Students criticise Governor’s remark
SHIMLA, Sept 28 — The state committee of the Students Federation of India has criticised the Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi for assailing students politics without understanding the ground realities.

Sat Mahajan’s statement recorded
NURPUR, Sept 28 — The PCC chief and Congress candidate from the Kangra Lok Sabha seat, Mr Sat Mahajan recorded his statement in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dharamsala yesterday.

Cong nominee seeks repoll in 5 stations
BILASPUR, Sept 28 — Mr Ramlal Thakur, the Hamirpur Lok Sabha candidate of the Congress, has demanded a repoll in five polling stations in Hamirpur district, Meva and Bamsan Assembly constituencies.

Triple murder case solved, 2 held
UNA, Sept 28 — A break-through was made by the police in a triple murder case with the arrest of Amrish Rana and Gurjant Singh, the main accused in the murder which took place at Malahat Nagar, 2 km from here, on September 10.

Sanchar Sarathi awards
SHIMLA, Sept 28 — Mr B.R. Kashyap, General Manager, Telecom, gave away the Sanchar Sarathi award for the year 1998-99 services here today.

Shops gutted
KANGRA, Sept 28 — Goods worth lakhs of rupees reportedly destroyed in a fire which broke out in the main market here yesterday night.

Students criticise Governor’s remark
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 28 — The state committee of the Students Federation of India has criticised the Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi for assailing students politics without understanding the ground realities.

Reacting sharply to the views expressed by Mrs Rama Devi, while presiding over the meeting of the Himachal Pradesh University court that students politics vitiated the academic atmosphere on the campus, the federation said that the statement was not only anti-democratic but also showed her ignorance of the affairs of the university.

The blame for the mess on the campus must be shared by the Vice-Chancellor of the university. In fact it was the Governor who appointed a person with doubtful credentials to the post and nominated politicians to the Executive Council in place of academicians flouting the norms, it alleged.

The university authorities, it alleged, had denied the students their democratic right by not holding elections to the Central Students Association for the past four years.

The university authorities were deliberately not holding elections as they were playing the politics of ruling party but unfortunately the Governor had also became a party to it. She had condemned the student politics but not made any statement against the ongoing 'saffronisation' of education.

The federation urged the Governor to desist from making such "anti-democratic" statements.

Sat Mahajan’s statement recorded
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Sept 28 — The PCC chief and Congress candidate from the Kangra Lok Sabha seat, Mr Sat Mahajan recorded his statement in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dharamsala yesterday in a defamation case filed by the former against a former Chief Minister and BJP candidate (Kangra Lok Sabha seat), Mr Shanta Kumar.

The case was filed following allegations levelled by Mr Shanta Kumar in Chamba district that Mr Mahajan had filed a false affidavit and advertised in Divya Himachal, a Hindi daily that Mr Mahajan was a liar and cheat.

The case had been filed against Mr Shanta Kumar, a reporter of the daily in and its printer and publisher.

Cong nominee seeks repoll in 5 stations
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Sept 28 — Mr Ramlal Thakur, the Hamirpur Lok Sabha candidate of the Congress, has demanded a repoll in five polling stations in Hamirpur district, Meva and Bamsan Assembly constituencies.

Addressing mediapersons here yesterday and releasing the copy of a message sent to Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill he demanded a repoll at Mehal, Vihar. "Nagrotta-two" and "Nagrotta-three" polling stations falling in the Mewa Vidhan Sabha constituency and "Nagrotta-one" of the Bamsan Vidhan Sabha constituency.

He alleged that BJP activists frightened away voters and manhandled the poll staff.

Polio committee reviews plan
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 28 — The state-level coordination committee meeting on intensified pulse polio immunization was held here today under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health, Mrs Asha Swaroop.

The action plan was reviewed according to which the pulse polio campaign has been intensified and this year there will be four rounds, first on October 24, second on November 21, the third on December 19, and the fourth on January 23.

Triple murder case solved, 2 held
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Sept 28 — A break-through was made by the police in a triple murder case with the arrest of Amrish Rana and Gurjant Singh, the main accused in the murder which took place at Malahat Nagar, 2 km from here, on September 10.

The accused who were produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate Jai Narayan yesterday were remanded in police custody till October 4.

Subhdarshan Rani, mother, and Sheetal and Savita, sisters of Amrish Rana, who were in police remand till September 27 were produced in the same court and remanded in judicial lock-up till October 8.

According to the police, 10-12 persons were involved in this case.

Sanchar Sarathi awards
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 28 — Mr B.R. Kashyap, General Manager, Telecom, gave away the Sanchar Sarathi award for the year 1998-99 services here today.

Mr Naresh Kumar, Mr Jaspal Singh and Mr Girdhan Singh Negi, were given the award for their meritorious services.

Mr Nirmal Singh Gill, Chief General Manager, gave prizes to the winners of various competitions organised in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations of Hindi as state language.

Shops gutted
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Sept 28 — Goods worth lakhs of rupees reportedly destroyed in a fire which broke out in the main market here yesterday night.

The fire broke out in a godown and spread to nearby shops.

Former Congress MLA Daulat Ram Choudary alleged that second grade rejected fire engines from Kinnaur and Hamirpur were brought here which did not pump out water with the required pressure.

Three shops were gutted in the fire, including two godowns.

Shopkeeper were given an ex-gratia relief of Rs 25000, SDM, Mr R.L. Rao, said.