Covid-19: Nagaland extends lockdown till July 15

• Cabinet to send letter to ENPO in connection with Tuensang returnees’ case
• Ravi briefed on law and order status of the state by legislators

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 29 (EMN): Nagaland Cabinet on Monday decided to extend the lockdown in the state till July 15 as a measure to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio informed this to journalists after a meeting at his chamber at Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima on June 29.

Rio informed that the Cabinet received a briefing from the departments of Home, and Health and Family Welfare. Various district officials had shared that ‘they want extension of lockdown,’ he said and therefore, the Cabinet had decided to extend the lockdown.

Subsequently, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy issued an order, later in the day, declaring that the existing lockdown guidelines will remain in force till July 15.   

With regard to the Judicial Inquiry Committee’s report on the Tuensang returnees’ case, the chief minister informed that the Cabinet had taken a decision, and a letter would be sent to the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO).

Appeal for forgiveness

Meanwhile, minister for Planning and Co-ordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs Neiba Kronu, who is also the government’s spokesperson, informed that the Cabinet had decided that it would appeal to the ENPO for forgiveness in the letter, which will be drafted by the chief secretary.

He also asserted that Health department would be appealing to the ENPO for the same.

Kronu informed that the Cabinet had also taken a decision to impose stringent enforcement in the inter-state borders, which would be sealed and checked.

On Governor’s letter

Meanwhile, Rio confirmed that he had received a letter from Governor RN Ravi on June 16, seeking a meeting with the Cabinet on or before June 20.

According to the chief minister, since the BJP had some engagement in Dimapur on June 20, the meeting was convened on June 19 with the governor at Raj Bhavan.

During the meeting, the governor read out the letter again, he informed; then, the deputy chief minister explained the law and order status of the state and other members of the cabinet including Kaito G Aye, Temjen Imna Along, Neiba Kronu, and Jacob Zhimomi spoke at the meeting.

Further, Rio said that he spoke the last and covered all the issues.

The chief minister said the government would be ‘submitting its findings again’, and that everything was recorded. He also informed that various issues confronting the government departments would also be submitted.

When asked about the reaction of the government, with regard to the letter from the governor, Rio said, “He (RN Ravi) is equally concerned about peace and development in the state, so we are not surprised.”

He also stated that the law and order situation in the state, when compared to the period from 1960s to 1997 (when the first ceasefire agreement was signed) has improved tremendously. Further, he pointed out that in 2018-19 and 2019-20, Nagaland was adjudged the best (in law and order) among small states in the country. “So that speaks volume, and I don’t have to explain in detail,” he added.