Remand for school wardens
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 25 2019: The Head warden and warden of Standard Robarth Higher Secondary School, were remanded to judicial custody by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West today evening, in connection with the death case of Ningthoujam Babysana.

Head warden Ileen Kamei (50) d/o (L) Kamei Kumar of Langthabal Chingthak and warden Nongmaithem Jinnty (27) d/o Joykumar of Moirangkhom Sougaijam Leirak, were produced before the Court by a team of Singjamei PS along with a prayer for remanding them to judicial custody while their counsels filed remand objection application along with prayers for releasing them on bail.

During the hearing, the IO of the case submitted that the two individuals were arrested by a team of Singjamei police on July 23 and remanded to 2 days police custody (till today).

Explaining that the case was earlier registered as a UD case before a regular FIR case was registered on July 23, the IO narrated that on July 18, at around 5.30 am, Singjamei police received information that a student of Standard Robarth Higher Secondary School, Ningthoujam Babysana, who was staying at the residential block-B girls hostel of the school, was found hung to death inside the hostel room and as such, a suo moto case was registered for investigation.

During the inquest of the body by the State forensic science expert team in the presence of the Executive Magistrate, it was found that the body was hanging from an iron bed approximately 5 feet tall, with a yellow plastic string and both legs were slightly bent and touching the ground.

The place was further observed for evidence and clues along with a team of State forensic science expert and the rack where items were kept and the trunk box were also searched.

On further investigation, it is was discovered that on July 18, one of the students saw Babysana getting frightened and crying and on hearing her cry, the other students woke up and informed the warden.

Later all the 36 roommates were shifted to another floor and on examination, all of them stated that they did not hear any kind of sound that night and they were also not sure of any reason for Babysana to take such extreme step, the IO added.

The IO submitted that during investigation, it was found that the school had not fulfilled some of the criteria under the guidelines given by the Supreme Court for child safety in school that could have prevented the incident.

It was also discovered that the school authority had not taken up preventive measures regarding handling of emotionally vulnerable children as well as passing of necessary information to the guardian concerned.

As per the post mortem report and the opinion of the doctor concerned, the death was caused due to asphyxia resulting from the hanging, the IO explained adding that the forensic science report is still awaited.

The IO continued that from the accumulated facts and circumstances, it can be deduced that Babysana was driven to take such extreme steps due to the lack of psychosocial support and lack of attention regarding students well being.

During the course of investigation, the warden was examined by the police team and she disclosed that Babysana had been staying in B block hostel since last year and she further revealed that she saw that Babysana seldom talked with her roommates, was often alone most of the time, was an emotional but average student and was active in sports.

She also stated that when she saw Babysana acting lonely, she used to talk with her, trying to understand her problem and she also mentioned that Babysana loved stitching, drawing, craftworks and was very creative.

The warden narrated that on July 17, after the evening bell at 8.30, she checked all the students staying in her block at around 8.50 pm and told all the students to complete their tasks and sleep before 9 pm.

She then claimed that the next morning, one of the students ran up to her and informed her about the incident and on seeing Babysana, she was shocked and stunned, the IO added.

During the investigation of the UD case by the previous IO, it was revealed during the course of enquiry of the deceased girl's roommates it is learnt that the wardens gave them the task of cleaning their rooms, corridors, stairs and washrooms on roster system and the wardens sometimes made them fetch water from the water tank.

Sometimes the students were also given punishment for not obeying order from the teachers and the students were beaten with bamboo sticks and made to perform frog jumps.

They were made to stand for long hours if they were found sleeping during class, as well as for not speaking English.

The IO further submitted that it came to light that the students are frequently subjected to punishment by the wardens over petty issues and such frequent punishments of the students, especially the emotionally vulnerable children, tends to cause unnecessary mental and physical suffering.

The IO continued that the school is mainly run with the sole purpose of generating profit, with rampant neglect of the norms and regulations laid down by the competent authority for requisite training of the wardens and teachers.

The death is quite mysterious as it took place in an area which is inhabited by many other students and yet no one seems to have any idea of the incident, the IO added.

Praying for judicial remand of the two individuals, the IO continued that the case has also attracted huge media attention and rattled many families, intellectuals and CSOs when it comes to running hostels in the State.

At the same time, the school has been temporarily banned by an underground outfit and as such, there is a risk to the lives of the two persons it they are released on bail, the IO prayed.

The Court, after hearing the counsels of both parties, remanded the two individuals to judicial custody till August 8.Further, the bail applications filed by the defense counsels were fixed for consideration on August 5 .

It may be mentioned that Session Judge, Imphal West, on July 20, rejected the anticipatory bail filed by the warden and the head warden.

But at the same time, the Court passed an order releasing Pheiroijam Landhoni Devi (Principal) and administrator Pheiroijam Romita on interim bail.

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