Gopal returns empty-handed
CHENNAI, Sept 6 — With official emissary R. R. Gopal sent back by forest brigand Veerappan with the message that he would free Dr Rajkumar and three others only if the 121 TADA detenues in Karnataka and five extremists in Tamil Nadu were released, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced that he would meet his Karnataka counterpart S M Krishna at Bangalore on September 8 to decide on sending Mr Gopal on yet another mission to the forest.

VSNL monopoly ends in 2002
NEW DELHI, Sept 6 — The monopoly of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) over international calls would come to an end by April 1, 2002, the government said today.

‘Sanjha Morcha’ formed
Chandumajra to be candidate
CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The President of the Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today announced that Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra would be the candidate of a “Sanjha morcha” consisting of nine political outfits for the Sunam bye-election. 

Sunam voter must carry I-card
NEW DELHI, Sept 6 — The Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M. S. Gill, today made it clear that the voters in the Sunam Assembly Constituency must carry their photo identity cards for casting their votes during the bye-elections there on September 29 as “identification of all voters will be compulsory”.

GND University B. Pharm denied recognition
AMRITSAR, Sept 6 — The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has refused to give recognition to the B.Pharmacy course being run in Guru Nanak Dev University for the past about five years.

Elephant fossil found in Kashmir SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — Geologists from Kashmir University here claimed to have found a massive elephant fossil, believed to be 50,000-year-old, in saffron-rich Pampore in south Kashmir.

Kashmiri paleontologist G.M. Bhat excavates a 50,000-year-old elephant fossil at Gallander village in Pampore, 15 km south of Srinagar, on Wednesday. — Reuters