Kathmandu, Nov 23: Maoist violence has taken its toll on Nepal's education sector, with the seven-year-old insurgency claiming the lives of 152 students and 149 teachers, a media report said today. The insurgency has also displaced 1,000 teachers, government-run 'Gorkhapatra' daily quoted general secretary of Nepal Teachers Association Mohan Gyawali as saying.

There were 89 arson incidents in various schools and the rebels exploded bombs in 27 schools, which not only damaged physical infrastructure of the schools but also caused mental torment to the students, the daily said. So far, the Maoists have abducted 121 students, six of whom are still missing. Another half a dozen school students are missing after they were taken away by security forces for interrogation, the daily said.

Bureau Report