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Outrage in India over death of six-year-old after teacher allegedly slapped him

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • An investigation is underway in Andhra Pradesh, India, after a six-year-old boy reportedly died after being slapped by his teacher.
  • Security camera footage appears to show the teacher slapping the child before he collapsed, sparking outrage over corporal punishment.
  • Education officials have promised legal action, while police investigate the exact cause of death, amid a backdrop of widespread corporal punishment in Indian schools despite being illegal.

Authorities in India's Andhra Pradesh state are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy who allegedly died after being slapped by his teacher. The incident, captured on school security cameras in Visakhapatnam, has ignited widespread anger and renewed calls to end corporal punishment in educational institutions.

We are taking legal action against those responsible and the school management.

— Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh's education and IT ministerLokesh assures that authorities will pursue legal action following the child's death.

The video footage shows a female teacher holding the child by his clothes and slapping him, after which he collapses. The child, identified by local media as Pranay Tej, was reportedly healthy before attending school that day. His father recounted his son's eagerness to go to school, making the tragedy even more heartbreaking.

As a father, I can’t get over what happened to little Pranay Tej. I cannot imagine the pain his parents are going through. Corporal punishment has no place in our schools. No child should ever be subjected to violence in the name of discipline.

— Nara LokeshLokesh expresses personal grief and condemns corporal punishment.

Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh's minister for education and IT, expressed his condolences and vowed to take legal action against those responsible, including the school management. "Corporal punishment has no place in our schools. No child should ever be subjected to violence in the name of discipline," Lokesh stated on social media.

I have already directed a full investigation and strict action against anyone found responsible. My heart goes out to Pranay’s family in this moment of unimaginable grief.

— Nara LokeshLokesh reaffirms his commitment to a thorough investigation and offers sympathy to the victim's family.

Police have registered a case and are conducting an investigation, including post-mortem procedures, to determine the exact cause of death. Despite corporal punishment being illegal in India, a 2018 study indicated that approximately 80 percent of low-income school children experience it. The incident has brought this persistent issue to the forefront, with demands for strict action and systemic change.

Following a written complaint from the boy’s father, we have registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS and launched an investigation.

— Police Inspector Pudi Vara PrasadPrasad details the initial police action taken after the complaint.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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