| Correspondent |
PASIGHAT, Oct 29: In a shocking incident, the hostel warden of Sanggo Residential School in Mebo, East Siang district, has been arrested for allegedly sexually molesting minor students in the hostel.
The accused, identified as Hen Johnson Daiphei, was arrested on Wednesday. According to Mebo Police Station Officer-in-Charge Akai Chama, the arrest followed complaints lodged by the victims’ parents and school authorities. A case has been registered at the Women Police Station, Pasighat, under Section 4(2/6) of the POCSO Act.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the warden had been engaging in inappropriate behaviour with students over a period of time. The accused is currently in police custody and is being interrogated, police said.
Authorities have assured strict action, emphasizing that such crimes against children will not be tolerated. The victims are being provided counselling and medical assistance.
District officials have also initiated an internal inquiry to ensure the safety of all students and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms in residential institutions across the region.
According to the victims’ parents, they noticed swelling in their children’s private parts and immediately withdrew them from the hostel, taking them to a nearby hospital for treatment. Following medical examination and counselling, the children revealed that the warden had shown them pornographic videos and sexually abused several minor boys, all studying below class V.