Boy Calls Teacher Edison Sir, Beaten Up Black and Blue
TIRUNELVELI: The Manur police on Friday booked a government-aided school teacher in Ukkirankottai in Tirunelveli district for assaulting a 12-year-old Class VII student, who is undergoing treatment at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.
On last Tuesday, the victim, M Premkumar, went to the teachers’ staff room to request his physical education teacher Edison to conduct the classes. “Edison was busy playing games on his mobile phone. Though I called him ‘sir’ thrice, he did not respond and then I called him ‘Edison sir.’ Immediately he got provoked and slapped on my chin. I collapsed and sat on the floor. He then kicked on my back and in the impact I fell and rolled down the stairs,” recalled Premkumar.
“Though we took Premkumar to a hospital on Tuesday itself, he continued to have stomach pain so we took him to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital on Thursday,” said Muthukumar, father of Premkumar, who works at a private hotel.
If a teacher was absent for a class, the class monitor would note the names of the students who chatted and the list would be handed over to Edison who would punish the students, a parent said.
Edison punished Premkumar for addressing him by “Edison sir.” Moreover, Sundarsingh, another teacher, also allegedly provoked Edison to punish the boy in this regard, sources said.
Premkumar, who also suffers from a heart ailment, felt severe stomach pain due to the harsh punishment. His mother, Kamatchi, a daily wage worker, took him to a hospital on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday, Kamatchi went to the school and asked Edison the reason for such a “cruel punishment”. “But he said that he had beaten my child since my son called him by his name,” she said.
On information, Child Welfare Committee Chairman B Nalan visited TMCH and inquired Premkumar and his parents. “First we will ensure the boy recovers completely. We will also take necessary action against the teacher in this regard,” he said.
The school administration was not available for comment. When contacted, Tirunelveli Collector M Karunakaran told Express, “I will look into the issue and take necessary action. I will also instruct education officers to initiate steps to sensitise teachers about children’s rights.”