K'taka: Student dies due to corporal punishment

Honnavar, Jan 11: A 14-year-old boy died after being allegedly punished by his school headmaster. The victim named Afzal Hamza Fayaz was a student of the eighth standard at New English School, Honnavar. He apparently collapsed and died after being forced to jog around the play ground as a punishment for returning late to the Physical Training (PT) class.

Afzal was suffering from fever for the past two days and had not been attending classes. Corporal punishment has been considered the cause of the boys death. School authorities took Afzal to the hospital, but the doctors declared that he was brought dead.

As soon as the news spread, the public turned violent against school authorities. The mob attacked the school and broke furniture and pelted stones. The mob in a fit of anger tried to set furniture on fire but the police personnel intervened and controlled the situation.

The Karnataka govt has ordered inquiry into the case and asked the administration to send a report at the earliest.

"We have been repeatedly cautioning teachers not to punish students. But such incidents are still happening. We will take stern action. I have asked for a detailed report and ordered probe. It is a very sad incident," Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Visweshwara Hegde Kageri said.

The death toll of school children due to corporal punishment is increasing day after day. Several teachers remain insensitive and harsh on their pupils.

“Only a teacher who is a pervert would subject his student to corporal punishment. Teachers must realise the harmful effect of such punishment, it affects the mental psyche of a young mind," said senior academician and founder of Samudra Foundation K E Radhakrishna.

OneIndia News