By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Fresh allegations against the New Life Home owner, Reverend Sangkunga Miller were on Sunday pinned by the four minor girls who were rescued on Saturday from his hostel at Nongrimmaw in Laitumkhrah with reports that the priest molested and abused them on numerous occasions.
These four girls who were among the six children rescued by the police and Child Line on Saturday from the New Life Home had revealed the kind of inhumane treatment they were exposed to during their stay at the hostel.
Earlier, it was alleged that Rev Miller sexually abused and exploited labour from these minor children whom he brought from poor families from the Meghalaya – Assam border, in the name of sending them to school. Rev Miller was arrested on late Friday night but was subsequently admitted to the Civil Hospital after he fell ill.
Each story narrated by these minor girls added more weight to the prior details disclosed by the two boys who escaped from the hostel on Friday and reported the matter to the police.
Similarly, all the other three girls aged eight, eleven and twelve shares similar stories.
Meanwhile, when contacted, police sources informed that at present, no further interrogation has been carried on Rev Miller taking into consideration his deteriorating health. The police however maintained that the children are in currently being kept in shelter homes.
The four girls are being kept in children’s shelter home while the boys are under the look and care of the Child line. On the other hand, Child Line has further mentioned that the case is being referred to the Child Welfare Commission and a meeting is expected to be held next week and as of now, the children will still be under the care of the shelter homes until further outcomes.
When asked if the parents of the children were informed, a Child Line representative said at present, no such information has been fed to the parents of the children citing the distance and remoteness of their villages which are located in the Meghalaya – Assam border.
Meanwhile, the CSWO (Agnes) has lodged another FIR before the police on Sunday charging Rev Miller of child abuse and molestation.
