Jhapa, August 13

Police in Jhapa have arrested a youth on the charge of sexual assault on a minor girl.

Twenty-seven-year-old Santosh Gurung, a daily wage labourer hailing from Dhankuta and working in Buddhashanti, was detained by the locals and then handed over to the police for initiating a legal action today.

According to the victim’s family, the man had been exploiting the girl, aged 13, for the past seven months.

The girl’s mother is employed abroad, whereas the father is a daily-wage earner.

The victim said that Gurung would come to her house and exploit her when there was no one else at home, taking advantage of the situtation.

“He threatened me saying he would kill my parents if I did not keep my mouth shut. As I was threatened, I did not tell anyone until it became too much for me to bear,” said the vicitim. “I thought enough was enough and I confided about his abuse to my sister-in-law telling her what I was facing. After this, others also learnt about it,” the victim added.

After the exploitation came to light, local youths had detained Gurung and turned him in to the police.

Gurung is now in the custody of Kakarbhitta Area Police Office. Police have said investigation is under way.