The Hindu : Kerala News : Building for peace in Nadapuram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Building for peace in Nadapuram

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE JUNE 21. A shop that was destroyed in a bomb blast at Cheeyur in Nadapuram is to be rebuilt with the participation of the people.

Major political parties that have been trying to restore peace in the strife- prone region would start rebuilding the destroyed structure on July 1.

The bomb blast had ripped apart the two-room provision store belonging to C. Rajan on May 27.

The loss is estimated to be around Rs. 5 lakhs. Speaking to The Hindu today, Benoy Viswom, MLA, said "people who want peace in Nadapuram believe that constructing the building with the participation of the people would be the best way to give a fitting reply to those who work to destroy the peace." The bomb blast was the first violent incident in two years in Nadapuram.

The decision to rebuild the shop was taken at an all-party meeting held at Cheeyyur on Sunday. The work is expected to be completed on August 15.

The key of the new building would be handed over to Mr. Rajan at a function to be held at Cheeyyur LP School on the same day, said Mr. Viswom. He has been spearheading the people's movement for peace. The building materials needed for the purpose are being mobilised by the local people.

Local leaders of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) who spoke at the meeting held on Sunday, were critical of the police for not arresting the culprits behind the bomb explosion. Several programmes aimed at bridging the social divide in the region, which was created by frequent clashes in Nadapuram, have been organised in the past two years. These included week-long fairs that attracted a large number of local people, mass celebrations of festivals such as Onam and Id.

The latest in this series of programmes is aimed at educational development. Under this scheme, which is supported by the National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NITC), 18 computers have been installed in Government and Government-aided schools in Nadapuram to make the students computer literate.

A two-day workshop will begin at the NITC for about 40 teachers of the schools that have been provided with computers, on June 24.

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