Mizoram extends State struggles to cope with lockdown for 8 days BJP pursuing patch-up with estranged NPP? Newmai News Network IMPHAL/, The outcome of the soaring COVID-19 cases Jun 21 meeting was not immedi- AIZAWL, Jun 21: As the ately known, but leaders of number of cases of COVID- The Bharatiya both parties exuded confi- 19 rises steadily in Mizoram, (BJP) and National People’s dence of “carrying on from the State Government has Party (NPP) are pursuing the where we left off”. extended the ongoing lock- possibility of patching up in Officials said the two down for 8 days in Aizawl to bring the had checked into a high- Municipal area, all district Nongthombam Biren end hotel designated as an headquarters and contain- Government back on rails. institutional quarantine cen- ment zones. This means that The NPP, which had four tre for a meeting with key the lockdown is extended till MLAs in the BJP-led coali- leaders of both parties in June 30. The ongoing tion Government, had Manipur. lockdown will lapse on June pulled out on June 17 along Mr Sangma had before 22. with five other legislators, leaving for Imphal said the According to Mizoram including three of the BJP. Manipur issue was brought By Our Staff Reporter located at Lamboi Khong- Government sources, the This reduced the Biren Gov- to the notice of central lead- nangkhong and Standard lockdown effective from ernment to a minority, but ership of the National IMPHAL, Jun 21 : With College, Kongba into June 23 will have more the BJP pulled off the Rajya Democratic Alliance in limited numbers of beds and COVID care centres. stringent measures than the Sabha election two days . “Efforts are on to re- COVID-19 treatment The State will have to present one. Official sources later with the support of a NPP vindicates withdrawal solve this,” he added. facilities, the State is literally plan and increase the said that such moves have few MLAs of the Opposi- Former struggling as the number of number of COVID Care become extremely impor- tion Congress, which had and senior Congress leader positive cases for the dreaded centres and number of beds tant given the situation in staked claim to form an al- from BJP-led Govt Okram Ibobi insisted that disease continues to rise. in line with suggestions the State. ternative coalition IMPHAL, Jun 21 ernment in an autocratic ment turned deaf ears to the BJP-led Government A late report informed from experts, said the offi- The latest order of the government. manner and has refused to give a name to the coali- had lost majority and said a that two doctors and a cial and continued many State Government issued on On Sunday, Meghalaya National People's Party form a steering committee tion Government. trial of strength would make nurse working at Bishnupur experts have opined that the Sunday said that all interna- Chief Minister and NPP na- (NPP) has spelled out a in order to bring confidence After the formation of things clear. He was also district hospital have been number of the positive cases tional and inter-State bor- tional president Conrad K. number of reasons on why amongst the coalition part- the Government, BJP had critical of Governor Najma tested positive for COVID- is likely to decline only af- ders will continue to remain Sangma and Finance the party withdrew its ners despite NPP's repeated forgotten the existence of Heptulla for taking time in 19. ter August. sealed. However, entry Minister Himanta Biswa support to the present reminders to the CM, it NPP and the role they summoning a special ses- According to an official State's COVID-19 pa- points including Vairengte Sarma took a special flight Government led by N Biren said. played during the forma- sion of the Assembly. of the Health Department, tients are currently treated at and Bairabi on the to Manipur capital Imphal Singh while Manipur and When the Government tion of the coalition “The way Leishemba there is a big issue coming RIMS, JNIMS, UNACCO Mizoram-Assam border and to hammer out an agree- at large, are facing was formed in March, Government, it said while Sanajaoba, the BJP candi- up regarding accommoda- COVID Care Centre and Kanhmun on the State bor- ment between the legislators COVID-19 pandemic. 2017, NPP had proposed to claiming that they were date, was elected as the tion capacity for COVID-19 District Hospital, Bishnu- der with will not be of the two parties. State NPP president, draw up a "Common Mini- neither consulted while Rajya Sabha Member shows patients at RIMS and JNIMS pur. sealed for transportation of Reports said that Thangminlien Kipgen, in a mum Programme '' for taking any major decision that the coalition Ministry owing to rapid and continu- Manipur will witness essential commodities. Himanta Biswa Sarma press note maintained that development of the State on for the State nor were they still commands majority,” ous spike in the number of COVID-19 peak in the The order also said that talked with Chief Minister the BJP-led Government priority basis, it said while invited to any National or Mr Biren said. positive cases in the State. month of July as the results the Lengpui Airport will re- N Biren and other Ministers in Manipur was formed in adding that such proposal State functions. The Manipur Assembly The number of positive for all pending tests will be main operational. Besides including Th Biswajit sepa- 2017 with the support of 4 was not materialised in spite NPP while citing the has 60 members but only cases for the contagion is out by then and another set the stranded people of the rately while other parties and an inde- of repeated reminders. case of removal of portfo- 52 could vote for the Rajya 900 till the filling of this re- of State natives stranded in State, ‘outsiders’ who have met NPP legislators and pendent MLA. But still, The party also decried lios from former Deputy Sabha polls on June 19. port. various parts of the country BJP is running the Gov- that the BJP-led Govern- Chief Minister (Contd P7) (Contd on P 7) The Government is how- will be brought back, he permissions from the Home ...... leaders of Manipur...... Department will be allowed ever minutely monitoring said. to enter the State. and making all efforts to Meanwhile, sources in- The order also said that Earthquake rattles Mizoram deal with the situation, the formed that 39 out of 1030 only those shops dealing in Landslide hits rain-battered NH 37 AIZWAL, Jun 21: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on official said while adding samples tested at JNIMS to- vegetable seeds, essential By Our Staff Reporter the Richter scale shook Mizoram, adjoining Northeastern that the COVID-19 State day were found positive for commodities, farming tools, States and areas bordering Myanmar on Sunday. Consultative Committee COVID-19 while 18 out of spare parts of vehicles, IMPHAL, Jun 21: Another There was no report of any damage or casualty, officials formed to combat the 1221 samples tested positive pharmacies and clinics will 50 feet long road stretch of said. dreaded disease has deliber- at RIMS. be allowed to open in “re- National Highway-37 at K According to an official of the India Meteorological ated on the issue and According to a press re- stricted areas”. Otherwise, Sinam village in Kangpokpi Department (IMD), the tremor hit Mizoram capital Aizawl, possible means to increase lease issued by the shops and commercial ac- district has been cut off due to parts of the mountainous State and adjoining areas of the accommodation and COVID-19 Common Con- tivities in other parts of the a landslide since yesterday. Northeastern States at 4.16 p.m.. treatment capacity. trol Room, the numbers of State will continue as it is. Speaking to media per- The epicentre of the quake that lasted a few seconds It may be mentioned that positive cases and active The order also said that sons today at its office at was at 35 km depth. The State had also witnessed an earth- the Consultative Committee cases are 897 and 591 re- tailoring shops, carpentry MG Avenue, Thangal Ba- quake measuring 5 on the Richter scale on Thursday night. has already proposed to spectively as of Sunday.

(Contd P 7) ...... shops and bakeries will be zar, Transporters and ...... Seismologists consider the mountainous convert the Trade Centre (Contd P7) allowed to operate. Drivers Council (TDC) president H Ranjit has ap- NSCN-KK pealed NHIDCL, the agen- trucks are stranded on the sponded to their demands cy which has been assigned Highway due to the land- positively. TT Haokip slams BJP, spills out grievances hideout busted with the road repairing slide. He also lauded the Trans- By Our Staff Reporter posts when they switched work, to complete the repair TDC will extend every port Directorate, MSPDCL sides, he said denouncing GUWAHATI, Jun 21: comments on social media Troops of Assam Rifles work within two to three possible help in repairing and PWD for installing IMPHAL, Jun 21: T days time by sending all the road stretch, he said. lamps inside ISBT complex Thangzalam Haokip on which projected them as busted a hideout of the Naga power-hungry. insurgent group Nationalist possible help and machin- Speaking further, he in- by working jointly on their Sunday mounted sharp ery. formed about their decision request. attacks on the BJP-led "It is unfortunate that Socialist Council of many are blaming us blindly Nagaland (Khole-Kitovi) He said that TDC and to call off the proposed pro- An F-17 crane and an Government and claimed Drivers’ Union teams have test of keeping trucks away excavator along with 10 that it is being run by "one or for switching sides in pur- (NSCN-KK) and appre- suit of plump posts, he said. hended two insurgents of inspected the landslide af- from the ISBT complex as TDC members are being sta- two person(s)". fected area. Many loaded He said the three MLAs While all MLAs want to Nationalist Socialist Council ...... the Government has re- tioned at ISBT (Contd P7) cut ties with the BJP and be Ministers and all Minis- of Nagaland-Reformation ters want to be the Chief (NSCN-R) in Arunachal resigned as MLAs as the Government failed to hear Patsoi, Henglep AC ex- party (BJP) is the first in the Minister, it is impossible to Pradesh's Changlang district Speaker calls for collective fight against COVID-19 give ministerial berths to all in two separate operations. and acknowledge their sug- MLA T Thangzalam said history of the State. tagion when the number of gestions and appeals. that severance of ties by There are many reasons the MLAs, he said. The troops of Assam Ri- positive cases has been "I will not delve into the fles under the aegis of the Speaking to media per- three ruling MLAs (includ- for the recent move, but soaring rapidly, Khem- sons at a Congress camp at ing him) from their own they never eyed higher things the Govt (Contd P7) Indian Army in a joint op- chand remarked...... eration with Arunachal Nonetheless, the number Pradesh Police apprehended of people recovering from two insurgents of NSCN-R COVID-19 has also been near Kangkho area in increasing as a result of the Biren Govt should prove majority: O Joy Changlang district on June dedicated efforts made by By Our Staff Reporter recent political develop- Government but Dr Najma AITC and the Independent 19. doctors, nurses, paramedi- ments. invited BJP to form Govern- MLAs withdrew from the Based on a specific input cal staff and police. Still IMPHAL, Jun 21: The Even if the Governor ment. coalition. Moreover, three about the presence of insur- people need to be on guard demand put before Governor does not initiate any such After a coalition Govern- BJP MLAs resigned from gents in the area, the against COVID-19, said the Dr to con- move, N Biren should prove ment led by BJP was formed the party as well as from the security personnel had Speaker. vene a special session of the that his Government is still with N Biren as the Chief Manipur Legislative Assem- launched operation and ap- “It is rather unfortunate State Assembly to discuss a supported by the majority, Minister, the Government bly. prehended two insurgents. By Our Staff Reporter sons during an inspection that one MLA berated and no confidence motion against Joy said. proved its majority on All the MLAs who came They were identified as trip to the community quar- called me uncivilized in the Biren-led Government He recalled that Congress March 20, 2017. out from the BJP-led coali- Thungsam Ngemu and IMPHAL, Jun 21: Manipur antine centre opened at connection with the Rajya was something uncalled for, won 28 seats, BJP 21, NPP Even though both NPP tion joined Congress on the Wangphik Khohoi. Legislative Assembly Spea- Azad Higher Secondary Sabha election held re- asserted veteran politician O 4, NPF 4, AITC 1, LJP 1 and NPF have four MLAs same day and Secular Pro- The apprehended insur- ker Y Khemchand has School, Yairipok, Khem- cently”, Khemchand Joy. and Independent 1 in the each in the coalition Gov- gressive Front (SPF) was gents are suspected to be appealed to all the people in chand pointed out that decried. He asserted that Speaking to media per- State Assembly election ernment, NPP must be re-constituted. involved in extortion activi- general and fellow politicians COVID-19 is a global issue no Speaker can act beyond sons today, O Joy said that held in 2017 and there was acknowledged as the second Further, the three MLAs ties for the faction in the in particular to fight the and it is not confined to the conduct of business and it is the duty of the Gover- no pre-poll alliance. largest party of the coalition who resigned from BJP district. COVID-19 pandemic col- Manipur alone. rules of procedure. nor to see that Chief Minis- It is an accepted parlia- as the post of Deputy Chief joined Congress. The troops also recov- lectively instead of creating It is a matter of grave To a query on the no ter N Biren shows his mentary practice for the Minister was allotted to an Motion of confidence ered huge cache of arms political unrest. concern that people are now confidence motion moved strength in the State Assem- Governor to invite the sin- NPP legislator, Joy claimed. and no confidence motion and ammunition. The secu- Speaking to media per- less cautious about the con- by Congress (Contd P7) ...... bly in the wake of the gle largest party to form On June 17 last, NPP, are like two (Contd on P7) rity personnel recovered ...... one point 22 Pistol, one 7.65 mm pistol, and seven Assam registers nine COVID-19 deaths live rounds of ammunition, two mobile phones from Highways of Life adjudged best film at 8th Liberation DocFest 2020 GUWAHATI, Jun 21 their possession. IMPHAL, Jun 21 three million people are the section. The apprehended insur- unsung heroes of the land- Amar will receive 1,000 A total of 133 more people tested positive for COVID-19 on gents along with recovered A 52-minute long documen- locked State (Manipur)." USD, a crest and a certifi- Sunday, taking the tally in the State to 5,388, Health Minister arms and ammunition were tary film "Highways of Life" In the concluding cer- cate. Himanta Biswa Sarma said. handed over to Changlang directed and scripted by emony held at Dhaka on The 'Highways of Life' Of the 133 fresh cases, 73 are from Kamrup (Metro), 31 Police for investigation. Amar Maibam has won the Saturday, festival director was the only entry selected from , 18 from , five from Udalguri, two Guwahati-based Defence best film award at the 8th Tareq Ahmed said that a from India and it was each from Golaghat and Majuli and one each from PRO Lt Colonel P Khongsai Liberation DocFest Bang- total of 1,800 films were pitched against seven docu- Dhemaji and Tinsukia, the Minister said. said the troops of Assam ladesh-2020 held from June submitted for the 8th mentary films from Bel- Assam currently has 2,174 active cases. Nine people Rifles with the help of 16 to 20 in Dhaka. DocFest till late March and gium, Slovenia, Germany, have died due to the disease so far, and three have mi- Police, The film which was shot 200 were selected. And a Argentina, UK, Italy and grated out of the State. in separate operation at near over five years from 2014 total of 83 films were Iran in the International The recovery rate improved to nearly 60 per cent, with Jangji Havi area in to 2018 had its world pre- screened during the five-day Competition section of the 136 more patients discharged on Saturday from various Changlang district, busted a miere on June 18 in the festival. 5-day virtual festival civil, district and model hospitals. hideout of NSCN-KK. festival. Manipur amid two intense about his job of ferrying Kim Young Woo (Pro- streamed on Altogether 3,202 people have recovered so far. Security personnel had 'Highways of Life' fol- and violent public move- essential commodities for grammer and Chairman at www.liberationdocfestbd.org. The total number of coronavirus tests conducted in the recovered one point 22 ri- lows a group of truckers as ments played out on the the landlocked State amidst the DMZ DOCS Festival, The documentary film 12 laboratories of Assam has climbed to 2,73,047. fle, one 7.65 mm pistol, 10 they manoeuvre through highways. blockades and violent pro- South Korea), a jury mem- has already bagged four top A total of 35,611 people have been placed under insti- rounds of live ammunition the perilous highways, The film produced by the tests that often obstruct ber announced Amar awards-Best Non-Feature tutional quarantine, and 88,904 under home quarantine. and other warlike stores putting their lives at risk, Films Division of India also movement along the high- Maibam's ‘Highways of film, Best Direction, Best Meanwhile, the Assam Targeted Surveillance Program from the area. India Today ferrying essential commodi- tells the story of a highway ways. The film speaks Life’ as the winner in the Cinematography and Best (ATSP), which aims to conduct more than 50,000 random

ties for the people of truck driver as he goes aloud, "The drivers serving ‘International Competition’ Editing in the (Contd P 7) ...... tests in a week, continued for the fifth day (Contd P 7)