MAPUSA
Two teachers from a private primary school in Camurlim-Bardez have been booked by police in connection with the brutal assault on a Class IV student, leaving the 9-year-old boy with severe injuries, including cut marks, bruises and blood clots.
The incident, which occurred at the Shree Saraswati Vidyamandir Primary School in Vagali-Camurlim on Monday morning, sparked outrage and prompted swift action from both the police and the Education Department.
The two teachers who have been booked by police are Sujal Gawade of Verem and Kanisha Gadekar of Pirna.
According to police reports, the assault began when one of the teachers beat the student with a steel ruler for allegedly tearing some pages from his notebook. The child was struck on his hands, thighs, legs, and back, and was also slapped in the face and kicked in the stomach.
The violence escalated when the teacher grabbed the boy by his right ear and dragged his face against a writing board, causing bleeding and swelling injuries.
The force of the blows was so intense that it led to blood clots on several parts of the child's body.
The second teacher involved in the incident is facing charges for restraining the victim during the assault and later threatening the boy’s cousin, who also attends the same school, warning her not to report the incident to their family.
Following the attack, the school management reportedly attempted to handle the situation privately by visiting the boy’s home.
However, the child's father chose to seek justice through legal means, filing a complaint with the local police and demanding accountability for the assault on his son.
In response to the incident, the State Education Department has taken a firm stance.
"This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable. Corporal punishment is banned, and such an attitude from a teacher will not be tolerated," said Shailesh Zingade, Director of Education.
He added that he has instructed the zonal officer to investigate the matter and has summoned the teacher to report to the directorate.
The case has drawn attention to the critical need for ensuring student safety and well-being in schools, as well as the importance of swift and decisive action against any form of violence or misconduct in educational institutions.
The police have booked the accused teachers under Section 118(1), 126(2), 351(2) r/w 3(5) of BNS, and Section 8 of the Goa Children Act, 2003. The investigation is ongoing.
