Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, 19 Jul: Twenty-one children – 15 girls and six boys, aged 6 to 12 years (Class 1-5) – were sexually assaulted and molested by one Yumken Bagra, a former warden of Govt. Residential School, Karo Village, Monigong, Shi Yomi district, between 2019 and 2022.
The accused is out on bail, granted by the Yupia special court.
Addressing reporters during a press conference here, Special Investigation Team (SIT) SP Rohit Rajbir Singh on Wednesday informed that the accused has been chargesheeted for aggravated penetrated assault/molestation and booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and under Sections 6, 8, 10, 12, and 376 A, B and C of the Indian Penal Code.
The police investigation which was headed by Dy.SP (SIT) Moyir Basar Kamdak has reported that there were six cases of rape, nine cases of molestation and six cases of sexual harassment.
The SP informed that one O. Pertin has also been booked for harbouring the accused.
Based on an FIR lodged in November 2022 by a father of two daughters stating that his daughters were sexually assaulted by the warden, the Monigong police had registered the case, and transferred it to the SIT of the vigilance department.
During the course of investigation, it came to light that the warden had been engaging in such obscene acts since 2014 – the year he joined the school.
“During interrogation of the children, it came to light that pornographic movies were shown and sexual objects such as condoms were found,” Singh informed.
Medicines containing antihistamine drugs were also found and seized. “These medicines were usually fed to the victims before the commission of the crime. The major side-effect of anti-histamine drug is drowsiness besides other side effects,” Singh said adding that the accused had also threatened to kill the students if they disclosed the crime to others.
“It is also learnt that six victim students had attempted to kill themselves,” the SP informed and said, “Bagra and Pertin received bail recently, the SIT is making efforts by urging that the duo be tried and convicted.”
Currently, there are 8 students in the school.