Parents, student file molestation FIR against teacher Niraula

Kathmandu, February 25

Some parents of victims and a student of Shree Narayan Basic School in Mahalaxmi Municipality of Lalitpur filed first information reports against social studies teacher Nanda Prasad Niraula, 55, of the school, charging him with molesting students.

Earlier, 26 students of the school had submitted a letter to the principal stating that they had been molested by the teacher.

More girl students have got their statements recorded with the police against the teacher after police began investigation the case. More girls and their parents have come forward to support the case, according to sources.

Police started investigating the case after school Principal Sabita Silwal filed an FIR against Niraula on February 19.

The principal had sought legal action against the accused teacher despite pressure from the school management committee not to press the case. Girl students of Grade III, IV and V had collectively written a letter to the principal alleging that they had been molested by the teacher for almost a year. The girls had held several lunch-hour meetings before deciding to write the letter collectively.

Meanwhile, Lalitpur District Court yesterday remanded accused Niraula to seven-day judicial custody.

He had been in police custody since February 19. Deputy Superintendent of Police Mitra Bandhu Sharma said FIR by the parents of the victims would make the case stronger on behalf of the victims.

Principal Silwal said the police had been visiting the school and talking to parents of the girls to record their statements. “The girls have not back tracked from their accusation as they have been reporting their ordeals fearlessly to police officials,” she said.

Some of the girls had told THT that Niraula used to caress their legs and chest. After investing the case, Guardian Association of Nepal said the girls were severely molested.

Earlier, GAN had proposed to file FIR against accused Niraula if the school administration failed to do so.