DHANGADI, AUGUST 27

All the education institutions have been closed from today after a group of locals thrashed an accountant of Siddhababa Secondary School in Bhimdatta Municipality, Kanchanpur a week ago. The group has thrashed Birendra Joshi accusing of his involvement in sexual harassment to a tenth grader of the school. Issuing a statement, the municipality-based protest committee announced the closure of community and private schools.

The protest committee demanded that action be taken against the accused. Protest committee coordinator Dharmananda Joshi said the schools would be closed until the accused involved in the case were arrested.

On August 20, the group had thrashed the accused even though he was in the police custody. Critically injured Joshi has been receiving treatment in ICU at Dhangadi-based Nisarga Hospital. The family of Joshi has filed an FIR against eight persons. Police have arrested four persons while others are at large. Similarly, the family of the victim has also filed FIR against Joshi.

Protest committee coordinator Dharmananda Joshi said the protest programme would be further intensified in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the protest committee requested the municipality, education development and coordination unit, teachers, staffs, head teachers, among others, to assemble in the municipality office to discuss further protest programme.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 28, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.