The death penalty handed out to a former hostel warden for sexually assaulting 21 minors at a residential school in Shi Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh is a tough stand taken by the POCSO Special Court which has been welcomed by the prosecution and the public. Two other accused, the former headmaster and a woman teacher have been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for abetment and failing to act/report the crimes when the matter was brought to their attention.
This is the first death sentence in India given to an accused under POCSO Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault of victims in which the victims had not died.
A special investigative team (SIT) that investigated the issue discovered that between 2014 and 2022, accused Yumken Bagra sexually molested at least 21 kids, including six boys aged 6 to 14, while serving as the school’s hostel warden. The chargesheet, submitted in July last year, accused the warden of drugging students before attacking them and threatening them not to report the assault. According to the SIT, six of the victims tried to commit suicide but were unsuccessful.
Ever since the case surfaced, there has been massive outcry among the public. The verdict therefore is being welcomed by society which has grown wary of growing incidents of sexual offences against children. 
Of late, several instances of sexual offences against minors have surfaced in the state. Crimes of sexual nature against women and children have been reported over the years, however the occurrences have shot up significantly if news reports are to be taken into account.  There has been disturbingly repeat occurrence of minors falling prey to depraved minds; the fact that majority of such cases occur in safe zones such as schools and homes, is alarming.
Rape laws have been nowhere as stringent in comparison to the trauma and scarring it leaves on the victims. The death penalty in this instant case is being seen as a deterrent punishment. The tough decision taken by the Special Judge is bound to send across a strong message about the intent of the justice delivery system. This ruling will serve as a critical turning point for Arunachal society at large and will have long term implications surrounding protection of children. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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