Blamed for leaking an exam question paper, a class 8 student of a private school on Thanisandra Main Road near Jakkur was allegedly beaten with a police lathi by the school principal.
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), which has received a complaint from the NGO Childline, has initiated an inquiry into the incident.
The student was allegedly beaten on March 21 when the school found out that one of the question papers set for the annual exam had been leaked. On suspicion that the boy was behind the mischief, the school principal summoned him to the office and beat him with a police lathi.
According to KSCPCR officials, the boy sustained injuries all over his body, especially around his eyes.
The commission has taken cognisance of the incident.
Child helpline alerted
According to sources, a day after the incident, some of the students had alerted the child helpline about what had happened. Immediately, a team investigated the matter. According to the NGO, the principal had, in the past, threatened students with the police lathi.
KSCPCR member Y. Mariswamy, who is inquiring into the incident, told The Hindu that the boy is recovering from the injuries. “We received the complaint today. I have asked the BEO concerned to give me a preliminary report. We will investigate the complaint under both the RTE Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, which prohibit corporal punishment. We will issue summons to the school principal as part of the inquiry,” he said.
