As per the settlement made on Tuesday in the presence of the police and the members of the school management committee, the victim will receive Rs 45,000 along with a sum equivalent to one month of the teacher´s salary. [break]
Principal of Thakthake Secondary School at Itahari-3, Chandralal Parajuli, had allegedly molested a tenth grader at the latter´s home. Despite Parajuli´s attempt to hush up the matter, the case was recently unveiled -- six months after the incident.
However, the school management itself seems unhappy over the Tuesday´s settlement.
"It´s not that we didn´t try to take action against Parajuli, but his strong political connections had tied our hands," said chairperson of the school management committee, Tek Bahadur Karki. "Though the case has been settled for now, the locals are still demanding stern action against Parajuli."
Parajuli had reached the victim´s house with an excuse to verify the authenticity of an application letter she had submitted, requesting a week long sick leave.
According to another teacher, Komal Prasad Trital, the case was exposed after the teachers became curious since the victim stopped coming to school shortly after the alleged incident.
"When we finally went to meet her, she was in a state of fear and emotionally unstable. Every time we spoke of Parajuli, she quivered in fear. She still doesn´t want to attend classes," said Trital.
The victim told Republica that Parajuli came to her house and physically abused her.
"He barged into my room and started scolding me. He accused me that I had forged the signature and cheated him. Filled with anger, he threw me on my bed and abused me physically," said the victim.
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