Kapilvastu, February 1:

The Maoist-affiliated ANNISU (R) has padlocked most community schools of Kapilvastu indefinitely from yesterday.

The Maoists have forced the schools to shut down in their bid to put pressure on the school management committees and the teachers to hand back the school management to the government.

The principal of Durga Primary School, Thuniya, Ramnarayan Chaudhary, said the Maoists had warned the school management to keep the schools shut unless the local communities were exempted from managing the schools.

The principal of another school, in his application to the District Education Office on Friday, reported that the Maoists had alleged the government of shunning away from its responsibility of providing people with education.

There are 267 community schools and 39 government-run schools in Kapilvastu, DEO, said.