Kavre, September 7 :

ANNISU-R, the student wing of the CPN-Maoist, is busy since last month extending its organisation forcibly in government schools in Kavre district, a secondary-level teacher charged. The ANNISU-R is extending its organisation in Classes 9 and 10 and also teaching students in these classes, the teacher said.

“We could not refuse to be members of their organisation,” said a student in Banepa, who has been given the post of chairperson of the union in the school. He said, “The ANNISU-R simply assigned us our posts.”

Teachers are worried at the ANNISU-R’s organisation extension campaign.

“ANNISU-R members said they would teach in the class. They threaten us if classrooms are not provided to them. They have been saying they are acting as volunteers but the fact is that they are arm-twisting us,” said a teacher in Dhulikhel.

However, district chairperson of the ANNISU-R DM Lama claimed that students were joining the organisation voluntarily and that the ANNISU-R never forced them.

“We are not free from fear. Students in the school are also forced to listen to speeches made by the ANNISU-R members,” said another teacher at Dhulilkhel.

Seven students of the Dhulikhel-based Sanjivani Secondary School and another student of the Bhakunde-based Janak Secondary School were forced to join the Maoists in the last week of Shrawan. Of the seven students of Sanjivani Secondary School, two fled the Maoists and returned to school, sources said.

“The Maoists had taken me to Kamidanda for training,” said one of the escapee students. Guardians are fearing to send their children to Sanjivani Secondary School following the incident.

Headmasters of different schools have been complaining about the matter to the district education office. Complaints on the matter have poured in from a number of schools, said an officer at the district education office, Sharad Kumar Bhandari.