The UN has received reports of Naxalites using children to fight in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and of terrorists burning at least 30 schools in Jammu and Kashmir last year, according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres In his annual report on Children in Armed Conflict, Guterres said: "Children continued to be affected by incidents of violence between armed groups and the government, in particular in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand as well as tensions in Jammu and Kashmir. "The UN continued to receive reports of the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, including the Naxalites, in particular in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand," he said.At least 30 schools were burned and partially destroyed by armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir according to government reports, he said. "In addition, government reports confirmed the military use of four schools by security forces in that region for several weeks. "I call upon the (Indian) government to develop appropriate mechanisms to protect children from recruitment as well as to separate and reintegrate recruited children," Guterres said. "I also urge the government to ensure the protection of children from any form of violence in the context of civil unrest or law and order operations.

Source: Economic Times October 07, 2017 06:33 UTC