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Nepalese rebels attack Sanskrit language university

Maoist rebels in Nepal have burnt the country's only Sanskrit language university, destroying thousands of historic books and texts.

The Maoists oppose the teaching of Sanskrit, the classical language of Hinduism, and are sworn enemies of neighbouring India, as Simi Chakrabarti reports from New Delhi.

More than 200 Maoists, mostly women, entered the Mahendra Sanskrit University, after snatching the keys from the security guards. The rebels blocked all entry points to the university, located in the south-west district of Dang, to prevent security forces from intervening, poured kerosene all over the institute's offices and set them ablaze. Policemen quoting University officials said, that about 50,000 priceless ancient Sanskrit texts,including 14 years of student records and furniture were gutted in the fire. Nepal's government requires the teaching of Sanskrit in state schools the insurgents have attacked several teachers of the language in the past

14/05/2002 11:02:35 | ABC Radio Australia News

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