Remand for teacher, bail for warden
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 11 2019: Special Judge POCSO Imphal West, remanded a teacher to judicial custody for sexually assaulting a student while the warden of the boy's hostel in which the incident allegedly took place, was released after furnishing a PR bond of Rs 50,000 .

The teacher identified as Leimapokpam Purnima (55) s/o Naran of Thoubal Phouden Keirambi (presently staying at Sangaiprou Ningthemkol) was produced before the Court with the charges of sexually assaulting a minor boy in the hostel while the warden identified as Ningthoujam Rameshor (24) of Nongmaikhong Mayai Leikai was produced on charge of negligence of duty, by a team of Lamphel PS.

The police also submitted a prayer for remanding the accused individuals to judicial custody for further investigation of the case.

In the meantime, the defense counsel of the accused persons filed a remand objection along with an application for releasing them on bail.

The IO, through the APP, submitted that the accused teacher L Purnima committed aggravated sexual assault on a minor boy who is residing in the hostel run by him, an offence which is punishable under section 6 of POCSO Act.

The statement of the minor was recorded and the victim clearly stated that the accused teacher had committed penetrative sexual assault upon him.

On the other hand, the APP alleged that due to the negligence of N Rameshor, who is a warden of the hostel, the offence was committed by the accused teacher.

The defense counsel of N Rameshor submitted that he is just a warden of the boy's hostel and he had no knowledge of the acts committed by the accused teacher upon the victim as he was sleeping in the next room and as such prayed for granting bail to the warden.

The Court also allowed the submission of the accused teacher that the warden is not connected with the case.

After going through all the materials on record, the Court remanded the teacher to judicial custody till March 25 .

The Court then released the warden by furnishing a PR bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of same amount.

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