Image used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, Nov 5,
The menace of corporal punishment in Himachal Pradesh’s government schools continues unabated, as yet another disturbing incident has surfaced — this time from Solan district, where a Class IV student was allegedly beaten so severely by his teacher that he began to bleed from a head wound.
According to reports, the incident took place on Tuesday at Government Primary School, Gaighat. The accused teacher, identified as Jai Kumar, a Junior Basic Teacher (JBT), allegedly struck nine-year-old Shivansh Thakur with an iron scale before slapping him multiple times. The repeated assault reportedly caused the child to hit his head against a window, resulting in a deep cut and profuse bleeding.
Shockingly, instead of taking the injured child to a hospital, the school staff allegedly tried to wash off the blood under a tap and only later informed his mother, Shobha Thakur. On receiving the call, she rushed to the school and immediately took her son to Solan Civil Hospital, where doctors conducted a medical examination.
Speaking to news agency, Shobha Thakur said this was not the first instance of harassment faced by her son. “I had raised this issue earlier during a Parent-Teacher Meeting and requested the teacher not to beat my child. My son is one of the brightest in his class and always stands first, yet he was targeted again,” she said, demanding strict action against the accused.
Following the incident, the family lodged a formal complaint at Bhojnagar Police Station under Parwanoo subdivision. Police have initiated an inquiry and recorded statements of the complainant and witnesses.
Confirming the matter, Deputy Director of Elementary Education (Solan), Mohendra Pirta, said, “We have received preliminary information regarding the assault. The Block Elementary Education Officer and the Principal have been directed to submit a detailed report by tomorrow afternoon. Action will be taken as per departmental procedure after the inquiry report is received.”
This marks the fourth case of corporal punishment reported from Himachal Pradesh in less than two weeks. Earlier, two shocking cases were reported from Rohru (Shimla) — including one where a student was allegedly stripped and thrashed with a thorny bush — while another case in Chamba left a student with ear injuries.
Child rights activists have condemned the rising trend of physical violence in schools, calling for strict enforcement of Section 17 of the Right to Education Act, 2009, which explicitly prohibits corporal punishment in all educational institutions.
They have urged the Education Department to initiate immediate suspension and criminal proceedings against erring teachers, along with mandatory sensitization training for school staff to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
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