Imphal, April 19 2009: Because of the ongoing Operation Summer Storm, schools located in Nongmaikhong and Khordak have been shut down for the last nine days, thereby denying the right to education to more that 1168 children.

In the backdrop of GOC 57 Mountain Division Maj Gen Shakti Gurung's statement that the operation will continue till all insurgents staying in Loktak lake are wiped out, parents are worried whether their children will lose this academic year because of the operation.

Gripped by fear, villagers of the surrounding area of Keibul Lamjao National Park, particularly Nongmaikhong and Khordak have been taking shelter at relief camps opened at Ithai Bazar community hall, Arong Khunjao and Laphupat Tera Khunou along with their children.

Among the people taking shelter at these relief camps are teachers of schools located in Nongmaikhong and Khordak areas.

These schools have been closed since April 11 .

During a visit to some places of Nongmaikhong and Khordak by this reporter, the schools were found locked.

On the other hand, young students staying at the relief camps lamented their misfortune which robbed off their right to education.

One Salam Dhaneshwari of Nongmaikhong Awang Leikai taking refuge at Ithai relief camp said, "I send my children to school to make them qualified ignoring poverty of the family".

"Will such military operations throw all my efforts to educate my children in the air ?" she asked.

There are four schools in Nongmaikhong.

Nongmaikhong Junior High School has classes I to VIII and 235 students.

Emmanuel Grace Academy having the same classes has 330 students.

In all 85 students are currently enrolled in Nongmaikhong Government LP School having classes I to III whereas 97 students are enrolled in Nongmaikhong Girls' Primary Aided School having classes I to V .

There is equal number of schools in Khordak which includes Khordak Government Primary School with 57 students enrolled in classes I to III .

Khordak Public English School has classes I to VI and 164 students.

Khordak Khongbal Aided Junior High School and Eden Garden English School have 100 students each.

One Salam Malemnganba reading in class VIII at Emmanuel Grace Academy said, "I feel sad for not going to school.

With my books left behind at out house, it has been eight days since I stopped studying my books".

"Since my parents are fishermen who have been struggling hard to send me to school, I would like to study properly and join Air Force," the young boy said.

Another Class IV student of Eden Garden English School Naresh said, "We have not been attending classes since as our school has been occupied by army.

Even as they tell us to continue with our classes, none of the students attend school out of fear".

On being asked about what they think of the booming sounds of bomb blast and gun fire, the young students said that they were so terrified and fear that the sounds would haunt them long after the operation.

Notably, the villagers have been demanding an immediate halt to the operation asserting that it threatened their life besides denying the children the right to education.

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