Assam leader killed for joining Manipur meet

SUSPECTED militants have killed a Thadou community leader from Assam who had taken part in a peace meeting in Manipur capital Imphal on August 6.

- EJAZ KAISER @ Raipur

YOUNG volunteer teachers deployed in the Maoist-hit districts of conflict-torn south Bastar zone, referred to as 'Shikshadoots', are falling prey to the Red guerrillas, who suspect them to be informers for the local police and security forces.

As many as nine Shikshadoots have been killed by Maoists in Bastar in the last one year despite an aggressive anti-Naxal campaign that has put the Red Rebels on the back foot.

Shikshadoots are locally engaged at a modest monthly emolument of ₹10,000 to teach in around 250 schools in the remote villages of Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada and Narayanpur, that were earlier shut down.