Like the villagers and their children, even ashramshala teachers in Gadchiroli claimed they were l hemmed in between the Naxalites and the security forces. As their work takes them to remotest part of the Naxal-affected district, meeting both the arch rivals is nothing unusual for the teachers while staying at ashramshalas in villages surrounded by the jungle.
Having to face both the parties, an ashramshala teacher, on the condition of anonymity, said it seemed easier for him to deal with Naxalites rather than central paramilitary forces. He had to officially lodge a complaint with a senior police official and also wrote about his plight to higher-ups in his own department.
The teacher claimed that he never got the respect from security forces. "I cannot recall an instance when the Naxals misbehaved or were rude with me. In fact, they requested the teachers to ensure that the students were well looked after and educated. The Naxals told me to take care of the students as my own," said a senior ranking teacher of an ashramshala located in sensitive Dhanora tehsil.
He recalled several instances when chance encounters brought him face to face with the Naxals. "They (naxals) come in a big group of 100-150 equipped with arms. One would shiver seeing them emerging from jungle but they show respect to us," said the teacher who was in city recently. At the same time, he said encounters with central paramilitary forces, usually ended on an unpleasant note.
"The paramilitary forces would summon me every time a new officer would come. They would accuse us of providing food and other supplies to Naxals and helping them to survive in jungles. Do they have any concrete evidence before charging government officials in this manner," said the senior teacher of ashramshala located close to Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh borders.
He also shared the plight of another colleague in another ashramshala, also in Dhanora tehsil. "The security forces would not allow my colleague to take wheat to flour mill suspecting him to be carrying it for the Naxals. I was questioned too while returning to the village with grains and spice for consumption of the students," he said.
Another ashramshala teacher, however, begged to differ. He said that Naxal violence had created an atmosphere where education of tribals was getting affected. According to him, teachers remain away from schools because of incidents like that in Sawargaon. "Such cat and mouse chase between Naxals and security forces take place anywhere," he said.
"Naxals may not kill a teacher but who can guarantee that his or her life is safe in sensitive places. We have had an incident of an ashramshala teacher stripped and raped in the school itself. The teachers are in perennial danger as government urges us to celebrate Independence day and Republic Days but Naxals come threatening us. Who says that Naxals do not kill the villagers," he asked.
Having to face both the parties, an ashramshala teacher, on the condition of anonymity, said it seemed easier for him to deal with Naxalites rather than central paramilitary forces. He had to officially lodge a complaint with a senior police official and also wrote about his plight to higher-ups in his own department.
The teacher claimed that he never got the respect from security forces. "I cannot recall an instance when the Naxals misbehaved or were rude with me. In fact, they requested the teachers to ensure that the students were well looked after and educated. The Naxals told me to take care of the students as my own," said a senior ranking teacher of an ashramshala located in sensitive Dhanora tehsil.
He recalled several instances when chance encounters brought him face to face with the Naxals. "They (naxals) come in a big group of 100-150 equipped with arms. One would shiver seeing them emerging from jungle but they show respect to us," said the teacher who was in city recently. At the same time, he said encounters with central paramilitary forces, usually ended on an unpleasant note.
"The paramilitary forces would summon me every time a new officer would come. They would accuse us of providing food and other supplies to Naxals and helping them to survive in jungles. Do they have any concrete evidence before charging government officials in this manner," said the senior teacher of ashramshala located close to Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh borders.
He also shared the plight of another colleague in another ashramshala, also in Dhanora tehsil. "The security forces would not allow my colleague to take wheat to flour mill suspecting him to be carrying it for the Naxals. I was questioned too while returning to the village with grains and spice for consumption of the students," he said.
Another ashramshala teacher, however, begged to differ. He said that Naxal violence had created an atmosphere where education of tribals was getting affected. According to him, teachers remain away from schools because of incidents like that in Sawargaon. "Such cat and mouse chase between Naxals and security forces take place anywhere," he said.
"Naxals may not kill a teacher but who can guarantee that his or her life is safe in sensitive places. We have had an incident of an ashramshala teacher stripped and raped in the school itself. The teachers are in perennial danger as government urges us to celebrate Independence day and Republic Days but Naxals come threatening us. Who says that Naxals do not kill the villagers," he asked.
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