Outrage in India over death of six-year-old ‘slapped’ by his teacher | Education News
Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh has announced that legal action will be taken against those responsible following the death of a six-year-old boy who reportedly collapsed after being slapped by a teacher. The incident is currently under investigation by authorities in the southern Indian state.
The distressing event took place at a school in Visakhapatnam and was captured on security cameras. Local media outlets widely shared the footage, spurring significant public outcry over issues surrounding corporal punishment in Indian schools.
The video, verified by Al Jazeera, depicts a female teacher forcibly holding the child by his clothing before striking him on the face, after which he collapses.
“Legal action will be initiated against those responsible and the school management,” Lokesh stated on Facebook. He emphasized the unforgivable nature of corporal punishment, asserting that no child should endure violence in an educational setting.
Pranay Tej, the child who has been identified by local media, was reported to be in good health before heading to school that morning. His father recounted, “In the morning around 8 a.m., my son woke up and expressed a strong desire to attend school.”
Local police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Pranay’s death. According to Police Inspector Pudi Vara Prasad, a case has been registered under Section 194 of the BNSS following a formal complaint from the boy’s father. The body has been released to the family after post-mortem procedures were completed. Prasad indicated that the precise cause of death will be determined once all pertinent reports are available.
The incident has also prompted public gatherings, as relatives and community members call for accountability from school officials. A study conducted by the Indian NGO Agrasar in 2018 noted that nearly 80 percent of children from low-income backgrounds in India face corporal punishment, despite it being officially banned.
Palla Srinivasa Rao, state president of the Telugu Desam Party, stated that the government response has been appropriate and that a committee has been formed to investigate the matter further. He assured that actions would be taken based on the committee’s findings.
