EasternChroniWINDOW TO THE EAST cle WEATHERWATCH IRAN ENVOY DROPS APPEAL TO RBI UNLEASH LIQUIDITY BCCI’S CARAVAN MODEL, Max 27°c jail in Belgium, no prisoner swap support to suppress Covid laxity come under fire Min 20°c seen P 6 turbulence P 9 P 10 Humidity 76% VOL XII, ISSUE 350 PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM SILCHAR GUWAHATI KOLKATA PAGES: 10 epaper at: www.easternchronicle.net PRICE `9 THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021 SPOTLIGHT 4,826 NEW POSITIVE CASES IN LAST 24 HOURS Oxygen leaks from tanker enroute to Covid facilities Centre warns of Covid situation in Assam MUMBAI: A tanker trans- porting liquid medical ox- ygen (LMO) to COVID-19 alarming, 55 more die facilities 'inevitable' third wave witnessed a leak due to AGENCIES given the higher levels of circu- that the disease is not spreading AGENCIES overfilling lating virus, but it is not clear on through animals, bot through in Mahar- NEW DELHI: The government on what time-scale this phase three human to human transmission. GUWAHATI: Assam’s Covid19 ashtra's Sat- Wednesday said that a third will occur. Union Health Ministry Joint situation remains grim as the ara district on wave of coronavirus pandem- We should be prepared Secretary Lav Agarwal said that state reported 55 more Covid19 Wednesday, police said. ic was "inevitable", although a for new waves," said K Vijay the foreign aid coming from deaths and 4,826 new positive The incident took time-frame for it could not be Raghavan, the principal scien- abroad is being monitored by a cases in the last 24 hours. place around 6.15 pm on predicted. tific advisor to the Centre. group of senior officials. The news has been confirmed Pune-Bengaluru National In a press briefing by the Member, NITI Ayog, Dr VK "Our technical wing has made by Assam health minister Highway in the jurisdiction Ministry of Health Affairs Paul requested "physicians' guidelines to see that what hos- Himanta Biswa Sarma in a tweet of the Satara police, when the on Wednesday, officials said and Bihar are among the states fraternity" to come forward pital would the equipment be on the state’s Covid19 status on tanker was... Pg 5 the long COVID wave of such that show increasing trend in and provide teleconsultations to suitable for. The equipment is Wednesday. "ferocity" that the country was daily cases, it said. people and families at home who being sent to hospitals where an The health minister of Assam Covid-19 cases increases manifold in Assam. experiencing currently "was not The government also said are infected with coronavirus. immediate need has been felt," informed that the new cases Meanwhile, Assam’s recovery tweeted. Detained separatist predicted". that 24 states and UTs show "The response to the changing he said. were confirmed out of 52,074 rate stood at 87.99%. Earlier on the day, health leader Ashraf dies Twelve states, including more than 15 per cent COVID virus remains the same. We need Agarwal also said that 11 tests. “Summary of 05/5/2021: minister Sarma visited the Maharashtra, Karnataka, positivity rate. to follow the COVID- appropri- districts in Maharashtra are On Wednesday, the state’s Today’s Total 4826. Overall railway coaches prepared by in hospital Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, have From May 1, 6.71 lakh people ate behaviour such as mask, showing continuous decline positivity rate increased to Positivity Percentage (4826 the Northeast Frontier Railway JAMMU: Prominent sepa- more than 1 lakh active COVID in the age group of 18-44 years in distancing, hygiene, no unnec- in COVID cases since the last 9.27%. cases out of 52074 test done = (NFR) to be used as Covid care ratist leader Mohammad cases, the government said. nine states have been adminis- essary meetings and staying at 14 days, while some districts Of the new cases, Kamrup 9.27%). Kamrup(M) 1383; Death Centre. Ashraf Sehrai, who was Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil tered the vaccines, it added. home," Dr Paul said. like Satara and Solapur show Metro district reported 1,383 55; Recovery Rate 87.99,” health Sarma informed that the arrested under the Public Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan "Phase three is inevitable In reply to a question, he said a continued increase... Pg 5 cases. minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Railway has... Pg 5 Safety Act in July last year, died at a hospital here on Wednesday, officials said. Mamata Banerjee is POOR PERFORMANCE IN MINORITY AREAS Nagaland’s six BJP Sehrai, 77, a close confi- 34 winning MLAs have criminal leader of the country: district BJP presidents dant of hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Kamal Nath BJP dissolves all minority to be removed Shah Geelani, was incar- records; double than 2016 cerated at the district jail in INDORE: Veteran Congress lead- KOHIMA: The longstanding Udhampur. Pg 5 AGENCIES er Kamal Nath on Wednesday morcha units in Assam issues within the Nagaland “OUT OF THE 34 WINNING CANDIDATES, AT LEAST described West Bengal Chief BJP unit reached a new peak GUWAHATI: Amidst the slogans 28 (22%) WINNING CANDIDATES HAVE DECLARED Minister Mamata Banerjee as AGENCIES as seven district presidents of Lockdown-like for ‘clean’ politics in the state, › the "leader of the country" who the party sought BJP National SERIOUS CRIMINAL CASES INCLUDING CASES RELATED TO Assam this time has elected at defeated all her opponents, in- GUWAHATI: The State BJP party President JP Nadda’s interven- restrictions in least 34 MLAs who have crim- MURDER, ATTEMPT TO MURDER, CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN cluding Prime Minister Naren- on Wednesday dissolves all its tion to be relieved from the re- Sikkim till May 16 inal records against them. ETC.” dra Modi and Central agencies Minority Morcha units after sponsibilities as district party The number of MLAs with like the CBI and the ED, in the its poor performance in minor- presidents. GANGTOK: Lockdown-like re- criminal records has doubled Assembly House of the state, cases. recently-held Assembly elec- ity inhabited areas in the re- Addressing a press confer- strictions were imposed in than of 2016 when there were some 27% MLAs have declared An ADR report released on tions in West Bengal. cent state assembly elections. ence, Yanthungo Kikon, pres- Sikkim till May 16 amid a some 14 MLAs with criminal criminal cases against them- Wednesday said, “Out of the 34 When asked by reporters on The decision to dissolve the Ranjeet Dass in its order has ident, BJP Wokha district, surge in COVID-19 cases, as records. selves. winning candidates, at least 28 the possibility of the TMC supre- Minority Morcha units in the strictly directed to dissolve all informed that six district presi- per an official order issued The Association for As per the ADR, it has wit- (22%) winning candidates have mo being pitted against the prime state was taken on the suggestion the Bharatiya Janata Party’s dents from Phek, Wokha, Peren, on Wednesday. Democratic Reforms (ADR) nessed a constant rise in the declared serious criminal cases minister in the 2024 Lok Sabha of State BJP president Ranjeet Assam Pradesh Minority Noklak, Tuensang, and Kohima The restrictions, which Assam election watch latest numbers of legislatures in the including cases related to mur- elections, the Madhya Pradesh Kumar Dass, a party statement Morcha State unit, District units wrote to Nadda with a plea to include the imposition of analysis found that in the new state assembly with criminal der, attempt to murder, Pg 5 Congress... Pg 5 said here. and Mandal units... Pg 5 remove them... Pg 5 prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CRPC, will come into effect on Thursday, Three wards of it said. Educational institutions BJP weathers TMC storm in Rangpo, Melli and Ramam borders will be... Pg 5 shut indefinitely north Bengal, maintains 2019 gains Guwahati declared as Arunachal Guv CHRONICLE NEWS SERVICE AGENCIES seats in Cooch Behar where five ‘containment zones expresses concern over people were killed, including GUWAHATI: In light of the rising KOLKATA: Though the BJP four in firing by CISF personnel, AGENCIES Hatigaon area. spurt in Covid cases COVID-19 cases in the state, failed to dislodge Mamata Ba- during the fourth phase of poll- The area which falls under the Government of Assam on nerjee from power, the saffron ing, while it bagged four of seven GUWAHATI: In the wake of the ward no 16 are- Fatasil area, ITANAGAR: Expressing con- Wednesday has directed to party managed to weather the constituencies in Jalpaiguri, second wave of the Covid-19 Bhaskar Nagar area, Barsapara cern over the spurt in COV- close all the educational insti- TMC storm emerging trium- five of six in Darjeeling and epidemic and rise in the pos- area, part of Dhirenpara area. ID-19 cases in Arunachal tutions in the state for an in- phant in 25 of 42 constituencies whitewashed the ruling party itivity of Covid19 to more Areas under ward no 8 are- Pradesh, Governor Brig definite period. in six districts of the region in in Alipurduar district which has The work of the RSS, helped than 10%, the Kamrup metro Bhutnath Area, Kumarpara (Retd) Dr B D Mishra on The education department the high- octane assembly elec- five assembly segments. influence tribal communities in district administration on area, Machkhowa area, part of Wednesday said strength- in the order stated, “Closure Biswa Sarma said, “Educational tions. However, the saffron party northern districts of the state, Wednesday announced three Athgaon area. ening of the health infra- of all Educational institu- institutions including, High Nevertheless, the result was emerged victorious from helping the BJP gain popularity municipal wards (28, 16 and 8) In the meanwhile, the Deputy structure is the need of the tions (Government and Non- school, Colleges, all will remain below BJPs impressive perfor- only one of nine seats in Uttar among people giving the party as ‘Containment Zones’ from 2 Commissioner of Kamrup Metro hour. Government), from Pre-primary closed in all districts of Assam mance in the 2019 Lok Sabha Dinajpur, and three of six in better results, compared to the pm on May 6 with immediate Biswajit Pegu has also asked to He also urged people to section to University level along for an indefinite period of time.” polls when the saffron camp was Dakshin Dinajpur. south, Maitra said. effect. strictly follow the SOPs provided adopt COVID-19 appropriate with Hostels and Coaching He also added that this is irre- ahead in 31 assembly segments The tally of winning seats for The saffron camp has devel- The area which falls under by the government and ensure behaviour... Pg 5 institutions from 6th May 2021 spective of the number of COVID in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, the saffron party in north Bengal oped its organisational strength Ward no 28 is – part of Barsajai one’s safety. The city in a span onwards until further orders.” cases in the districts. Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar looks "reasonable even after the in several north Bengal districts area, part of Basistha Grant of 20 days has recorded 17,690 Earlier in the day, health and Further, the order from the Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur. overall setback", political analyst and grown there organically, Area, part of Maidan Area, part COVID-19 positive cases and Tea estate in education minister Himanta government... Pg 5 The BJP won seven of nine Subhomay Maitra said. while in the south, Pg 5 of Barmataria area and part of over 100 deaths. Dibrugarh declared containment zone RAIDS AT WEDDING HALLS 3.5 magnitude Tea workers loyal to BJP, GUWAHATI: At least 90 work- earthquake jolts ers and staff members of a Tripura DM moved out of Agartala, tea garden in Assam’s Di- Assam brugarh district tested pos- GUWAHATI: An earthquake of minorities to Cong-AIUDF itive for COVID-19, prompt- probe panel reconstituted 3.5 magnitude on the Rich- ing the administration to ter Scale jolted Assam at AGENCIES prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha poll declare the tea estate as a AGENCIES Agartala to enable an impartial 7.22 pm on Wednesday. and consolidated its position containment zone. inquiry in the case. According to the National GUWAHATI: Tea garden work- in the community in the 2016 “The garden hospital and AGARTALA: West Tripura Dis- Yadav is accused of gross Center for Seismology (NCS), ers and minorities, the two assembly election. In the recent the two vacant... Pg 5 trict Magistrate Shailesh Ku- misconduct during the raids the earthquake occurred at a dominant vote banks in As- state election, it improved its mar Yadav, who forcefully on April 26, allegedly slapping a depth of 27 km. sam have remained loyal to tally winning 27 of the 37 seats stopped two wedding ceremo- priest, shoving one of the grooms The epicentre of the earth- the BJP-led alliance and Con- in the tea belt of the state seats. 5-day total lockdown nies being held in violation of and arresting everyone present quake was located 40 km gress-AIUDF respectively in Its alliance partner the AGP in East Khasi Hills the night curfew in place to at the weddings. west of Tezpur in Assam’s the 2021 assembly polls. won five constituencies domi- check the spread of Covid-19, Following the incident, the The tussle during wedding ceremony. Sonitpur district. The electoral result in the nated by the tea garden workers. SHILLONG: Despite contain- has been transferred to Belo- DM had issued a public apolo- File photo. “Earthquake of Magnitude: constituencies influenced by The Congress, which had four seats, three down from the ment measures taken by the nia in south Tripura district gy, only to say a day later that like singer Sonu Nigam, BJP’s 3.5, occurred on 05-05-2021, the two communities have enjoyed the unstinted support seven it had secured in 2016. Meghalaya government to adjoining Bangladesh. he stood by his actions. Chandigarh chapter, Vedic 19:22:12 IST, Lat: 26.68 & Long: remained unchanged since the of this formidable vote bank for One seat was won by the curb the spread second wave The Tripura High Court The video of the incident went Brahman Samaj, and other 92.39, Depth: 27 Km, Location: 2016 elections. decades since independence, newly floated party Raijor Dal’s of COVID-19, the total num- Wednesday said it was imper- viral on social media, trigger- bodies who called for Yadav’s Sonitpur, Pg 5 The BJP had begun making put up a dismal performance president Akhil Gogoi, who ber of active cases in the state ative to shift the DM out of ing a backlash from celebrities suspension. Pg 5 inroads in the tea garden areas in Assam 2021. It bagged only fought as an... Pg 5 has breached the 2,000-mark, forcing the government to opt for total lockdown in the HEAD OF COVID-19 TASK FORCE SAYS, East Khasi Hills district. At 80%, AIUDF had the best strike rate Meghalaya chief minis- ter Conrad K Sangma on AGENCIES won nine with a strike rate Nationwide lockdown remains an option Wednesday said that Shillong of 35%. In the last elections, STRIKE RATEAIUDF: has a positivity rate of 17% and GUWAHATI: It was not the BJP, it contested 28 seats and won 80% (CONTESTED AGENCIES same time in addition to this East Khasi Hills is at 12%, forc- but the minority-based All 14. The UPPL contested eight › range of restrictions if any- ing the government to take India United Democratic and won six with a strike rate 20, WON 16,UPPL: 75% NEW DELHI: The Centre on thing more is required, those stricter measures. Pg 5 Front (AIUDF) which had of 75%. In 2016, it contested four (CONTESTED 8, WON 6) Wednesday hinted that a na- options are always being dis- the best strike rate in the As- and drew a blank. BJP: 65.21% (CONTESTED tional lockdown remains an cussed and those decisions, as sam elections. The Congress contested 94 option to control the fierce being required, will be taken,” Nepal's Oli goverment The party contested 20 seats seats and won 29 with a strike 92, WON 60)AGP: 35% second wave of the Covid-19 said Paul. loses majority and won 16 with a strike rate of rate of 31%. In 2016, it contested (CONTESTED 26, WON 9) pandemic, amid a growing He, however, reiterated that 80%. The seats were in Bengali- the Congress-led grand alliance 122 seats and won 26. The BPF BPF: 33% (CONTESTED 12, clamour for tough restric- at the same time, it should be support Muslim majority regions of of 10 Opposition parties which had contested 12 seats and won tions to curb the chain of V K Paul, member of Niti Aayog. remembered that very signifi- Central and Lower Assam and had the AIUDF, the Bodoland four with a strike rate of 33%. WON 4) transmission. guidelines shared by the Union cant guidelines have already the Barak Valley of Southern People’s Front (BPF), the Left The Left contested four seats V K Paul, member (health) government last week, said that been issued to the states. Assam where the party holds and some smaller regional par- and won one with a strike rate seats, we would have won those of Niti Aayog, who also heads the states have already been Paul’s response comes at a sway. In 2016, the AIUDF had ties as components. of 25%. One seat had gone to an as well,” party general secre- the national Covid-19 task force, instructed to impose local time when a number of experts, contested 73 seats and won 13. The BJP won 60 of the 92 Independent candidate. tary, Haidar Hussain Bora told said in response to a question night curfews and restrictions specialists from developed The BJP-Asom Gana seats it contested with a strike For the AIUDF, the sterling The New Indian Express. in a press briefing by the Union in districts with over 10 % test countries and opposition lead- Parishad (AGP)-United rate of 65.21%. In 2016, it had performance has not sunk in According to him, the health ministry that this option positivity rate and more than ers have said that a nationwide People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) won an equal number of seats yet. AIUDF had sought to contest (of a nationwide lockdown), is 60 % occupancy of ICU beds. lockdown may be the only combine had won 75 of the contesting from 84 seats. The “If the Congress had allowed in 26-27 seats but the Congress “being discussed”. “..in that direction there is a option left for India in the wake Full Story on Page 5 state’s 126 seats as against 50 by AGP contested 26 seats and us to contest in five-six more was not ready... Pg 5 Paul, while listing out the clear balanced advisory...at the of a tsunami of... Pg 5