Ilam, August 10:

The private schools in Ilam, which had remained closed for the last three months

following Maoist threats, will reopen from tomorrow at the initiation of the civil society.

Realising the difficulties faced by the locals, the civil society is working to reopen the boarding schools and industries.

At a meeting of the civil society held today in the presence of a member of the Human Rights Commission, Sudip Pathak, the locals demanded that the Maoists call off all kinds strikes in the district.

Addressing the meeting, Pathak urged the locals to boycott Maoist-called bandhs.

He emphasised on the need for a consensus between political parties and the Maoists to bail the country out of the current crisis.

Central president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Bishnu Nisthuri, said commoners have been affected due to violation of human rights by the state and the Maoists.

A team of human rights activists and journalists, which is here to monitor the 24-day long Mechi bandh, visited private schools in the district headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Maoists today called off the tea estate bandh, realising the problems of the workers. Central secretary of the All Nepal Tea Workers’ Organisation Chandra Sapkota alias ‘Bishal’ told the Human Rights Forum over the telephone that they have called off the bandh.

He said that the claim of the Nepal Trade Union that loaded trucks have been allowed to ply on the roads was an attempt to defame their activity.

The closure of boarding schools has affected 25, 000 students and 1, 000 teachers.

Out of 258 private schools in Ilam, 30 have already been shut down due to the Maoist threats.