According to a senior police officer in southern Mizoram’s Champhai town, the man teaching in a primary school was arrested while he was attending a church conference in the town.
“The matter came to light when a newly admitted school student reported to her parents that she was being molested by her teacher in the classroom. Her parents complained to the local leaders. After an investigation, local leaders found out that the teacher was molesting students for more than a year and had victimised 10 students,” the police officer said, declining to be quoted.
The girl’s parents subsequently lodged a complaint at the Champhai police station leading to the teacher’s arrested. “Of the 10 victims, the youngest is an eight-year-old girl and the oldest 11 years old,” the officer said, adding medical check-ups on the girls did not reveal any injuries.
According to the girls, the teacher used to molest them inside the toilet, inside his car and the classrooms. Other students knew about the teacher’s habit but did not report to their parents out of fear, the officer said.
In 2011, Mizoram recorded 168 incidents of crime against women such as rape, attempt to rape, molestation and trafficking. The number of cases recorded so far this year is 19. Between 2008 and October 2011, Mizoram police registered 303 rape cases.
According to a countrywide survey in 2010, Mizoram ranks second in child abuse cases, next only to adjoining Assam. This was revealed by officials of the State Council for Child Welfare in 2011.