SARLAHI, Nov 10: A group of 15 to 20 youngsters not more than 12 years of age could be seen obstructing the border point at Tribhuwannagar in Sarlahi district. They have been confiscating petroleum products brought by locals and motorcyclists from markets in India and setting these ablaze.
Motorcyclists bringing over five liters of petrol are targetted by the youngsters. Over 1,000 liters of petrol and diesel are spilt every day along the same road. In one case, they were also involved in torching a motorcycle (Ba R 30 C 8434) after accusing the owner of bringing more petrol with him than he needed.
After more than three months of Madhesi protests forced all schools in the district to shut, the youngsters have been keeping themselves busy aiding the adults enforce their bandas. Children's voices could be heard chanting slogans in the streets and participating in other protest activities.
When cadres of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) took to the streets at district headquarters Malangawa on Tuesday, a significant number of children were to be noticed among the participants. They carried black flags and chanted "jindabaad" and "murdabad". This is just a representative example. They have been participating in such protests since the beginning of the tarai unrest.
"Unable to go to school, children participate in protests to kill time and they are thus cultivating feelings against the government," said a parent, Tapeshor Thakur of Gaur.
Rajnanta Jha, a local teacher, said, "Children are naïve and cannot differentiate right from wrong, and feelings of hatred against the government have negatively impacted their mindset."
Jha added that most of the youngsters have been participating in protests just for fun. "Agitating parties and parents should beware of letting children participate. The consequences will otherwise be very bad," he warned.
According to Jangi Lal Raya, district chairman of Terai Madhesh Democratic Party (TMDP), there is participation of children in protests because every member of every household — from the youngest to the oldest — participates in UMMF protests. "Although it may not be possible to completely eliminate the use of children in protests, UDMF has facilitated alternative plans to obstruct the border without the use of children," he claimed.
The prolonged Madhesi protests and the ongoing Indian blockade have created severe shortages of daily necessities, including petroleum products. The use of children to enforce the border blockade and various protest activities has impacted their psychology.
Published on: My Republica (November 10,2015)
