5 Bihar govt teachers found drunk while escorting students on Nepal tour

PATNA: Five govt school teachers were arrested at the India-Nepal border in Supaul district on Friday for allegedly being drunk while escorting students on an educational tour. The teachers, from Madhepura and Khagaria districts, were returning from Nepal with students under the Chief Minister Bihar Darshan Scheme.

They were caught at the Bhimnagar checkpoint, where officials grew suspicious of their behaviour and conducted a breath-analyser test which revealed that they were intoxicated. The district administration has taken serious note of the incident and suspension proceedings have been initiated against the teachers. They may also face charges under the prohibition law and possible termination from service.

Confirming the incident, inspector of the district prohibition team Sanjay Priyadarshi said, “When the teachers were inspected and a breath-analyser machine was used, the machine's readings shocked us. All five teachers were found to be under the influence of liquor.”

The arrested teachers were identified as being from Madhepura and Khagaria districts. Among them, three teachers — Deepnarayan Ram, English Kumar and Dhirendra Kumar — are from Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya Parihari located in Kumarkhand block of Madhepura.

Besides them, Sivansh Kumar alias Shakti Shaman and Mithu Kumar have also been arrested. They are from a middle school in Khagaria.

Priyadarshi added, “The arrested teachers have been sent to judicial custody. Instead of educating the children about historical sites, these teachers consumed liquor in the valleys of Nepal and were travelling with the children in an intoxicated state, raising serious questions about the safety of the students.”

Supaul DM Sawan Kumar took the matter seriously and clarified that the suspension process against the arrested teachers has been initiated.

Madhepura DM Abhishek Ranjan has also asked the district education officer to investigate the entire matter and submit a report.

“Not only will cases be filed against these teachers under the liquor prohibition law, but they may even face termination from service,” said an official of the Madhepura district administration.