Police arrested Sitaram Tharu, 33, of Banjarhiya, Geruwa Rural Municipality-1, on 29 August for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl. On 9 December 2024, The bench of District Court Judge Manoj Shrestha had sentenced Tharu to 6 months and 5 days in prison, ordered him to pay Rs 75,000 in compensation, Rs 400 to the Victim Relief Fund, and a fine of Rs 10,000. Tharu had been absconding since the court found him guilty and issued the sentence.
Inspector Krishna Dangi of the District Police Office stated that Tharu was arrested from a market in Guleriya Municipality-6. He was subsequently presented in court on 31 August. The aggrieved party had filed a complaint at the Patahabar Police Station on 31 March, alleging that the accused had sexually abused the girl on 30 March. The police arrested the accused on 31 March, and the victim underwent a medical examination at Bardiya District Hospital on the same day.
The Bardiya District Government Attorney’s Office had filed a case at the Bardiya District Court on 24 April 2024 against Tharu for child sexual abuse. The court had released Tharu on bail on the same day.