A teacher was arrested in Maharashtra’s Latur district for allegedly thrashing around 32 students with a bamboo stick on suspicion that they had damaged his motorcycle, police said on Monday.
Some of the students reportedly sustained injuries in the incident.
The alleged assault took place on the night of February 21 at a school hostel near Ahmedpur, where students from Classes 5 to 10 reside, reported PTI.
The accused, identified as Ujjwal Prakash Soni, suspected that the students had damaged his motorcycle. Acting on this suspicion, he allegedly lost his temper and assaulted dozens of minor students with a bamboo stick.
He also allegedly threatened the children, claiming that he would soon become the school principal and would deal with them then, police said.
According to PTI, the principal of Christ International School, Zeba Nadar, lodged a complaint at Ahmedpur Police Station.
Police arrested Soni after booking him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
In an official statement, Principal Nadar said the school had lodged the complaint on February 22 and assured that student safety remains the institution’s top priority.
“The incident is deeply unfortunate and condemnable. The school administration stands firmly with the students and will ensure their well-being,” the principal said, reported PTI.
Navi Mumbai tutor booked for allegedly beating 13-year-old student
In a similar incident last week, a private tutor in Navi Mumbai was booked for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old Class VIII student after she failed to memorise multiplication tables. The incident took place at a home-run tuition class in Ghotivali village, where the girl had been studying for nearly five years.
Police said the minor was allegedly struck repeatedly on her hand with a wooden roti-flipping stick during class. The child suffered swelling and visible red marks and later complained of severe pain. Her family took her for a medical examination, which confirmed soft-tissue injuries but ruled out any fracture.
The girl’s mother approached the police after confronting the tutor, who allegedly defended the act as disciplinary action and claimed that other students were punished similarly.
The family subsequently filed a formal complaint, prompting police action.
The Rabale police have registered an offence and begun an investigation into the matter to determine whether similar instances of corporal punishment have occurred. Inspector Shyam Bansode of Rabale police said, “We have registered an offence based on the complaint. The child has undergone a medical examination. We are recording statements of other students and verifying the facts. Further legal action will be taken as per the findings of the investigation.”
(With PTI inputs)