Kavre, May 20 :

The Maoists have continued to extort money from government and private schools

of the district even after the declaration of the recent ceasefire.

The Maoists have been collecting a day’s salary from all government teachers here each month. A teacher of Ajad Secondary School situated at Banepa, who submitted ‘’levy’’ to the Maoists after the ceasefire said: “In a very threatening tone, they termed their extortion as ‘continuation’ of tax.” The Maoists have been extorting money from 600 government schools, including higher secondary, secondary, lower secondary and primary schools of the district.

“The party collects the ‘tax’ for the treatment of injured Maoist cadres and run the peoples’ army”, Maoist Kavre-Sindhuli Secretary Lal Dhoj said, adding: “Collecting tax by the new peoples’ government is not unusual.”

He added that the source of income for the Maoists is from individuals, schools, different organisations and businessmen.

The Maoists, however, demand a specific amount of money from private schools. “The private schools pay less salary to the teachers though they charge high fees; that’s why we demand specific amounts from them”, Lal Dhoj added.

Meanwhile, the ANNISU-R, Kavre, has decided not to let any new private school to open in the district from this academic session. The ANNISU-R, Kavre, has recently opened their office in Banepa.

District chairman of the Union, DM Lama, said the the ANNISU-R was discussing about the fee structure of private schools in the district.