Kilimanoor maintains lead

NEDUMANGAD: On the third day of the revenue district school arts festival, Kilimanoor sub-district maintained its lead with 80 points in the UP section followed by Thiruvananthapuram South which secured 78 points.In the HS section, Thiruvananthapuram North was leading with 181 points with Kaniyapuram in second place with 170 points. Thiruvananthapuram South, with 220 points, was leading in the HSS section followed by Thiruvananthapuram North with 219 points.  In the individual schools section, Carmel EMGHSS is still in first position with 64 points. Kilimanoor GHSS is leading  with 71 points in the HSS section. In the UP section, Nirmala Bhavan GHSS and Neyyatinkara St Theresa’s GHSS are tied in first position with 33 points. Pandemonium at venuePandemonium prevailed from the morning at the main venue as the organisers failed to stick with the programme schedule resulting in ruckus outside the venues. The day’s first dispute arose at the venue where folk dance event was scheduled. The stage was so small, restricting the movement of the contestants. In the afternoon, the boys of KTCT, Kallambalam, protested in front of the venue and appeal committee alleging that some judges had colluded with one of the trainers of ‘duf mutt’ and ‘oppana’ and manipu lated the results. The scene turned worse marring the festive spirit of the festival with protestors shouting slogans against the organisers and gathering outside the media room. The grievances against judges were rampant on Thursday also with the number of appeals filed reaching 139. On many occasions,  emotional outbursts of some guardians and the candidates over various grievances created a big furore outside the venues.Police had to intervene to settle the agitations.