling of 47,500 plus third gender people. Recently, I thanked over two lakh centenarian voters by a personal letter to recognize their commitment to democracy.

On November 5, 2022 I had the mournful honour of paying homage to Late Shyam Saran

Negi at Kalpa in Himachal Pradesh.

Acknowledged as the first voter in the First General Election of India (1951), he never missed out on exercising franchise, before passing away at the ripe age of 106 years.

The example of Late Shyam Saran Negi inspires us to cast our vote dutifully.

Young voters are the future of the Indian democracy. The next gen, born around and after 2000 have started joining our electoral roll.

Their participation as voters would shape future of democracy, almost throughout the entire century. It is, therefore critical that democratic roots are seeded at school level before students attain voting age.

Simultaneously, youth are being engaged through various mediums in order to bring them to the polling booths. So is the case with urban voters, who tend to display voting apathy.

The ECI is leading the development of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like toilets, electricity, drinking water, ramps at every polling station. The Commission is keen that the facilities developed in the schools should be of permanent nature, which is financially prudent decision as well.

In democracy, voters have a right to be informed about the background of candidates they vote. Enabling the voter to make informed choices thus assumes critical importance.

It is for this reason that the

criminal cases, if any, pending against the candidates should be notified in newspaper. Also, while every political party is within its right to promise welfare measures in its manifesto, voters equally have right to know their financial implications to the public exchequer.

Though muscle power has largely been subdued, there still remain a few states where election related violence impinges upon free choice of voters. Violence should have no place in democracy.

Curbing money power remains a bigger challenge in the elections. The scale and quantum of inducement offered to voters is felt more acutely in certain states than others.

Though, stricter vigilance by law enforcement agencies have resulted in record seizures as witnessed during recently held elections, there can be no substitute for sincere and vigilant voters in a democracy.

The mobile Apps like CVigil has helped common citizen report incidents of violation of Model Code of Conduct, thereby helping the Election Observers initiate prompt action (within 100 minutes) against the offenders.

Retention and deepening of democratic spaces through credible electoral outcomes, worldwide, stands at a cusp. Sheer scale and speed with which the social media can disseminate the facts and views/fake news has propensity to overwhelm other aspects of the technology

in election management.

Unconstrained by underpinning of moral and legal spaces, which govern ECI’s role & framework, anti-democratic chatter uses technology as an effective tool of its trade.

Hundreds of fake media videos/content are loaded and circulated before every election.

In the absence of shelf-life, they continue to linger after the elections are over, especially those which attack key/core election domains.

World over there is a growing expectation that the social media platforms proactively use their enormous AI capabilities, in the least, to red flag such evident disinformation efforts.

The responsibility to protect the free spaces including free speech is co-shared.

The realization that deep fakes make job of Election Management Bodies much more difficult, needs to dawn and self-correction effected.

The NVD epitomizes the resolve of ECI to pull all stops out to make elections inclusive, participatory, voter friendly and ethical. The theme for 13th NVD (2023) is “Nothing Like Voting, Vote for Sure”.

As evident, the theme is such that it can capture the imagination of the voters. When citizens take pride in being a voter, as part of their civic duty, its impact on the level of governance is sure to be felt. Happy voters Day.

Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of

India

Solution short of 1951 plebiscite is a blunder

The Naga Solutions not founded on the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 would be another political terrible blunder.

For ages the Nagas have lived independently without any foreign control, interference or support and each and every village was a sovereign republic by itself.

More often than not, the villages fought amongst themselves, and were a divided lot. Nevertheless, the spirit of the Nagas to remain independent and free from subjugation was manifested in their violent warfare against each other and against any external invaders from the neighboring countries.

DailyDevotion

God’s Overpowering Purpose

I have appeared to you for this purpose… —Acts 26:16

The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go…” (John 15:16).

When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision” — not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “…to make you a minister and a witness….” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Quotes

The conscious awareness of the need to be united was painstakingly built through many social interactions over time. And the efforts of this work to unite the people was seen much later when the people rose up unanimously and most united against the external aggressors that intruded its land in the form of the savage and barbaric Indian Army which India used to suppress the Nagas and its political rights with aggression, human rights violation and abuse.

Prior to that, it was in 1929 that the Naga Club submitted a Memorandum to the Simon Commission headed by Sir John Allsebrook Simon on 10th Jan. 1929 at Kohima, to document in writing to express the inherent political rights of the Nagas and the earnestness to remain as sovereign people of an independent nation.

This was followed up by the declaration of the Naga Independence on 14th Aug. 1947 by Naga National Council (NNC), and which was reaffirmed by the famous Naga Plebiscite conducted on 16th May, 1951 wherein 99.9% of the Naga people gave their absolute legitimate mandate and voted in favor of NNC and for the Naga sovereignty, demonstrating spontaneous unanimity and utmost unity.

It is noteworthy that though one may think of our ancestors during 18th to 20th centuries as primitive, they were erudite and prudent and acted with great foresight and they firmly expressed their desire to live as sovereign people without dominion by anyone or any country including India or British India Empire and this was manifested in the submission of a memo-

randum to the Simon Commission, and in pursuance of this memorandum, the British India Govt, by an Act in 1935 known as the British India Govt Act of 1935, left out the whole of Naga inhabited areas as ‘EXCLUDED AREA’ and bore witness to the world that the Naga Hills are not a homogeneous part of British India Empire.

Nagas were not Indians, are not Indians and cannot be Indians. Forcing the Nagas to accept the Indian Constitution under duress or payment of blood money by Indian Govt as enticements to a few avaricious Nagas in the Naga society can never make the Nagas into Indians.

This is a fact acknowledged even by the think tanks of India who have begun to understand how India had wronged the Nagas in their democratic aspirations of sovereignty, and how the Nagas comprehend the unquestionable legitimacy of their political history with convictions.

There have been hiccups in the journey towards our national goals as we sojourn together through the political, economic and socially turbulent times that have shaped and moulded our history.

Inspite of the setbacks, yet through the courage and wisdom of our legendary forefathers we have come thus far.

There have been needless bloodsheds, betrayals, wasted sweat and tears, frustrations, injustices and humiliation amongst us meted out by our own brothers, and often orchestrated by India who treats us as an enemy. But our true patriots stood their ground and held dearly on to what our forefathers had envisioned to declare and demand, to (quote) “Leave us alone to determine for ourselves” (unquote) underpinning on the memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929 that became the Magna Carta in the Naga Political History.

On the 16th May, 1951 the NNC made a symbolic and irrevocable solemn vow and demonstrated that they will not be a part of the new independent India and declared to the world that Nagas shall live as a free and a sovereign nation as ever, and which came to be popularly known as the ‘The Naga Plebiscite of 16th May, 1951’.

The aspirations and interests

of all the Nagas in all the Naga inhabited areas therefore clearly mentioned and defined in the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 under the auspices of the NNC and not any other political organization.

Evidently, the NNC alone has the inherent legitimacy and the absolute mandate of the Naga people to settle the Naga Political Issue, which no other factions or political organization neither has nor has any ground on which to pursue the fulfillment of the long-cherished Naga dream to live as free and independent sovereignty except on the principles enshrined by the NNC.

However, some few misguided comrades along with some educated traitors without any consultation with the NNC, committed the infamous and treacherous ‘Shillong Accord of 1975’ with the Govt of India under the guise of underground organization.

The crime of the Shillong Accord is the acceptance of the Indian Constitution. Neither the Govt of India approached the NNC nor the underground organization approached them to ink the so-called ‘Shillong Accord’. Therefore, NNC has no hand or involvement and has nothing to do with the ‘Shillong Accord’.

The Accordists continues to stay in the Transit Camp at Kohima Mission Compound, signifying their acceptance of the Indian Constitution for more than 46 years holding on to their treacherous Accord as traitors of the Naga cause which is highly contemptuous and equally condemnable.

It is an unfortunate sad fact that the infamous ’Shillong Accord’ has been the seed of heinous animosity among the Nagas.

Extreme events ensued after the ‘Shillong Accord’ that witnessed many political defections and the mushrooming of many factions and further divisions into groups, all for want of power and wealth thereby reducing the very purpose of their crusade into a fight for personal fiefdoms.

Such political defectors or factions and groups without the mandate of its people can never bring about any positive political solution to their people.

If news is to be believed, some traitors as those of the

Shillong Accord are again at the threshold of committing another new political terrible blunder with the so-called ‘Naga Political Settlement’ or ‘Naga Political Solution’ without cognizance of our unchallengeable history thereby making another treasonous accord of the kind of Shillong Accord.

A Naga Solution or Political Settlement without honoring the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 is sacrilegious, treasonous and therefore despicable and highly condemnable.

Neither the ‘Framework Agreement’ nor the ‘Agreed Position’ merit a position to entitle the involved factions to state that they are standing on the foundational principle of the Naga Plebiscite of 1951.

What then are they orchestrating if not for another type of the infamous Shillong Accord? They must in all honesty with integrity spell out openly to the public of the kind of solution they are negotiating behind closed doors.

What should be clear however to them and India alike is that any Naga Solution not founded on principles of the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 would be another Political Blunder much more for India just as the Shillong Accord was.

To quote Aaron Carroll in The Wall Street Journal which so aptly applies to our case, “By some idiotic political reasoning this dumb, incoherent and absurd idea is seen as a ‘Political Trophy’ by some parties who are willing to harm the country to win concessions.”

So, a Naga Political Solution or Political Settlement which ignores the legitimate instruments clearly defined and expressed in the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 will never be accepted by the majority of those who honor and respect the 99.9 percent of relentlessly committed vows of our forefathers in the Plebiscite.

Naga Solution or Political Settlement under the Indian Constitution will be the creation of another political turbulence and could pave way for an uprising just as the Shillong accord caused. Any political parties or CSOs jumping into the same surrendering bandwagon should realize that they are only manifesting for the world to see their narrow

goals and selfish motives, by keeping their personal interest above that of the Naga people and the Naga nation.

Lincoln did not say ‘Government of the people, by the people and for the few selfish people.’

The Naga aspiration therefore, ought not to be played down by some few selfish and selfrighteous individuals attempting to surrender the Naga National Issue in the hope of getting some relief and grants in the form of financial benefits or political positions.

For those who surrender the Naga National position, shall inevitably go down into the Naga history as traitors involved in high treason.

However, be that as it may, no such arrangements of agreements to stifle the Naga political rights would prevail.

For even if those eager to ink an agreement with India in their futile attempt to compromise the Naga political rights under the Indian Constitution, must understand that they would only be surrendering their own dignity and integrity only to be bought and trampled by India. The sooner such traitors would exit from their pretentious role in the Naga national movement, the better it is for the true patriots to carry forward the aspirations inscribed in The Naga Plebiscite of 1951 in its true spirit and its genuine context for the future of the Nagas without any back-biting.

The Naga National cause is too sacred and therefore too priceless to be settled by money or power plays.

It is beyond the cause of territorial borders or geographical boundaries and entities. It is a crusade for self determination paid in blood and tears that is based solely on our God given rights to exist as a sovereign people and an independent nation.

As for India, if it would be sincere and desires for a lasting solution to the vexed Naga political issue, it would be in its own interest to let the Naga nation live as a cordial neighbor by respecting the irrefutable Naga political rights.

Gen. (Rtd) Thinoselie M Keyho, President, Naga National Council (NNC), HQ, Oking Kohima, Nagaland

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

It’s not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required.

~ Sir Winston Churchill

SNIPPETS

Man held for storing rotten chicken in Kochi

KOCHI, JAN 24 (PTI): A man was arrested for storing around 500 kg of rotten frozen chicken meant to be supplied to hotels and bakeries in the city, police said on Tuesday. Police said the accused, Junaise, was taken into custody from his hideout at Ponnani in Malappuram district. The accused had brought the rotten meat from Tamil Nadu for distribution to hotels and bakeries.

3 dead as building collapses in Lucknow

LUCKNOW, JAN 24 (PTI): At least three people were killed and some others feared trapped in the rubble after a multistorey residential building collapsed in Lucknow’s Hazratganj on Tuesday, officials said. “Rescue operation is going on. NDRFSDRF have arrived at the spot. Police jawans and fire brigade personnel have also arrived at the spot.

Three bodies have been found so far and sent to hospital,” Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak told reporters. When asked whether the collapse was due to an earthquake earlier in the day, Lucknow District Magistrate Suryapal Gangwar told PTI, “Nothing can be said now. I am reaching the spot.”

Bomb threat call in Chandigarh court

CHANDIGARH, JAN 24 (PTI): The Chandigarh Police launched a search operation in the district court complex here Tuesday afternoon following a bomb threat call, officials said. The court complex in Sector 43 was evacuated, with the police asking all present inside including the judges and advocates to move out. The area was cordoned off, and bomb disposal and dog squads were deployed at the site, which lies next to the busy interstate bus terminus in sector 43.

FICN of Rs 19 lakh face value seized

MUMBAI, JAN 24 (PTI):

The Mumbai police have arrested two persons and seized fake Indian currency notes with the face value of Rs 19 lakh from them, an official said on Tuesday. Acting on a tipoff, the police laid a trap and nabbed one of the accused at Malwani on Monday and found fake notes with the face value of Rs 1 lakh in his possession, the official said. The accused provided information about his aide, who was later nabbed from neighbouring Palghar district and fake notes worth Rs 18 lakh were recovered from his house, he said.

Egyptian President begins India visit

NEW DELHI, JAN 24 (PTI): Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived here on Tuesday for a threeday state visit focused on enhancing bilateral ties in a range of areas, including agriculture, digital domain and trade.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sisi will hold wide-ranging talks on Wednesday.

Following the talks, the two sides are expected to ink half a dozen agreements to boost ties in a number of areas, people familiar with the matter said.

The 68-year-old influential Arab leader will grace the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

Sisi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that will include five ministers and senior officials.

The Egyptian president had visited India in October 2015 to participate in the third India-Africa Forum Summit which was followed by his state visit in September 2016.

This is for the first time

that the President of Egypt has been invited as the chief guest to India’s Republic Day celebrations. A military contingent from the Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade.

Sisi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on

Wednesday ahead of his talks with Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also call on Sisi.

“The forthcoming visit of President Sisi is expected to further strengthen and deepen the time-tested partnership between India and Egypt,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

Take action as per law for removal of cows from roads: Delhi High Court

illegal dairies.

The presence of cows on the roads causes hardships to the public at large as it becomes difficult for the owners of vehicles to pass through and it even leads to accidents and traffic jams, petitioner Faraz Khan contended.

said in a statement on Saturday.

India is keen to further expand ties with Egypt, a key player in the politics of both the Arab world as well as Africa. It is also seen as a major gateway to markets in Africa and Europe.

The MEA said the multifaceted relationship between the two countries is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence and security and convergence on regional and global issues.

The bilateral trade between the two sides has been on an upswing in the last few years.

The bilateral trade between India and Egypt achieved a “record high” of USD 7.26 billion in 202122, according to the MEA.

More than 50 Indian companies have invested around USD 3.15 billion in diverse sectors of the Egyptian economy, including chemicals, energy, textile, garment, agri-business and retail.

India can have its own disaster response model: Mandaviya

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): Being a vast country with diverse terrains, India can have its own disaster response model which can be emulated by other countries, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday.

Mandaviya said India’s model can learn from the best global practices and could go beyond the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to become flexible and agile to deal with exigencies on the ground.

“While it is important to learn from global best practices and follow SOPs, let us learn from the national examples of emergency and disaster response in the past few decades and enrich our model from learning and insights from these,” he said while addressing the consultative workshop on ‘National Emergency Medical Team, India’.

“The multi-sectoral and multi-layered learning need to be incorporated in the training and capacity building modules of

the national architecture of emergency response and management,” Mandaviya said. The purpose of the two-day workshop is to bring together all stakeholders of the NEMT initiative to deliberate on the policy, strategy, roles and responsibilities of the initiative and prepare a roadmap for integrating the needs of the country for disaster preparedness aligning with the health needs during such situations, a statement said.

Prevention of health emergencies, preparedness and responses form one of the priority areas under the G20 Health Track agenda and this is the first meeting after the G20 Health

Working Group meeting in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram which took place from 18-20. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan emphasized the importance of collaboration between the NDMA, NDRF, state agencies, emergencies service providers, trauma centres etc and stressed the need for synergizing efforts between them to ensure agility, rapid and effective response.

The National Emergency Medical Team (NEMT) initiative aims to revamp the traditional responsive mode of healthcare manpower deployment in response to disasters and public health emergencies.

EMT is defined as a group of healthcare professionals providing direct clinical care to populations affected by outbreaks and emergencies, a health ministry statement said.

During any emergency/disaster, the core capacities required to prepare for and mitigate the impact of any public health emergency remain largely the same.

‘Pack up’, Cong to Bommai, says it will come to power

BENGALURU, JAN 24

it investigated.”

NEW DELHI, JAN 24

(PTI): Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the authorities to continue to take action in accordance with law in relation to the removal of cows from the city’s roads.

The court noted that steps were being taken by officials on the issue while opining that no order was required to be passed on the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer on the presence of cows on the roads. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma also said that if the earlier guidelines on the issue were not being fol-

lowed, a plea for contempt action should be filed and not a fresh PIL.

“No further orders are called for. The state shall keep monitoring the situation and take appropriate action in accordance with the law,” the bench also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad said.

Counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi submitted that it was taking appropriate action, including sending cattle to guashala, and a review of the situation every month.

It was also said that notices had been issued to

He also alleged that the cow owners were “misusing their positions” and leaving the cattle free on the streets despite being provided a separate site.

“The cow owners, after milching the cows, let them move free on the road and they cause garbage, cow dung and other dirty things on the roads and galies and these dirty things give a bad smell and lead to dirty environment on the roads and streets and even the passers-by who pass from the sides of the roads and galies/streets also feel inconvenience, hardships and problems in passing through the streets,” the plea said.

(PTI): Asking Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Ministers to “pack up” with assembly polls around, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said his party will come to power and purify the ‘Vidhana Soudha’ with ‘Ganjala’ (cow urine), alleging that it was polluted by corruption during the BJP rule.

Also, hitting out at the ruling BJP and Bommai for leveling “false allegations” against previous Congress regime led by him, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah challenged the Chief Minister to constitute a Supreme Court Judge led inquiry commission to probe both tenures, if his government has the guts.

“It’s about 40-45 days left for your government, pack your tents and do whatever collection that is left and go. We will come with dettol to clean Vidhana Soudha. I have even got

some Ganjala (cow urine) for purification....people are wanting to get rid of this evil government,” Shivakumar said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, “Bommai, better, tell all you ministers to pack up soon.”

The Congress leaders’ attack on the BJP government came a day after the ruling party filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against Siddaramaiah and Congress, alleging irregularities in ‘TenderSURE’

KhemkawritestoHaryanaCM;seeksVigilancedepttposting

CHANDIGARH, JAN 24 (PTI): Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who built a reputation as an upright officer during his three-decade career -- highlighted by over 50 postings -- has written to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and offered to “to root out corruption”

with a stint in the Vigilance department.

In his letter to Khattar, Khemka -whose professional life has been marked by controversies and frequent transfers, often to departments seen as unimportant -- said he sacrificed his service career in his zeal to end corruption.

While there is not enough work in his present posting -- the Archives department -- some officers are overloaded with multiple charges and departments due to which they are always fire-fighting, Khemka pointed out.

In the letter dated January 23, Khemka wrote “lopsided distribution of work does not serve public interest”.

On January 9, the Haryana government transferred Khemka -- his 56th posting in a career

spanning about 31 years. Khemka, who was at the time additional chief secretary in the Science and Technology department, has been posted as additional chief secretary in the Archives department.

projects, during their tenure.

State Health Minister K Sudhakar, quoting a CAG report, had alleged that there were financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore under the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

Hitting back at Sudhakar’s allegations, Shivakumar asked as to what BJP was doing for the last 3.5 years. “They were in power and should have ordered an inquiry and got

BJP has a “brand” of 40 per cent commission, and to cover up they were trying to make baseless allegations against Congress, he said.

Questioning as to why BJP old timers were not speaking or reacting to allegations of corruption, and the ruling party was using someone like Sudhakar who had defected from the Congress to make counter allegations, he said, “You (BJP) are not able to make one person from your party speak. There are 32 groups in your party, I have got a list done...and you talk about us.”

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah, hitting back at Bommai and BJP for levelling corruption charges against the previous Congress government headed by him, demanded a probe by a Supreme Court judge headed commission about alleged scams and corruption charges from 2013 to till now.

Senjum Lotha BaptiSt ChurCh Dimapur

in need of an Asso Pastor Youth. Therefore, an interested person may apply for the said post, at the address given Post on or before 10th Feb. 2023.

Pastor Senjum Baptist Church Dimapur

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrives at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI)

Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and others puts up ‘PayCM’ posters at public places. (PTI file)

Ashok Khemka

Mansukh Mandaviya

network can be misused

NEW DELHI, JAN 24 (PTI): Warning against the vulnerabilities of the highspeed 5G telecom network, papers submitted at a key security meet have noted that it can provide an excellent platform for middlemen and agents for creating linkages for crimes such as drug trafficking, human and organ trafficking, money laundering and terror financing.

The papers, written by some Indian Police Service officers, were submitted at the just-concluded conference of director generals of police (DGPs) and inspector general of police (IGPs), attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The papers noted that the 5G network is built on easily accessible and open Internet protocols and it inherits all the vulnerabilities of previous generations which make it vulnerable to cyber-attacks and compromise the security of the entire system.

The IPS officers who wrote the papers suggested that a reserved 5G bandwidth and highly

secured equipment should be developed proactively for sensitive governmentrelated communications and for military usage and only approved and authenticated firms with the least cyber risk or with maximum safety protocols should be allowed to work in for the government agencies.

“With cryptocurrencies and decentralised banking systems gaining further popularity using the realtime 5G networks, the linkages and financial trail will be challenging to trace.

“The 5G can provide an excellent platform for the middlemen and agents for creating linkages for crimes like drug trafficking, human and organ trafficking, money laundering, terror financing, etc.,” the papers said.

Apart from the prime minister, the threeday annual conference was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser

Ajit Doval and about 350 top police officers of the country last weekend.

The 5G network core is built on easily accessible and open Internet protocols such as HTTP and Transport Layer Security (TLS). In a Network-Slicing environment, different subnetworks will have different natures of cyber security.

Keys for radio interface encryption are delivered across unsecured routes.

Vulnerabilities such as IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) could arise. “The Telco cloud is vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which can compromise the security of the network and the data stored in the cloud,” the papers said.

Due to network function virtualisation (NFV), criminals can employ or execute attacks to access and even alter telephone numbers (target lists) to be monitored.

There are several improvements in 5G that support such remote control functions like drones, robotic surgery, etc. but criminals can exploit this aspect too. Another issue in

No official vehicles to be...

(From p-1)

In this regard, CEO directed to all DEOs to take necessary action for compliance of ECI instructions within 24 hours of the announcement of the elections.

CEO also stated that ministers are entitled to use their official vehicles only for commuting from their official residence for official works provided that such commuting is not combined with any electioneering or any political activities.

As per the ECI Consolidated Instructions 2014 standing order, the commission further directs that cars/vehicles shall, under no circumstances, be allowed to move in convoys of more than ten vehicles, excluding the security vehicles.

CEO has therefore directed all district

administration to keep a close watch and find out if any official vehicle specified were being used for electioneering purposes and if so, the district magistrate shall immediately requisition such vehicles, after following due procedure, for election work, under Section 160 of the Representative of the People Act,1951 and the requisitioned vehicles shall not be released until after the completion of the process of elections.

Meanwhile, CEO has directed all deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners and district election officers, and all Heads of department to strictly adhere the Election code of conduct for free and fair election during the 14 General Election to Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) 2023.

5G is the operations of edge computing where processing is done at decentralised inter-communicating nodes close to the user network.

The papers said the 5G can support millions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Internet of Things (IoTs) and devices per square kilometer thus resulting in a massive increase in attack surface for cybercriminals.

Cyber crimes like mobile network mapping, distributed denial of service, draining battery, service degradation, mobile IMSI capture, malware injection, CnC creation, intercepting communication, DNS spoofing, uplink, and downlink impersonations, etc. may be easier to carry out, the papers said.

“During the initial transition phase, future 5G networks will inherit all the vulnerabilities of previous generations.”

There is a chance that end-to-end encryption (E2ER) will be included in the standard during the upcoming standardisation process, which is a challenge for law enforcement agencies.

(From p-1)

Discontent grows within state BJP

factors, he along with his colleagues had resigned enmasse from Congress, joined the party and helped build its base at the grassroots.

Swu said party leaders had assured them that even though the constituency could not win in the previous election, tickets would be issued based on the performance of party workers.

“We have worked relentlessly in building the party base and have brough it to a comfortable position now and, if given a ticket, we will ensure BJP gets a legislator,”he assured.

He alleged that Pughoboto mandal, despite being best performing, was being denied a party ticket owing to some elements in the party misleading the central leadership, which was why their grievances were not understood.

He accused some BJP leaders holding key positions of functioning as mouthpieces for the alliance partners.

He warned that such actions were setting a dangerous precedence and

‘Back to Bharat’ trend picking up in EV, hitech sectors

CHENNAI, JAN 24 (IANS): With the West facing economic recession, job losses happening and while the Indian economy is predicted to grow, “Back to Bharat” is gaining ground in the executive placement segment, said a top official of the human resource (HR) groups Ma Foi and the CIEL.

He also said the CIEL is looking at five acquisitions in the HR space of which one of them is a listed company.

“The CIEL HR Services is planning to raise Rs 200 crore - Rs 24 crore from private placement and Rs 176 crore from private equity

funds. The funds will be used for acquisitions,” K. Pandiarajan, Executive Chairperson and Director - Ma Foi Group & CIEL Group told media here.

To a specific query he said one of the target companies is a listed entity with which discussions are on.

The CIEL HR had acquired 76.33 per cent stake in Next Leap Career Solutions Private Limited (Brand name: Jombay).

Pandiarajan also said CIEL HR plans to come out with a Rs 650 crore initial public offer (IPO) by the end of 2023.

According to Pandiarajan, the ‘Back to Bharat’ trend is gaining

ground in the executive placement segment.

“People with research and development (R&D) background in the electric vehicle (EV) segment and those in hitech sectors are in good demand here,” he said.

According to Pandiarajan, CIEL HR will be creating an digital platform to onboard the unorganised players in the HR segment accounting for about 80 per cent of the Rs 1.45 lakh crore market.

The ‘uberisation’ of the HR outfits will give the customer companies the comfort of legal compliance by the CIEL HR partners.

ruining the party’s prospects in the State.

Swu mentioned that there were some rumours doing the rounds that even if 59 tickets were issued by BJP and only one by NDPP, Pughoboto still would not get any.

“We should not be subjected to such kind of insults,” he quipped.

He further claimed that the mandal was assessed by BJP Nagaland incharge Nalin Kohli, party’s State president and BJP Legislative Party leader Temjen Imna Along.

Thus, he stated that the mandal workers were hopeful and acknowledged that the issue of denying ticket to the mandal had become a huge stumbling block.

He cautioned that the party workers would not remain quiet if they were denied the ticket, which they deserved, and declared that they would fight till the end.

Mandal’s legal adviser Zakato Chishi said the workers were still hopeful on the wisdom of the party leaders and prayed that they would not fall short of their commitment of

Dimapur police to act against noise pollution

(From p-1)

Further, in order to maintain the ambient noise standard, Dimapur police informed that use of loudspeakers or any sound producing instrument or musical instrument should not exceed beyond the permissible limit of 75 dB in Industrial area, 65dB in Commercial area, 55 dB in residential area and 50 dB in silence zone during the day from 6am to 10pm.

Police cautioned that any person found violating the provision of the Rule would be penalized as per the provisions of law.

rewarding meritocracy and good performance.

The party workers assured that the party would win with a thumping majority if given the chance.

BJP Zunheboto mandalprotest

On the other hand, Zunheboto too witnessed a protest by BJP Zunheboto mandal workers against the 40:20 seat sharing.

Speaking to media persons, the mandal workers claimed that BJP had a huge support base of around 70 per cent and that many people were hoping that the party would win the 35 Zunheboto AC.

They further claimed that the general public were very much happy and satisfied with the development activities in the district under the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre. Hence, they insisted that ticket for 35 Zunheboto AC Should be given to BJP.

Some mandal leaders demanded that there should not be any seat-sharing arrangement with NDPP and cited examples of other States where there was no

seat sharing system. They said there was no logic for BJP being given only 20 seats and that at least seatsharing should have been on 30:30 basis, though they preferred contesting from all the 60 constituencies.

They pointed out that the main reason for staging the dharna was that one ticket should be given to Ghovishe Kiba from BJP from 35 Zunheboto AC.

They clarified that they were not against any party and would be taking everything positively and wait for a positive reply. BJP Zunheboto mandal president said he hoped for a free and fair election, while disclosing that an official letter had already been sent to BJP central leadership. He also warned that if the current seat-sharing issue was not resolved, then all BJP karyakartas would resign from their respective posts. He also thanked all party karyakartas for turning up in large numbers for the dharna and hoped that everything would be positive. This was stated in a press release by BJP Zunheboto mandal.

Overloaded heavy vehicles to be penalised

(From p-1)

Highlighting the various hazards of overloading, the department warned that the vehicle could lose stability, would be difficult to steer, take longer to stop, lead to tyres overheating and wearing out rapidly, which increased the chances of premature, dangerous, and expensive failure or blow-outs, diminish driver’s control and operating space, escalate the chances of an accident and could not accelerate normally, thus making it

difficult to overtake. Further, the headlights of an overloaded vehicle tilted up, which could momentarily blind oncoming drivers, brakes needed to work harder, led to overheating of brakes, thereby losing their effectiveness to stop, etc. The overloaded vehicle would incur higher maintenance costs of tyres, brakes and shock absorbers, besides leading to higher fuel consumption. This was stated in a DIPR press release.

Nepal plane crash:

60 dead bodies handed over to relatives

KATHMANDU, JAN 24 (PTI): Nepal health officials have handed over 60 bodies, including that of 5 Indians, to the relatives of the people who died in a plane crash in the country’s resort city of Pokhara, Yeti Airlines said on Tuesday.

Nepalese authorities on Tuesday started handing over to family members the bodies of those killed in the January 14 crash of a Yeti Airlines passenger plane with 72 people on board.

Fifty-three Nepalese passengers and 15 foreign nationals, including 5 Indians, and four crew members were on board the aircraft when it crashed in a river gorge in Pokhara. Hospital sources said on Monday that the bodies of all five Indians - Abhisekh Kushwaha, 25, Bishal Sharma, 22, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, 27, Sonu Jaiswal, 35, and Sanjaya Jaiswal - had been handed over to their respective family members.

Shootout at Oakland gas station kills 1, wounds 8 people

OAKLAND (US), JAN 24 (AP): A shootout at an Oakland gas station killed one person and wounded seven others in the second shooting Monday night in the San Francisco Bay Area, police said. Officers were sent to the scene on Macarthur Boulevard just after 6 p.m. and learned there had been a shooting between several people, a police statement said.

The officers found shell casings at the Valero gas station but no victims. However, dispatchers learned several victims had taken themselves to local hospitals for treatment of gunshot wounds. One person died and the others were in stable condition, police said. No arrests were made and other details weren’t immediately released.

Jacinda makes last speech as NZ PM

WELLINGTON, JAN 24 (IANS): A teary-eyed Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday made her last speech as the Prime Minister of New Zealand with successor Chris Hipkins beside her. The outgoing Labor leader on her last day as Prime Minister said her departure should not be viewed as a negative commentary on New Zealand, reports Xinhua news agency.

“I have experienced such love, compassion, empathy and kindness when I’ve been in this job, that has been my predominant experience,” Ardern said while visiting the Ratana temple with Hipkins. Ardern said she is not going anywhere and will still be the MP for Mt Albert, but will be away from the centre of politics.

New natural gas reserve discovered in Bangladesh

DHAKA, JAN 24 (IANS): Bangladesh has discovered a new natural gas reserve in the southern part of the country with the possibility of a significant amount of fossil fuel in the new structure.

The gas structure in Bhola district has been discovered by the staterun Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), reports Xinhua news agency. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid announced the discovery of the new gas reserve.

Power outages continue in Pakistan despite minister’s claim of restoration

ISLAMABAD, JAN 24 (PTI): Large parts of Pakistan on Tuesday experienced periodic electricity outages despite the government’s claim that the power supply was fully restored across the country following a nationwide breakdown, the second in nearly four months. The country sank into darkness due to the sudden breakdown of electricity on Monday morning after frequency variations hit the national grid, disrupting normal life and affecting millions of people.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday apologised to the nation for the inconvenience caused by the countrywide power outage.

Taking to Twitter, the premier wrote: “On behalf of my government, I would like to express my sincere regrets for the inconvenience our citizens suffered due to the power outage yesterday.”

“On my orders, an inquiry is underway to determine reasons for the power failure. Responsibility will be fixed,” he tweeted.

Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir said on Tuesday that electricity has been fully restored at grid

stations across the country.

“Power at all 1,112 stations of the national grid has been restored,” Dastgir tweeted.

The restoration failed to provide sustained power to large parts of the country and hours-long power outages were witnessed in Islamabad and other major cities. Officials said that it was being caused by low production as compared to the demand.

Dastgir said the country’s transmission system had not been affected but explained that electricity was required to get power plants and dams up and running. He said that approximately 6,600 megawatts (MW) of coal and 3,500MW of nuclear plants would take an estimated 48 to 72 hours to restart.

“Until these plants start running, there will be limited load management, excluding industrial users,” he tweeted. The minister also said that the government suspected “foreign intervention such as hacking of systems” that caused the breakdown. “But its chances are very less. There have been incidents previously and we have to rule out this

1 killed as 5.9-magnitude quake jolts Western Nepal

thing,” he added.

A top official from the Biden administration said on Monday the US was ready to assist Pakistan in resolving its electricity woes.

“(We) have seen what has transpired in Pakistan. Our thoughts are with all those who’ve been affected by the outages. The US has assisted our Pakistani partners across any number of challenges,” State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday. “We’re prepared to do so in this case, if there is something that we’re able to provide. But I’m not aware of any particular request yet,” he said.

Monday’s breakdown was the third massive power outage Pakistan suffered in three consecutive years,

showing serious complications in the power distribution system of the country.

The last breakdown in October 2022 took out about 8,000 megawatts from the national grid and took more than 12 hours to restore it. Pakistan is grappling with one of the country’s worst economic crises in recent years amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves. The crisis forced the government earlier this month to order shopping malls and markets to close by 8:30 pm for energy conservation purposes.

The sorry state of the country’s power sector is emblematic of its ailing economy. Power outages occur frequently due to a lack of funds to upgrade ageing infrastructure.

Shahbaz Rana, a respected journalist reporting on debt and economic affairs, tweeted that the power outage was a “symbol of governance breakdown and economic meltdown”.

“It is the price that the nation will pay for the inflated egos of our rulers. If things do not improve from here, there will soon be breakdowns of supply chains of almost all essential goods,” he said.

Talks between India and Pak is a matter for those two countries to decide: US

WASHINGTON, JAN 24 (PTI): The US has reaffirmed that the pace, the scope and the character of any dialogue between India and Pakistan is a matter for the two countries, asserting that Washington has always supported talks between the two neighbours to ensure peace in South Asia.

Responding to a question raised by a Pakistani journalist on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent remarks seeking peace talks with India, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Monday said that even though the United States wants to see regional stability in South Asia, its relationships with Pakistan and India “stand on their own”.

“We’ve long called for regional stability in South Asia. That’s certainly what we want to see. We want to see it advanced. When it comes to our partnership –our partnerships with India and Pakistan, these are relationships that stand on their own. We do not see these relationships as zero-sum,” Price told reporters at his daily news conference.

He further said that the “pace, scope, the character of any dialogue between India and Pakistan is a matter for those two countries.”

In a recent interview with a UAE media outlet, Prime Minister Sharif expressed a desire for talks with India. However, the Prime Minister’s Office later said talks are not possible without India revoking its 2019 actions on Kashmir.

Commenting on Sharif’s remarks, India said it always wanted normal neighbourly ties with Pakistan but there should be an atmosphere free from terror and violence for such a relationship. India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such an engagement.

The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India’s warplanes pounded a Jaishe-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019

in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The relations further deteriorated after India in August 2019 announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories.

When asked if the US would open the door for talks with Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and his party if he gets elected as the prime minister, the spokesperson said that Washington is open and would work with any elected government in Pakistan. “We have demonstrated our desire to see constructive relations with Pakistan over the course of successive governments. As we have said in different contexts, we judge governments by the policies they pursue. It would ultimately be a question of the type of policy that any future government of Pakistan might pursue,” Price said.

Khan, who was removed from power through a no-trust vote in April last year, had alleged that the no-confidence vote was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan. The US has denied the allegations.

7 dead as California mourns 3rd mass killing in 8 days

HALF MOON BAY (US), JAN 24 (AP): A gunman killed seven people at two agricultural businesses in Northern California, plunging the state into mourning again in the wake of its third mass killing in eight days.

Officers arrested a suspect in Monday’s shootings, 67-year-old Chunli Zhao, after they found him in his car in the parking lot of a sheriff’s substation, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said.

KATHMANDU, JAN 24 (PTI): A 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted the remote mountainous districts in Western Nepal on Tuesday, killing one person and damaging dozens of houses in the region, officials said.

The earthquake, with epicentre in the Mela area of Bajura district in Sudurpaschim province, hit the region at 2:43 PM local time, said Lok Bijaya Adhikari, head of the Earthquake Measurement and Research Centre.

A 35-year-old woman was killed when a falling rock hit her while she was cutting grass in the nearby forest in Bajura district, situated 450 km West of Kathmandu, police said.

Around three dozen houses were damaged in the quake that struck the remote mountainous region, a police officer said, adding that they are collecting further information about more losses caused by the tremor. A temple in the Badimalika municipality also developed cracks, police said. A landslide triggered by the earthquake resulted in the death of over 40 sheep, the police said, adding that one person was injured in the incident.

Monika Dahal, who is head of the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, said that the quake measuring 5.9-magnitude was felt in the wider areas of Western Nepal. It was also felt in

Seven people were found dead and an eighth injured at a farm and another location several miles away, the Sheriff’s Office said. Officials believe Zhao worked at one of the facilities and that the victims were workers as well, Corpus said. Officials haven’t determined a motive for the shooting. California is still reeling from an attack on a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park that killed 11 and cast a shadow over an important holiday for many Asian-American communities. Authorities are still seeking a motive for the Saturday shooting.

“For the second time in recent days, California communities are mourn -

ing the loss of loved ones in a senseless act of gun violence,” President Joe Biden said Tuesday morning. “Even as we await further details on these shootings, we know the scourge of gun violence across America requires stronger action.”

The new year has brought six mass killings in the U.S. in fewer than three weeks, accounting for

39 deaths. Three have occurred in California since Jan. 16, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. The database tracks every mass killing — defined as four dead not including the offender — committed in the U.S. since 2006.

The killings occurred on the outskirts of Half

Moon Bay, a city about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of San Francisco.

Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez said the victims included Chinese and Latino farmworkers. Some workers lived at one of the facilities and children may have witnessed the shooting, she said. Corpus said it wasn’t immediately clear how the two locations were con -

nected.

The Sheriff’s Office first received reports of a shooting in the afternoon and found four people dead and a fifth wounded at the first scene. Officers then found three more people fatally shot nearby, Capt. Eamonn Allen said in a news release.

About two hours later, a sheriff’s deputy spotted Zhao’s car parked outside a sheriff’s substation in a strip mall and arrested him. A video of the arrest showed three officers approaching a parked car with drawn weapons. Zhao got out of the car, and the officers pulled him to the ground, put him in handcuffs, and led him away. A weapon was found in his vehicle, officials said. The video was captured by Kati McHugh, a Half Moon Bay resident who witnessed the arrest.

The sheriff’s department believes Zhao acted alone. “We’re still trying to understand exactly what happened and why, but it’s just incredibly, incredibly tragic,” said state Sen. Josh Becker, who represents the area and called it “a very close- knit” agricultural community.

COLOMBO, JAN 24 (PTI): It would be an “enormous challenge” for Sri Lanka to hold local polls in March as the country is facing a dire economic situation, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told reporters here the government would not be able to enhance the rationed fuel quotas for vehicles to be widely used in the election process.

“We have informed both the election commission and the Supreme Court that holding of the election would be an enormous challenge,” Gunawardena said.

He said both the state power entity Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Central Transport Board, whose buses would be pressed into service for the election process, are in very bad shape with the loss of revenue and resources.

Gunawardena said the government would not be able to enhance the rationed

fuel quotas for the vehicles. Currently, petrol is rationed at 20 litres per vehicle for a week.

Sri Lanka’s election commission announced on Saturday it will hold the local council polls on March 9, ending speculation that the election may be postponed again due to the prevailing economic crisis in the country.

The local election for the 340 councils in the island nation had been due from March last year but was earlier postponed by six months due to an unprecedented economic turmoil which triggered a political crisis and led to the ouster of former President Gota-

baya Rajapaksa.

The opposition parties have been pressing for the local election, saying it will give people a chance to show displeasure over the government’s handling of the economic crisis.

The government, however, has delayed the local polls and said the time is not suitable to hold the election given the ongoing economic crisis in the country.

“This is not the time for an unimportant election such as the local election,” said Vajira Abeywardena, a government member.

The election process will reportedly cost Rs 10 billion which would put additional pressure on the already lean state finances.

The opposition groups say that the government was trying to postpone the election due to fear of a defeat.

“The government is trying hard to find false reasons to delay the election, they know they would lose,” said GL Peiris, an opposition parliamentarian.

imsumongba Pongen General Secretary JdU, nagaland

Khurram Dastgir

A damaged structure after the earthquake in Western Nepal.

Ned Price

San Mateo County Sheriffs officers and EMS personnel gather along a road at a location near where multiple people were found shot to death on Monday. (AP/PTI)

Bandula Gunawardena

The teams behind “RRR”, “All That Breathes” and “The Elephant Whisperers” on Tuesday celebrated their films’ history-making nominations at the 95th Academy Awards.

From SS Rajamoulidirected “RRR”, the movie’s hit track “Naatu Naatu” bagged the nomination in the Original Song category, while Shaunak Sen’s “All That Breathes” and “The Elephant Whisperers”, directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, made it to final five of Documentary Feature and Documentary Short Subject sections, respectively.

“WE CREATED HISTORY!! Proud and privileged to share that #NaatuNaatu has been nominated for Best Original song at the 95th Academy Awards,” tweeted the official handle of the movie.

In the original song category, “Naatu Naatu” is nominated alongside “Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman”, “Hold

My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”, “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once”.

This is the third major international recognition for “Naatu Naatu”, composed by MM Keeravaani and sung by Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj after a Golden Globe as well as a Critics Choice Award. It won another Critics Choice Award in Best Foreign Language Film.

In a Twitter post,

Keeravani gave a shout out to all those who contributed to the hit Telugu track.

“Congratulations to my team !! Big hugs to all,” the music composer wrote.

The Oscar nomination for “Naatu Naatu” is a proud moment for the entire team of “RRR”, V Vijayendra Prasad, the film’s writer and father of Rajamouli, told PTI.

“It is a proud moment for India, for Telugu movie industry and for Indian cinema,” he added.

Prem Rakshith, who choreographed the song, told PTI, “I am very happy.

I don’t have any words to express.”

“All That Breathes” is the first Indian feature documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award.

It is nominated alongside “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”, “Fire of Love”, “A House Made of Splinters” and “Navalny”.

Set in Delhi, “All That Breathes” follows two siblings, Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad, who have devoted their lives to rescuing and treating injured birds, especially black kites.

Sen said he is feeling “utterly relieved, happy and somewhat discombobulated” after his documentary received the Oscar nod.

“It’s feeling extraordinarily difficult to say something that doesn’t sound like a cliche. We’re utterly besides ourselves with joy and a bit lost for words at this moment. Utterly relieved, happy and somewhat

discombobulated.

“I want to offer my deepest, most heartfelt thanks to our incredible characters and the whole film team and I am grateful to the Academy for recognising their work,” Sen told PTI.

Documentary short “The Elephant Whisperers”, set against the background of wild spaces of South India, is nominated alongside four other films -- “Haulout”, “How Do You Measure a Year?”, “The Martha Mitchell Effect” and “Stranger at the Gate”.

Produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain of Sikhya Entertainment, it follows the heartwarming story of an indigenous couple who have been given an orphaned elephant, Raghu to look after.

In a statement, Gonsalves said she is honoured that the Academy has recognised an “Indian indigenous documentary from the heart of South India”.

(PTI)

‘Pathaan’ sets record advance booking, insiders hope for revival of cinema

Beating back boycott calls, Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Pathaan” is set for the biggest opening for any Hindi film with 4.19 lakh tickets sold till Tuesday and 80 per cent occupancy on day one, even for early morning shows beginning at 6 am or 7 am, say industry insiders.

The film, which releases across 5,000 screens on Wednesday, could well signal a happy 2023 for an industry grappling with crippling losses following the Covid pandemic and a string of box office duds. The ticket surge is being seen in multiplexes, single

screen theatres and also in the south.

“The film is going to take a historic start at the box office with opening day collections of Rs 45 crore

to Rs 50 crore. The box office revival will begin with ‘Pathaan’, especially looking at its advance booking. This is very rare. And tomorrow is a working day,” trade

analyst Taran Adarsh told PTI.

“We have 7 am shows at Inox and almost 80 per cent of it is full. The early morning shows are happening in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and a few others,” Jyala told PTI.

The Yash Raj Films production, which marks Shah Rukh’s return as a hero after 2018’s “Zero”, will get a five-day extended opening weekend as it releases the day before Republic Day.

The advances of “Pathaan” have exceeded all expectation, added Kamal Gianchandani, president of

the Multiplex Association of India. There have been early morning shows before but the excitement for “Pathaan” is unprecedented with cinema halls in various cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon, opening for a 6 am or a 7 am show, he said.

“It will be a record breaking opening tomorrow. It is tough to put a number. ‘KGF 2’ Hindi version had minted Rs 52.5 crore, this will exceed that,” he estimated.

Adarsh on Monday tweeted that the film’s ticket sales are around 4.19 lakh -- and counting. (PTI)

Researchers working on Covid vaccine that people can drink

Researchers are working on a Covid-19 vaccine that people may drink instead of receiving with a needle, expanding their focus onto mucosal vaccines, which include nasal vaccines as well as “swish and swallow” oral vaccines.

The vaccine, called QYNDR, completed its phase 1 clinical trial and is currently waiting on more funding to conduct the more detailed, advanced trials that could actually bring the vaccine to market, reports CNET.

Moreover, the report said that promising clinical trial results from New Zealand offer hope that QYNDR will be a viable option for protection against the string of Covid-19 variants circulating now.

“It’s really challenging to have a vaccine survive making it through your digestive system,” Flanigan said.

“We were able to figure out how to get a vaccine past the stomach and into the gut and have it be effective and induce the appropriate response,” she added.

Scientists are hopeful that mucosal vaccines will not only protect against severe diseases and death, as revolutionary mRNA vaccines and boosters have but also ward off infections, the report said.

Different from traditional vaccines, mucosal vaccines enter through our mucous membranes, either through our nose (as in the muchdiscussed nasal Covid-19 vaccine) or through our gut (as in the orally suspended QYNDRs).

Mucosal vaccines have

been supported as viable, or even preferable, options for combating Covid-19 infections due to the different types of immunity they produce and the fact that it begins right where the virus enters our bodies, the report mentioned. (IANS)

Belgium, Australia enter Hockey WC semis

BHUBANESWAR, JAN 24

(PTI): Defending champions Belgium and three-time winners Australia booked semifinal spots in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup after getting the better of Spain and New Zealand in their respective quarterfinal matches here on Tuesday.

While Australia toiled hard for a 4-3 win over Spain in the first quarterfinal, Belgium did not face much problem in their 2-0 win over India’s conqueror New Zealand in the second last-eight match of the day at the Kalinga Stadium.

With the win over Spain, Australia made their 12th straight semifinals in the World Cup.

Winners of the 1986, 2010 and 2014 editions, Australia have made it to the semifinals of a World Cup on 11 occasions since the 1978 edition in Buenos Aires. They had lost to the Dutch in the semifinals in a penalty shootout in the last edition here in 2018.

Belgium suffered a jolt just before their quarterfinal match, as their star penalty corner expert Alexander Hendrickx was ruled out of the remai nder of the tournament after he twisted

his knee in their final Pool B match against Japan on January 20.

Belgium now wait the winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal between England and Germany in the semifinals, while title contenders Australia will face the winner of the other last-eight match between the Netherlands and South Korea. It was a close affair in the Australia vs Spain quarterfinal match but Jeremy Hayward’s two penalty

corner strikes in the third quarter made the difference.

Spain captain Marc Miralles committed a costly mistake as he failed to score from a penalty stroke four minutes from the final hooter, when his team was training 3-4. Had he scored, the match would have gone to the shootout.

Hayward struck in the 33rd and 37th minutes while Flynn Ogilvie (30th) and captain Aran Zalewski (32nd) scored field goals for

Shiffrin passes Vonn to become all-time woman’s World Cup winner

KRONPLATZ (ITALY), JAN 24 (AGENCIES):

Mikaela Shiffrin reached the summit of ski racing on Tuesday, passing fellow American Lindsey Vonn with victory in the giant slalom at Kronplatz to become the most successful female Alpine skier in World Cup history with an 83rd title.

The victory puts the 27-year-old just three wins away from the all-time record held by Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden, who captured 86 World Cup wins between 1974 and 1989.

Eclipsing Vonn is the latest history-making achievement by the twice Olympic gold medallist and four-time overall World Cup champion, who could potentially end her career with more than 100 victories on the ski racing circuit.

Born in Vail, Colorado to ski racing parents Eileen and Jeff, the child prodigy won her first World Cup in Are, Sweden in 2013 as a 17-year-old high school student and went on to claim the first of her six season titles in slalom later that year. At the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014, she made

history by becoming the youngest ever winner of an Olympic slalom gold medal, managing to somehow correct herself mid-air during her second trip down the mountain to claim victory.

She ended that season as the Olympic, World Cup and world champion in slalom and her profile grew considerably as media appearances and sponsorships began to pile up for the amiable 18-year-old star.

Ordinary people serving the community in extraordinary ways. The Good Harvest School is changing the lives of young girls in a small village in rural Uttar Pradesh. Epson India is honoured to support them on this journey. #EnrichingLives #CreatingABet -

terWorld Experts said that if Shiffrin could stay healthy in the perilous sport, she could make a run at the record books and indeed her durability has been a key asset.

Shiffrin has enjoyed relatively few injury setbacks, the most notable being a right knee injury she suffered during a fall in December 2015 that kept her away from the tour for two months and back pain that hampered her 2021 season.

A powerful and precise skier, Shiffrin is the only athlete to win World Cups in all six disciplines - downhill, super-G, alpine combined, giant slalom, slalom, and parallel. Shiffrin’s first real taste of professional disappointment came at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang where she was heavily favoured to successfully defend her slalom title but surprisingly only managed a fourth-place finish.

However, she won an unexpected gold in giant slalom and capped off her second Games with a silver in the combined to leave South Korea with her head held high.

Australia.

Xavier Gispert (20th), Marc Recasens (24th) and Miralles (41st) were the goal scorers for Spain who will head home now.

The fourth quarter was a closely-fought contest and Spain got a chance to score the equaliser and take the match into the shootout.

But Miralles wasted a penalty stroke with Australia goalkeeper Andrew Charter, who was later named player of the match, blocking the

shot with his outstretched left leg.

Later, Belgium took some time to settle down in their quarterfinal against New Zealand but once they did that the defending champions took control of the match as they scored a goal each in the first and second quarters. They held on to the 2-0 first half lead till the end of the match.

Star forward Tom Boon opened the scoring for Belgium in the 11th minute from their first penalty corner. New Zealand’s defence was caught napping in the first minute of the second quarter.

Simon Gougnard’s cross from the right side of the ‘D’ went past at least two New Zealand defenders and Florent van Aubel was left unmarked to slam home for an easy goal in the 16th minute. The third and fourth quarters did not yield any goal with Belgium doing most of the attacking while New Zealand defended their citadel well.

The Black Sticks also mounted a few spirited challenges in the fourth quarter with some fine attacking moves but their last touch or deflection did not come.

Rishabh Pant only Indian in ICC’s Test team of the Year 2022

DUBAI, JAN 24 (IANS): After revealing the ODI and T20I teams of 2022, ICC on Tuesday also put out its list of the best Test team of the previous year with wicketkeeperbatter Rishabh Pant the only Indian to feature in the eleven. Pant, who is recovering from injuries he sustained in a serious car crash two days before the end of the year, had a stunning 2022 with the bat, hitting 680 runs from 12 innings at an average of 61.81 and a strike rate of 90.90 in Test cricket. Two centuries and four fifties in the year only tell half the story, with the destructive nature of Pant’s batting helping add impetus to his team’s innings throughout the year. He smashed 21 sixes in Tests in 2022 and was decent with the gloves too -- producing six stumpings and taking 23 catches.

3rd Champions Trophy at Chumoükedima from Feb 6

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): The sports ministry of Nagamese Baptist Fellowship Chumoükedima Village will be organizing the 3rd Champions Trophy at local ground Chumoükedima from February 6, 2023. The winners will walk home

richer with a cash prize of Rs. 50,000; 2nd prize - Rs. 25,000 and individual prizes - Rs. 10,000.

Last date for forms submission will be February 3. Interested clubs/teams/ unions may contact at 7085836354 or 6909938637.

Mandhana, Harmanpreet shine as India thrash West Indies by 56 runs

EAST LONDON, JAN 24 (IANS): Brilliant half centuries by Smriti Mandhana (74*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (56*) helped Indian women’s team beat West Indies by 56 runs in the T20I Tri-Series here.

Batting first, the Asian side’s total of 167/2 was far too much for the Caribbean side.

Mandhana and Kaur scored at ease throughout their unbeaten 115-run stand, with Mandhana in particular finding the boundary with ease and even clearing the rope from

the bowling of Afy Fletcher in the penultimate over of the innings.

West Indies needed a fast start to have any chance of chasing down India’s large total and their hopes were quickly diminished as Deepti Sharma (2/29) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/16) helped reduce Hayley Matthews’ side to 25/3 in the seventh over.

Shemaine Campbelle (47) and Matthews (34*) tried hard to up the scoring rate, but India’s bowlers kept things tight to ensure they remained unbeaten at the

series following a first-up victory over South Africa. India’s first match at next month’s T20 World Cup comes against Pakistan in Cape Town on February 13, while the West Indies battle England in Paarl a day earlier.

Brief scores: India Women 167 for 2 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74 n.o., Harmanpreet Kaur 56 n.o.) beat West Indies Women 111 for 4 in 20 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 47, Hayley Matthews 34 n.o.; Deepti Sharma 2/24, Radha Yadav 1/10) by 56 runs.

2nd United Gorkha Cup begins at Singrijan

DIMAPUR, JAN 24 (NPN): The 2nd edition of the four-day United Gorkha Cup 2023 organised by United Gorkha Football Club got underway on January 24 at Singrijan village. The inaugural programme was graced by Commandant 43 Assam Rifles, Col Ullas Badoni as the chief guest. Altogether, 11 teams are participating

in the tournament.

The first match was played between Singrijan and Karagaon wherein Karagaon defeated Singrijan 2-1.

The programme was

OFFICE OF THE WOKHA TOWN YANTHAMO ELOE KHUMSHUM WOKHA – 797111, NAGALAND

CONDEMNATION NOTE

We the Wokha Town Yanthamo Eloe Khumshum (WTYEK) express anger and anguish over the inhuman act attempted at the residence of (Mr & Mrs. Zubemo Ngullie) at Blue Hill Colony, Wokha Town on 22nd Jan 2023 at around 8:30 PM by a group of unidentified miscreants.

The WTYEK strongly condemns the shameless act and demands befitting punishment to the culprits at the earliest.

Sd/- Sd/Avungi Odyuo Chumbeni Ngullie Chairperson, WTYEK Secretary, WTYEK WC-16/23

OFFICE OF THE YANTHAMO

VILLAGE COUNCIL

WOKHA – 797111, NAGALAND

CONDEMNATION NOTE

The Yanthamo Village Council strongly condemns the inhuman and barbarous act attempted at the residence of its Council Treasurer, Mr. Zubemo Ngullie, Blue Hill Colony, Wokha Town on 22nd Jan 2023, around 8:30 PM by a group of unidentified miscreants.

The Council strongly urges the law enforcing authority to thoroughly investigate the incident at the earliest and award befitting punishment to the culprits.

Chairman, YVC WC-15/23

KOHIMA YANTHAMO UNION KOHIMA, NAGALAND

CONDEMNATION NOTE

Kohima Yanthamo union expresses its dismay at the physical assault meted on Mr. Zubemo Ngullie , former Chairman Yanthamo Village Council, and his wife at his residence at Blue Hill Colony, Wokha Town on 22th January, 2023 at around 8:30 P.M by a group of miscreants without any valid reason. It is also reported that the miscreants not only assaulted them but also took away their Mobile phones and looted them of cash. The union also condemns the assault of Mr. Ntsemo Ngullie of Yanthamo Village, in the same incident.

This intentional, barbaric, and unacceptable action should be condemned by one and all. The KYU appeals the law enforcing agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly and take appropriate action as per the law of the land.

(Yitsabemo Odyuo)

Spanish goalkeeper Mario Gar’n thwarts an attempt by Australian Jake Harvie (4) near the goalmouth as Spain defenders try to clear in Bhubaneswar, Tuesday. (PTI)

Indian women cricketers in action during the T20I Tri-Series match against West Indies.

Mikaela Shiffrin

chaired by Roshni Thapa, invocation was offered by deacon GBC Singrijan, Dhan Raj Rai and welcome address by president of United Gorkha Football Club, Anand Gurung.

Col Ullas Badoni with players and others during the inaugural programme.

3rd ODI: India beat NZ by 90 runs; sweep series 3-0

INDORE, JAN 24 (PTI):

Rohit Sharma scored his first ODI hundred in three years while Shubman Gill continued his domination with another sublime ton as India completed a clean sweep with a 90-run win over New Zealand in the third match here on Tuesday.

Batters from both sides lit up the dead rubber as 680 runs were scored at the Holkar Stadium.

Rohit (101 off 85 balls) got to the three-figure mark for the first time since January 2020 while Gill (112 off 78) scored his fourth ODI hundred to take India to 385 for nine.

Following twin failures, the New Zealand top-order put up a much better show. Devon Conway (138) stitched crucial partnerships but Shardul Thakur (3/45) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/62) regularly struck to bowl out the Balck Caps for 295 in 41.2 overs.

It was India’s second consecutive clean sweep, having beaten Sri Lanka last week.

After Hardik Pandya (1/37) got rid of Finn Allen (0), Conway shared 106

runs with Henry Nicholls and 78 runs with Daryl Mitchell (24).

In the absence of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, the Indian bowlers struggled initially, leaking runs as Conway tonked the ball all around the park.

Shardul, however, managed to turn the game, as he took back-to-back wickets of Mitchell and Tom Latham (0) in the 26th over. In his next over, Thakur sent Glenn Phillips

(5) packing with a crossseamed delivery.

Umran Malik (1/52) then got Conway as the centurion pulled awkwardly with Rohit doing the rest at midwicket as the match seemed to slip out of New Zealand’s grasp.

The spin duo of Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/43) then cleaned up the tail.

Earlier, Rohit and Gill put up a belligerent 212run opening stand, sharing 22 fours and 11 sixes

between them.

Rahul Dravid joked on the eve of the match that bowlers don’t want to bowl as soon as they land in Indore because of the batter-friendly conditions.

The batting great had a point, and the New Zealanders rolling over their arms during the first 25 overs would have shared Dravid’s sentiment.

At one point every ball that Rohit and Gill’s bat touched was either flying to the boundary or

M’Hamid to host IBA World Boxing Tour Golden Belt Series

over it. Gill hit four fours and a six to plunder 22 runs off Lockie Ferguson in the eighth over, symbolising the kind of form the 23-year-old has been in lately.

The youngster didn’t have to even time the ball for it to run to the boundary. After three fours, he launched the short ball for an upper-cut six.

With the outfield quick and the wicket flat, the rather inexperienced New Zealand bowling unit had no answers to the Indian openers’ carnage.

The 26th over saw both Rohit and Gill getting their centuries. Rohit pulled away to deep square to get to his mark and, three balls later, Gill got to the triple-figure mark, his third in four innings.

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham used as many as six bowlers and it was his sixth option -- spinner Michael Bracewell -- who provided the tourists their first breakthrough.

Trying to slog one out of the park, Rohit missed the ball as it kept low and turned to eventually hit the stumps. His wicket

was met with a roar by the partisan crowd, welcoming Virat Kohli (36). A miscued shot in the next over spelt the end of Gill’s innings as New Zealand struck twice in quick succession.

Ishan Kishan (17) didn’t look too comfortable and took nine balls to open his account. A yes-no with Kohli, who had sprinted halfway, marked the end of the wicketkeeper batter’s stay in the middle.

New Zealand were able to bring down the boundaries and sixes and, looking to play a big shot, Kohli couldn’t beat Finn Allen at mid-off.

Firmly on course for a 400-plus score, India endured a familiar middleorder batting collapse, before Hardik Pandya (54 off 38 balls) provided the final flourish.

Brief scores: India 385/9 in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 112, Rohit Sharma 101; Blair Tickner 3-76, Jacob Duffy 3-100) beat New Zealand 295 all out in 41.2 overs (Devon Conway 138, Henry Nicholls 42; Shardul Thakur 3-45, Kuldeep Yadav 3-62) by 90 runs.

Indian women’s hockey team lose 1-3 to Netherlands

too, requested the PM to intervene and help resolve the matter.

NEW DELHI, JAN 24

(PTI): The wrestlers who accused WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation on Tuesday rued that the government did not consult them before forming the oversight committee that will probe charges against the sports administrator.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had announced on Monday that a five-member oversight committee, headed by legendary boxer M C Mary Kom, will investigate the charges against the WFI boss and also manage the day-to-day affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India.

Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sarita Mor and Sakshi Malik, who staged a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar for three days demanding the sacking of the WFI president, posted identical tweet on the micro-blogging site, expressing their dismay.

“We were assured that we will be consulted before the formation of the oversight committee. It’s really sad that we were not consulted,” the wrestlers tweeted and tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Thakur.

World Championship bronze medallist and Commonwealth Games champion Geeta Phogat,

Geeta tweeted, “I request the Honourable Prime Minister of the country, all the sisters and daughters of our country are looking towards you with great hopes and expectations. If we all sisters and daughters do not get justice, then it will be a great misfortune in the history of the country.”

Earlier in the day, Vinesh tweeted, “Truth can be troubled but cannot be defeated.” In another tweet, she wrote, “If the objective is big, keep your spirits high.”

The oversight committee has former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, ex-badminton player and Mission Olympic Cell member Trupti Murgunde, exTOPS CEO Rajagopalan and former SAI executive director - teams - Radhica Sreeman as other members. The wrestlers had accused Singh, who is also a BJP MP, of acting like a dictator and sexually harassing junior wrestlers.

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND, JAN 24 (IANS): Tickets will be available shortly for next month’s World Boxing Tour Golden Belt Series tournament in Marrakesh, giving boxing fans across Morocco, Africa and beyond the opportunity to secure their seat at ringside.

Spectators will have an chance to see future stars of the noble art up close, with the highly anticipated International Boxing Association event set to attract a strong field of boxers from across the globe from February 2-10, the International Boxing Association said in a statement.

At least 19 boxers are set to step into the ring across the men’s and women’s competitions, including big names like Mohamed Hamout and Khadija Mardi.

The event will take place at the 2,500-seat M’Hamid venue on Avenue Annakhil in Marrakesh, which will showcase some the world’s best boxers, including five-time world champion Julio La Cruz from Cuba and two-time world champion Lin Yu-Ting from Chinese Taipei.

Azarenka and Tsitsipas surge into Aus Open semis

MELBOURNE, JAN 24

(AGENCIES): Victoria Azarenka showed glimpses of the form that took her to the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open titles with a vintage display to reach the semifinals on Tuesday, before Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his march towards a maiden Grand Slam title.

Twice Grand Slam winner Azarenka meets Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the last four, but it was the end of the road for Sebastian Korda, whose dreams of emulating his famous father ended in pain and disappointment earlier in the day.

Having been beaten in the opening round by Jessica Pegula two years ago, Azarenka gained revenge by dismantling the in-form American third seed 6-4 6-1 to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time in a decade.

The 33-year-old from Belarus was aggression personified in the match but conceded that it was “nerveracking” to play in front of Rod Laver, the Australian great after whom the main showcourt is named.

Former French Open

runner-up Tsitsipas also showed some of his best form, sealing a 6-3 7-6(2) 6-4 win over Jiri Lehecka, and said he was happy to have all the answers to the questions the unheralded Czech posed.

Korda tried in vain to find an answer and continue playing against Karen Khachanov but threw in the towel in their quarter-final match while trailing 7-6(5) 6-3 3-0 due to a wrist issue.

The retirement followed two medical timeouts and dashed the American’s hopes of emulating his father Petr’s 1998 Melbourne Park triumph.

Khachanov, who had also reached the last four of the 2022 U.S. Open, said it felt great to be back in a Grand Slam semi-final after

reinventing himself.

Rybakina also booked her place in the semi-finals for the first time, the Kazakh 22nd seed beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 in a match that was played under the roof after a rain shower halted play.

Having started her campaign on one of the outer courts at this year’s championship, Rybakina was every bit the star on Rod Laver Arena with a dominant display in which she sent down 11 aces to quell 2017 Roland Garros champion Ostapenko.

Sania Mirza-Rohan Bopanna pair reaches mixed doubles semis

Ace Indians Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna on

Tuesday marched through to the mixed doubles semifinals of the Australian Open after receiving a walkover in the quarterfinals from the Latvian-Spanish pair Jelena Ostapenko & David Vega Hernandez.

The Rio Olympic semifinalists on Monday defeated Japan’s Makoto Ninomiya and Uruguay’s Ariel Behar 6-4, 7-6(11-9) in their second-round match to set up a quarterfinal clash with Ostapenko and Hernandez. The Indian duo had earlier beaten Australia’s Jaimee Fourlis and Luke Saville in the first round.

Sania is playing her last major as the six-time Grand Slam champion and earlier this month announced that she will retire from professional tennis at Dubai Tennis Championships, a WTA 1000 event, which begins on February 19. Sania has six major titles in doubles discipline-- three in women’s doubles and as many as in mixed doubles -- with her maiden triumph coming in 2009 when she partnered Mahesh Bhupathi to clinch the Australian Open mixed doubles title.

CAPE TOWN, JAN 24 (IANS): After a strong outing against home team South Africa in a fourmatch series which the Indian women’s hockey team won 3-0, the Savita-led side lost 1-3 to World No.1 Netherlands in a hardfought match here.

The Indian team are scheduled to play three matches against the Netherlands as part of their Tour of South Africa.

Riding on good form, the Indian side got off to a strong, attacking start with young sensation Beauty Dungdung scoring a brilliant field goal in the 24th minute of the match.

While the 1-0 lead gave India a head start, the lead didn’t last long enough with Netherlands scoring an equaliser in the 29th minute. It was a PC converted by Felice Albers. While both teams played on par with each other in the third quarter, no goals were scored but Netherlands went into top gear in the final quarter scoring two important goals to end the match with 3-1 on board. It was Yibby Janssen and Freeke Moes who scored in Netherlands’ victory.

On January 26, India will play Netherlands again in the second match.

Everton sack Lampard after dreadful run of results

LONDON, JAN 24 (IANS): Premier League strugglers Everton has sacked Frank Lampard as first-team coach after just under a year in charge at the club.

The former Derby and Chelsea boss was shown the door after a poor run of form left Everton second from the bottom of the table, with just 15 points from 20 matches, reports

the team avoid relegation last season. However, Everton have again struggled this time around.

They have taken just two points from their last eight matches and were also knocked out of the third round of the FA Cup by Manchester United a fortnight ago.

Club owner Farhad Moshiri was on hand to watch as Everton lost 2-0

away to fellow strugglers West Ham United on Saturday - the first match he has attended since October 2021. Former Athletic Club Bilbao, Valencia and Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral is thought to be among the frontrunners to replace Lampard, along with former Burnley boss Sean Dyche and former Everton forward Duncan Ferguson.

Indian cricketers with trophy pose after winning the series against New Zealand during the 3rd and final ODI cricket match, in Indore, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. (PTI)

Xinhua news agency. He replaced Rafael Benitez on January 31st, 2022 and was able to help

Frank Lampard

We weren’t consulted before formation of oversight panel: Protesting wrestlers

Bajrang Punia (L) demanding the sacking of the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Victoria Azarenka

Stefanos Tsitsipas