ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Jul 30: The families of the 21 minors who fell victim to sexual assault at the hands of a hostel warden, have expressed their anguish as more than 200 days have passed since the case was registered, and yet the accused is free on bail. They demanded the immediate cancellation of the accused's bail and swift action in the case to ensure the innocent victims get justice which they deserve.
Speaking to the reporters at the Press Club on Sunday, Issue Chairman Tanyong Samnam  informed that, the alleged accused, Yumken Bagra, was arrested 42 days after the complaint was lodged in November 2022, but was later released on bail and has been at liberty ever since. Meanwhile, the victims, all minors, continue to suffer from the traumatic experience, with some even attempting suicide in the aftermath of the assault, he stated.
The case was supposed to be fast-tracked given the nature of the crime and the vulnerability of the victims, but over 200 days have passed without any significant progress. Instead, the accused remains free on bail, much to the dismay of the victims' families and the community at large,  he added. The chairman urged the authorities to expedite the trial to ensure that the minor victims receive the justice they deserve.
Samnam also clarified that their fight is not against any community, village, tribe, or caste but solely against the criminal who committed such heinous acts against more than 21 innocent minors.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, a family member of one of the victims revealed that they only became aware of the incident when their child refused to go to school. It was only after much stress and the revelation of two other students that they discovered the horrifying truth. The remote location of their village with no telephone connectivity made it incredibly difficult for the affected families to report the crime earlier, and their economically disadvantageous background added to their struggles, asserted the family member.
The accused had allegedly threatened the victims, warning them that if they disclosed the incident to their parents, he would kill them by tying them with stones and throwing them into the river to prevent the recovery of their bodies.
Meanwhile, the family member urged the authorities to deliver exemplary punishment to the accused, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that criminals do not walk free after committing such grave offenses.

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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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