Locals in Mathang village of Jharkhand”s Latehar District express deep concern as the Maoists have threatened to blow a government school.
The two-storey school is the only medium of education for hundreds of children in the area, and has now been shut for many days in fear of an attack by the ultras.
According to locals, the threat has unleashed fear amongst residents who are not keen to send their wards to school.
“Maoists have threatened our headmaster that they will blow the school. I am a student here and other than this we have no school for children in the area,” said Udit Kumar, a student.
Meanwhile, the administration has initiated action in the matter by ordering an investigation.
“I have received a written complaint by a school teacher that he has been threatened by Maoists and hence had sought for a transfer. I have instructed both the education officials and district police to investigate into the matter and take necessary action,” said Aradhan Patnaik, Deputy Commissioner of Police.
In the last few years, the rebels have stepped up their efforts against the government as well as the locals, after the people complained that Maoist activities such as killings and abductions increased considerably in the area.
Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha.
The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of millions of landless labourers and marginal farmers.
However, the government has termed them to be India”s main internal security threat and an obstacle to economic growth. (ANI)