Phidim, December 23:

Two children are being forced to stay with their parents in the Panchthar jail as there is no one to take care of them.

Sabita Tamang, 4 of Niguradin-7 and an eighteen-month-old Surya Rai of Bharapa-4 live in the jail.

Sabita’s mother Mana Kumari is serving a jail sentence in connection with case of illegal abortion and Surya’s parents Bir Bahadur and Phul Kumari are serving terms in jail for attempted murder.

Mana Kumari brought Sabita in the prison on December 5 and Surya’s parents brought him in the jail on May 23 and they are living here since then, jailor Renu Prasad Ojha said.

The children are staying with their parents because there are provisions in the law that children can stay with their jailed parents until they reach the age of 72 months, CDO Hari Krishna Upadhayay said.

“My husband has gone for a job abroad and I am serving a jail term for five years. So, I have been keeping my daughter with me,” Man Kumari said, adding: “I am worried about my daughter’s schooling.”