KALIKOT: Demanding immediate arrest and stringent action against the assailants of a teacher, teachers, students and guardians shut nine schools in 12 VDCs of northern part of Kalikot district indefinitely since December 27.

A group that showed up in the village from neighbouring Dhaulagoha VDC on December 24 had mercilessly beat up Bishnunath Shah, a teacher of Karnali Secondary School of Khin VDC, for no obvious reason. Seriously injured in the incident, Shah’s condition is reported to be critical. He has sustained serious injury on face and head besides having his one of the ribs broken in the attack. He

is now undergoing treatment in Kalikot District Hospital.

Padam Bahadur Bam, a local guardian of Khin VDC-5, said that they shut the schools indefinitely as the culprits were yet to be brought to book. From the hospital bed, Shah said, “I was asleep in my room when the group broke into my room and thrashed me out of blue. According to him, some villagers came to his rescue after he shouted for help.

Hansaraj Bhandari, assistant health worker of Dhaulagoha, one of the accused, said that they beat Shah as he started selling medicine instead of teaching children.

Shah used to treat villagers and also sell medicines in the village.

Local of Jayalal Buda of Khin-4 warned that they would be compelled to gherao the District Administration Office if the administration failed to bring the culprits to

book at the earliest.