Police have stated that further evidence is being collected on the basis of digital materials, details made public on social media, and statements from the individuals concerned.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
A Facebook group formed to protest the increase in transcript fees at Sukuna Secondary School in Sundarharaicha, Morang, has brought to light incidents of sexual misconduct that had been suppressed within the school for years.
The dissatisfaction that began over the fee issue quickly escalated when former female students started sharing their experiences, raising serious questions about the school administration.
In the accounts made public on social media, some former students claimed that they had repeatedly faced mental, verbal, and sexual harassment from teachers during their studies.
According to them, fear, social stigma, and concerns about not receiving the expected support from the school administration forced them to remain silent about these incidents for a long time.
One former student alleged that during exam periods, she would receive repeated phone calls from a teacher at night, who, claiming to have her answer sheet, lured her with promises of higher marks and demanded personal photos and video calls. She stated that at the time she was extremely frightened and, unable to preserve evidence, could not speak out publicly.
Other students also reported having to endure inappropriate physical contact, indecent remarks, being teased while waiting on the road, being addressed as ‘baby’ and ‘darling’, and uncomfortable comments related to age and body from teachers on multiple occasions. According to them, such incidents created a sense of insecurity within the school premises.
According to the former students, they had verbally complained to the school administration at the time. However, when the incidents were not taken seriously and were dismissed as minor, they were discouraged from filing further complaints. Many said that, as a result, they had no option but to find ways to protect themselves.
After the incidents became public, a joint team from the Morang District Police Office and the Area Police Office, Belbari, took into custody the school’s 40-year-old driver Pradeep Bhattarai, 30-year-old teacher Kishor Lal Gachhadar, 35-year-old teacher Abiral Maske, and 39-year-old Bhim Nepal of Buddhashanti-7, Jhapa, and began an investigation.
Police stated that further evidence is being collected based on digital materials, details made public on social media, and statements from the individuals involved.
Morang Police Chief SP Kabita Katwal said the investigation is being conducted in a sensitive manner. She said, “The safety of the victims, preservation of evidence, and impartial investigation of the incident have been given priority.”
School Principal Hikmat Bahadur Basnet admitted that an anonymous complaint had previously been received in the school’s email. According to him, since no teacher was named in the complaint, all staff were consulted, but at that time no basis for the allegations was found.
Meanwhile, Sundarharaicha Municipality has sent a letter to the school management instructing them to cooperate with the investigation, to relieve the accused staff of their duties according to legal procedures, and to ensure the safety of students.
