After 13 yrs, schools in a naxal-hit village in Sukma reopen

Students in Jagargunda village in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, which bore the brunt of naxal violence, were elated Monday with reopening of government schools after a long gap of 13 years.

Jagargunda villagers had left their homes in fear after the launch of the Salwa Judum, the erstwhile anti-Naxal movement, in 2005-06.

Subsequently, the villagers, comprising around 1200 families, got settled in government-aided relief camps in the area.

Schools and hostels in Jagargunda were then shifted to Dornapal, around 50 kms from the village, Sukma Collector Chandan Kumar told PTI Monday.

Since then the students of the area were studying in nearby porta-cabin (pre-fabricated structures), he added.

"After a gap of 13 years, the district administration took initiative on the direction of Chief Minister and renovated the dilapidated school buildings, and also constructed new ones," Kumar said.

He said the local residents, particularly students, are very happy over reopening of the