Arunachal Pradesh School Warden Sentenced to Death for Abusing 21 Children
A Special POCSO Court in Arunachal Pradesh has sentenced Yumken Bagra, a warden of a state government-run residential primary school in Shi-Yomi district, to death for sexually abusing 21 children over a period of eight years.
Landmark Judgment
In a landmark judgment, the court in Yupia convicted three people in a high-profile case concerning the sexual abuse of 21 children from a government residential school in the Shi-Yomi district. The court found Yumken Bagra, Marbom Ngomdir, and Singtung Yorpen guilty of serious offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Convictions and Sentences
| Name | Role | Convictions | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yumken Bagra | School Warden | Sections 328, 506 of IPC; Sections 6, 10, 12 of POCSO Act | Death Sentence |
| Marbom Ngomdir | Hindi Teacher | Section 506 of IPC; Sections 17, 21(1) of POCSO Act | 20 Years Rigorous Imprisonment |
| Singtung Yorpen | Former Headmaster | Sections 17, 21(2) of POCSO Act | 20 Years Rigorous Imprisonment |
Statements and Investigation
Superintendent of Police, Itanagar, Rohit Rajbir Sing, stated that the verdict serves as a critical turning point for broader societal awareness. He emphasized the collective responsibility to safeguard children’s rights and welfare.
The initial investigation was led by SP Irak Bagra of Shi-Yomi and SP Abhimanyu Poswal of West Siang before being handed over to the Crime Branch Police Station Special Investigation Team (SIT) on November 24, 2022. The SIT submitted a charge sheet before the court.
Doubts Revealed
Arunachal Pradesh -: Arunachal Pradesh is a state in the northeastern part of India. It is known for its beautiful mountains and forests.
School Warden -: A school warden is a person who takes care of the students and the school premises. They make sure everything is safe and in order.
Sentenced to Death -: Sentenced to death means that a person is given the punishment of being executed, or put to death, for committing a very serious crime.
Abusing -: Abusing means treating someone very badly, causing them harm or pain. In this case, it means hurting children in a very bad way.
Special POCSO Court -: POCSO stands for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences. A Special POCSO Court is a special court that deals with cases where children have been hurt in a sexual way.
Sexually Abusing -: Sexually abusing means hurting someone in a way that involves inappropriate touching or actions related to private parts. It is a very serious crime.
Rigorous Imprisonment -: Rigorous imprisonment means being put in jail and having to do hard work as part of the punishment.
Landmark Judgment -: A landmark judgment is a very important decision made by a court that can change how similar cases are handled in the future.
Societal Awareness -: Societal awareness means making people in the community more aware or informed about important issues, like protecting children.
Special Investigation Team -: A Special Investigation Team is a group of police officers who are chosen to investigate very serious or complicated cases.
SPs -: SPs stands for Superintendents of Police. They are senior police officers who are in charge of maintaining law and order in a district.
