Himalayan News Service

Dang, June 1:

The Maoists are abducting teachers and students from the eastern parts of Dang and are forcing them to take part in a special military campaign. While the students are forced to take part in exercises, the teachers are urged to deliver speeches on education, health and the current political situation. According to a teacher, the Maoists are abducting students and teachers from schools in Khungri, Sulichaur, Aresh, Pang and Gumchal. "While the students are made to take part in the training, the teachers are asked to deliver speeches on education, health and current political situation."

Principal of the Suryodaya Proposed Secondary School, Durga Bahadur Pun Magar, who, together with four teachers, just returned from a 10-day Maoist camp, said, "The abducted students were ordered to do exercises while I was asked to deliver speech on education, health and current politics." "Though the abductions have hampered classes, we can do nothing. Our hands are tied," teacher Shalik Ram Subedi said." Chiranjivi Gautam, officiating district education officer of the Rolpa district, said, "I have heard that the Maoists abduct teachers and students and keep them for 8-10 days."

CDO Tej Prasad Poudel opined that the schools should not be used for political gains.

Earlier, the Maoists had organised similar military campaigns in the northern and southern parts of Rolpa. Teacher of the Hwama Primary School, Chandra Prakash Acharya, said that the students were also ordered to collect donations and statistics from the villages.