Achham — A 13-year-old schoolgirl has been abducted from the premises of a school in Achham district, with her whereabouts and condition still unknown. The girl, a Class 7 student at Saraswati Secondary School in Jaigad of Bannigadhi Jaigad Rural Municipality, was reportedly taken from the school compound on Thursday (Paush 17).
According to information received, the girl was on her way home after school and was still wearing her school uniform when she was allegedly abducted by 35-year-old Santosh Aidi of Ward No. 7, Ramaroshan Rural Municipality. Eyewitnesses stated that Aidi took the girl on a motorcycle after telling her he would drop her home, and that the girl cried while being forcibly put on the vehicle.
The victim’s family has alleged that the Jaigad Police Station was informed immediately after the incident, but the initial response from the police was irresponsible. Despite being notified on Thursday evening, the girl’s condition and location remain unknown.
Police have taken Aidi’s wife, Jharana Saund, into custody on suspicion of involvement in the abduction and have launched an investigation into the case. DSP Om Prakash Khanal, Chief of the District Police Office, Achham, said the suspect has been identified and search operations have been intensified.
According to the police, all police units and relevant agencies across Sudurpaschim Province have been mobilized for a detailed investigation. While the probe into the serious incident of abduction from a school premises has been stepped up, authorities have yet to determine the teenager’s condition.
The incident has left the victim’s family in deep distress and has spread fear among local residents, as a school-age girl was abducted from within a school compound. Beyond the family’s anguish, the case has also raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the initial police response, as well as the broader state of security and safety in and around schools.
