UP: Dalit boy ‘tortured’ by govt school teacher in class for not plucking jamun for her (Times of India)

By Kanwardeep Singh

BAREILLY: A student of class IV was “punished” by his primary school teacher for refusing to pluck fruits for her at Kuladia in Bareilly, police said. Parents alleged that their nine-year-old son was locked in a “classroom and mercilessly beaten by his teacher”. Bareilly’s Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), while taking cognisance of it, suspended the teacher on Monday evening.

Bhanwati, a daily-wage worker who lives in Biharipur Abdul Rahman village with her husband Pothiram and minor son, told police her child returned home with several injuries on his shoulder and back on Saturday (July 20).

In her complaint, she said, “My son was crying and told me that her teacher Rani Gangwar was forcing him to climb up a ‘jamun’ tree and pluck fruits for her. When he refused, she locked him inside the classroom and thrashed him continuously for nearly two hours.” She added: “When we raised the matter, we were forced to compromise by some ‘influential’ people in the village. My husband agreed, but I decided to contact the police. An FIR was only registered after doctors confirmed the injuries on my son were serious. My son is still in shock and scared of going to school. The teacher should be jailed.”

An FIR was registered under sections 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of BNS along with SC/ST Act after a medical examination confirmed “multiple injuries on the child”. CO (Nawabganj), Harsh Modi, said, “Medical examination confirmed injuries on the child and we are recording the statement of witnesses. We’ll talk to other staff members and take necessary action as per the law.” Accused teacher Rani, however, claimed she “is innocent and being framed”.

This story was originally published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Read the full story here.

Related Articles