Kokrajhar, May 5: Teachers, guardians, students and academicians in the BTAD have expressed concern over indefinite closure of schools because of curfew for the past few days.
Students and teachers are worried that curfew and frequent strike calls will damage their careers as the syllabus will remain incomplete.
“We are waiting for schools to reopen so that classes can resume. We are worried if we would be able to complete our syllabus in time if this situation continues. Bandhs have affected us and now this curfew has made matters worse. It is really frustrating for us,” said Lakshmi Brahma, a Class XII student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kokrajhar.
Echoing her, D. Basumatary, a guardian with two school-going children, said: “Because of the recent crisis and the curfew imposed in the BTAD area students cannot reach their schools and this will affect their studies. Moreover, such a situation will have psychological impact on students in the region.”
“Because of the curfew all schools and colleges remain closed and if this situation prevails it would affect the future generation. Innocent people are victimised and their careers paralysed,” said a schoolteacher.
“The government has to take an immediate steps to control the situation and restore normality in the area. An environment ideally suited for studies should be provided to the students,” she said. “These strikes have not only affected education but the socio-economic condition of the region as well.”
Curfew has been imposed in three BATD districts of Kokrajhar, Baksa and Chirang since May 2 after violence erupted in Kokrajhar and Baksa killing 31 people by suspected NDFB (Songbijit) militants on Thursday and Friday. Traders are also voicing concern for the bandh culture as it has affected their business leading to high prices of essential commodities. The issue was raised at an all-party peace meeting at DC’s conference hall today.
Civil society in Kokrajhar has urged the district administration to relax curfew during daytime for effective functioning of daily life in the district.
Residents urged the administration to relax curfew from 7am to 5pm so that schools, colleges and offices function normally. Curfew was relaxed in Kokrajhar for six hours. In Baksa, curfew was relaxed from 10am to 4pm today. In Chirang, it was relaxed from 9am to 5pm.
Kokrajhar deputy commissioner Nitin Khade said curfew hours would be relaxed depending on the situation.
