Kerala School Headmaster Arrested For Beating Class 10 Student, Eardrum Burst During Assembly

A government school headmaster in Kerala was arrested for beating a Class X student, bursting his eardrum, the police said on Tuesday. The incident was reported at Government Higher Secondary School, Kundamkuzhi, on August 11 when the headmaster Ashokan saw the 16-year-old boy playing with pebbles by his feet during the school assembly.

The accused teacher reportedly summoned the victim to the front of the assembly, pulled him by the collar, and slapped him, bursting his eardrum, police added.

The child complained of a severe ear ache after the occurrence and was transferred to a government hospital, where the doctors authenticated the injury in his ear. He is receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Police authorities at Bedakam police station, Kasaragod, have confirmed a case had been registered against the headmaster on Monday evening.

The case was registered under Section 126(2) (wrongful restraint) and Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (cruelty to a child).

The case was registered after the victim's complaint, whose initial statement was taken by the police on Monday.

Police officials informed that they have opened an investigation into the case, and the headmaster's statement will be taken soon.

In the meantime, officials from the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) met the child and family on Tuesday.

The KSCPCR also registered a case and is investigating.

After the incident, Education Minister V Sivankutty directed the education department to carry out an investigation and submit a report.

A report will be submitted to the minister soon by Kasargod District Education Officer, sources added.