Hiyanglam school teacher charged of sexual assault

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 1

Secretary of Women Welfare Association, Hiyanglam Sorokhaibam Bijenti claimed one Elangbam Sulendro founder member and administrator of Elangbam Sulochana Academy, Hiyanglam must be punished for alleged sexual assault against two minor girls.

 Bijenti was addressing the media during a press meet held at Indigenous People’s Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) Keishampat office this evening.

Bijenti recalled on September 20, Elangbam Sulendro (45) of Hiyanglam Lai Panganba, Wabgai Kakching district punished the two minors for not performing well in the class. The two minors who are sisters of same parents were detained at the time of school break and were instructed to stay at a class room of KG-II.

“Sulendro instructed the two minors to lie on the desk without facing each other. And he tried to touch the private parts of the minors”, she alleged.

Bijenti continued that the matter came to light when the two minors refused to attend parents meet of the school on September 24. “The elder sister revealed to her mother about the incident that their teacher Sulendro tried to touch her private part and she feel hesitant to attend the school”, she said.

Consequently when the parents tried to file a complaint against the teacher at Hiyanglam police station on September 29 late night, officer of the station refused to take the complaint due to late office hour and told them to come the following day to file the complaint.

However when the parents went to file the case on the following day the police officer of Hiyanglam police station allegedly told them to shorten the case through negotiations between the two parties, said Bijenti.

Meantime in the late evening the grandmother of the minor called Sulendro on the matter and asked him to apologise to the family but on the following day, instead he charged the former of defaming him with sexual assault charges, she added. 

As the police allegedly shrugged off from its responsibilities, the parents of the two minors discussed the matter with local club, Youth Pioneer Club, Hiyanglam. Accordingly the parents called Sulendro and asked him to apologise but on the contrary the latter threatened the former not to inform about the matter to anyone, Bijenti continued.

Bijenti demanded that Sulendro must leave his profession under moral ground and to surrender within three days. If Sulendro fails to surrender himself within the deadline intense action will be taken by joining hands with civil voluntary organisation of the state, she warned.