Maoist Militants Murder Teacher in Bastar; Fourth Teacher Killed by Naxals within the Past Six Months

In a tragic turn of events, a teacher named Laxman Barse was brutally murdered by Maoist insurgents in Silger village, Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday evening. This is the fourth teacher killed by Maoists in Bastar in the last six months, highlighting the ongoing struggle for education in this extremist-leftist region.

The Maoists dragged Laxman Barse out of his house and attacked him with sharp weapons, killing him on the spot. His family members who tried to intervene were also attacked. This incident comes after a series of attacks on teachers in Bastar, underscoring the dangerous environment they face in their pursuit of providing education to the region's children.

The schools in Bastar have been closed for decades due to the Maoist threat. However, efforts by the state government to reopen schools in the Leftwing extremism-hit region, which began in 2019, have shown some progress. As many as 107 schools in Sukma district have been reopened, and 300 schools in Bijapur district have resumed operations.

Despite these efforts, more than 450 schools in Bijapur district remain closed due to the Naxal threat. In Sukma district, as many as 113 schools were closed by Maoists, leaving around 26,000 tribal children to drop out. The schools in the Abujhmad area of Narayanpur district, closed around three decades ago, have also recently been reopened.

The teachers appointed in these reopened schools have demanded life insurance cover due to the Naxal threat. This demand comes after the recent attacks on teachers, which have claimed the lives of more than two teachers in Farsegarh, Bijapur district, on July 14, and a teacher in Dantewada in February this year.

The reopening of schools in Bastar is a significant step towards providing education to the region's children, many of whom have been affected by the school closures or explosions. According to reports, around 50,000 tribal children dropped out of school due to these issues in Bastar.

In a positive development, the state government has made efforts to reopen schools in this region. However, the ongoing attacks on teachers and schools by Maoist insurgents underscore the challenges that still need to be addressed in order to ensure the safety and security of educators and students in Bastar.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing struggle for education in Bastar, and the need for continued efforts to ensure the safety and security of teachers and students in this region. The reopening of schools is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of the Maoist threat and ensure a safe and secure environment for education in Bastar.

Maoist Militants Murder Teacher in Bastar; Fourth Teacher Killed by Naxals within the Past Six Months