‘Thrashed’ by teacher, Class I student dies

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 24

An eight-year-old Class I student of Government Primary School, Phullanwal, died at the Civil Hospital this morning. His family alleged he was mercilessly thrashed by his schoolteacher. Bindu Ram alias Guddu of Passi Nagar here had reportedly complained to his parents against the “torture” at school.

“On Saturday, when Bindu came back from school, he told his grandfather that his schoolteacher had repeatedly slapped him on the face and ear. There was swelling on his one hand and ear. He had refused to go to school but was cajoled into doing so,” said a family member. Guddu’s condition worsened overnight and he was rushed to hospital where he died this morning.

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A sobbing Sapna, the deceased’s sister, said: “My brother told me his teacher dragged him by the hair and pulled his ears so hard that blood started oozing out.”

Dalbir Singh, SHO, said no injury marks were noticed during the postmortem. But to verify the  allegations, viscera samples were being sent to a forensic laboratory. The police have initiated inquest proceedings. The teacher will be summoned for questioning.