IMPHAL, March 11: A single bench of the High Court of Manipur has dismissed the bail application of alleged child rapist Jacob John today. The person is currently in judicial custody for rape and torture of 19 victims of Ukhrul district including 13 minor girls.
It may be mentioned that the rapist was arrested from Jaipur on May 2, 2013 in connection with raping and torture of eight students of Nagaland. But, as being wanted for similar crimes perpetrated to residents of the State, a petition was submitted to the Session Judge of Dimapur by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Ukhrul. After being arrested from Dimapur for investigation by Manipur police, Jacob was thoroughly interrogated and later admitted to committing the offences.
According to his disclosure during police interrogation, he had sexually exploited 13 girl students and two teachers of Grace Academy located at Jaipur. He administered drugs to the girls to suffer from knock knee and other ailments to get more money from donors. It was also admitted that he kept the girls confined and forced them to serve him tea and food on a rotational basis and sexually violated the girls who attained puberty. Further investigation revealed several sexual offences on his hired help and teachers hailing from Ukhrul district.
Jacob John ran two children homes at Jaipur called Grace Academy, one for boys and another for girls. He had committed heinous crimes in the girls’ hostel and they were kept segregated. The children were not allowed communication with their parents over telephone also. But, learning the illicit activities, the Tangkhul Women Union, Delhi rescued the 19 children on March 2, 2013. The rescued children are 15 girls and 4 boys.
Medical examination also revealed that the crimes were perpetrated on the minor girls.
A complaint was registered by the members of the Child Welfare Committee, Ukhrul to the police and an FIR number 23 (4) 2013 Ukhrul PS under section 370 (5) 376/34 IPC and 6/10 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 was taken up. According to the report, Nganingmi Vashi, Leishipem Chamroy, Anderson Yangya, Leiyashim Longleng and Grace Vasha are responsible for trafficking the children to Jaipur.
Furthermore, according to the petition in Court by the complainants, Ngainingmi Vashi under directive from Jacob John’s wife, Catherina Vanlaar had threatened the parents and close relatives of the victims. The sister-in-law of Jacob, who is from Ukhrul district along with other unidentified persons had threatened the victim families not to give evidence against Jacob. Hence, it was also prayed to Court that if bail is granted to Jacob, he will further commit more heinous crimes.
In the regard, Jacob John, 42, son of KK John of A/511, Govind Marg, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur was refused bail by the High Court of Manipur. The charge-sheet has been submitted against Jacob John and other co-accused persons under number 8/Ukl-PS/2013 dated 06/11/2013 and the case is still pending trial at Court.
