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On May 4, 2025, Manipur Police apprehended a 45-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting trainees at the Mangal Football Academy at Khabam Lamkhai in Imphal East district. The arrested man, identified as Nongthombam Mangalsana Meetei (45), runs the Mangal Football Academy at his residence in Kontha Khabam Maning Leikai. The matter came in light after a trainee reportedly told his parents about the alleged sexual assault by the academy's founder. The incident intimdated the trainee as he refused to continue training at the football academy.
“When I visited my son, he said he didn’t want to stay at the academy anymore. Later, he told me everything,” said the trainee’s guardian. He also added, “As guardians, we demand that the authorities shut down the academy.” As per a complaint filed by the parents with the police, the academy imparts training to 11 students at the Achanbigei ground in the same district. Police authorities have charged the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police have divulged that the coach has been apprehended for constantly committing sexual assault and other offences on the students of his football academy.
Parents display ire on coach for his alleged serious offence
The parents of students have said that they don’t want their children to continue at the academy due to the academy's founder’s alleged crime. They also asserted that the trainer abused kids at both the academy and the training ground. A senior police official revealed that the boys were aged between 10 to 16.
A police officer also remarked that the guardians filed an FIR at Heingang Police after the students revealed about the trauma they were facing.The trainees have also recorded their statements against the founder to the police. The trainees and their parents have urged police authorities to investigate the matter and take stern action against the coach.
