A seventh grader at Manakamana English Boarding School at Chaudhara, Ghorahi-4 Rasiyali Budha required seven stitches on her pupils at the Bhairahawa Eye Hospital.

“The doctors say she might not be able to regain her sight,” said Budha’s mother, Ramleela. The extremely concerned mother condemned the act and demanded punishment for the teacher Som Poudel.

According to Rasiyali, she was hit straight on her eye after the teacher was furious over her handwriting. “I fell unconscious after the incident and the next thing I remember is waking up on a hospital bed,” Rasiyali said. She claimed that Poudel’s act of punishment by beating students with a stick was a regular routine at the school.

Poudel, however, had a different side to the incident. According to him, the stick he used to silence the noisy class apparently broke and ricocheted towards Rasyali, injuring her eye. Deeming it an accident, Poudel said he had no intentions of injuring her.

Rasyali was rushed to Rapti Sub-Regional Hospital following the incident, but was eventually taken to Bhairahawa for surgery on the doctors’ recommendation, said school principal Basanta Sharma. “Poudel is an experienced teacher working with us for the past 18 months, but the incident has now shook the reputation of the school,” Sharma said. Concerned over the restoration of the victim’s eyesight and her treatment, Sharma said that they will decide on necessary actions after a meeting of the school management committee.

Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office Om Rana said the incident was very sensitive, stressing on the need to focus on the girl’s treatment. Rana seemed determined to proceed with the case and punishment the guilty accordingly.