A shocking video capturing the brutal beating of a kindergarten (KG) student at Bal Vikas Model Senior Secondary School in Sherpur Kalan, Ludhiana, has gone viral on social media, raising concerns. The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has intervened, issuing a notice to Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu, directing an immediate suo motu investigation into the incident. A deadline for the submission of a report has been set for November 30.
In the video, a teacher is seen assaulting the young child with a stick on his feet, while two other students pin him down. The victim’s cries for mercy and repeated apologies have left many horrified. The child had allegedly been accused of injuring a classmate with a pencil.
The teacher responsible for the assault has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation), in addition to Sections 75 and 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Manoj, the Deputy District Education Officer, Elementary, stated, “The education department is closely monitoring the progress of the police investigation. Once we receive the police department’s findings, we will compile our own report and share it with the Punjab School Education Board and the education department. Subsequently, they will decide on the appropriate course of action against the school.”
A delegation from the education department, accompanied by District Child Protection Officer Rashmi, visited the school premises and confirmed the allegations against the teacher. The victim’s parents met with the education department panel, seeking severe punishment for the accused and action against the school.
Rashmi explained, “In compliance with the State Child Rights Commission’s directives, our team conducted a thorough investigation. According to the teacher’s version, he subjected the child to violence due to the alleged pencil incident. We have reassured the family of justice and the child’s well-being. Additionally, we have urged the police to charge the teacher under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, which deals specifically with cruelty against children.”
Family members of the victim have claimed that their child endured a similar ordeal for over two days, resulting in visible marks and the child’s inability to walk. They are now contemplating filing a formal complaint with the police.
However, the school principal, Shri Bhagwan, offered a different account of the incident, stating that the child had used a pencil to strike another student, prompting a complaint from the latter’s family. Shri Bhagwan asserted that he had previously cautioned the child about his behavior.
In its order, the PSHRC stated, “The incident indicates that the principal and staff of a private school gave third-degree torture to a child studying in KG because he hit a fellow student with a pencil. Some students at the same school recorded the incident. The mother of the child said the child had marks on thighs and back and was unable to walk properly. The commission takes suo motu cognizance of the matter and calls for a report from the commissioner of police, Ludhiana, by the next date of hearing.”
