Alleged sexual assault of minor MHRC comes down hard on IO for apathy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 13 2024: A minor girl of 14 was allegedly repeatedly "molested" by two teachers of Thang-Ta martial arts recently, revealed a case Manipur Human Rights Commission heard today.

While hearing the case, Justice UB Saha and Member KK Singh's bench came down heavily on the police and issued notice to the Investigating Officer to appear before the Commission along with the case diary on February 16 without any fail.

The complaint, filed by an aunt of the minor victim, alleged that the girl, a martial arts student, was repeatedly "molested" by two teachers during a tour outside Manipur.

The two teachers/coaches accused of the crime have been identified as Rahul Singh and Yumnam Khagemba of Yumnam Huidrom Makha Leikai, Imphal West.

The victim girl was taken to RIMS Hospital and she was referred to the Psychiatric Department as she was in a state of mental trauma, said the complaint.

A first information report was filed with the Women Police Station, Imphal West.

The Commission, during the hearing today, observed that the police, in the case, were "trying to save" Yumnam Khagemba Singh, one of the accused persons.

The Commission further observed that the minor victim and her aunt were allegedly "insisted" by the Investigating Officer "not to make any allegation against Yumnam Khagemba" before the Child Welfare Committee.

While the Investigating Officer asked the aunt to come to the police station, the officer did not arrest any of the two accused persons till January 31 .

"When the duty of the police is to protect the dignity/chastity of the citizen particularly the women victim/women informant and minor girl like the present victim in the instant case, the police themselves are trying to save the accused person which is totally unwanted.

It is also the duty of the citizen including police to save the girl children from the hand of the criminals/offenders, if it is not done by us, the slogan of "Beti Bachao Beti Padao" will be frustrated," said the Commission.

The Commission issued notices to the SP Imphal West and Investigating Officer of the case and directed the latter (IO) to appear before the Commission on Feb 16 with the case diary.

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