Itanagar: Tension flared at Sanggo Residential School in Mebo, East Siang district, on Wednesday after outraged parents gathered at the school gate demanding stern action against a hostel warden accused of sexually molesting students. Police from Mebo Police Station swiftly intervened and launched an investigation into the incident.
The accused, identified as 32-year-old Hen Johnson Vaiphei, son of Khama Vaiphei and a resident of Manipur, has been arrested for allegedly molesting minor boys residing in the school hostel. According to East Siang IPS Pankaj Lamba, a case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, bearing WPS/PSG/No-26/25 under Sections 4(2) and 6. The arrest followed formal complaints lodged by the victims’ parents and the school authorities.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused had been engaging in inappropriate behaviour with the students over a period of time, prompting widespread outrage in the community.
Condemning the incident, the Adi Baane Kébang Youth Wing (ABKYW) described the alleged act as “inhuman and deplorable,” calling it a gross violation of moral, ethical, and human values. The organisation has demanded a fast-tracked investigation and the harshest punishment under the POCSO Act and relevant IPC sections to ensure justice for the victims.
The ABKYW also urged all educational institutions, hostel authorities, and school management committees across Adi-inhabited regions to reinforce child safety mechanisms. The group emphasised the need for stricter staff monitoring, student awareness drives, and consistent enforcement of child protection protocols.
To oversee the case and promote child safety awareness in the region, the ABKYW has constituted a special committee. Reaffirming its stance of zero tolerance toward child abuse, the youth organisation vowed to continue efforts to ensure a safe and secure environment for all children in Arunachal Pradesh.
