Shimla, September 2
Activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) today staged rallies in the busy market areas here protesting against the fee hike and delay of the Students Central Association (SCA) elections while members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) observed black day to register their protest.

Manish Sharma, state secretary of the SFI, accused the Vice- Chancellor (VC) of deliberately deferring the SCA elections to muzzle the voice of the SCA which is spearheading the agitation against fee hike.

The chain hunger strike by the students on the campus entered the fourth day. SCA secretary Piyush Sewal said the hunger strike would end after the demands were met.

Shimla, September 2
In a fresh move to corner the Congress government, surviving on a thin majority, the BJP today filed a petition with Vidhan Sabha Speaker Brij Behari Lal Butail seeking the disqualification of four independent MLAs supporting the government, under Schedule 10 of the Constitution (the Anti-Defection Act).

The petition filed by Suresh Bharadwaj, chief of the BJP Legislature party, pleaded that four MLAs, namely Pawan Kajal from Kangra, Balbir Singh Verma from Chopal, Kirnesh Jang from Poanta Sahib and Monahar Dhiman from Indora were elected as independent candidates by voters but were now acting like Congressmen and attracted disqualification under the Anti-defection Act.

Suresh Bharadwaj, accompanied by state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti, general secretary Randhir Sharma and former minister Mohinder Singh, submitted the petition to the Speaker. They maintained that the MLAs were working and behaving like Congressmen and had openly campaigned for Congress in the Lok Sabha polls.

Alleging that even Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh considered them as Congressmen, the BJP legislators attached a copy of a press note in which these four independent candidates had been admitted as associate MLAs of Congress.

The advocates of the petitioners said after winning as independents, the MLAs had become Congress MLAs for all purposes and betrayed the trust of the voters.

They have defied the mandate and deserved to be disqualified and as such their membership of Vidhan Sabha should be cancelled, the petition said.

The Congress has 36 members in 68-member House, including Doon MLA Ram Kumar, currently in jail in the Jyoti murder case, while four independents and one HLP member are supporting the government. The BJP, who won the Sujanpur Assembly by elections in May, has 27 members in the House.

Artistes perform on the 54th Tibetan Democracy Day in McLeodganj on Tuesday

Dharamsala, September 2
On the 54th Tibetan Democracy Day, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile (Kashag) reiterated its commitment to the Middle-Way Approach proposed by the Dalai Lama for resolving the Tibet issue. The first elected leader of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile (Sikyong), Lobsang Sangay, while addressing community members on the occasion, said the Middle-Way Approach was the only way forward to resolve the Tibet issue. He said it was a win-win proposition for both the sides.

Under the approach, the Dalai Lama had proposed autonomy for Tibetans under the Chinese sovereignty. This was a major climb-down in the stance of Tibetans-in-exile who had earlier been demanding complete freedom from China.

While speaking on the occasion, Sangay said the Tibetan Government-in-Exile had invited Nobel Peace laureates to Dharamsala on October 2 to observe the 25th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on the Dalai Lama. The year 2014 was dedicated to the Dalai Lama by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

Sangay said democracy was not for abusing the rights. He said unity did not necessarily mean uniformity, but civility was must. “An a young democracy, the Tibetan community in exile must tread carefully and be all the more mindful of ensuring that public discourse is constructive and conducted with civility. It should enhance unity, not create further division within the society,” Sangay said.

He said the situation in Tibet was grim and worsening. “Last month, the Chinese police fired upon peaceful protesters in a village in Karze, eastern Tibet. The protesters were calling for the release of their village leader, who had been arrested for criticising the Chinese authorities’ mistreatment and harassment of Tibetans. Two Tibetans died in the police shooting. According to reports, apart from children and the elderly, a majority of the 700 inhabitants of Shugpa village were detained by the local Chinese authorities,” Sangay alleged.

“In the face of such brutality, we cannot remain silent. The police brutality in Karze is only a fragment of the repression imposed on the people of Tibet. To express their outright rejection of such repressive policies, 130 Tibetans set themselves on fire and 112 of them sadly passed away, in an attempt to draw attention of the international community on the suffering of the Tibetan people under Beijing’s rule,” he said.

Sangay said another important responsibility, which we call upon China to shoulder diligently and with urgency, is the protection of Tibet’s fragile ecosystem.

Shimla, September 2
The International Tourism Conclave and Travel Awards (ITCTA) in the state capital on September 27-28 will boost tourism in Himachal Pradesh with hoteliers, travel agents and representatives of the civil aviation and Railways from across the country expected to converge here.

“Shimla in particular and Himachal Pradesh in general remain high on the priority list of tourists from Gujarat, West Bengal and Maharashtra. The place is well-known on the international tourist map too because the city has remained the summer capital during the British rule,” says Ajay Gupta, Managing Director, ITCTA. He says the state is increasingly becoming a preferred destination for those who are into adventure and cultural tourism.

Vijai Singh Mankotia, chairman, Tourism Development Board, says the International Tourism Conclave will bring the spotlight on Shimla. “We need to do a lot more to improve our infrastructure, including roads, parking and air connectivity. The conclave will help us prepare a roadmap for things that we need to do to emerge as an international tourist destination,” he says.

Mankotia says he has taken up the issue of providing better air connectivity for the state and subsidizing air fare on the pattern of North-Eastern states with the Centre.

“A majority of our hotels have done good business as compared to last year,” says Mohan Chauhan, Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Hoteliers say the Buddhist circuit of Kinnaur-Lahaul Spiti is very high on the priority list of international tourists, including those from South Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Korea and Vietnam. “In fact, the season for the foreign tourists begins from September and many of them visit Dharamsala, the abode of the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama,” says a hotelier.

Chamba, September 2
About 75,000 devotees of Lord Shiva had a holy dip in the icy waters of the sacred Manimahesh Lake at an altitude of 4,170 m in Chamba district today.

The pilgrims also saw Mount Kailash (the abode of Lord Shiva) at an altitude of 5,656 m on the occasion of Radhashtami, the concluding day of the Manimahesh pilgrimage, today.

In the past two months, over six lakh pilgrims have taken a holy dip during the Manimahesh yatra.

During this year’s pilgrimage, about eight casualties/deaths of pilgrims were reported, which were much less when compared to previous years.

An official spokesperson said the pilgrims offered prayers to Lord Shiva to redeem themselves from sins and purify their hearts.

The spokesperson said pilgrims hailing from the Bhaderwah region of Jammu and Kashmir had also visited the pilgrimage centre on Janamashthmi.

Meanwhile, state Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri expressed contentment over the preparedness and measures taken with regard to facilities to pilgrims and regulation of traffic by the district administration.

Shimla, September 2
To ensure that there is no discrimination with children afflicted with AIDS or HIV in admissions to educational institutions, the government today issued a notification so that no child is deprived of the rights under the Right of Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

It will now be mandatory for all educational institutions of the state to give admission to children perceived to be or actually infected with HIV/AIDS so that the children may not be deprived of their rights.

The government move is aimed at ensuring that there is no stigma attached to the disease and the child is in no way denied the right to study.

The government through the HP State AIDS Control Society is providing financial help to children who have contracted the disease and their parents both or one have fallen victim to the disease.

The government has issued a notification strictly laying down the norms that no educational institution will deprive the right of admission to the children infected by HIV/AIDS or whose parents, family members or guardians are suffering or perceived to be ailing from the fatal disease.

Officials said such children, who were sufferers themselves or living with their infected parents and guardians, fell under the category of the “disadvantaged group” and none of the educational institution could deny them admission.

A provision has also been clearly laid wherein no educational institution will suspend or expel any child living with or infected by HIV/AIDS and there will be no segregation of such children.

The government has further directed that no child will be compelled to disclose his status regarding the disease and no one will question from the children about the status of their family, parents or guardians on the issue.

A provision has been made for initiating strict action against any such educational institution found guilty of violation of the guidelines laid in the notification.

Mandi, September 2
Inderdutt Lakhanpal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), today reviewed various relief works being undertaken in rain-hit areas in Dharampur block of the district.

Later, he held a meeting with officials of various departments on the issue.

The CPS said nearly 349 families, under 10 panchayats, had been affected by the recent heavy rainfall. As an immediate relief, Rs 12.50 lakh was disbursed among 149 families, free ration was given to 55, gas connections to 31 families and utensils were provided to 42 families.

On damage to property, he said 90 cowsheds, 55 houses and 10 shops were completely damaged, while, 105 houses and 50 cowsheds were partially damaged.

Most of the link roads in affected areas had been opened, while water and power supply had been restored in the entire area. Efforts were being made to repair roads in the affected villages, he added.

Mandi, September 2
Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhary today said grievance redressal camps were a process to solve people’s complaints at their doorstep.

Presiding over a camp at Rewalsar in the district, the minister said the camps were being organised to resolve complaints within a timeframe.

He said more and more people should come forward to take benefit of these camps.

Sub Divisional Majisterate Vivek Bhatia said 205 complaints were taken up at the camp and most of them were resolved on the spot.

Solan, September 2
Land losers of three societies, including Baghal Land Losers (BLL), Golden Land Losers (GLL), Ambuja Darlaghat Kashlog, Mangu (ADKM) have demanded exclusive transportation work from Rouri plant of Ambuja Cement Limited (ACL) on the plea that the company had bought land for a song in 1992 for setting up this plant.

United under the banner of the Prabhavit Kisan Sabha, members of the Darlaghat panchayat in a memorandum to the Chief Minister said they had failed to get due relief under the rehabilitation policy which the cement unit was supposed to provide after acquiring land from private land owners in 1992 and later for setting up the second unit at Rouri village. They said the transportation work allotted to them was insufficient.

The sabha, while explaining their plight, further said since no truck society existed in Darlaghat when the first plant of ACL was set up at Sulli village, the Solan District Truck Operators’ (SDTO) Society was allotted transportation work. But since more area had been acquired for various activities of the cement plant as many as 3,000 people had lost their land and they were plying trucks to eke out a living.

These families, however, failed to get ample work from the ACL and this was pushing them into penury as they had no other source of earning.

Sabha’s convener Jagdish Sharma said the SDTO members not only had tillable land, but also the source of livelihood, including jobs while their sole source of income was transportation work provided by the ACL.

Apart from this the sabha also got work from other areas such as Dharampur, Nalagarh, Parwanoo, while the land losers’ societies were restricted to the Darlaghat area only thus they should be given exclusive rights over the transportation work of ACL’s second plant at Rouri village so that they could get ample work and this would help them earn sufficient money to run their homes.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh after receiving this representation directed the Director, Industries, to look into this issue.

The Deputy Commissioner, Solan, too has been sent a copy to coordinate and find an amicable solution from the CM’s office.

Dalhousie, September 2
At least three houses collapsed due to inclement weather at Bharduin village in Churah subdivision of Chamba district yesterday, a delayed report said here today.

However, there was no loss of life as there was no one in the house at the time of the incident. All the belongings of the affected families had got buried in the debris, the report said.

On receiving the information about the incident, a team of revenue officials rushed to the site and took stock of the situation.

An immediate relief of Rs 20,000 had been given to the affected families by the revenue officials on the spot, the report said, adding that all possible efforts were being made to rehabilitate these families.

Nurpur, September 2
A monitoring committee of the Central Water Commission (CWC), headed by Director P Dorje Gymba, along with Manmohan Jassal, section officer from the Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) Secretariat, Shimla, visited and reviewed the ongoing work on the Rs 205-crore Phina Singh Irrigation Project at Nurpur today.

The team inspected 1,170-metre-long constructed portion of the proposed 4,317-m tunnel of the project. Superintending Engineers Rajesh Bakshi and SM Modgil also accompanied the team.

After reviewing the construction work, Dorje Gymba said he had asked the executing agency (IPH Department) to expedite the construction of the Rs 46-crore tunnel so that it could be completed in three years’ scheduled time.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the meagre funds allocated by the state government, he underlined the need for enhancing the funds so that the project could be funded under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of the Government of India and procure 50 per cent of its construction cost from the Centre. He said the IPH Department had been advised to start construction of the dam and command development area of the project and diversion weirs-cum-intake channels for shifting water of Kalam Khad to the Chakki river.

This project had been approved during the previous BJP government, with efforts of former local MLA Rakesh Pathania. The state government had allocated Rs 55 crore in 2013-14, but has earmarked just Rs 1.85 crore in the current fiscal year.

The project will provide irrigation to around 4,225 hectare land and benefit population of 70 villages of the area.

Dalhousie, September 2
The Himachal Pradesh Sri Sanatan Dharma Math Mandir Suraksha Samiti has sought a probe into the death of a sadhvi, Gian Giri (85), under mysterious circumstances at a Shiva temple at Kakira village in Bhattiyat subdivision here recently.

In a press note here today, Swami Virendrananda Giri, state president of the samiti, condemned the sadhvi’s death and demanded the arrest of those involved in the crime. — OC

Kullu, September 2
Banjar MLA Karan Singh inaugurated a veterinary dispensary, constructed under the Mukhya Mantri Arogya Pashudhan Yojna, at Kalijan village under the Neul panchayat here yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, the MLA said the state government was committed towards the uplift of women in rural areas. He said during the Congress’ regime, many schemes had been proposed and sanctioned for the all-round development of the Banjar region.

He said remote villages of the region were being linked through roads and the detailed project report for the Chuara-Langdi road had been made and the work would start soon. The legislator added that vacant posts in the Chuara Ayurvedic Dispensary would be filled soon. He announced a sum of Rs 75,000 each for the construction of Mahila Mandal Bhavan at Kalijan and Kanri villages.

Earlier, district secretary, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Netar Singh welcomed the MLA and apprised him about demands of the people of the region.

The MLA awarded Rs 2,000 to the students of primary school, Kalijan, and Middle School, Neul, for cultural presentations on the occasion.

Kullu, September 2
Superintendent of Police Surender Verma presided over a seminar for students and teachers of La Montessori School, Kalheli, 12 km from here, yesterday.

He apprised the participants of road safety and urged them to obey traffic rules to prevent road accidents. The SP urged students to refrain from drug abuse and said drug trafficking was a social evil.

Verma said the students were very enthusiastic and took a keen interest in the event. The queries of students were answered by the Superintendent of Police.

Shimla, September 2
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) today submitted a memorandum to Governor Urmila Singh, urging her to convene the Assembly session which was adjourned sine-die following disruptions.

President of the HLP, MLA Maheshwar Singh, along with other leaders, submitted the memorandum to the Governor.

“The monsoon session had to be abruptly adjourned because of frequent disruptions by the BJP, which prevented several important discussions on issues like corruption, price rise, road accidents, RUSA, damage caused by rains, etc,” said Maheshwar.

He said the HLP would be grateful to the Governor if she would convene the Assembly session so that important issues concerning the public can be discussed. “Two very important Bills, on the Lokayukta and amendments in the Town and Country Planning Act, were tabled in the House, but could not be discussed due to the BJP, which has failed to play the role of a constructive Opposition,” he said.

Maheshwar Singh said it was time that parties rose above petty politics and thought of the public who had elected them. “The manner in which the Assembly was adjourned is not good for a vibrant and strong democracy and we want that the Assembly convened so that important issues can be discussed,” he said.

Kullu, September 2
The Kullu Zila Parishad has invited applications to fill posts of 11 panchayat assistant.

Girish Sharma, District Panchayat Officer, Kullu, said bona fide residents of Himachal Pradesh, above 16 years and below 45 years of age, and having completed education up to class XII, are eligible to apply for the post.

He added that there was a relaxation of five years in the upper age limit for the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories. The Other Backward Classes (OBC) category candidates will get age relaxation of three years over and above the upper age limit.

Girish Sharma said the last date for applications had been fixed as September 15 and the application forms were available at the office of Zila Parishad Secretary and office of all the Block Development Officers (BDOs) of the district.

Five out of the 11 posts are for the general category candidates, while three are reserved for the SC and ST candidates and one for the OBC candidates. One post each was reserved for the candidates of below poverty line (BPL) category and the dependants of freedom fighters.

Palampur, September 2
Hundreds of workers of the 15-MW Om Power Project on the Neugal river near Palampur today took out a rally to protest the termination of the services of 22 workers by the management.

The protesters raised anti-project slogans and demanded the restoration of services of their colleagues. They went to the local police station and offered to be arrested. However, the police directed them to initiate a dialogue with the project management.

Later, over 40 workers reached the office of the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate and started an indefinite dharna.

Addressing mediapersons, Ashok Katoch and Bitto Thakur, president and secretary of the Workers’ Union affiliated to CITU, alleged that the 22 workers had been sacked by the project management without giving any reason. They said no show-cause notices had been served on them before terminating their services. They said the project management was openly flouting labour laws and exploiting workers.

The leaders said they would continue the dharna and agitation till their colleagues were reinstated by the management. They said if their colleagues were not reinstated, construction and execution activities of a dozen power projects in Kangra district would be stalled. They also threatened to launch a statewide agitation.

They urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to initiate steps for peace between the project management and the workers.

Mandi, September 2
At least 60 surgical camps will be held in 10 Rural Health Centres (RHCs) of the district soon.

This was stated by Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur while inaugurating a three-day sports meet at Government Senior Secondary School at Chauharvalley in Padhar subdivision here yesterday.

He said gynaecological, ophthalmological and general surgeries would be conducted at the camps and each camp would cost Rs 6.25 lakh.

For medical check-ups and tests of villagers, the mobile unit would hold at least 10 camps in the district every month, the minister said.

To improve the quality of education, institutes would be set up at the local level so that the state could become an education hub. For youth of the state, the government was making efforts to provide them higher education, especially technical and professional, he added. — TNS

Kangra, September 2
In the general body meeting held at the DRPGMC, Tanda, today, Dr Bhano Awasthi, Head of Orthopaedic Department, was unanimously elected president of the Teachers’ Association Medical College Tanda (TAMCOT) for two years.

All the office-bearers were elected unanimously, including Dr Milap Sharma, vice-president, Dr Raj Kumar Sharma, general secretary, Dr Varun Deep Dogra, joint secretary, Dr Dinesh Sood, press secretary, Dr Baldev Singh Rana, treasurer, and Dr Amit Bhardwaj, Dr Rashmi Raina and Dr Anjali Soni as executive members.

Dr Awsathi said TAMCOT would help in implementing the policy decisions of the state government in favour of the faculty, students and patients in letter and spirit.

Nurpur, September 2
Following a complaint by a married woman from a Dalit family of Gudli village in Khanni gram panchayat, the local police registered a case against Harpal Singh of the same village here yesterday. Harpal had allegedly raped her at her house when she was alone and later threatened and blackmailed her.

As per an FIR registered by the police last evening, the victim’s husband was away on his job, father-in-law on labour work and mother-in-law was in the fields when the accused allegedly raped her. She said before committing the crime about one and a half months ago, the accused had been harassing her on the mobile.

DSP Manoj Joshi said a case under Sections 376, 452 and 506 of the IPC had been registered and the medical examination of the victim got conducted by the police. Action would be taken after further investigation into the case.

Una, September 2
The police arrested two residents of Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, at Rampur village, 2 km from here, on Sunday night.

Superintendent of Police Anupam Sharma said the accused, Haseen of Nakur tehsil and Shahnawaz of Kamaal Colony in Saharanpur, were transporting 36 animals, including buffaloes and calves, in a truck (HR-58D-0786). He said the animals were tightly packed, leading to their suffering injuries. — OC

Una, September 2
The Una police arrested a resident of Gagret on Sunday night for allegedly duping some youths by assuring them recruitment in the Indian Army and the Indian Railways.

Anupam Sharma, Superintendent of Police (SP), said the accused, Nitin Modgil, was arrested along with money given to him by complainant Khushbir Singh of Amboa village.

The SP said, as per the complaint, the accused had asked for Rs 6 lakh from Khushbir for his “recruitment in the Army”. The first installment of Rs 1 lakh was paid about a month ago. Khushbir said when he was handing over the money, two other youths, namely Ajay Kumar and Sahil Kumar, both residents of Dangoh village, were also present in the room and admitted having paid Rs 1 lakh each to Nitin.

Sharma said in a subsequent phone call by the accused, he demanded the next instalment of Rs 1.3 lakh from Khushbir, in exchange of the call letter from the Army authorities. He deposited Rs 70,000 in Nitin’s bank account and paid the remaining amount by cash, Khushbir said.

Anupam Sharma said the complainant was made to travel to Kolkata and other places on the pretext of medical examination. However, he got suspicious and informed the police. Consequently, a trap was laid to nab the accused, who was caught with currency notes handed over by Khushbir, by a team comprising sleuths from the police and the Vigilance department.

Solan, September 2
As many as 11 schoolchildren sustained minor injuries when the bus (HP-14-B-0684) they were travelling in hit a pile of bricks at Tatul village near here this morning.

The police said the bus, belonging to KTS School, was coming from Shergaon in Rajgarh after collecting students for the school. The bus was being driven rashly by driver Shamsher.

There were as many as 40 students and two teachers in the bus when the mishap occurred.

The police have registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the driver. Panicky parents rushed to the spot after coming to know about the incident. The injured children were taken to the Regional Hospital here for treatment.

Solan, September 2
Pro-kabaddi stars Ajay Thakur and Rohit Rana received a rousing welcome at Dhabota village in Nalagarh today, where the duo arrived after participating in the tournament which concluded at Mumbai on Sunday. While Rohit Rana’s Jaipur Pinks walked away with the Pro-Kabaddi trophy, Ajay Thakur’s Bengaluru Bulls stood fourth. Ajay, who hails from Dhabota, was given a warm reception at his alma mater Government Senior Secondary School, Dhabota, by the villagers and the school staff. Rana hails from Palampur in Kangra district.

Ajay’s name has been included in the national team for the Asian Games announced yesterday. He had earlier won a gold medal at the Asian Games held in Korea. Lamenting the lack of recognition accorded to the popular rural sport, Ajay rued, “It is unfortunate that the state government has not even recognised my contribution to the game, despite winning medals at the national and international levels. Though several players were honoured for their outstanding contribution to various sports in the state, my name was never even mentioned”.

It was unfortunate that sports was caught in political brick batting and this has not only failed to promote talented sportsmen but disenchanted youth from pursuing it as a career, he added.

“Even the basic infrastructure like presence of a ground and gymnasium would go a long way in promoting sports. Despite presence of abundant talent, few opt for sports,” he said.

Ajay, who is pursuing a job with the Indian Airlines, said unlike other states, the Himachal Pradesh Government did not even offer a job to the sportsmen. He was hence forced to take up a job outside the state, though he desired to be here and help train the other youth.

Passionate about helping other talented youngsters take up sports as a career, he said he had set up a gymnasium and extended facilities after improving the locally available ground to help train youth in kabaddi. Since his village had produced several kabaddi players, such facilities would help tap budding talent, he added.

Aiming to win the Arjuna Award by excelling in his field, he said it was heartening to know that several sponsors were coming forward now and the sport had become a household craze. This was encouraging the players who had been battling financial issues to adopt it as a profession.

Una, September 2
The state sub-junior badminton teams left for Rohtak, Haryana, today to participate in the National Badminton Championships, to be held from September 4 to 7. The players were attending a training-cum-conditioning camp at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, which concluded today.

Sunny Papta, Team Coach, said the Under-13 boys’ team included Rattan Singh (Mandi), Ashish Kumar (Sirmour), Samaksh and Harash Negi (both Shimla), while the Under-13 girls’ team would be represented by Akanksha (Una), Megha Gheghta and Nitika (both Shimla).

The Under-15 boys’ team included Yashpal (Sirmour), Karan Negi and Mohit Thakur (both Shimla), while the Under-15 girls’ team players were Hritika Sharma and Sehjal Chauhan, both from Shimla, Sunny said. — OC

Solan, September 2
The boys football team from Pinegrove School, Subathu, trounced Mayo College, Ajmer, to lift the Mayo College Invitational Football Tournament held at Mayo College Boys’ School, Ajmer, yesterday.

The Mayo College boys were defeated by a convincing margin of 4-0. Nabdeep Singh, Aldrin Jaru, Arun Garg and Rusheel Negi chipped in with one goal each for the winners. The Pinegrove boys defeated Rashtriya Military School, Ajmer, 1-0, LK Singhania Education Centre, Gotan, 5-0, and Sherwood College, Nainital, 3-0 in the league matches and trounced Modern School, Delhi, 5-0 in the semifinals.

Shiva P Chand was the best goalkeeper of the tournament, while Aldrin Jaru was the highest scorer. Navdeep Singh was the player of the tournament. — TNS