A Special POCSO Court in Yupia on Saturday has sentenced Yumken Bagra, a warden of a state government-run residential primary school in Shi-Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh, to death for the sexual abuse of 21 children over an eight-year period.
This landmark judgment also convicted two other individuals involved in the case.
The court found Yumken Bagra guilty of serious offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Specifically, he was convicted under Sections 328 & 506 of the IPC, as well as Sections 6, 10, and 12 of the POCSO Act, resulting in the imposition of the death penalty due to the severity of his actions.
Marbom Ngomdir, a Hindi teacher at the school, was convicted under Section 506 of the IPC and Sections 17 and 21(1) of the POCSO Act. Singtung Yorpen, the former headmaster of Karo Government Residential School, was found guilty under Sections 17 and 21(2) of the POCSO Act.
Both Ngomdir and Yorpen received sentences of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for their roles in the abuse.
Superintendent of Police, Itanagar, Rohit Rajbir Sing, commented that the verdict represents a pivotal moment in societal awareness regarding child protection.
He stated, “This ruling not only addresses the immediate issue at hand but also serves as a critical turning point for the broader societal awareness surrounding the protection of children, reinforcing the collective responsibility to safeguard their rights and welfare.”
The investigation, initially led by SP Irak Bagra of Shi-Yomi along with his team, gained momentum and was subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch Police Station Special Investigation Team (SIT) on November 24, 2022.
The SIT has since submitted a comprehensive charge sheet to the court.
