Students not attending classes after Maoist threat

Berhampur (Orissa), Feb 1 (PTI) At least 370 studentsof two schools in Ganjam district were not attending classesfor the past two days since suspected Maoists threatened toblow up the school buildings.

Around 200 students of the UP School and over 170students of Sri Jagannath Bidyapitha in Bandhaguda village,were absent since yesterday after Maoist poster was found onthe school gate on Sunday, official sources said.

In the hand written poster, suspected Maoists wantedthe schools to be closed for seven days, otherwise they wouldblow up the buildings with landmines.

"Apprehending trouble, the parents held a meeting anddecided not to send their children to schools for one week,�said the head master of a school Kasinath Satapathy.

He, however, said the teaching and non-teaching staffof the school attended for duties for both days.

"We have apprised district collector andsuperintendent of police of the matter and sought policeprotection," the head master said.

The police, however, suspected that it was the handywork of some anti-socials.

The police intensified patrolling in the area guardedboth the schools.