Set up exam centres in districts: NSUI
CHAMBA, Aug 12 — The Himachal unit of the National Students Union of India has sought the setting up of examination centres for entrance tests for various competitions such as the PMT and the postgraduate courses of Himachal Pradesh University at all district headquarters in the state.

Students boycott classes
SHIMLA, Aug 12 — Teaching work in Himachal Pradesh University and various affiliated colleges in the state was affected today as students boycotted classes and went on a fast on the call given by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Suicide case rocks Jwalamukhi
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 12 — Four persons of Delhi allegedly committed suicide at a hotel in Jwalamukhi yesterday.

The SSP, Mr K C Sadyal, said three out of the four, had been missing from home since August 2. A report had already been lodged at the Delhi Sadar police station regarding the missing persons, Praveen (22), Jyoti (19) and Lakshmi (21).

Lakshmi had been married recently on July 21, while Praveen and Jyoti were first cousins, who according to the police were having a relationship. The three after leaving homes in Delhi got a room booked in a hotel in Jwalamukhi on August 3 and left after a day. They once again checked into the hotel on August 8.

The whereabouts of the three were made known to their families when Praveen called up his friend, Radhay Sham, a shopkeeper in Delhi, to ask for some money as they had exhausted their money.

PALAMPUR (PTI): Radhay Sham, instead of obliging his friend, informed Praveen’s family who immediately rushed to Jwalamukhi.

Radhay Sham, his mother, Veena (50), Manoj, uncle of Praveen, Tara Chand, grandfather of Jyoti, and Sanjay, brother of Lakshmi, reached Jwalamukhi and accosted the trio, police sources said.

While Manoj, Tara Chand and Sanjay stayed on the lower floor, Radhay Sham and his mother stayed on the upper floor along with Praveen, Jyoti and Lakshmi.

There was reportedly a quarrel between them and Praveen accused Radhay Sham of betrayal. Later the three committed suicide by consuming poison.

Radhay Sham, who was shaken by the return of events, ran away and committed suicide apparently holding himself responsible for the grave tragedy.

According to the SP, Kangra, Mr K C Sadyal, this was a case of suicide, adding that the relatives had cleared the pending hotel bill. The bodies would be handed over to them after a post-mortem examination.

Cong-Left combine sweeps HPUTA poll
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — The Congress-Left combine supported candidates swept the Himachal Pradesh University Teachers Association (HPUTA) election held here yesterday.

The BJP which made a strong bid to take control of this important body of the university, drew a blank. There was a tie for the post of the president, with both Dr J.R. Gupta supported by the Congress-Left-combine, and Dr Sunil Gupta supported by the BJP, securing 115 votes each. Mr Yashwant Singh Rana, the third candidate polled 13 votes. The remaining four posts were swept by the combine.

Dr O.P. Chauhan was elected Secretary defeating Dr Y.K. Sharma and Dr Kishori Lal triumphed over Dr J.C. Sharma. Dr Vijay Kaushal was elected Treasurer by defeating Mr O.C. Sood. Even in the 10-member executive, the BJP-supported panel could get only three seats, while the rest were won by the combine.

The result has come as a setback to the BJP.

Action demanded against Virbhadra
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — Mr Khushi Ram Balnath, general secretary of the state BJP, has demanded action against Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister, for making recruitments to government jobs in violation of the compulsory notification of the Vacancies Act.

In a statement here yesterday he said the Shukla Committee had indicted the previous Congress regime for various irregularities in recruitment. Under the law those responsible for irregularities could be sentenced to imprisonment. He said the Congress leaders were giving misleading statements to project Mr Virbhadra Singh who was squarely responsible for all irregularities.

He said the Congress had no moral right to raise the issue of import of apple under the open general licence (OGL) as the international agreement in this regard was signed when the party was in power.

Set up exam centres in districts: NSUI
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Aug 12 — The Himachal unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) has sought the setting up of examination centres for entrance tests for various competitions such as the PMT and the postgraduate courses of Himachal Pradesh University at all district headquarters in the state.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, president of the state unit, said at present these centres had been provided at Dharamsala, Hamirpur, Mandi and Shimla. The centres being faraway from the remote areas of the state, the poor students could not afford to appear in the entrance tests there. Some times the students even had to incur debts to appear in these tests, he added.

Mr Pathania threatened to launch an agitation if a ‘golden chance’ was not given to the students who had failed in the university examinations this year. He asked the authorities to take a decision on the issue within a week.

He threatened to resort to an agitation if the functioning of the local Government College was not improved soon.

Students boycott classes
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — Teaching work in Himachal Pradesh University and various affiliated colleges in the state was affected today as students boycotted classes and went on a fast on the call given by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

The parishad is demanding immediate election to the Central Students Association and withdrawal of fee hike and self-financing scheme.

A spokesman for the parishad said a fast was organised at Rampur, Solan, Rekong Peo, Arki, Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Baijnath, Palampur, Dharamsala and other towns of the state.