One of the demonstration participants, 10th grader Satyam Kumar Karn, who carried a placard reading 'Stop State Killing', said that they came out onto the streets to protest the closure of schools and the death of people in police firing. He, howsever, added that he was motivated by his teacher to take part in the demonstration."Stop killing children," reads a placard carried by Priyanka Yadav, an eighth grader. She told Republica that four children had been killed during recent demonstrations in the tarai.
Opening schools without any restrictions is more important for children, she said while standing in a human chain along the Birgunj-Pathlaiya road from the Nepal-India Friendship Bridge to Parwanipur in Bara district.
The participating children asked political party leaders and cadres observing the human chain when the strikes would end.
Meanwhile, human rights activists and intellectuals have shown concern over the use of children for political purposes.
Human Rights activist Sunil Kushwaha said that children should not be used for any political activity.
"Some children carried placards championing childrem's rights, which is alright. But we condemn the use of children for political or diplomatic purposes," he said.
He added that the children had participated in the human chain under the guidance of their mparents and teachers. "It cannot be termed misuse of children then," he argued.
Likewise, children from Rautahat also formed a human chain at district headquarters Gaur with a similar message.
Demonstrating children expressed their dismay over the death of innocent people including children during street demonstrations.
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