Manipur principal gets seven years' RI for sexually assaulting student

IMPHAL: A principal of a private school in Imphal was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment on Saturday for sexually assaulting a minor student inside the institute's hostel here in 2016.
District and sessions judge (Imphal East) Maibam Manojkumar gave the order after finding Thokchom Dharma guilty under Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.The court also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on the 46-year-old principal who hails from the Andro Kharam area here. Dharma has to undergo another six months of imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine amount.
The matter came to light after the girl's father complained to the OC of Imphal East Women's Police Station. The complainant also accused the warden of the school, Ng Ibomcha Singh (35), of not informing about the incident to the authorities concerned despite being in the know.
Police arrested Dharma and Ibomcha and submitted charge sheet against them on June 15, 2017. The duo was tried under the provisions of POCSO Act. After the trial, the court on Wednesday convicted Dharma under the provisions of the POSCO Act and acquitted the warden as the prosecution failed to prove that he did not report the incident to the authorities concerned.
Altogether 13 prosecution witnesses, including the girl and three students putting up in the hostel, gave their statements during the trial. Two defence witnesses were also examined.
The special public prosecutor, during Saturday's hearing, submitted that the crime committed by the principal is serious as he is the guardian of all the students in the school. The defence counsel, while informing that the convict is the sole bread earner of his family and a diabetic, prayed for minimum penalty.