May 13 2021

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 156

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Israel-Gaza violence: Netanyahu vows to intensify attacks

Follow us on

@Nagaland_Post

International, Page 7

Covid situation in Dimapur, Kohima ‘alarming’ PZC to recall docs, nurses and techs for Dimapur district Correspondent

K O H I M A , M AY 1 2 (NPN): Though the number of Covid patients in other districts was not very high and medical teams were handling the situation without much difficulty, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) principal director (PD), Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao admitted that the situation in Dimapur and Kohima was quite alarming.

And considering the overall scenario, he said the department had proposed total lockdown, following which High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 decided during its meeting held on Monday to impose total lockdown throughout the State from May 14 for a period of seven days.

He revealed that Peace Zone Committee (PZC) decided to recall one doctor and lab technician each, besides two nurses, from each district to fill up the gaps in manpower to man-

Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao (NP)

age the crisis in Kohima and Dimapur.

He explained that the district chief medical officers (CMO) were empowered to recall doctors, nurses, fourth grade staff or lab technicians from any health units to assist them in their work in consultation with district task forces (DTFs).

Meanwhile, to be better prepared for tackling Covid19 pandemic in the State, PZC submitted a representation to the State government seeking declaration of CIHSR as Covid hospital and laying down provisions for rapid extensions in case the hospital ran out of beds since CHISR was centrally located and had sufficient space for extension.

Interacting with a section of media persons here on Wednesday, Dr. Khimiao said CIHSR had 200 beds and 20 were earmarked for

Covid patients with necessary equipment for critically ill patients. He said he was positive that more beds would be arranged.

He said that though District Hospital Dimapur has been declared as Covid hospital, due to rapid rise in cases, if the government could convert CIHSR also to Covid hospital, then it would further ease the burden.

He mentioned that the H&FW directorate decided to assist private hospitals, including CIHSR, with more oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators to meet the demand in Kohima and Dimapur as a goodwill gesture because the best solution available for management of Covid patients was oxygen at the moment.

Acknowledging that private hospitals raised concern over the 50% reservation of beds for Covid patients made mandatory by the government, the PD said the hospitals have, however, agreed to assist and give their best efforts by reserving some beds for Covid patients. He remarked that this offer could be of great help to the State in combat the pandemic.

DC Dimapur issues lockdown guidelines D M A P U R , M AY 1 2 (NPN): In view of the statewide total lockdown from May 14 to 21, deputy commissioner Dimapur, in pursuance to the order issued by the Home department, has issued guidelines to be strictly followed by all.

In addition to the revised consolidated guidelines published on May 12, the DC in the order stated that wholesale shops dealing only with essential commodities at Marwaripatti, Murgipatti etc, and vegetable, fish/meat vendors, milk booths, bakeries, local grocery stores, animal feed shops in all locations shall be open from 6 a.m. to 12 noon. All village/ward/

colony authorities have been asked to monitor and facilitate the same.

All essential commodity shops located in New Market will open on alternate days following Odd-Even system, the order stated. Further, DC stated supermarket/ footpath vendors shall be closed. However, they will be allowed to sell their products in their respective colonies/ villages.

All public transport service-- bus, taxis, autorickshaws, two wheeler taxis, have been suspended, except for transportation of patient/attendant on medical emergency. Every traveller/ returnee shall be required to produce negative Covid

19 test report (RT-PCR, TruNat, CBNAAT, not earlier than 72 hours) or Covid vaccination completion certificate (both doses should have been taken) at the point of entry (PoE). Movement of interstate passenger shall be allowed as per provisions of the revised SOP for returnees and travellers entering Nagaland.

Strict checking shall be done at the PoE and all non-essential movements shall not be permitted to Dimapur. Besides those under exempted category (published on May 12), no activities and movement of persons/individuals shall be allowed during the lockdown period.

Man City win 5th Premier League title in 10 yrs

nagalandpostofficial

Watch us on YouTube

sports, Page 8

State records highest ever one-day spike of 338 Covid cases; 9 deaths

On reports about resignations of some doctors and nurses, Khimiao remarked that he had so far not received any resignation from government in-service doctors, but admitted that when the government directed private nursing homes to reserve 50% beds for Covid patients, the concern was raised.

On Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remark that if Covid could not be controlled in the State, then it could not be controlled in the entire Northeast, Khimiao assured that measures had been initiated for stringent checking at all entry points by road, airway and railways, adding test was the only solution.

Govt urged to ask Manipur to release Naga doctors: Meanwhile, Dr. Khimiao said he urged the State government to write a letter to Manipur government to release four Naga doctors who had recently completed their studies.

He alleged that the Manipur government was reluctant to let the four Naga doctors, who had recently passed out from Regional Institute of Medical

Sciences, Imphal, return home.

He claimed that the four doctors had passed and received their certification, but the neighbouring State was not willing to release them. Hence, after hearing from the four doctors, he said he had approached the State government to immediately send one letter urging Manipur government to release them.

Genome sequencing: As Nagaland did not have the facility for genome sequencing, the PD said the samples that were sent were improper and hence this could not be done. He admitted that more training and expertise would be required to do the genome sequencing.

He remarked that though genome sequencing might not be applicable immediately, this would be applicable in the long run with better management of cases.

On plans for arranging makeshift hospitals, Khimiao said talks were being held by the H&FW department with the police and paramilitary forces for setting up makeshift hospitals.

Centre issues weather alert

Free distribution of ‘AYUSH 64’ tablets to Covid patients

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (AGENCIES): Several parts of India may witness rain and thunderstorm in next 3-4 days, Ministry of earth sciences has predicted and temperature could drop in Delhi by few notches.

Among other states, the ministry said: “Heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Coastal & South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep on May 13.”

D I M A P U R , M AY 1 2 (NPN): The Covid-19 surge continued in Nagaland as the state on Wednesday recorded yet another highest single-day spike of 338 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload to 16890 while nine more patients succumbed to the virus.

The fresh cases reported from across the state included 184 from Dimapur, 87 from Kohima, 18 from Tuensang, 15 from Mon, nine in Mokokchung, six each from Longleng, Kiphire and Phek, three from Zunheboto and two each from Wokha and Peren.

Of the nine fatalities recorded on Wednesday, six were from Dimapur, two from Kohima and one in Phek. With this the death toll rose to 165, out of which 154 were Covid deaths and 11 non Covid deaths (with Covid positivity), Health department data stated.

Meanwhile, active cases in the state also breached the 3000 mark at 3297 while 98 more patients have recovered from the dreaded disease pushing the recovery tally to 12877.

Further, the distribution (Cont’d on p-5)

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Following instruction from the Union ministry of AYUSH, Regional Ayurveda Research Centre (RARC), Dimapur has started free distribution of AYUSH 64 tablets to asymptomatic, mild and moderate Covid-19 patients under home isolation as a conventional or add-on therapy from Wednesday and will continue doing so for the next 20 days.

Dr Vilas Gangurde, research officer in-charge of the centre, has urged general public to avail the facility through a caretaker of Covid19 positive patients by submitting a positive RT-PCR/Rapid Antigen

COVID-19 STATUS AS ON May 12, 2021 District

Asymptom- Mild atic

Dimapur 1907 134 Kiphire 15 4 Kohima 803 16 Longleng 17 5 Mokokchung 52 10 Mon 79 10 Peren 15 1 Phek 17 0 Tuensang 38 4 Wokha 3 0 Zunheboto 18 0 Total 2964 184

This is it!

“With lockdown tomorrow, one would expect them to rush to buy food not garments.”

K Y M C

of the sub-division had been appealing to the H&FW department through various organisations to deploy adequate manpower, other resources and facilities at the CHC that should normally be available.

However, they regretted that their appeals were never heard and taken into consideration till date by the department, thereby wilfully putting lives of people at great risk, especially amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

The organisations mentioned that the lone medical officer, Vikashe Swu, was transferred out from Shamator CHC on April 26, 2021 without any reliever be(Cont’d on p-5) ing provided,

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO) has appealed to all residents of Dimapur and people across Nagaland to strictly adhere to laid down Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in order to overcome the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and “live another day”.DAYO through its media cell, maintained that the virus would not “come to us unless we go out and invite”.

DAYO appreciated all the frontline workers fighting against the pandemic, including medical

across various categories of people include 4996 cases from the armed forces/security personnel, 2916 returnees, 5629 traced contacts, 615 frontline workers and 2734 self test/ random test.

Taking note of the surge in the number of Covid-19 positive cases, particularly in Dimapur and Kohima, the High Powered Committee on Covid-19 on Tuesday decided to call for a seven-day total lockdown and imposed strict measures to break the chain and prevent the spread of Covid-19.

test/HRCT report and Aadhar card copy of the patient at the distribution counter of RARC on first floor of CMO building, District Hospital Colony here.

Part of the nationwide free distribution campaign, the programme is being implemented in collaboration with Sewa Bharati, Nagaland with the latter’s field staff and monitored by the centre. The timings for distribution of tablets are from 10 am to 4 pm every day.

For details or any query, the public has been asked to contact nodal officers at mobile numbers 8302203962 and 8011583853.

fraternity, electricity department, ambulance services, church and civil organisations, police and civil administration, along with all village and ward authorities.

It also appealed to all those exhibiting symptoms, their friends and relatives to report to medical authorities and receive proper treatment. According to DAYO social stigmatisation has been the biggest hindrance against winning the battle.

DAYO also drew attention on “abnormal price escalation” in the wholesale markets since

Conservationist Nuklu Phom wins Whitley Award 2021 D I M A P U R , M AY 1 2 (NPN): Nagaland’s renowned conservationist, Y. Nuklu Phom was among six the winners for the prestigious “Whitley Awards 2021” .

The virtual award ceremony was scheduled to be held on May 12 at around 11.30 p.m., to be hosted live

by Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) ambassadors Kate Humble and Tom Heap. The ceremony would honour six grassroots conservationists with Whitley Awards – providing winners with fund-

Y. Nuklu Phom (NP File)

ing, training and profile.

After a comprehensive assessment, 15 names were initially shortlisted, out of 107 candidates, that were identified for doing incredible work with communi-

ties to safeguard wildlife, habitats and the future of society. Out of the 15 candidates, the Whitley Fund for Nature narrowed down to six finalists, including Y. Nuklu Phom.

Talking to Nagaland Post, Nuklu thanked all for their continuous prayer and support. “It is because of everyone’s prayer support I was selected among the finalists of the Whitley Fund for Nature Award 2021,” Nuklu, founding member of Yaongyimchen Community Biodiversity Conservation

Area (YCBCA), Lemsachenlok organization, said.

It may be recalled that in recognition for their work at YCBCA, Lemsachenlok organization bagged the coveted India Biodiversity Award 2018 for conservation of wild species, initiated by government of India and UN Development Programme.

Three villages under Longleng district- Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu, formed the YCBCA in 2007, maintained by a committee under the aegis of Lemsachenlok organisation.

RecovDeath ered

ICU (On ventilator 9 6764 110 0 40 1 1 4228 28 0 17 0 0 199 6 0 599 2 0 509 0 0 62 2 0 279 2 0 39 1 0 141 2 10 12877 154

Non Covid Deaths MiTotal with gratCases Covid 19 ed Positivity 10 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11

421 9474 0 60 88 5181 9 48 15 284 10 701 1 526 0 81 2 326 2 45 3 164 551 16890

*11 deaths not due to Covid-19 *0 deaths under investigation

CSOs serve 14-day deadline on H&FW deptt DAYO appeals to public to join fight against Covid DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Civil society organisations of Shamator have set a 14-day deadline for the health & family welfare (H&FW) department to deploy adequate manpower and provide necessary infrastructure at Shamator community health centre (CHC).

In a joint representation to principal director of H&FW, Yanhokiu, Dopong Yimchunger, Toshila and Thsantong, presidents of Shamator Town Public Forum, Shamator Town Students’ Union, Yimchungberü Arihako Shamator Area and Chamber of Commerce respectively, pointed out that ever since the upgrade of Shamator primary health centre (PHC) to CHC in 2014, people

ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic Severe Moderate ICU On On (without Oxy- Oxy- ventilagen gen tor) 55 64 0 0 0 0 7 5 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 64 70 5

over a week in Dimapur. It said this directly affected the common people who were buying goods from retail shops. It said such price escalation could worsen after announcement of lockdown in the state. Hence, it urged the district administration to strictly monitor availability of goods and fixation of prices.

DAYO also noted that there was acute shortage of oxygen cylinders and that although the factory could supply the item, the cylinder price along with oxygen (Cont’d on p-5) had spiked.

KU reaffirms stand not to pay tax till NPGs unite DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Reiterating its earlier statement published on April 16, Konyak Union (KU) has reaffirmed to abstain from paying any tax to any Naga political groups (NPGs) until they stand united for a unified Naga solution.

KU president, S. Howing and general secretary Wango Konyak said “considering all disturbances, demand, extortion, the Konyaks felt the need to abstain from giving taxation to any of the factions” under its jurisdiction as declared through a referendum unless the NPGs unite for lasting solution. Henceforth, KU said it will not entertain any written application from any NPGs towards KU, VCs, KU branches, area leaders etc. on this matter.

India records 4,205 fatalities: India saw a record 4,205 Covid-19 fatalities in a day taking the death toll to 2,54,197, while 3,48,421 new infections were reported, according to Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The total caseload in India stands at 2,33,40,938.

The active cases have reduced to 37,04,099 comprising 15.87% of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 83.04%, data updated at 8 am showed.

Summer break for schools extended DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): The directorate of School Education has extended the summer vacation in all government and private schools across the State up to May 21. Informing this through a notification, principal director School Education Shanavas C Wednesday said that all hostels accommodating school students too shall remain closed during the period of summer vacation.

Power outage in three areas

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Power department has informed that a total shutdown of power supply has been scheduled from May 13 to May 14 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the whole of Wokha district (Upper range), Tseminyu area and Pughoboto area. In a press note, Executive Engineer transmission division said that the shutdown has been necessitated for dismantling and de-stringing works of 132kV tower on Kohima-Wokha-Doyang transmission line near Longsa village, affected due to stone quarrying. In this regard, public in the affected areas have been requested cooperate and bear the inconvenience.

H&FW reminds vax beneficiaries

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Health & Family Welfare department has reminded all beneficiaries due for their second dose of Covid vaccination, to avail it at the earliest.

In a press note, State Immunization officer, Dr. Ritu Thurr said that the due time of 6 weeks (42 days)- 8 weeks (56 days) will fall between by this month. Further, the department has also reminded other beneficiaries to avail their due 2nd dose as and when the time come. It further informed eligible citizens that vaccination process will continue even during the lockdown period. Beneficiaries have been asked to carry their registered mobile phone and ID document used while getting their first dose, for verification.

MCD extends Idd-Ul-Fitr greetings

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Muslim Council Dimapur (MCD) has extended Idd-Ul-Fitr greetings, to all citizens of Nagaland, to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of prayer and fasting, also known as Ramdan. MCD working president, A. Rahman has appealed to the Muslims to pray to almighty “Allah” to save all human beings from the current Covid19 pandemic. While expressing gratitude to Masjid committee of Kohima and Dimapur to keep the Masjids closed, MSC also urged all Muslims to offer Idd Namaz at home with their respective families and also pray for the wellbeing of the citizens of the state.

Petrol, diesel prices hiked again

DIMAPUR, MAY 12 (NPN): Petrol and diesel prices were hiked for the third straight day this week, by at least 25 paise a litre respectively. In Dimapur, petrol will now cost Rs.90.88 a litre and diesel Rs. 84.70 per litre.

In the state capital, petrol and diesel cost Rs.91.58 and Rs. 85.35 a litre respectively.

K Y M C

2

state

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Is extreme covid fatigue among general public a dangerous trend?

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

A

B

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

C

97% 0% 3%

Next poll

Q: A r e

traders and shopkeepers taking advantage of panic buying ?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST May 13

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala A strong morning thunderstorm 32 23 Aizawl

A strong t-storm in spots

26 18

Guwahati A strong morning thunderstorm 29 21 Imphal

A strong morning thunderstorm 27 17

Itanagar Some rain and a thunderstorm 23 19 Shillong

A stray morning thunderstorm 20 14

Kohima

A strong morning thunderstorm 21 14

Dimapur Some rain with a thunderstorm 28 20

A thunderstorm in spots

22 15

Tuensang A thunderstorm in spots

15 11

Mkg Wokha

District administrations issue COVID-19 advisories

A strong morning thunderstorm 21 17

Zunheboto A thunderstorm in spots

19 13

AR conducts medical camp

DIMAPUR: Kiphire battalion of spear corps organised a medical check up camp & COVID-19 awareness drive for residents of Mimi village, Kiphire.

The team provided medical assistance and prescribed medicines to 124 persons from all age groups in the area.

The camp also focused on creating awareness on COVID-19 precautions to be taken.

Random testing being conducted at Wokha.

DIMAPUR: District administrations across the state have been issuing advisories to the public while medical department has been carrying out random sample testing in their respective districts to stop further community spread.

Wo k h a : D T F f o r COVID-19 Wokha conducted random sample testing at certain strategic points/ areas such as taxi counter, daily bazaar and police point area on May 12.

According to DIPR report, altogether 121 random testing was done in the town areas, where six persons were tested positive, all the positive cases were found to be asymptomatic and were instructed to undergo home quarantine following the SOPs. The medical team would provide all necessary instruction until the quarantine period is over.

The medical team also informed that contact and primary tracing would be activated and requested citizens to follow the guideline and SOPs. The random testing was conducted in the presence of all the DTF members and the testing would be conducted in the coming days to avoid further spread of the disease.

Kiphire: Kiphire DTF has ordered for the closure of all shops within Kiphire town after nine shopkeepers were tested positive the previous week as well as to conduct sample testing and contact tracing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

According to DIPR report, the random sample testing for shopkeepers was conducted on May 12 and nine more positive cases were detected out of 68 samples. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases, random and contact tracing has been deployed in the district.

Mon: DC Mon, Thavaseelan K issued an order requesting all persons who attended Sunday service and deacon board meeting at KBCM on 2nd and 9th May 2021 to self report at 9862078993.

Meanwhile, in order to take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, DC Mon Thavaseelan K ordered the sealing of Konyak Baptist Church office building, Mon Town for 48 hours.

In another order, DC Mon also ordered the sealing of the following houses in Mon town: house no.92, Techahan ward; house no.72 ground floor, Shantham ward; house no. 121, Shantham ward; house no.

Rio, Pangnyu mourn demise of W Chingi DIMAPUR: State chief minister Neiphiu Rio and minister of health and family welfare (H&FW), Pangnyu Phom have expressed grief over the demise of SDO (PWD) Longleng, Er. W. Chingi Phom, who passed away, Wednesday morning.

In his tweet, Rio described late W. Chingi Phom as a hardworking and meticulous person with a cheerful demeanour, who always had the society’s welfare in mind.

Rio conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

Meanwhile, Pangnyu

Random collection of samples drive at Pughoboto.

297, Wagiem ward near old telecom office; house no.

29 (ground floor), Shamnyu ward near KSU office and house no. 118, Chingai ward. The DC has informed that the houses would remain sealed till further orders.

Any person violating the containment measures

would be liable to be proceeded against as per the provision of Sections 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act 2005 besides legal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and other legal provisions as applicable.

Dimapur: DC & DDMA chairman Dima-

pur, Rajesh Soundararajan has ordered the sealing of federal bank ltd, Dimapur branch, NL Road and national bank for agriculture and rural development (NABARD) 4th f loor, NSCB building, Khermahal, circular road Dimapur for 48 hours from the date of issuing this order

During which time, necessary sanitisation of the premises would be done by the management.

Any person violating these containment measures would be penalised as per the provision of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster management Act 2005 besides legal action under IPC Section 188.

Tuensang: DC & Chairman, DTF for COVID-19, Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant has ordered the sealing of: H/ No 254, old medical A; H/No. 260, Bazar A, near fish market; fish market, stall no. 11; shop no. 5; h/ no 338, Bazar A, below gas agency and blue hill bus and counter.

The DC has informed that no entry/exit from the house would be allowed until the expiry of the scaled period/ till further notice from the competent authority.

All occupants of the sealed houses have been asked to abide by heath safety measures issued by the government from time to time in relation to COVID-19 pandemic.

F u r t h e r, D C h a s informed that essential goods/needs for the occupants would be arranged by the ward/ sector/ colony concerned.

Any violation to the above shall invite legal actions as per relevant provisions of the law.

In Gratitude

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Late Haokhojang Kuki (H. Kholhou) Born : 21.05.1944 – Died : 03.05.2021 We, the family of Late Haokhojang Kuki, would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who shared in our bereavement on his brief illness and sudden death. We thank each and every person who supported us physically, emotionally and spiritually during our darkest hour. We are truly indebted to you and even though we cannot thank each one of you personally, it is our prayers that God’s richest blessings rest upon each one of you.

DP-2386

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

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

Late Mrs. Khakhuli Swu

Dec 1926 to 24th April 2021 (Shoipu Village) To all the well wishers, individuals, families and churches, who supported us, comforted us, stood by us, helped us and prayed for us.

Your act of love and kindness displayed in the truest spirit of Christianity is deeply appreciated. We are humbled and indebted to all.

We pray that our Heavenly Father richly bless you and keep you.

Daughters, Sons-in-law, grand children and great grand children

‘’A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth’’ Ecclesiastes 7:1 DP-2393

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Loving Wife, Children, In laws and Grandchildren.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

described him as a young and hard working officer who was kind, sociable and down to earth. Pangnyu said that his loss would be felt in many spheres by the people of Phom and Nagas in general.

While describing the late officer as an influential and an inspiration to both young and old, the minister said that his legacy would remain and he would be deeply missed.

F u r t h e r, Pa n g n y u and his family conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to the Almighty to grant them comfort as his soul rests in peace.

Late P Sanü Chakhesang (01-03-1969 to 05-05-2021) We, the bereaved family members of Late P Sanü Chakhesang, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood with us through physical presence and constant prayers and financial support during the prolonged illness and sad demise of our beloved dad.

We convey our special thanks to, 1. Sr SP kohima and all ranks file 2. C. Coy DEF KOHIMA 3. Dr Kezhawetuo Miachie-o 4. POLICE UNION BAPTIST CHURCH KOHIMA We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every individual personally but we sincerely pray that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Loving family members and relatives K-954

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.

(2 Timothy 4:7)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

LATE NEILHOUBEINUO (JANET) METHA 19-12-1967 to 28-04-2021

DP-2387

We, the family members of Late Kashiho Sema would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and everyone who stood with us through prayers, physically and financially during the illness of demise our beloved on 18.04.2021 our words are inadequate to express our deepest gratitude.

We pray that God our heavenly Father bless you abundantly.

We greatly acknowledge the immeasurable support of the following (i) Doctors and Nurses of Oking Hospital, Kohima and Nikos Hospital, Dimapur. (ii) 4th NAP Battalion Thizama. (iii) 4th NAP Baptist Church. (iv) Sumi Community, Thizama. (v) School Colony, Thizama. (vi) Vekeho Village.

With lots of love, Family Members, Relatives, Wife, Son & Daughters.

K Y M C

The bereaved family of Late Neilhoubeinuo (Janet) Metha, who breathed her last on 28th April 2021, would like to express our deepest & sincere gratitude to all the wellwishers, churches, groups, blood donors, doctors, nurses & staff of Oking Hospital, Kohima who had extended immeasurable help morally, physically, financially and unceasing prayer support throughout her prolonged illness till the time of her demise and her mortal remains laid to rest.

Words are inadequate and we deeply regret our inability to thank each and everyone individually but your kind expressions of sympathy, thoughtfulness & deeds will always be cherished & remembered.

May our Almighty Father bless you all beyond measure!

K-956

Loving Husband, Sons & Family

Late Libeno Ezung (Born : 01/06/1956, Died: 04/05/2021) Words are inadequate enough to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to all our friends, neighbors, well wishers and all those who stood by us physically, emotionally and through your prayers at the sudden demise of our beloved mother. Though, we express our inability to thank you all individually, it is our sincere and humble prayer to Lord Almighty to bless each one of you.

We convey our special thanks to:1. Seithekema ‘C’ Village Council 2. Lotha Baptist Church, Seithekema (C) 3. Lotha Eloe Ekhung, Seithekema (C) 4. Wokha Town Baptist Church 5. WTBC Youth Ministry 6. GHS Youth, Wokha 7. N. Longidang Wokha Town Union 8. N. Longidang Kohima Ekhung 9. N. Longidang Dimapur Ekhung 10. Forest Colony Youth, Wokha Town 11. N. Longidang Wokha Eloe Ekhung 12. N. Longidang Kikonpvui Ekhung 13. N. Longidang Hayilo Ezung 14. Othyu oren N. Longidang Loving husband, childrens, grand children and relatives.

WC-102

"Surely your goodness & love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 23:6

K Y M C

3

Northeast/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

Adequate oxygen, need more Ritul Saikia’s family urge Assam CM ‘Attempt to murder’ case manpower, says NEIGRIHMS chief to secure his release from ULFA (I) against SOP violators: Assam DG Correspondent

GUWAHATI, MAY 12 (IANS): The Assam police will register ‘attempt to murder’ case if any one violates the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) enforced to curb the Covid19 pandemic, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said on Wednesday. He requested the people to strictly follow all the provisions of the new SOPs and said if anyone is found violating the protocols, stern action including ‘attempt to murder’ case would be registered against them.

While addressing the media, Mahanta said: “Violating the government’s orders and SOPs, if anyone or any organisation organises any function or any event, it would be treated as betrayal against the society. In that case we would not apply the simple IPC (Indian Penal Code) or provision of the Disaster Management Act, strictest law would also be applied against them.” ‘Attempt to murder’ case like charges would be faced by those organising any function, party, get together or any kind of gathering,” the DGP added.

“No crowding would be tolerated in public places, shopping complexes, markets. Police would resort to lathicharge in such cases even during the curfew relaxation period.”

Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta (File)

The top police official said there are reports that some traders while downing shutters on the front side of the shops are doing business inside using the back door. These businessmen will be in deep trouble and will be booked under the relevant act.

Mahanta said that containment zones would see zero tolerance. “Anyone trying to use Covid-19 excuses to come out and found violating the SOPs would be put into jail.”

With 5,500 to 6,200 new Covid cases reported everyday during the past few days in Assam, the state government on Wednesday issued new SOPs with effect from Thursday. According to the SOPs, the curfew timings across Assam have been advanced to 2 p.m. from the earlier 6 p.m. The fresh SOPs, issued by Chief Sec-

retary Jishnu Barua, said that all shops and commercial establishments would be shutdown at 1 p.m. on all days instead of 2 p.m., weekly markets would not be allowed for 15 days, all educational institutions including schools, colleges and Universities must provide quality virtual options, no physical classes would be allowed for 15 days and all government and non-government offices would be closed for 15 days with effect from Thursday.

Health officials said that till late Tuesday night, the number of Covid active cases rose to 39,264 and the positivity rate climbed to 9.13 per cent while 85 people died due to Covid19. Assam has so far registered 3,04,429 Covid-19 positive cases while 1,838 people succumbed to the dreaded disease.

SHILLONG, MAY 12: There is adequate supply of oxygen in the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, Meghalaya, its director, Prithwis Bhatacharyya said today, even as he flagged off the need for having more trained manpower.

Despite the shortage of manpower, the superspecialty hospital has been putting all efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, he said after Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek visited the hospital and interacted with doctors and the health care workers to get the first hand information on the problems faced by them.

There are 57 COVID-19 patients who are admitted in the hospital out of which nearly 17 patients are on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit, NEIGRIHMS officials said.

“We have come here so that the authorities here get all kinds of support and cooperation from the state government,” Hek told reporters and informed that the Meghalaya government is in discussion with the central government to get more manpower for the institute.

“We are waiting for the order from the central government to recruit more manpower for the institute,” he said.

Stating that NEIGRIHMS was facing shortage

of manpower, Dr. Bhattacharya, said that the institute is taking staff from the administrative section, final year students and interns to ensure that attendants of COVID patients are not sent to other patients.

“The institute has been preparing from last year and has trained a number of doctors and nurses from other parts of the Hospital even pre-clinical, para-clinical and even laboratory services were trained in managing COVID ICU patients and now the institute is catering to both COVID and nonCOVID patients,” the Director NEIGRIHMS said.

“We have the equipment and we have over 70 to 77 ventilators and some more would be arriving in the hospital,” he said, adding that to take care of COVID-19 patients in ICU, expertise is needed and the current manpower is trained to handle regular ICU cases only.

“Even doctors from dermatology and ophthalmology departments have been trained (to run the ICU) since last year in view of the pandemic,” he said.

The Director informed that they have a total of 155 beds to cater to COVID19 patients including 100 oxygen beds, 30 COVID beds and 25 ICU beds Meanwhile, the Director informed that the cardiac surgery ICU is a containment zone after one of the patients tested positive after the surgery.

DIBRUGARH, MAY 12 (AGENCIES): The family members of Ritul Saikia, on Wednesday, urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take steps to secure the release of the ONGC employee who remains traceless for 22 days, a TNT report stated.

“We appeal newly elected Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma to take necessary steps for the release of Ritul Saikia. We don’t know where is he. If he is under ULFA (I) captivity then the government should take steps to release him,” said a family member.

On April 21, 2021, three ONGC employees were abducted by ULFA (I) cadres from the Romanian workover rig of ONGC, Lakwa under the Sivasagar

district of upper Assam.

Security forces have rescued two of the ONGC employee from the Mon district of Nagaland but could not trace the whereabouts of Ritul Saikia. Two of the three ONGC employees who were adducted with Saikia, namely Mohini Mohan Gogoi and Alakesh Saikia have been rescued.

On Wednesday, Titabor MLA Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah and Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi visited Saikia’s residence at Titabor to meet his family members.

“We will soon talk to the chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the release of Ritul Saikia from ULFA (I) captivity,” said both the MLAs. They have also urged ULFA (I) commander-inchief Paresh Baruah to

release Saikia if he is under their custody. The third kidnapped ONGC employee Ritul Saikia is in the custody of ULFA (I) revealed a surrendered cadre of outfit.

The surrendered ULFA (I) cadre whose name has not been disclosed by the security forces made this claim after laying arms.

Meanwhile, security forces have launched a massive counter-insurgency operation along the AssamNagaland border. On the other hand, Assam’s newly appointed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to the ULFA (I) to shun violence and join the peace process. Notably, the ULFA (I) have claimed that they had left all the three abducted ONGC employees at a village in Nagaland’s Mon district.

ATMs in Imphal run out of cash as banks stop services amid restrictions IMPHAL, MAY 12 (AGENCIES): The restrictions imposed by the Government of Manipur has halted banking services in Imphal and other parts of the state.

As a result, ATMs booths in the city ran out of cash on Wednesday, and people were seen doing whirlwind around the different ATMs to find cash, TNT report stated.

Many of them were seen queuing up at the ATMs amid the prevailing COVID situation, giving the reason that they needed cash to get essential commodities.

Reportedly, as ATMs have run out of cash and with banks closed, people

are shelling out few extra bucks as a percentage, to get cash from small outlets shops.

People are willing to pay an extra amount to get cash from small shops rather than standing in the queue given the rush.

They stated that they don’t mind paying 10-20 extra to get the cash, which they need in hand at such times when shops open according to timings. The Government of Manipur had earlier imposed a curfew in seven districts including Imphal till May 17, after the state reported a massive surge of COVID-19 cases.

State

More condemn May 6 incident at Chumou DIMAPUR: Various organisations have condemned the assault incident that took place on May 6 in Chümoukedima area.

KAAM: Kiphire Alongshung Atparü Mülung (KAAM) through its president Y. Chorila and general secretary Likhumla Sangtam stated that living under such fear and feeling unsafe in their own state was very disheartening.

KAAM stated that the Chümoukedima Village Youth Society (CVYS) had gone against the law and acted above the law while “beating up innocent civilians heartlessly’.

In this regard KAAM sought for rational justification and “not their baseless reasons”. It also prayed for the speedy recovery of the victim and called for peace and humanity in the society.

CSUD: Chang Students’ Union Dimapur (CSUD) while condemning the inhumane act said that such a heinous crime was a matter of concern for humanity and as a whole.

In a condemnation note, CSUD stated “this act of assault is intoler-

able; such act should be condemned by every individual”.

Therefore, the union strongly appealed to the law enforcing agencies to investigate this matter thoroughly and plea for stringent action as per relevant provisions of law to be taken against them. The union prayed for the speedy recovery of the victim.

PUKT: Phelung re U n i o n K i p h i r e Tow n (PUKT) said that the act of assault and criminal intimidation committed by the CVYS against one of its bonafide and his family members was an act of “vigilantism and exhibition of gangsterism”, which had no place in Naga culture nor was it a customary practice of the Nagas.

PUKT president P. Horikiu and assistant general secretary Y. Thrilise PUKT has strongly reacted to the purported statement issued by the CVYS through social media out lining the sequence of events that occurred. PUKT said it had only exhibited the “chauvinistic mindset of the CVYS and smacks of malice”.

PUKT therefore sought clarification as to who had authorised CVYS to perform COVID-19 related duties, for which purpose respective DTFs have been formed to enforce SOP. It also questioned whether CVYS members were immune to the virus.

PUKT said it was unthinkable how a minor boy of 17 years would assault a duty party, which may comprise of a good number of able bodied youths. PUKT said that as far as the union was aware, Alex has been an obedient son and was not known to be indulged in anti-social behaviors.

It said that “the gathering managed to land some blows” where “one youth member lost his composure” because of which Alex was now hospitalised after sustaining grievous injuries along with his elder brother, who was also hit on the face causing deep wounds.

Further, PUKT said it was deeply hurt the manner in which the character of John Tsulise Sangtam was also brutally maligned, adding that the union would vouch for his character as

being an upright and honest officer having served the government under various capacities.

With regard to the issued of the matter being “amicably settled backed by accounts of multiple witnesses to the incident”, PUKT however pointed out that on the signed copy of the undertaking no such independent witnesses was found mentioned.

SUD: Sangtam Union Dimapur (SUD) firmly condemns the May 6, 2021 incident at Chümoukedima where John Tsulise Sangtam’s 17 year old son, Lotsangkhyong Alex was brutally attacked by members of the Chümoukedima Village Youth Society (CVYS), in the presence of his father and elder brother.

It alleged that around 20 to 30 CVYS members attacked Lotsangkhyong Alex at CVYS office despite his father pleading for mercy.

SUD president Nukshiba Sangtam and assistant general secretary Mongli further alleged that they kept the “unconscious 17 year old boy as hostage”, until the father, John Tsulise Sangtam was made to sign

an undertaking, which it said was clearly “an effort brush the matter under the carpet”.

“The signature put to paper that night in return of a hostage should not be the end of the matter,” it added. However, SUD said “using violence within one’s own jurisdiction and taking law in one’s own hands”, by an individual, Chümoukedima Village Youth Society or any other organisation, should be condemned by any right thinking individual.

It further urged the law enforcement agencies to immediately book the perpetrators to ensure that justice was served.

SASSU: Sitimi Area Sangtam Student’s Union (SASSU) has expressed anguish and displeasure over the assault and that the union was deeply disturbed that such kind of inhumane and barbaric act was starting to seep into the Naga society.

SASSU president Edward P Sangtam and general secretary Khumchochila stated that such inhumane act was unacceptable in the peaceful society and the

Organisations extend condolences DIMAPUR: Western Chakhesang Hoho (WCH) has expressed grief over the demise of its treasurer, Shekhoyi Nienu, who passed away at Dimapur Civil Hospital on May 11.

In a condolence note, WCH president Dietho Rhakho and general secretary Akholo Mekritsu described him as a well natured and

dedicated person who contributed for the church & community welfare had left them with an irreplaceable void. It stated that one of its best had departed and that it was one of the darkest hours for Western Chakhesang people.

Further, WCH prayed to the Almighty to grant strength to the bereaved family members as his

soul rests in peace.

NJOA: Nagaland Judicial Officers’ Association (NJOA) has expressed grief over the sudden demise of N. Suyie.

In a condolence note, NJOA president, principal judge, family court Dimapur, Khesheli Chishi described N. Suyie as a “dedicated judicial officer with immense ex-

perience and knowledge of law who retired from service without any blemish”. NJOA said that he would be remembered as a man of great integrity who was loved and respected by all of his colleagues and members of the bar.

Further, the association conveyed its condolences and prayed for God to grant them comfort.

union would never tolerate such kind of evil act towards any section of the society.

Further, the union urged upon the law enforcing agencies to execute the investigation and award befitting punishment to the culprit/s as per the law of the land. It also called upon all the right thinking people to stand together and prevent reoccurrence of such incidents in the future.

USGOU: United Sangtam Gazetted Officers’ Union (USGOU) stated that it was appalled by the event “where one of its bonafide member and his two children were subjected to the untold miseries- physically and mentally”.

USGOU president S. Sejongmong alleged that the verbal abuse ranted and hurled upon its member was unacceptable and the physical assault meted out to his children by some members of CVYS was “despicable and reprehensive”.

USGOU said that the criminal act perpetrated

by CVYS was shocking and that “the act of CVYS demeaned the dignity and honour of the CSO and has

defeated its noble purpose and objective of providing safe and secure society”.

The union called upon the law enforcing agencies to take appropriate action against the perpetrators of laws.

ENCSU: Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU) has vehemently condemned the brutal and heinous act and stated that the use of force or violence to settle any disputes was unjust in the civilised society and even in the context of Naga traditional trials.

ENCSU through its media cell stated that the justification made by CVYS without properly ascertaining the fact of incident was baseless and alleged that the the volunteers on COVID19 duties were intoxicated and launched a mob attack and that the “district task force committee should investigate on this matter and punish the violators as per the disaster management act”.

It stated that taking the law into their own hands using violence and physical strength was a shameful act.

ENCSU appealed to the law enforcing agencies to immediately book the culprits as per the law of land. It also conveyed its prayers to the victims and family for speedy recovery.

KASUD: Kiphire Area Students Union Dimapur (KASUD) while condemning the brutal assault stated that the high handedness of CVYS assaulting a juvenile in front of his father was nothing less than an act of cowardice.

In a condemnation note, KASUD president YK Thonger and secretary Kiripi Sangtam stated that the malevolence action was nothing short of showing dominance and superiority over the minor tribes which deserved to be condemned by all and sundry.

The union also questioned how it was expected to live with peaceful coexistence when the land they owned/ purchased was under threat.

KASUD therefore appealed to the law enforcing agency to initiate appropriate legal action and deliver justice to the victim at the earliest.

NSCN (I-M) welcomes ‘home-comers’ DIMAPUR: NSCN (I-M) has welcomed “home-comers” from different groups who had approached with the request “to be accepted as

bonafide members”.

NSCN (I-M) through its MIP informed that the “home-comers” included: Inaho Mulunu, Defence Kilonser, NPGN/NNC/

NA/MK; Kivishe Chishi, Kilonser, NPGN/NNC/ NA/MK; Akahito Chishi, Leacy, NPGN/NNC/ NA/MK and Tokivi Mulunu, Khapur, NSCN-U

Department of land resources, Mon distributed coffee pulpers to beneficiaries to ease the process of pulping cherry coffee for the planters on May 12. The project DC Mokokchung, Limawabang Jamir launched the PMGKAY-III at Khensa village under Mokokchung district along with officials of the food was sponsored by North Eastern Council. The pulpers were handed over by DC Mon, & civil supplies (F&CS) department, Thavaseelan K. A coffee bar was also installed at DPO Office, Mon.

4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 156 Dimapur, THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

N

Lockdown option

agaland’s covid report shows a total accumulated 16,890 confirmed cases of COVID,154 deaths and 12,877 recoveries while active cases remain at 3297. From just a single digit at 5 on April 11, the cases have quadrupled by 60 times to around 300 by May 8. As public witnessed the spread of the disease, the government declared Dimapur and Kohima as containment zones and night curfew. These measures seemed symbolic since the message received by the public was that these measures were adequate. That the measures proved inadequate was reflected by concerns expressed by some health workers. This was reported in Nagaland Post on May 8 and then a day later, the NPF legislature party and the SumiHoho made a strong pitch for total lockdown. NPF called for total lockdown in Kohima and Dimapur districts while the SumiHoho called for total lockdown throughout the state in view of worrying rise in new Covid cases.

The state government then declared a seven-day lockdown throughout the state effective from 6 p.m. of May 14 to May 21. Also in an exclusive report, this newspaper had pointed out that beds designated or reserved for Covid patients in hospitals were all under occupation. That also includes ICUs and special cabins for critical patients. If the number of covid patients seeking hospitalisation in Nagaland shots up, an immediate plan should be for the government to rope in all private hospitals. The government should seriously consider providing all necessary equipment to private hospitals to augment their capabilities for care of covid patients. This will be an investment worth all the money since private institutes are better managed and purchases and maintenance will also have professional medical specialists involved. By providing assistance and aid to the private institutes, the government will promote and encourage quality health services in the private sector and which would benefit the public. Perhaps, the pandemic has also exposed many weaknesses of the health system in general and it is also a time for the private medical institutes of Dimapur to come out with a blueprint for improving health care. Lockdown is not a desired option but under the present circumstances, it is unavoidable to halt the spread by stopping movement of people. What is of great concern is the fear that community transmission has already taken place not only in Dimapur and Kohima but entire India. Many of those who were infected could not identify from where they contracted the virus. Some people who considered their home as a safe bubble have also contracted the virus but unable to identify the source.

This is a subject that the ICMR and ministry of health and family welfare are allergic to admitting for nonmedical reasons. Eminent virologists and epidemiologists even as early April-May 2020 warned that community transmission has already taken places with many not being able to identify the source of infection. If Lockdown is required to be extended, then the government should have the political will to do so, in order to save lives.

DailyDevotion The Habit of Having No Habits

If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful… —2 Peter 1:8 When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.

Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, “I can’t do that right now; this is my time alone with God.” No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.

Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things— things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.

Quotes

Tears of joy are like the summer rain drops pierced by sunbeams. ~ Hosea Ballou

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

Post-mortem

india’s untold deaths, subhuman act and unholy truth

Y

et another shocker.

Everyday we come across a few unbelievable and unprecedented episodes that the people of India face and confront in times of coronavirus. The episodes cover the living bodies as well as the dead bodies. COVID-19 continues to expose the current ruling dispensations both at the Centre and the State governmentsin all facets of life be it: social, economic, political or religio-cultural.

Thy images that we see and testimonies we hear thoughludicrous, but are real and existential. Some of the episodes would immensely affect the image of India. A few pose a series of questions at the governance of the Government of India (GOI).

Early morning villagers living on the river belt saw human corpuses floating in waters of holy river Ganges were aghast this episode would certainly shed more light to a series of incidents we have been witnessing in the past 16 months. On the 10th of May, 2021, where residents of Chausa village in Bihar’s Buxar woke up in the morning were shocked

to see half-burnt bodies dumped in the river Ganga, considered as holy river washed ashore near Mahade Ghat. The Villagers said that they saw about 150 corpses, suspected to be of COVID-19 victims, floating down the river at dawn. The number of dead bodies that Buxar district administration identified was around 30 and said “The bodies are not of local residents. It seems they were dumped in neighbouring UP three to four days ago.”

On the contrary, a resident of the area told reporters at Mahadev Ghat that he and other eyewitnesses counted not less than 150 bodies. The situation is dangerous as people suspect that there were possibilities of epidemics shooting up. People in areas like Katgharwa, Kamharia and Chausa, among others are in a state of shock. They are even frightened to visit the Ghat for funerals,” he said. Prem Swaroopam, executive officer of the Buxar Municipal Council told a news channel that a probe had been initiated into “people dumping bodies” in the river. Some locals

attributed that the dumping of bodies in the river was due to the higher cost of organising the cremation of COVID victims and fear of getting infected.

What we heard and saw on the TV screens look like “unholy truth” as bodies floating in holy Ganges, but Covid bodies floating in river Ganges and being washed on shores of river Ganges are “holy truth”.

Human body is being considered as sacred. In life and death, the bodies of humans ought to be given due respect. Strangely in our country we come across those who are born in the lowest rungs of caste as “Untouchables” and does menial jobs, and are not given any respect in life as well as in death. Nowadays in times of COVID-19, those without any financial means resort to dump the dead bodies wherever possible – on the pavements, in the rivers and pits.

COVID-19 has leveraged the scenario to another level. Those infected with coronavirus have been pushed to run from pillar to post. The struggles and experiences of those infected with COVID-19 to

secure oxygen, ICU beds and to get vaccinated vary from one to another, but cumulatively speaking have been harrowing.Every day hundreds and thousands of people die of coronavirus. Taking the dead bodies in ambulances, to cremate and bury the dead in crematoriums and cemeteries involves substantial amount of money,which many people cannot afford.

What then is the option?

Now, we come across bodies floating in the river holy Ganges – an unholy truth.

Is it a new mode of getting rid of the dead corpses of dear and near ones or what?The villages situated downstream would badly be affected in due course of time.

For many in India, especially those who are poor and vulnerable in life there is no dignity and also in death as well. This incident rips open to what extent to which people could go. Some of the villagers who saw said that the ambulance drivers throwing the dead bodies in the river bordering Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Coronavirus is rampant and fast-spreading in the

rural India. Kumbh Mela, panchayat and assemblyelections, invoking and lifting of lockdowns and curfews, reverse migration and host of others in recent times have escalated and so we would be witnessing more such things surfacing in the coming days.

All religion reveres human body and adds immense value, and so, no religion mandates that the dead bodies to be thrown into the water. According to some villagers, the bodies might have been thrown into the river 5-7 days ago.

Over and above, the number of bodies floating into river Ganges and washed to the shores could perhaps be between 200-300 or more. Dumping the dead bodies of human beings is not appropriate and thus lowers the civility of those responsible for such dastardly acts thus lowered the dignity of the dead. This incident once again exposes the total callousness and inhumanity unleashed to those fellow Indians who were died.

Shocking pictures reveal the levels that humans could go. Those corpses that were floating in the

river Ganges subsequently being washed ashore in Buxer and other places nearby including Varanasi sends a strong signal and a message to all Indians that we are in serious spiritual crisis that reflects increasing pseudo religiosity and fake religious observances.

Appropriate burial/cremation of mortals is required because in life and in death human bodies have their distinct sanctity and thus assumes greater dignity and by all means be revered,observed and followed.

The floating human corpses in the river of Ganges vividly depicts India’s shame – which is antithetical to our claims as holy and sacrosanct, but its sanctity and the sanctity of mortals have been totally brutalized by the very act of dumping the human corpses into the river. No one knows how many bodies of the humans had been thrown into river Ganges. The images of the bloated bodies and the dogs straying over the corpses question the very ethos of Indians, belief and value systems.

Dr. John Mohan Razu

The internet and the great anxiety over national sovereignty

T

he concept of sovereignty is widely believed to have originated at the end of Europe’s Thirty Years War, with the Treaty of Westphalia, in which, for the first time, the absolute authority of a nation-state over its territory was recognized.

Until then, rulers could only claim dominion over the territory they controlled—meaning that sovereign power diminished the further you were from its centre.

According to Westphalian notions of sovereignty, on the other hand, citizens owed allegiance to the territory—regardless of how far away they were from its capital—and through the territory, to the sovereign authority.

Even though the treaty was signed in 1648, it wasn’t till a couple of centuries later, with the Industrial Revolution, that the territorial underpinnings of sovereignty began to bear fruit.

Technologies like the steam engine, railways and telegraph compressed distances within countries, allowing rulers to access far-flung territories with greater ease and efficiency. This territorial rescaling (as Charles Maier puts it) significantly enhanced national prosperity, letting greater value be extracted from the land and its people than

was previously possible.

Nation-states now had every incentive to preserve the sanctity of their territory. They hastened to articulate a universal public law under which sovereign states would have exclusive jurisdiction over all property and persons who happened to be located within their territory—but, at the same time, would not be allowed to exercise jurisdiction over property and persons outside that territory. This symmetrical doctrine is the fundamental basis for modern international relations.

It supports the sovereign right of nations to establish their own laws, and acknowledges that anyone who chooses to enter the jurisdiction of a foreign state must abide by its rules, no matter how different they are from the place they came from. This is the reason why anyone who commits a criminal act within the territory of one state can escape prosecution by simply crossing a border to another state—and, quixotically, why that other state cannot prosecute the fugitive for a crime committed beyond its borders.

The internet, the world’s most recent space-compression technology, has shrunk distances

like nothing that came before it. Not only has it compressed distances within countries, it has shrunk distances between them and created the deeply interconnected world that we inhabit today. However, unlike in the past, when space compression respected territorial sovereignty, the internet pays no heed to national boundaries or the different laws that each sovereign nation enforces within its borders. It is, to that extent, completely unmoored from the notion of Westphalian sovereignty, and it allows the actions of individuals and corporations situated in one country to affect those in another without ever crossing physical borders.

This fundamental feature of the internet has, since its very inception, forced us to engage with issues of jurisdiction differently when it comes to the digital realm. In the early days of the internet, we tried to look the other way, sweeping jurisdictional challenges under the carpet of web exceptionalism. That approach is increasingly falling out of favour. Now that the internet is essential infrastructure, governments around the world are less and less inclined to allow private corporations to control what

Child care in Covid times

W

transpires on it or have exclusive access to the data that traverses through it.

In 2018, when the Justice Srikrishna Committee released a draft data protection law for India, it included, for the first time in a data protection law, explicit localization provisions that required certain kinds of personal data to be processed only in India.

At the time, I was among those who raised my voice in protest, believing, as I still do, that our globalized world needs to let data flow freely wherever it is needed. There are many benefits that we enjoy and have come to take for granted precisely because there are no restrictions on data flows.

We need look no further than the speed of our pandemic response to appreciate the important role the internet has played in getting genomic data on the novel coronavirus to scientists around the world in a short time, giving them a head start in vaccine development. Had scientific information not been able to flow from one corner of the world to the other, we would simply not have been able to develop not one, but five major covid vaccines in such record time.

Regardless, governments around the world have grown increasingly interested in asserting greater sovereign authority over the data of their citizens, with a view to curbing the power of private corporations that operate as gateways to our internet access as well as ensuring that the manner in which this data gets used conforms to national law. Notably, despite the initial opposition globally to India’s data localization policy, digital borders have hardened everywhere since then.

Last week, Microsoft announced the launch of its new European Union Data Boundary service, which makes a hard commitment to all the companies that sign up for this service that their data will never move out of the EU. It seems that at least one big technology company is willing to regionalize its cloud offerings, choosing to capitulate to the European demand for regional sovereignty instead of placing all its eggs in the ‘safe harbour’ basket. I wonder if other tech companies will follow suit.

Rahul Matthan is a partner at Trilegal and also has a podcast by the name Ex Machina. His Twitter handle is @matthan

Staying positive in difficult times

T

o say we’re living we can take to cope during ly suffering from the same ith the onset of ings or visitors in the house hand hygiene and physithrough challenging difficult times. Develop- types of anxiety and stress cal distance. the second wave to be allowed. times sounds like both ing the habit of counting that we are experiencing 2. P r a c t i c e h a n d of COVID-19, 8. Dedicated linen many children have tested and eating utensils should hygiene before and after a cliché and an understate- our blessings and helping today, therefore, we need positive unlike last year. be used for the child and removal of gloves and ment. In recent months, others, even when we are to make a mental effort to news about the pandemic struggling, can increase contribute positively to the mask.

With the vaccination still kept separately.

3. Clean visibly dirty and economic woes have positive feelings and help conversation. not extended to children Guidelines for carehands with soap and wa- caused us to worry of what us gain perspective. below 18 years, they stand givers Being vigilant of our would come next.

Many researches also mood in today’s environment more vulnerable at present.

1. Surgical masks ter.

However, when peo- suggest that people who should be everyone’s priority.

4. Use alcohol-based Although most children do (double) to be put at all ple look back on their lives, volunteer their time tend Remaining calm at times hand rub frequently. not get admitted to ICUs, times and change every 6-8 5. Use disposable pa- it is usually the most dif- to be happier than those of uncertainty can help us one needs to be vigilant. hours if possible.

Guidelines for Covid 2. Avoid direct con- per towels for hand drying. ficult challenges that gave who don’t.

Those who give chari- navigate through difficulties 6. Alternatively, use them a new perspective positive children tact with the body fluid of and find a path towards our 1. The child should the infected child be it oral clean cloth towel and re- or caused them to grow table donations may even more resilient selves. the most.

In the midst of get a small mood boost.

We be kept in a well-ventilated or respiratory secretions place frequently.

Azen Imchen 7. Dispose gloves, a crisis, it doesn’t feel that must keep in mind that our room preferably with an and stool.

Duncan, Dimapur way. But there are steps friends and family are likemasks, and other waste in attached toilet.

3. Use disposable 2. The child should gloves and a mask to han- a waste bin with a lid.

When to report to a not come in contact with dle soiled linen or body Covid hospital the elderly, pregnant wom- fluids.

1. Breathing diffien, other children, and per4. Clean and disinsons with co-morbidities. fect frequently-touched culty or breathing very 3. A dedicated care- surfaces such as toilet or fast.

2. Oxygen saturation giver should be assigned. furniture in the room.

4. Make sure to keep 5. C l e a n u s i n g <94% (double check the Sir, Today my truck carrying 5000 numbers of bricks to Kohima from Dimapur was them well-hydrated and household bleach or 1% battery or fingers) 3. Signs of dehydra- charged a royalty of Rs.500/- under Minor Minerals category by the PD, MM, Diuse double mask in older hypochlorite or an alcohol tion. rectorate of Geology & Mining, stationed near Chumukedima Police Check Post. children as feasible. solution.

4. Unable to talk or Bricks do not fall under Minor Minerals category and, long story short, I 5. Newborn babies 6. Clean the patient’s tendered a complaint to the appropriate authorities and the royalty amount was can be breastfed after the clothes, linen, and towels, feed.

5. Bluish discoloura- refunded, thanks to the prompt response of the Police Officers, and especially the mother observes a proper by using a regular detergent DGP, Nagaland, who took up the issue in earnest and got it resolved. hand hygiene, and wears in hot water or a machine tion of skin.

6. Severe weakness People have been paying illegal royalties and/or taxes and we need a governa mask. wash at 60-90°C. or seizure. ment that works for the interest of the public.

6. A Covid positive Guidelines for chil7. Do not panic Thank you police department for one more yeoman service that will benefit mother can give expressed dren with Covid posiall sections of society.

Compiled by Indian milk to the child via the tive parents and general Arep Changkija Academy of Paediatrics caregiver. hygiene tzurang@gmail.com Nagaland Branch 7. No social gather1. S t r i c t ly f o l l ow 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.

Reader’s Post

On illegal roayalties/taxes

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (PTI): Taking umbrage at the B.1.617 mutant of the novel coronavirus being termed an “Indian variant”, the Union health ministry on Wednesday said the WHO has not used the word “Indian” for this strain in its document.

The ministry dismissed as “without any basis and unfounded” media reports that have used the term “Indian variant” for the B.1.617 mutant strain, which the WHO recently said was a “variant of global concern”.

The WHO also said it does

not identify viruses or variants with names of countries they are first reported from. “We refer to them by their scientific names and request all to do the same for consistency,” WHO SouthEast Asia said in a tweet.

“Several media reports have covered the news of World Health Organisation (WHO) classifying B.1.617 as variant of global concern.

Some of these reports have termed the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus as an ‘Indian Variant’,” the ministry said in a statement. “These media reports are without

any basis, and unfounded,” it said. This is to clarify that the WHO has not associated the term “Indian variant” with the B.1.617 strain of the coronavirus in its 32 page document, it said.

In fact, the word “Indian” has not been used in its report on the matter, the ministry added.

On Monday, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 technical lead at the WHO, had said that the B.1.617 virus variant that was first identified in India had been classified as a “variant of interest”.

Over 84% vaccine doses sent abroad due to commercial, licensing liabilities: BJP

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (PTI): The ruling BJP accused the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday of spreading misinformation on India’s vaccination programme and said over 84 per cent of the vaccine doses sent abroad were part of the commercial and licensing liabilities of the two Indian manufacturers.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra said 1.07 crore vaccine doses sent abroad were India’s aid to different countries and noted that of those, 78.5 lakh were dispatched to seven neighbouring countries.

A safer neighbourhood is good for India too, he added. More than two lakh doses were given to the UN peace-keeping force, in which over 6,600 Indian

Sambit Patra

soldiers are deployed, Patra said. Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the AAP, he said misinformation is being spread that the Narendra Modi government has exported over 6.63 crore vaccine doses abroad, while not using those to inoculate Indians.

Sending over 5.50 crore vaccine doses abroad were the compulsion of the two Indian manufacturers as it was part of their commer-

DAYO appeals to public to join fight against Covid (From p-1) It called upon the administration to penalise the hoarders, both wholesale and retailers- so as to serve as deterrence to future intentions.

It also appreciated Nagaland Police for checking and controlling crimes and in order to enhance the efforts, DAYO said it had impressed upon the State government to install sufficient CCTVs in strategic locations in and around Dimapur and put more efforts to monitor criminal activities to check criminal activities.

It also maintained that the Assam-Nagaland bor-

der in Dimapur area was porous and through which not only anti-social elements get easy access but even illegal trade, including import of diseased livestock, took place without much hindrance.

DAYO therefore emphasised that lockdown measures would not be successful until and unless these areas were properly monitored with the assistance of electronic devices.

DAYO reaffir med its support and cooperation with all governmental agencies and other civil organisations in a joint effort to win this Covid war in whatever way possible.

cial and licensing liabilities, Patra said.

Noting that the intellectual property rights over Covishield, manufactured in the country by the Serum Institute of India (SII), are with Astrazeneca, a foreign firm, he said the SII was obliged to send a part of the vaccines produced by it abroad.

The SII and Bharat Biotech, which manufactures Covaxin, sent vaccine doses abroad also because of the agreement they had signed to procure raw materials for preparing the jabs, the BJP leader added.

“This misinformation is being spread that Indians were ignored and vaccines were sent abroad. In this global era, no country can exist as an island and there has to be cooperative globalisation,” he said.

Appavu elected Speaker of TN Assembly unopposed C H E N NA I , M AY 1 2 (IANS): DMK lawmakers M. Appavu and K. Pitchandi were on Wednesday sworn-in as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, of the 16th Tamil Nadu Assembly, after they were elected unopposed to the posts. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin proposed the name of Appavu, a four-time MLA from Radhapuram constituency in Tirunelveli, for the Speaker’s post, and Works Minister Duraimurugan seconded it, at the chamber of Assembly Secretary, K. Srinivasan. Appavu was subsequently escorted to the Speaker’s chair by Chief Minister Stalin and Leader of Opposition and former CM K. Palaniswami.

CSOs serve 14-day deadline on H&FW deptt (From p-1) resulting in the only CHC under Shamator sub-division now being run without a single doctor and with only four nurses (two staff nurses, one ANM and one lady health visitor or LHV) and a few fourth grade employees and vaccinators.

They alleged that five lives were lost following the transfer of the medical officer, which they contended could have been saved had there been manpower and requisite facilities available at the CHC. Under these circumstances, the organisation noted that 45th Assam Rifles was relentlessly providing medical assistance to

the community, which had greatly eased the anguish of the entire populace of Shamator area and which the entire public greatly acknowledged, especially now in times of the prevailing pandemic.

Mentioning that Shamator town had remained a safe zone during the first wave of Covid-19 till August 29 last year, they recalled that five cases were reported the following for the first time.

This time, they said few Covid positive cases were detected and contact tracing and random testing in market area were being undertaken by medical personnel from Tuensang and that their results were being

awaited.

Thus, the CSOs said lives of the general public had been put under severe threat due to lack of basic medical amenities, manpower and facilities at the Shamator CHC, thereby infringing on their constitutionally-guaranteed right to live.

The organisations warned that in the event of the H&FW department’s failure to meet their demand, they would be compelled to pursue all possible democratic processes to raise their voice until justice was delivered. They said they department would be held solely responsible for any consequences arising out thereafter.

PANAJI, MAY 12 (PTI): A sessions court in Goa on Wednesday said it will pronounce the verdict in the Tarun Tejpal case on May 19.

The former Tehelka editor-in-chief, who was present in the court on Wednesday, is accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague inside the elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa in 2013.

The additional district court was to pronounce the verdict on April 27, but judge Kshama Joshi had then adjourned the verdict to May 12.

The court on Wednesday said the latest adjournment was due to lack of staff due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The judge said they are operating with only 15 per cent staff and there was lot of material to go through before pronouncing the verdict,” public prosecutor Fransisco Tavora said.

Tejpal was present in the court along with some of his family members.

While moving out of the court room after the

judge adjourned the verdict to next week, Tejpal refused to talk to reporters, saying the matter is sub-judice.

A number of mediapersons and lawyers were present in the court.

The Goa police registered an FIR against Tejpal in November 2013 following which he was arrested.

He has been out on bail since May 2014.

The Goa crime branch had filed a charge sheet against Tejpal.

He faced trial under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 376(2)(f) (person in position of authority over women, committing rape) and 376(2)k) (rape by person in position of control).

He had earlier moved the Bombay High Court, seeking a stay on the framing of charges against him, but his petition was dismissed.

7 more bodies seen floating in Ganga in UP’s Ballia; total count 52 BALLIA (UP), MAY 12 (PTI): With seven more bodies seen floating in the Ganga, the count of bodies found in this Uttar Pradesh district has reached 52, an official said on Wednesday.

The district administration is immediately performing the last rites of the deceased as there is a possibility that they had contracted COVID-19.

According to Ballia residents, at least 45 bodies were seen floating near the Ujiyar, Kulhadia and Bharauli ghats in the Narahi area on Tuesday evening.

Late on Tuesday night, seven more bodies were found, taking the total count of bodies to 52, an official said. In a statement issued on Tuesday, District Magistrate Aditi Singh had said some bodies in a decomposed condition were seen floating under the Ballia-Buxar bridge. She

said Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Rajesh Yadav and Circle Officer Jagveer Singh Chauhan are probing the matter and the last rites of the deceased were performed with due respect.

“The last rites of the deceased were performed on Tuesday itself. We are trying to find out where did the bodies come from. Seeing the flow of the river, it seems that they came from Buxar and other parts of Bihar,” Yadav told PTI on Wednesday.

Although Buxar is downstream to Ballia, there is a possibility that the bodies came from Buxar, he said. “The distance between the Bharauli and Ujiyar ghats in the Narahi police station area of Ballia, and the ghat in Buxar is around one kilometre. The direction of wind over the river is towards Ballia,” the SDM said.

New Delhi, May 12 (PTI): Concerned with the overcrowding of jails, the Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that it will be open for the courts to consider ordering house arrest of accused under provision of Criminal Procedure Code.

The top court said that regarding post-conviction cases, it is leaving it open to the legislature to ponder over employment of house arrest to the accused in select cases. Referring to overcrowding in jails and the cost to the state in maintaining of prisons, the top court said the concept of house arrest be adopted.

A bench of Justices UU Lalit and K M Joseph said, “…we may indicate criteria like age, health condition and the antecedents of the accused, the nature of the crime, the need for other forms of custody and the ability to enforce the terms of the house arrest. We observe that under Section 167 (of CrpC) in appropriate cases it will be open to

But, he pointed out that experts were required to treat the patients, who required assisted oxygen therapy, and providing assistance in respiratory cases in makeshift hospital might not cater to the needs.

According to the PD, makeshift hospitals will have to have all facilities like ventilators, trained doctors and nurses to work effectively and shifting equipment was not easy and, therefore, he said he would not recommend makeshift hospitals for now.

Vaccination: Dr. Khimiao informed the media

that the amount needed to pay for procurement of vaccines had been paid to the manufacturing company and, if things were favourable, he said the consignment could be expected by next week.

On rolling back NHAK to Covid hospital, he explained that considering the plight of poor patients, a concrete decision to convert NHAK to a Covid hospital could not be taken. However, he said if proper system/precautionary measures could be taken, the hospital could manage both Covid and nonCovid cases.

On installation of oxygen plant in Kohima under

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (PTI): Citing the unprecedented rise in COVID cases in the country, the Centre on Wednesday allowed its employees with recognised qualifications to undertake medical practice or teleconsultation.

Such practice is to be undertaken during spare time and on a purely charitable basis, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said. Referring to a 57-year-old order of the Home Ministry, it said the DoPT has been receiving queries/requests from central government servants for providing teleconsultation services during the current pandemic. “In view of the unprecedented rise in the numbers of COVID-19 cases, and to utilise the in-house capabilities available in the

PM Cares Fund, he said almost everything was complete and only certification was awaited, adding that once the certification was done, it would start functioning. For Dimapur, he said things were almost ready, except for pipe connections and the technicians would be arriving by Thursday.

With special permission, he said the health team would do the screening and testing and begin the work.

On completion, the team would travel to other districts for pipeline connections.

He said the district administrations were asked to assist the team in installation of the oxygen plants.

BOSCO COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION Kuda – ‘A’ Khel, Half Nagarjan, Dimapur

VACANCY Interested and eligible applicants may either mail their detailed CV with scanned colour academic documents at bctedimapur@ gmail.com or submit in person or send through WhatsApp on or before Wednesday 26th May 2021. Interview date will be notified via contact no. and email provided by the candidates.

1. M.Sc. Mathematics with M. Ed. and NET 2. M.Sc. Science with M. Ed. and NET 3. M.A. Education with M. Ed/B. Ed. and NET 4. Post Graduate Degree in Performing Arts (Music/Dance/ Theatre) with NET N.B: The Applicants with Ph.D. and Teaching Experience will be given preference.

DP-2391

arrest has been employed in the United States essentially as an intermediate level penal sanction and upon being found guilty instead of sentencing the convict to a term in prison and in lieu of incarceration, as a condition of probation, the convict is compelled to confine himself to his place of residence.

It said that among the advantages which have been perceived in promoting the house arrest, have been avoidance of overcrowding of the prisons and also cost saving.

Centre allows employees with medical qualification to offer teleconsultation

Covid situation in Dimapur, Kohima ‘alarming’

(From p-1)

Supreme court of India

courts to order house arrest”. It said that “we would also indicate under Section 309 also that judicial custody being custody ordered, subject to following the criteria; the courts will be free to employ it in deserving and suitable cases”.

The top court’s verdict came on a plea of activist Gautam Navlakha challenging the Bombay High Court order denying him default bail on the ground that charge sheet was not filed by the NIA within a stipulated time under the law.

It said that the house

Principal Mobile : 9612839463/7005669355

government to contain the spread of COVID virus and to provide relief to the public, it has been decided that the central government employees holding recognised qualifications in any system of medicine requires no permission from the Head of Departments (HoDs) concerned to undertake practice/provide teleconsultation,” it said.

This would be subject to the condition that such practice/teleconsultation

is undertaken during spare time, on a purely charitable basis, without detriment to the official duties to the government servant concerned, said the order issued to all the central government department, the order said.

“However, it is desirable that the government servants should keep their departments concerned informed for record purposes only,” it said, adding that this guideline will come into force with immediate effect.

APOLOGY TENDERED I, Mr. Nsamongo Ezung, V/o. Sunglup has called a (Bongali Motso) to Mr. Nsemo Ezung, V/o. Yonchucho which is not appropriate and uncalled. I therefore tendered an apology towards his families and relatives to forgive me that I will never repeat such words in future.

Sd/Mr. Nsamongo Ezung

WC-101

Patients undergo treatment for COVID-19 disease at a hospital in Kanpur, Wednesday. (PTI)

Goa court to pronounce verdict open for courts to order house arrest in Tarun Tejpal case on May 19 of accused in select cases, says SC

FELICITATION

TAMLU BÜHÜ STUDENTS UNION, KOHIMA (TBSU), with immense pride and joy, extends our heartiest congratulations to our members; 1) Mr. Nganlang C.Phom, S/o Mr.Chingan Phom & Mrs. Yingom, for clearing the NPSC examination to the post of Secretariat Assistant, under Personal and Administrative Reforms Department.

2) Dr. Wungtei Buchem, S/o Lt. Mokan and Mrs. Enung Phom for the degree conferred on him as Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies (OT) on the thesis title.

The Deuteronomistic history since 1943 (Martin Noth).

A post-colonial Hermeneutics from the margins in NEI. University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (UK) The Union acknowledges them for their hardwork. May God continue to bless them in all their future endeavours K-955

‘WHO has not associated ‘Indian Variant’ with B.1.617’

5

national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

P. Theie Mukho President, TBSUK

C. Phongyei Shükha General Secretary, TBSUK

OFFICE OF THE

LOTOVI VILLAGE COUNCIL INFORMATION

The Lotovi Village G.B's and Council after thorough deliberation unanimously resolved to totally restrict entry of commercial vehicles both heavy and LMV ferrying coal from Assam and parts of Nagaland, also vehicles ferrying bricks randomly from our village and the neighbouring areas occupied with brick industries plying via Lotovi to immediately stop the non essential activity until the area is contained or further Government relaxation order. Any concerned failing to comply the order may lead to seizure of vehicle and the same shall be handed over to the District Task Force or concerned Government Authority.

DP-2389

Chairman (Hotoka H Chishi)

6

national

12 opposition leaders write to PM Modi demand free mass vaccination, suspension of Central Vista project

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (IANS): Several parts of India may witness rain and thunderstorm in next 3-4 days, the ministry of earth sciences has predicted and temperature could drop in the national capital by few notches.

Thunderstorm with lightning, hail and squall is likely at isolated places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, GilgitBaltistan and Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Telangana, said the Ministry of Earth Sciences. “Heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Coastal & South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep on May 13,” said the official statement.

seeking the farm laws passed

by Parliament in September last year be scrapped. The signatories to the joint letter include Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister and JDS leader H D Deve Gowda and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

Others include chief ministers Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), MK Stalin (DMK), and Hemant Soren (JMM).

Impossible to fight Covid without door-to-door vax delivery: Priyanka

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (IANS): Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday slammed the government for celebrating Vaccination Day on April 12 and claimed that the vaccination rate was down by 82 per cent within 30 days.

She also said that it is impossible to fight coronavirus without delivering the vaccines door to door.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, Vadra, who is also in-charge of Uttar Pradesh

Crossword

Su doku

KAKURO

Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah (NC) and Akhilesh Yadav (SP) have also signed the letter, alongside Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), D Raja (CPI) and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M).

The leaders have said the Covid-19 pandemic has assumed unprecedented dimensions of a human catastrophe in the country, and that it was absolutely imperative for the Central government to undertake

Congress, said, “India is the biggest manufacturer of vaccines. BJP celebrated vaccine day on April 12 but did not make arrangements for vaccines and within 30 days vaccination rate was down by 82 per cent. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji went to vaccine industries and got his picture clicked.”

“Why did his government order the vaccines in January 2021? US and other countries ordered for vaccines with Indian government much earlier. Who will take responsibility of the same? It is impossible to fight Covid-19 without delivering the vaccines door to door,” she said in another tweet.

Her remarks came on the day when India recorded 4,205 deaths in 24 hours, the highest in a single day so far, with 3.48 lakh Covid cases.

Several states have red-flagged the shortage of vaccines to the central government.

vaccines,” the leaders said in their letter.

“Stop Central Vista construction. Use the allocated money for procuring oxygen and vaccines, instead. Release all money held in the unaccounted private trust fund, PM Cares to buy more vaccines, Oxygen and medical equipment required,” they also told the prime minister.

The opposition leaders also demanded giving all jobless at least Rs 6,000 per month and a free distribution of foodgrains to the needy, saying over one crore tonnes of foodgrains are currently “rotting in central godowns”.

“Repeal farm laws to protect lakhs of our annadatas becoming victims of the pandemic so that they can continue to produce food to feed the Indian people,” they said.

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (IANS): After war of words erupted between Congress and the BJP over the handling of the pandemic, Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said, its time to stand together and not a time to criticise.

“Stand Together India, it’s time to stand together not time to criticise after this battle is finally won will find out who was wrong and who was right,” Sibal said in a tweet. The Congress has been attacking the government over mishandling of the pandemic and not heeding to the advise of ex-PM Manmohan Singh and the opposition parties.

The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP of being “arrogant”, soon after BJP President J.P. Nadda shot off a letter to interim party chief Sonia Gandhi, saying that raising issues and making suggestions

2 West Bengal BJP MPs resign as MLAs KO L K ATA , M AY 1 2 (PTI): BJP Lok Sabha MPs Jagannath Sarkar and Nisith Pramanik on Wednesday tendered their resignation as members of the West Bengal assembly, to which they were elected in the recent polls.

Sarkar and Pramanik, MPs of Ranaghat and Cooch Behar respectively, went to the assembly and submitted their resignation letters to Speaker Biman Banerjee.

Pramanik said that they are quitting as MLAs as per the directive of the BJP leadership.

The saffron party had also fielded two other Lok Sabha MPs - Union minister Babul Supriyo and Locket Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta but they lost the election.

The saffron party bagged 77 seats while the Trinamool Congress secured a landslide victory winning 213 of the 292 constituencies that went to polls. Elec-

Jagannath Sarkar and Nisith Pramanik

tion was countermanded in two seats due to the death of candidates.

“The BJP has risen from just three MLAs (in the 2016 elections) to 77 MLAs. In order to add experience in running the government, some MPs had been fielded,” Sarkar said.

However, the party could not achieve its goal of forming the government in the state, he said.

Sarkar asserted that their fighting the assembly election despite being MPs and then resigning after winning do not reflect any organisational weakness of

No. 9915 Yesterday’s solution No. 9914

No. 4534 Yesterday’s solution No. 4533

No. 3558 Yesterday’s solution No. 3557

Across 9. Six-sided (9) 10. Cancel (9) 12. Pain (4) 13. Artist’s room (6) 14. Sugar (7) 15. Irritation (9) 17. Slopes (9) 18. Latticework structure (7) 19. Road (6) 20. Pudding ingredient (4) 23. Complex (9) 25. Pardons (9) 26. Victim (4) 27. Sleek (6) 29. Former remand home (7) 32. Compliance (9) 34. Battles (9) 35. Wanderer (7) 36. Wax light (6) 37. Secure (4) 38. Story-tellers (9) 39. Rapt (9) Down 1. Game bird (8) 2. Currency ratio (8,4) 3. Moments (8) 4. Promise (6) 5. More powerful (8) 6. Aquatic arthropod (10) 7. Wafer (7) 8. Economic depressions (10) 11. Oak fruit (5) 16. Colour (6) 19. Prosecute (3) 21. Noble (12) 22. Of the stars (6) 23. Work (10) 24. Projectiles (10) 25. Charred remains (3) 28. Cloudy (8) 29. Triteness (8) 30. Radio audience member (8) 31. Insects (7) 33. Keen (5) 34. Dance (6)

the BJP. Pramanik said that they cannot remain members of both the Lok Sabha and the state assembly simultaneously.

While Pramanik won in the assembly election by a wafer-thin margin of just 57 votes defeating TMC candidate Udayan Guha from the Dinhata seat, Sarkar won by a comfortable margin of 15,878 votes from Santipur.

Dinhata and Santipur assembly segments fall within the respective Lok Sabha constituencies of Pramanik and Sarkar.

Kapil Sibal

to the government on the pandemic is the duty of the opposition parties.

In his letter to interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Nadda lashed out at her party saying that in the fight against the pandemic, the conduct of topmost Congress leaders, including its former chief Rahul Gandhi, will be remembered for its “duplicity and pettiness”.

Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said the situation in the country is pathetic as dead bodies were

seen floating in the Ganga river in Bihar’s Buxar district on Monday. “The government is unable to provide treatment, vaccines and even honourable last rites to the deceased,” Maken said, as he asked the government to shed the arrogance and help the people.

The party said the BJP should follow ‘Rajdharma’ as the Congress is only doing its duty and the government should accept its mistake in handling the pandemic and start free vaccination for all.

NSUI files ‘missing person’ report with police on Amit Shah NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (IANS): National Students Union of India (NSUI) has filed a ‘missing person report against Union Hone Minister Amit Shah with the Delhi Police, over the ‘disappearance of the country’s Home Minister at the time of the pandemic.

NSUI general secretary Nagesh Kariyappa filed the complaint against Shah with the Parliament Street police station. Kariyappa said that politicians are supposed to serve the nation, and not run away from a crisis situation.

He said that when the country is suffering from a deadly pandemic and the citizens are facing a crisis, it is the duty of the politicians to be accountable, not only towards the government of India or the BJP, but also towards the people of the country.

NSUI national secretary and in-charge of its media and communication

wing, Lokesh Chugh, said that until 2013, the politicians were responsible towards the citizens, but things changed totally after the BJP came to power in 2014, and now the ‘second person in command’ in the Central government is ‘missing’ amid the pandemic.

Chugh alleged that when people need the government to take care of them, its office-bearers are nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Kariyappa also said that the entire country is suffering from a disastrous pandemic and all that the people need now is the government to support the citizens and be answerable for its deeds.

The current government has failed to do so and as a result the NSUI has filed a missing person complaint against the Home Minister, and is waiting for the government to answer to its people, Kariyappa added.

Journalists must be treated as frontline staff for COVID vaccination: Fadnavis MUMBAI, MAY 12 (PTI): Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday demanded that journalists, photographers and camerapersons be included in the frontline workers category to get them inoculated against coronavirus.

In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the BJP leader said at least 12 states in the country have recognised journalists and camerapersons as frontline workers and vaccinated them. “Some 12 states in the country have recognised journalists and camerapersons as frontline workers and given them the vaccine.

Unfortunately, the decision is still pending in Maharashtra,” Fadnavis said.

Several media persons have succumbed to COVID19 in the first and second waves of the pandemic, he said.

“It is our duty to take care of journalists. Once ACHIEVERS ACADEMY

Registration started for NPSC PRELIMS ONLINE Test Series Registration ends: 14th May For DETAILS, contact 9378129625/ 9366942624

DP-2364

Rain, thunderstorm likely in several parts of India in next 3-4

‘No Photography’ signboard put at the construction site of Central Vista Project, in New Delhi. (PTI)

and implement these measures. “Unfortunately, your government has either ignored or refused all these suggestions. This only compounded the situation to reach such an apocalyptic human tragedy,” they said.

Without going into all the “acts of commission and omission” by the Central government that have brought the country to such a “tragic pass”, the opposition leaders demanded that some measures suggested by them must be undertaken on a war footing. “ P r o c u r e va c c i n e s centrally from all available sources - global and domestic. Immediately begin a free, universal mass vaccination campaign across the country. Invoke compulsory licensing to expand domestic vaccine production.

Spend budgetary allocation of Rs 35,000 crores for the

It’s time to stand together and not to criticise, says Kapil Sibal

Riders with Scooty wanted for a delivery service with a monthly package of 25 thousand.

Contact 8837020038

DP-2390

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (PTI): Leaders of 12 opposition parties Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a free mass vaccination campaign against coronavirus, and a suspension of the central vista revamp project to aid the fight against the pandemic.

In a joint letter to the prime minister, the opposition leaders, including some chief ministers, also demanded providing foodgrains to the needy, and giving Rs 6,000 per month to the unemployed. The leaders have also demanded a repeal of the three Central farm laws which, they claimed, will help protect lakhs of ‘annadatas’ (food-growers) from becoming the victims of pandemic.

A large number of farmers are sitting in protest at three borders of Delhi,

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

LAND FOR SALE

OLD SHOWUBA AREA Near Foothill Road/4 Lane 5 Puras i) Per sq. ft. ` 170/ii) Per sq. ft. ` 90/iii) 4 Lane touched - ` 370/Price Negotiable Contact No. : (+91) 9856603713 9612242850 DP-2361

Devendra Fadnavis

they are recognised as frontline workers, they will get prioritised in the vaccination drive,” he said.

Journalists visit hospiRegd. No. 474/2021

tals, crematoriums and other places to highlight problems faced by the common man during the pandemic, the leader of opposition said.

“They are involved in sensitising people about COVID- 19 appropriate behaviour, physical distancing and other norms. Many journalists cannot work from home. Hence, there should be no further delay in including them in frontline workers category, so they get vaccinated,” he said.

AFFIDAVIT

Date 12-05-2021

I, Smti. VIBOLI ZHIMO, wife of Army No. - 12994080Y Hav H Kiyelu Kiho, resident of Diphupar Village, Dimapur, Nagaland do hereby solemnly swear and declares as under:1. That I am a bonafide citizen of Indian and a permanent resident of the above mentioned address.

2. That my correct and official name is VIBOLI ZHIMO. 3. That in my husband's service book record my name has been erroneously entered as VIBOLI KIHO instead of VIBOLI ZHIMO. 4. That the names VIBOLI ZHIMO and VIBOLI KIHO refers to one and same person only.

5. That, henceforth, I shall be known, addressed and used by my name as VIBOLI ZHIMO for all my purpose(s).

6. That this affidavit is to be treated as a piece of evidence before the authority concerned as and when necessary.

7. That the above statements are true to my knowledge and nothing has been concealed thereof.

Deponent Sworn before me on this 12th day of May, 2021.

NOTARY PUBLIC DP-2394 IN THE COURT OF PRINCIPAL DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE DIMAPUR :: NAGALAND S/C. NO. 286/2021

NOTICE

NOTICE INVITING CLAIMS/OBJECTIONS OF OTHER CLAIMANT(S) FOR ISSUE OF SUCCESSION CERTIFICATE UNDER PART-1 OF INDIAN SUCCESSION ACT 1925.

Whereas application under Succession Act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate/pension benefits of Late Khehoni has been applied by Shri/Smti Aloni V Awomi D/o Khehoni R/o H.No. GHS Colony Purana Bazar 'A', Dimapur, Nagaland for possession of: 1. Family Pension benefits etc.

2. 1173666993 SBI Saving Account Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the estate/pension benefits of the said deceased may if she/he so desire appear in this court on or before the said day of 14-06-2021.

Given under the hand and seal of the court on this the 12-05-2021.

DP-2386

Principal District & Sessions Judge Dimapur :: Nagaland

Israel-Gaza violence: Netanyahu vows to intensify attacks

Covid caseload tops 159.3mn globally

WASHINGTON, MAY 12 (IANS): The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 159.3 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.31 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 159,305,473 and 3,312,199 respectively.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 32,773,387 and 582,791, respectively, according to the CSSE. In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 22,992,517 cases.

The other worst countries with over 3 million cases are Brazil (15,282,705), France (5,861,384), Turkey (5,059,433), Russia (4,840,948), the UK (4,455,440), Italy (4,123,230), Spain (3,586,333), Germany (3,547,901), Argentina (3,191,097) and Colombia (3,031,726), the CSSE figures showed.

In terms of deaths, Brazil comes second with 425,540 fatalities.

Smoke caused by Israeli airstrikes are seen at a residential building in Gaza City, early Wednesday, May 12. (AP/PTI)

blows it did not expect,” Netanyahu had said hours earlier in remarks after a meeting with military officials.

An Israeli militar y spokesperson said that at least 20 members from the two groups have been killed so far in Gaza, including senior officials, and some 150 missile-launchers had been destroyed.

Many of the targets

were located in places where civilians reside, spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said, so civilian casualties could not be ruled out, though the army was trying hard to avoid them.

Rocket warning sirens were a persistent sound across Israeli communities.

The greater Tel Aviv area was in the cross-hairs of Palestinian militants, who sent a barrage of rockets

towards the coastal metropolis, marking the heaviest attack the city has faced so far. The rocket fire prompted flights to be halted at Israel’s main international airport outside of the city. The Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv was closed to landings and departures due to the attacks; flights were diverted to Cyprus.

One person was killed on the outskirts of Tel Aviv

K Y M C

to properly launch, the Israeli military said Tuesday evening. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for the attacks, which it said were in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on a high-rise residential building in the western part of the Gaza Strip. The apartment belonged to a member of Islamic Jihad, according to witnesses.

In total, the Gaza Health Ministry put the death toll in the latest round of violence at 28, including 10 children. More than 100 people were injured, it said.

According to local media and witness reports, three children were killed by Israeli airstrikes and others by misdirected rockets fired by extremists.

Israel said it was targeting rocket production, storage and training facilities as well as military posts.

The airstrikes and rocket attacks followed violent clashes in recent days at Jerusalem’s holy site known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims.

LONDON, MAY 12 (PTI): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced a “full and independent” public inquiry into his government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, set to begin in the first half of 2022. In a statement to members of Parliament during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session in the House of Commons, Johnson said the inquiry will be able to take oral evidence under oath and put the government’s response to the crisis last year under the microscope.

The move follows calls from the opposition for such a probe, with demands for it to include consultation with families affected by the pandemic over the past year.

According to Johns Hopkins university data, the deadly virus has so far infected 4,455,446 people and claimed 127,890 lives in the UK. “I can confirm today that the government will establish an independent public inquiry on a statutory basis, with full powers

Boris Johnson

under the Inquiries Act of 2005, including the ability to compel the production of all relevant materials, and take oral evidence in public, under oath,” Johnson said.

“We will consult the devolved administrations before finalising scope and detailed arrangements, so that this Inquiry can consider all key aspects of the UK response. This process will place the state’s actions under the microscope,” he said. Pointing to the scale of the undertaking which would impose “significant burden” on the national health service (NHS), the UK PM said the right moment for the inquiry to begin would be in Spring 2022.

Nepali Congress to stake claim to form government World’s largest cooling stations installed in Grand Mosque

KATHMANDU, MAY 12 (PTI): Main Opposition party, the Nepali Congress, has decided to stake a claim for the prime minister’s post and is engaged in hectic parleys with other parties to conclude a deal ahead of Thursday’s deadline issued by the President to political parties to form a new government as the one headed by KP Sharma Oli lost a crucial trust vote.

The decision to form a new government was taken after the office bearers of the Nepali Congress (NC) met on Tuesday under the leadership of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The Office of President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Monday said she has decided to invite parties to form a majority government pursuant to Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal.

On Tuesday, Deuba held a meeting with the opposition leaders and discussed ways to form a new government under his leadership.

The meeting was attended by CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘’Prachanda’’ and Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP-N) second president Upendra Yadav.

Sher Bahadur Deuba

Prachanda indicated that his party would support Deuba to become Prime Ministerial candidate.

However, JSP-N with its 32 seats in the 271member House of Representatives is divided on the issue of supporting Deuba as the new prime minister.

Nepali Congress with 61 seats in the House of Representatives and Maoist Centre with 49 seats cannot form a majority government without the support of JSP-N. Although the second president of JSP-N has assured to support Deuba’s candidacy, first president of the Party Mahanta Thakur is against the idea.

“Let’s make such a person the new Prime Minister who is not from the ex-PM’’s club to form a na-

tional government,” senior leader of JSP-N Baburam Bhattarai tweeted, giving a blow to Deuba’s candidacy.

“The JSP-N is divided on the issue. We hope that the JSP-N will support us in forming the government by the Thursday deadline,” NC Joint General Secretary Prakash Sharan Mahat told reporters after the meeting on Tuesday.

Deuba also hopes to influence lawmakers of the CPN- UML faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal to help it form the government, The Himalayan Times reported.

If the JSP-N does not support the NC, the party hopes to influence 28 lawmakers of the UML’s Nepal-Khanal faction to resign en masse.

Covid catastrophe ‘could have been prevented’: IPPPR

G E N E VA , M AY 1 2 (AGENCIES): The catastrophic scale of the Covid19 pandemic could have been prevented, an independent global panel concluded Wednesday, but a “toxic cocktail” of dithering and poor coordination meant the warning signs went unheeded.

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR) said a series of bad decisions meant Covid-19 went on to kill at least 3.3 million people so far and devastate the global economy.

Institutions “failed to protect people” and sciencedenying leaders eroded public trust in health interventions, the IPPPR said in its long-awaited final report.

Early responses to the outbreak detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019 “lacked urgency”, with February 2020 a costly “lost month” as countries failed to heed the alarm, said the panel.

To tackle the current pandemic, it called on the richest countries to donate a billion vaccine doses to the poorest.

And the panel also called on the world’s wealthiest nations to fund new

in rocket attack. According to media reports, a woman was killed in the town of Rishon Lezion when she was hit directly. The Zaka aid organization also confirmed her death.

The rockets were fired toward Tel Aviv after the Israeli army destroyed a building containing offices of members of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip. Residents of the building were warned by Israeli forces before the attack and told to leave, witnesses said.

A Hamas spokesman had earlier threatened a “harsh” rocket attack on Tel Aviv if the Hanadi Tower building was destroyed. In the southern city of Ashkelon, two women were killed when their homes were struck, according to the Zaka aid organization.

Impacts were also reported on residential buildings in Ashkelon as well as a school where no lessons were being conducted.

In total, Gaza militants aimed around 480 rockets towards Israel over 24 hours.

Of these, some 200 were intercepted and 150 failed

UK’s PM announces COVID-19 public inquiry

organisations dedicated to preparing for the next pandemic.

Delay, hesitation and denial: The report was requested by World Health Organization (WHO) member states last May. The panel was jointly chaired by former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The report, “Covid-19: Make it the Last Pandemic”, argued that the global alarm system needed overhauling to prevent a similar catastrophe.

“The situation we find ourselves in today could have been prevented,” Sirleaf told reporters.

“It is due to a myriad of failures, gaps and delays in preparedness and response.”

The report said the emergence of Covid-19 was characterised by a mixture of “some early and rapid action, but also by delay, hesitation, and denial.

“Poor strategic choices, unwillingness to tackle inequalities and an uncoordinated system created a toxic cocktail which allowed the pandemic to turn into a cata-

strophic human crisis.”

The threat of a pandemic had been overlooked and countries were woefully unprepared to deal with one, the report found.

Vaccine ultimatum: The panel did not spare the WHO, saying it could have declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) -- its highest level of alarm -- on January 22, 2020.

Instead, it waited eight more days before doing so.

Nevertheless, given countries’ relative inaction, “we might still have ended up in the same place”, said Clark.

It was only in March after the WHO described it as a pandemic -- a term that is not officially part of its alert system -- that countries were jolted into action.

As for the initial outbreak, “there were clearly delays in China -- but there were delays everywhere”, she added.

Without the lag between the first identification in Wuhan and the PHEIC declaration -- and then the “lost month” of February 2020 -- “we believe we wouldn’t be looking at an accelerating pandemic, as

we have for the last 15 or 16 months or so. As simple as that”, said Clark.

The panel made several recommendations on how to address the current pandemic.

Rich, well-vaccinated countries should provide the 92 poorest territories in the Covax scheme with at least one billion vaccine doses by September 1, and more than two billion by mid-2022, it said.

The G7 industrialised nations should pay 60 percent of the $19 billion ($15 billion euros) required to fund vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics via the WHO’s Access to Covid Tools Accelerator programme in 2021, it added.

Fellow G20 nations and others should provide the rest.

The WHO and the World Trade Organization should also get major vaccine-producing countries and manufacturers to agree voluntary licensing and technology transfers for Covid-19 vaccines, the panel said.

“If actions do not occur within three months, a waiver of... intellectual property rights should come into force immediately.”

I n t h a t c a s e, t h e House will be reduced to 243 members, and the NC and the CPN-MC will be able to form a coalition government with the help of 15 JSP-N lawmakers owing allegiance to Upendra Yadav and Baburam Bhattarai.

Mahanta, however, has warned Yadav against trying to split the party.

He threatened him with disciplinary action if he unilaterally backed the NC in its bid to form the new government, the report said.

After Oli lost the trust vote, the NC, the CPN -MC and the faction of the JSP led by Yadav urged President Bhandari to invoke Article 76 (2) of the Constitution to pave the way for the formation of a new government.

It says in cases where no party has a clear majority in the House, the President shall appoint as the prime minister a member of the House who can command the majority with the support of two or more parties in the House of Representatives.

M A K K A H , M AY 1 2 (IANS): As part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to provide high-quality services to visitors and pilgrims of the Holy Mosques using the latest technologies, the worlds largest cooling plant of its kind has been installed in Makkahs Grand Mosque to ensure that worshipers perform their rituals in the cool and fresh atmosphere inside Al-Haram.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques works on ensuring fresh air inside the Grand Mosque using ultraviolet light air purification technology. The filtration process is carried out nine times a day before releasing the well-treated fresh air into the mosque, the Saudi Gazette reported.

The air filtration process, which ensures 100 per cent air purity is carried out in three stages, namely: moving air into filters using fans, capturing pollutants and particles and then pushing back clean air into space.

The director of op-

eration and maintenance administration of the presidency, Mohsen Al-Salami, pointed out that there are two cooling stations inside the Grand Mosque which are the largest of their kind in the world: the Ajyad station, which produces 35,300 refrigeration tons of which about 24,500 refrigeration tons are used, and the new central station with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes of refrigeration.

The central station is currently feeding the Third Saudi Expansion as well as half of Mas’a (area for the

ritual of Sa’i between Safa and Marwa). This station will feed all facilities of the Grand Mosque in the future.

Al-Salami explained that the presidency also makes available backup cooling stations besides the main ones to preserve the set temperatures, in case of malfunction, and ensure the purity of the air inside the Grand Mosque, adding there is periodical maintenance of the air cooling system carried out by highly qualified engineers and technicians.

OFFICE OF THE

TAMLU VILLAGE STUDENTS' UNION Estd:1953

Dist. Longleng; Nagaland Motto: "Knowledge Courage Integration"

FELICITATION

FELICITATION T h e K h u g h o v i Vi l l a g e Council and GB's extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes of success to Shri Hojei Swu, Kilonser Member NPAC on being inducted to advisor to Collective Leadership (ACL). May God bless you with many more successes like this.

We also convey our special t h a n k s t o h i s E xc e l l e n c y President GPRN/NSCN and Hon'ble Ato Kilonser GPRN/NSCN. DP-2388

Henito Aye (Chairman, Khughovi Village Council)

With profound gratitude, the Tamlu Village Students' Union convey our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Wungtei Buchem, S/o Late Mokan Buchem and Mrs. Enung Phom on achieving Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical studies (OT) on the thesis: the Deuteronomistic History since 1943 (Martin North) a post colonial Hermeneutics from the margins in NEI. University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (UK) under the guidance of prof. Hugh Pyper, Prof. Casey Strine and Dr. Marina Bahra.

Going beyond the horizon in pursuit of goal, your dedication and determination have been an inspiration to many. Celebrating your achievement with Thanksgiving to God, we pray Almighty God continue to guide and use your life for the expansion of his Kingdom.

C SHAM-E PHOM PHONGTANG C PHOM President, TVSU Statistical Secretary, TVSU

DP-2392

T E L AV I V, M AY 1 2 (IANS): Hundreds of rockets were fired upon Israel from Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip throughout Tuesday, as Israel pummelled the tiny coastal territory with airstrikes and the death toll mounted on both sides.

The cross-border violence, which erupted on Monday following weeks of rising tensions in the contested city of Jerusalem, is the worst the region has experienced in years.

More than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the last day, including several children. Three Israelis died from Gaza rocket fire on Tuesday, DPA news agency reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks on Gaza, which have targeted some 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad positions since Monday, would intensify. “This operation will take time, but we will bring security back to the citizens of Israel,” he said late Tuesday.

Hamas, which rules the coastal strip, would “receive

7

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

DP-2395

K Y M C

8

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

Italian Open: Djokovic wins but Man City win 5th Premier League title in 10 yrs loses cool in rain-marred match MANCHESTER, MAY 12 (IANS): Manchester City were confirmed as Premier League champions once again after Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at home by Leicester City.

City missed the opportunity to secure a third league title under Pep Guardiola on Saturday when a missed penalty from Sergio Aguero proved costly as Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

United beat Aston Villa on Sunday and needed another victory to delay the celebrations once again -- but a side showing 10 changes could not see off the Foxes, who took an early lead through a fine volley from teenager Luke Thomas which was cancelled out by Mason Greenwood’s neat finish, DPA reports.

Caglar Soyuncu headed in a corner midway

File photo of Manchester teammates with the Premier League trophy.

through the second half to secure all three points, which left City as champions with three games still to play.

Even if United, set for a rescheduled league match against Liverpool on Thursday as well as the Europa League final,

could have produced the required performance, it would have only delayed City’s seemingly inevitable march towards the title.

“I have been in Spain, I have been in Germany, and I can say this is the toughest league by far,” Guardiola said in a video

posted on the Manchester City’s Twitter account.

“To achieve five Premier League (titles) in 10 years means a lot for this organization.”

Guardiola will now take his side to Newcastle on Friday safe in the knowledge of having delivered

another major trophy back to the Etihad Stadium, reclaiming the league crown from Liverpool.

The manager will relish the opportunity to celebrate with the club’s supporters when some are allowed into the ground for the final home match of the league season on May 23.

“I am looking forward to the Everton game, we will lift the trophy with 10,000 people I think who will be coming to the stadium, it will be incredible,” he said.

“This business without these people is not the same, and hopefully next season we can enjoy it at all the Premier League teams.”

City will also have European dominance firmly in their sights, with the chance to set the record straight when they tackle Chelsea in the Champions League final on May 29.

UEFA begins disciplinary process Perera named Sri Lanka ODI captain against three Super League clubs COLOMBO, MAY 12 (IANS): Kusal Perera has been L O N D O N, M AY 1 2 (AGENCIES): UEFA has appointed disciplinary inspectors to conduct an investigation into Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus over their attempts to launch a breakaway Super League, European soccer’s governing body said on Wednesday.

The clubs are the only three of the original 12 to have not distanced themselves from the project following an outpouring of criticism.

“UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary inspectors have today appointed to conduct a

disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework

by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project,” UEFA said in a statement.

The Super League was launched with 12 clubs as founding members, but nine of them -- Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid -- have since backed out and reached a deal with UEFA.

named Sri Lanka’s ODI captain ahead of their three-match series against Bangladesh. Kusal Mendis, meanwhile, has been named as the 18-man squad’s vice-captain as regulars Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal were all dropped.

Sri Lanka have named a young squad for the series, which starts on May 23. “The team leaves for Bangladesh on the 16th May 2021 to take part in a 3-match ODI series,” said Sri Lanka Cricket. The first match will be played in May 23 after which the second match will be played on May 25. The third is scheduled to be played on May 28.

Squad: Kusal Perera (Captain), Kusal Mendis (Vice-Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka, Ashen Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Niroshan Dickwella, Dushmantha Chameera, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando.

Liverpool and Netherlands defender van Dijkrules himself out of Euro 2020

A M S T E R DA M , M AY 1 2 (AGENCIES):Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has ruled himself out of playing for the Netherlands at this summer’s European Championship.

The 29-year-old is recovering from surgery after suffering knee ligament damage in October.

“I feel physically it is the right decision t h a t I’ve decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my l a s t phase of rehab in the off-season,” said Netherlands captain Van Dijk.

“It’s tough, but I’m at peace with it.”

The Euros are taking place between 11 June and 11 July, having been delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Van Dijk said that he had not suffered a setback in his rehabilitation and he had

“progressed nicely” but, in the latest stage of his recovery, had decided he could not play at this summer’s tournament.

“I think the decision to not go is the right decision in the grand scheme of things,” added Van Dijk, speaking to the Liverpool website.

“I am very gutted to miss the Euros, to miss the European Championship and leading out my own country there, but things have been like they h ave and I have to accept it we all have to accept it. “ I think the decision to not go is the right decision in the grand scheme of things.”

Van Dijk’s absence for Liverpool, who are sixth in the Premier League as they struggle to secure a Champions League spot, has been compounded by long-term injuries to fellow centre-backs Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

N E W D E L H I , M AY 1 2 (IANS): Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin should both be playing in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand for their prowess with the bat as much as their ability to take wickets, said Pragyan Ojha.

Ojha said that with India having no fast-bowling all-rounder in the squad, Jadeja in particular gives them an extra option in the batting order.

“They should play, both of them. Because both can bat, both have the experience of bowling on any track. The biggest plus point is Jadeja can bat up the order. The way he is performing. Mind you if you look at his domestic record, he’s got three triple hundreds.

I think he can bat long and Ashwin has got international hundreds also. I feel if there’s a little chance where you can play both the spinners, you should play. They have enough experience to win you games on any

Sporting’s captain Sebastian Coates, center, lifts the trophy at the end of the Portuguese League soccer match between Sporting CP and Boavista FC at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, May 11. (AP/PTI)

waving flags and shouting “Champions” as hundreds of cars beeped their horns in celebration.

Sporting striker Paulinho struck the only goal of the game in the 36th minute by sliding in to meet a Nuno Mendes cross and steer the ball into the roof of the net.

Ruben Amorim’s side saw out the win to claim the club’s 19th league title and end rivals Porto and Ben-

fica’s 19-year stranglehold on the championship.

Sporting, who are still unbeaten with two games left, have 82 points after 32 matches, an unassailable eight-point advantage over second-placed Porto.

Soon after the match, fans spread across the city and thousands gathered in Lisbon’s main square, Marques do Pombal, one of the stops where Sporting players paraded the trophy

conditions, play was stopped at 5-5. When they returned to the court, both players held serve comfortably and Djokovic closed out the win on his first match point in the tie-break.

“I kind of kept the match under my control for most part of the two sets, then served for the match; very sloppy service game,” Djokovic said. “He played well, made a great passing shot to come back. I was stressed out in the end obviously, but I think it was the right call to stop the match.”

Djokovic improves to 4-0 in his ATP head-to-head against Fritz as he looks to defend his crown in Rome where he is 56-9 with five titles.

Osaka loses to Jessica Pegula; Serena Williams returns

Japanese world number two Naomi Osaka suffered her second straight defeat on clay by losing to Jessica Pegula in the Italian Open second round.

Osaka, who received a first-round bye, lost 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to the American world number 31 in Rome.

After a tight opener where she missed three set points, Osaka’s level dropped in the second and Pegula took control.

Pegula, 27, kept her focus and discipline to take advantage of Osaka’s increasingly wayward hitting, breaking for 4-2 when Osaka walloped a wild volley wide and going on

to seal the biggest win of her career.

Serena Williams plays the 1,000th match of her career later on Wednesday when she faces Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska, a surprise French Open semifinalist last year.

The 39-year-old American, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, returns to competitive action for the first time since her Australian Open semi-final defeat by Osaka on 18 February.

Meanwhile, Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty reached the third round by beating Kazahkstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova 6-4 6-1.

India should play both Jadeja and Ashwin in WTC final: Ojha

Sporting title celebrations marred as fans clash with riot cops

L I S B O N, M AY 1 2 (AGENCIES): Sporting fans celebrating their club being crowned Portuguese champions for the first time in nearly two decades clashed with riot police in the early hours of Wednesday.

Fans had gathered on Tuesday evening outside the Sporting stadium in Lisbon where their team beat Boavista 1-0, jumping with happiness, hugging,

ROME, MAY 12 (IANS): Serbia’s Novak Djokovic got past American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-6(5) to advance to the third round of Italian Open but not before the world No. 1 had lost his cool against the chair umpire for not suspending the match because of rain.

“How much do you wanna play? I asked you three times, you are not checking anything,” the 33-year-old shouted at umpire Nacho Forcadell on Tuesday.

Forcadell finally relented and the players were sent off the court at 5-5 in the second set. When they returned three hours later, Djokovic won the set 7-6(5).

Djokovic and Fritz’s most recent encounter was a five-set battle in the third round of the Australian Open, but this time Djokovic came out sharp. The Serbian broke Fritz’s first service game, and made 70 per cent of his first serves in the opening set to comfortably close it out.

“It was a very strange match with strange conditions. Obviously, playing under the rain non-stop for almost two full sets, it is challenging for both me and him,” said Djokovic.

The second set began in nearly identical fashion with Djokovic breaking in the first game to establish early dominance. The world No. 1 had to step up his level to save two break points at 4-3, but then Fritz went for broke on Djokovic’s next service game at 5-4 and was rewarded for it by evening out the match.

After already playing most of the match in rainy

on an open-top bus.

Some broke down metal barriers put in place to keep them from getting too close to the bus, prompting riot police to fire rubber bullets and use batons to disperse the crowd.

Ambulances rushed to the square to help several fans who were injured.

Some fans threw glass bottles and smoke bombs towards police officers and journalists.

No fans were allowed to enter the stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Outside the stadium and around Lisbon some supporters ditched face masks, while maintaining socialdistancing became close to impossible as more people showed up.

Police had warned fans not to gather in large groups and urged them to practice social distancing and wear a mask at all times, with spokesman Domingos Antunes saying he hoped the celebration would not turn into a “nightmare”.

Although the title celebrations ended with clashes, some younger fans amongst the huge gathering outside the stadium on Tuesday evening had an unforgettable night: the first time they experienced their club winning the title.

“It is an incredible happiness that cannot be explained,” overjoyed 20year-old DiogoCarregosa told Reuters. “I waited a long time for this moment.”

wicket,” Ojha told Sports Today.

“Overall, it’s a fantastic team.

Even I was following HanumaVihari. Very thoughtful of him to go and play some county cricket.

You know you get acclimatised to the conditions. That’s very important,” he added.

Jadeja will be making his comeback to the Test team after being sidelined in the second Test against Australia due to a finger injury. The injury forced him to miss the four-Test series at home against England but he hit the ground running for Chennai Super Kings in the 2021 Indian Premier League.

Ashwin, on the other hand, has experienced a resurgence with the bat in recent matches, helping India to a draw in the third Test against Australia by fending off 128 balls and finishing unbeaten on 39. He then scored 106 against England in the second Test in Chennai in February.

Travel restrictions hurt India thrower Chopra’s Tokyo preparation Neeraj Chopra

NEW DELHI, MAY 12 ( AG E N C I E S ) : N e e r a j Chopra has been training hard for this year’s Olympic Games but India’s top javelin thrower fears not being able to compete internationally might compromise his bid for a medal in Tokyo.

The 23-year-old has been starved of international competition since securing his Olympic qualification in South Africa early last year, which followed an entire 2019 lost because of an elbow injury.

Chopra recorded his personal best of 88.07 metres in a domestic event in

Patiala in March this year but has not been able to assess himself against his international rivals.

With the world’s second most populous nation grappling with a devastating second wave of the COVID19 pandemic, several countries have banned arrivals from India, while many others have announced lengthy quarantines for the Indians.

“Competition is as important as training and I badly need opportunities to compete abroad,” Chopra told a virtual news conference organised by the Sports Authority of India on

Wednesday.

“When you train abroad, you don’t have any distractions, and you have a competition almost every second week. I miss that.”

Chopra had plans to train in Turkey this month but that camp has been suspended as he and other Indian athletes would have to complete two weeks of quarantine on arrival.

“In some countries, you have to quarantine for 21 days, which is simply not an option so close to the Games,” said Chopra.

Instead, the Asian and Commonwealth gold medallist will continue to train in the north Indian city of Patiala where the temperature is rising.

“It would only get hotter in June. I just hope we had an indoor facility here.”

His personal best would have been good enough for a bronze medal in 2016 Olympics but Chopra knows he would have to do better to be on the podium in Tokyo.

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

K Y M C