Arunachal warden sentenced to death for sexually assaulting 21 students
What's the story
In an unprecedented ruling, a special court in Arunachal Pradesh sentenced a hostel warden to death on Thursday.
The warden, Yumken Bagra, was found guilty of sexually assaulting 21 students at a government-run residential school over an eight-year period from 2014 to 2022.
The case was first brought to light in November 2022 following a complaint lodged by a parent at the Monigong police station in Shi Yomi district.
Co-Convictions
Additional sentences for abetment and failure to report
Alongside the warden's conviction, former headmaster Singtung Yorpen and Hindi teacher Marbom Ngomdir were sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The court found them guilty of abetting the crime under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and failing to report it.
Some students had reported the abuse to Yorpen, who asked them to remain silent in order not to tarnish the school's reputation.
Reaction
Landmark verdict welcomed by victims' representative
Oyam Bingepp, the representative for the 21 victims in court, expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
"We are happy with the verdict as the court heard our pleas for stringent and exemplary punishment," Bingepp said.
He noted that this is India's first death sentence under the Pocso Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault where none of the victims died.
Special Judge Jaweplu Chai convicted all three accused under both Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Pocso Act.
Acquittals
Two other accused acquitted due to insufficient evidence
Two other individuals, Tajung Yorpen, a teacher at the same school, and Daniel Pertin, an acquaintance of the warden, were acquitted.
Yorpen was accused of sexually assaulting a student but was cleared after the victim turned hostile in court.
Pertin had been accused of providing shelter to the hostel warden prior to his arrest but was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Investigation findings
Case details reveal years of unreported abuse
The case was initiated in November 2022 when a father accused warden Bagra of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape his 12-year-old twin daughters.
A special investigation team (SIT) found that Bagra had sexually assaulted at least 21 minors, including six boys aged between 6 and 14 years, during his tenure as hostel warden from 2014 to 2022.
The chargesheet filed in July last year accused Bagra of drugging students before assaulting them and threatening them against reporting the abuse.