Parents allege brutal assault of children
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 23 2018:
Parents of three minor boys who work in a car workshop, have alleged that their sons were brutally assaulted with iron rods and needles on theft charges, by the workshop owner and four other individuals at Leingangching, Chandel district.
They also informed that Waikhong PS has registered an FIR in this connection and the accused have been identified as Sarangthem Rajiv Gandhi (30) of Kakching Khunou Lamhaba Leikai, Salam Oken Singh (19) of Thongjao Chirik Leikai, Philem Silakanta Singh (33) of Moirang Shribon Leikai, Mayanglambam Premkumar alias Tingba (30) of Umathel Makha Leikai and another juvenile.
The children one from Lamjao Mayai Leikai of Kakching district, one from Thangmeiband and one from Chandel are all reportedly below the age of 16 years.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, a man who claimed to be the father of one of the minor victims informed that the incident allegedly occurred on August 7 at around 7.30 pm.
He alleged that his 15 year son and two other minor children who all worked in a car workshop at Waikhong were brutally beaten up by the owner and four other individuals using iron rod and needles after the victims were picked up from the workshop.
Informing that an FIR has been lodged at Waikhong PS after he filed a complaint on August 8, the man went on to inform that the incident came to light when villagers of Leingangching heard some people crying in a secluded hill side of the area.
The villagers cordoned the area and later saved the children from the clutches of the perpetrators after they found the five accused brutally beating up the minor children on the hillside.
The injured children were taken to Kakching District Hospital by the villagers and the five accused were handed over to Waikhong PS on the day of the incident itself, Bhumishwor asserted.
On the other hand, a mother of another victim further alleged that the children were first beaten up at the workshop even before they were taken to Leingangching for additional beating on the charge that they stole some equipment from the workshop.
She accused Rajiv Gandhi and the four associates of even pricking the children with needle and pressing burning cigarettes on the children bodies while interrogating them.
Decrying that the workshop owner could have either informed the parents or complained to a police station if he suspected the children of stealing from the workshop, she demanded the authorities concerned to give befitting punishment to the perpetrators at the earliest.
The parents also lamented that their children are still under fear psychosis.
Claiming that the families of the accused individuals had only looked after the treatment of the children during the initial days, the parents also sought financial assistance from the authorities concerned for proper treatment of their children.