By IANS,
Rayagada (Orissa) : At least three school teachers in Orissa have been suspended for not hoisting the tricolour on the Independence Day, an official here said Wednesday. Curiously, the schools have been closed since 2005.
Tul Prasad Jena, Prasanta Kumar Misai and Laxmana Sibir are teachers in three government primary schools in the hilly terrain of Maoists infested district of Rayagada in the southern region of Orissa.
The schools are located at Juba, Dharasingh and Jarapa villages under Chandrapur block, some 500 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
The villagers said although the teachers draw their salaries regularly, they neither visit the schools nor do they conduct classes. The villagers complained that the schools have remained closed since 2005.
The administration conducted an inquiry after the local residents complained to the district officials that the teachers did not come to open the schools even on Aug 15 and that this was a disgrace.
The teachers have been placed under suspension Tuesday after the allegations were found to be true, district inspector of school Bijayananda Patnaik told IANS.
Maoist rebels are active in 15 of the state’s 30 districts. They have a strong presence in three southern districts of Rayagada, Gajapati and Malkangiri.
The rebels every year ask the local residents to boycott Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.
Fearing an attack from the rebels, students as well teachers in many schools do not celebrate the two national days.