Nepal Maoists vandalise school, bus over Mahatma Gandhi photos

Student activists aligned to the CPN-Maoist have vandalised a school and set a bus on fire in western Nepal after the school allegedly published photos of Mahatma Gandhi on the cover of its magazine.
The activists vandalised the school and torched the school bus yesterday after learning that authorities at the International Public Higher Secondary School in Mahendranagar in Kanchanpur district allegedly published photos of Indian leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, on the cover of the school magazine, the Himalayan Times reported.
Classes were on when the activists barged into the office chamber and started smashing computers, telephones and furniture at around 8:00 am, the national daily said.

Two activists headed towards the parking lot and smashed the windows of the school bus with iron rods before sprinkling petrol and setting it on fire, the daily said quoting the managing director of the school Maha Sharma Neupane.
Students and teachers put off the fire, according to school sources.
The vandals attacked the school as part of their protests against the use of Indian leaders' pictures in the magazine and hike in school fees, said sources close to the All Nepal National Independent Student's Union-Revolutionary affiliated to CPN-Maoist led by hardliner Mohan Vaidya.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested two activists for their suspected involvement in the arson.

Prakash Japrel and Birendra Bista were arrested by the police and search for the rest is on, according to SSP Rajendra Chaudhary.
Last year, several Indian schools in Nepal were targeted with one being attacked by activists of CPN-Maoist, breakaway faction of the Unified CPN-Maoist, for teaching subjects under India's CBSE curriculum.
The Maoists have claimed that using the Indian educational system is against Nepal's interests.
CPN-Maoist had also banned the screening of Indian movies and the entry of vehicles with Indian number plates into Nepal.