Dadala Ajay who was beaten by his teacher Prasanna, was operated on his hand three years ago and iron rods were implanted in it. His mother Vijayalaxmi said that the punishment caused a fracture. The doctors at Government General Hospital said an operation would be needed after examining him.
However, principal of the Ushodaya Merit School, Md. Hidayatulla, said the teacher did not hit the child. She had merely raised the cane in a threatening manner and the student had lifted his hand in panic and in the process suffered an injury. The teacher only wanted to discipline the student who was using foul language, he claimed.
Deputy district education officer Nageswara Rao visited the school on Saturday and took depositions from the other pupils in the class, some of whom confirmed that Ajay used foul language.
Sources say the district education department had derecognised the school when local residents complained that the school buses were creating chaos in the neighbourhood, but the school has obtained a stay order.
Indrapalem station house officer Muralikrishna said that acting on the complaint, Prasanna has been arrested and a case has been registered.
Meanwhile, in Anantapur, Koneru Shiva, who was beaten by his teacher J. Veerabhadraiah, sat weeping with pain in the classroom for nearly an hour, until his parents heard what had happened and rushed to the school.
An angry K. Manayya, the boy’s father, and other relatives, tried to beat up the teacher. Koneru was found to have a fracture in his left elbow.
Manayya said the teacher had been informed about the marriage function and the leave. Sources said the teacher Veerabhadraiah was recently confirmed in the job even though this was the third such incident by the same teacher.
Holagunda mandal education officer Mohanudddin said a report will be sent to the higher authorities after conducting an inquiry with the parents of the student and the teacher.