A report presented by a rights group has said that despite the ongoing peace process between the government and the Maoists, eight children were killed and many more injured due to the armed conflict of the country during 100 days of ceasefire.

The report, titled ‘Children Still Neglected in 100 Days of Democracy’, made public by the Children as Zones of Peace said, “Thirty-five persons were caught in sudden blasts in fields and on school premises during the period of ceasefire.”

Four children killed in the blasts were from Dhading, Rupandehi, Surkhet. Sixty-five children, who sustained injuries in the blasts that occurred during the ceasefire were from Dhading, Surkhet, Palpa, Sindupalchwk, Udaypur, Sindhuli, Tanahu, Rupandehi, Kavre, Kailali and Morang districts.

The report stressed the need to educate children about the dangers of explosives.

The Maoists used schools and its premises as a safe haven for organising their programmes. Classes and other activities were disrupted and the attention of the army was drawn. As the schools remained safe no more, school dropout rate went up, the report said.

The report has stressed the need to pull out sentry posts based on school premises immediately.

The report also said five children were killed and 25 children injured in blasts during four months of the conflict preceding the ceasefire.

The report also rapped the government and the Maoists for not prioritizing the issues of children during their agreements and the historic proclamation of the parliament.