ITAHARI: Agitating members of the Nepal Teachers Union — the umbrella body of teachers - have threatened to shut down all community schools tomorrow for the third consecutive day to protest the brutality perpetrated by the ANNISU (R) supporters, who had thrashed a school principal in Dharan a few days ago.

The stir is in response to the mindless attack on teachers in several educational institutions.

Last Tuesday, ANNISU(R) activists had not only beaten Lek Nath Bhattarai, principal, Public Higher Secondary School, Dharan, but also smeared tar on him.

The students manhandled Bhattarai, accusing him of trying to shield the irregularities

Kamal Pokharel, an ex-principal of the same institution. Yesterday, all government school teachers in Dharan had boycotted work. The teachers have warned that they would intensify their protest programmes if the administration did not take action against the guilty. They have set a deadline till Sunday. The Public Higher Secondary School has shut down indefinitely till the dispute is resolved. NTU representatives today put forth a six-point demand. Ram Bista, secretary of Itahari unit of NTU, said that a memorandum was submitted at the District Administration Office on Thursday. Madan Chudal, district chairman, ANNISU (R), claimed that the issue was blown out of proportion. ‘We’re ready for probe provided the teachers are willing to unearth the irregularities in the school,” he said.

Chudal accused the school administration of stoking the controversy instead of resolving it through an amicable dialogue.