For instance, teachers Harka Bohora and Deepak Bista of Barchhain Higher Secondary School in the district along with School Management Committee Chairman Chakra Gharti and local resident Dipendra Jethara were arrested on the charge of murdering teacher and school accountant Deepak Bam on June 27. The arrestees have been remanded in custody for further investigation.

Likewise, Dan Bahadur Bohora, a teacher at the Aadarsha Primary School Barchhain VDC itself was beaten to death by headmaster Bhim Bahadur Bohora on July 31. The accused is in police custody.

Similarly, Yagya Bahadur Kathayat, teacher at Kotila Primary School in Kanachaur VDC, has been accused of raping a 60-year-old woman and Yogendra Bahadur Bogati, teacher at Bhawani Lower Secondary School, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charge of sexually exploiting a student.

According to the District Police Office, five cases, including murder, rape, and forgery, involving teachers have been registered since February. Besides these, there are many other incidents where teachers have been found to be involved in financial irregularities, sexual harassment, politicisation and creating ruckus while intoxicated, authorities concerned said. Stating that the involvement of teachers in criminal activities was on the rise, Superintendent of Police Bhoj Jung Shah said that such tendency could have a long-term and detrimental impact on the society.

Local people alleged that the tendency increased owing to the failure of the teachers to abide by their professional ethics. “The damage done by one mistake of a teacher is far greater than 10 mistakes made by a common citizen. However, it is unfortunate that teachers have become slaves to political leaders and associated in criminal activities,” said Pradip Deuba, a local leader.