Lekhnath Bhandari, owner of Pradip Guest House, allegedly raped a 14-year-old domestic help. The victim, who had been staying at Bhandari's house for the past eight years, is two months pregnant. According to the victim, the perpetrator had been sexually assaulting her for the past one year.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Acharya said the security personnel detained Bhandari as per a complaint lodged on Tuesday. "We have initiated due legal process taking the accused into custody," he said.

The incident came to light as the victim shared her ordeal to her teacher at Sadhana Women's School. Suman Panthi, headmistress at the school, lodged the complaint against Bhandari. The traumatised victim, the sixth grader, said she was forced to undergo abortion after a pregnancy test.

The victim told police that the perpetrator started assaulting her after his wife went to London to meet their children a year ago. She said she was compelled to endure the suffering as Bhandari threatened her.

As per the record available at the school, the girl was born at Bhuwanpokhari in Palpa district in 2057 BS.

Meanwhile, women rights activists and representatives of various social organisations encircled the Area Police Office in Butwal demanding action against the guilty. They said police was pressed to withdraw the complaint. The right activists staged demonstrations after the victim's father received her from police and took her to the suspect's house.