Molest victim narrates ordeal

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 4

A 14-year-old student of Elangbam Sulochana Academy, Hiyanglam was allegedly sexually abused by her school principal on September 20, leaving her traumatised. She quit going for classes in fear and shame of her principal and her school mates.

Thoibi (name changed) said on the ill-fated day, she and her younger sister, Tombi (name changed) were called out from their math class by the teacher cum principal cum founder of the school, Elangbam Surendro for not doing their homeworks.

Thoibi narrated that both of them were of the same class, standard II, and were called to the dining room of the school and were made to lie down opposite each other. They were detained after all the other school children had gone after the classes.

Then he instructed the elder sister to strip her innerwear and attempted to molest her while covering her younger sister’s face with a cloth. Sorendro was disturbed by his own mother calling him to do his other duties.

“After that incident, I don’t want to go to school again, I feel scared as our principal threatened us not to tell anyone, even to our parents”, Thoibi said. “But the thought of it makes me feel uncomfortable and I didn’t go to school after that.

Her mother, Tamphasana (name changed) said she noticed that her daughter didn’t go to school for 2-3 days. On parents’ meeting day on September 23, Thoibi refused to attend the meeting so she insisted Thoibi to tell her the reason for not going to school. Thoibi hesitated at first but told her the whole truth later.

After knowing the truth, Tamphasana consulted meira paibis and the club and went to Hiyanglam police station on the night of September 29. But the police officials did not register a case as it lacked detailed information and formality.

But the next day also, the case was not registered and according to police, once a case is filed, the process is complicated and takees long. But rather suggested them to shorten it through negotiations.

Thoibi said that she wanted her principal to realise his mistakes and not to repeat such type of demeanour in the future with anyone.

A case was filed on October 1 by Hiyanglam police station and on the day itself the case was transferred to Thoubal women police cell. The case was registered under POCSO Act, under Section 12. And the accused is on nnticipatory bail from October 3.