THANJAVUR: A six-year-old girl suffered a shoulder joint dislocation at a government school near here allegedly because of corporal punishment meted out by her class teacher.
V Devi, daughter of Mariammal in Budalur, is studying in Class I in the Panchayat Union Primary school in Budalur, according to sources. Devi did not attend classes on Monday due to illness.
When she went to school on Tuesday, class teacher Babu reportedly asked her the reason for her absence and reportedly twisted her left arm.
Following this, the girl kept weeping throughout the day as she could not bear the pain. Subsequently, Babu sent her home an hour before classes ended and gave her some toffee.
When Mariammal returned home after selling flowers, she found Devi crying in pain. Devi reported the punishment meted out to her by her teacher. Mariammal immediately bought some painkillers from a nearby pharmacy to relieve the pain and gave it to Devi. However on Wednesday morning, Devi’s shoulder was found swollen to such an extent that her clothes could not be changed.
Following this, Mariammal rushed the child to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital where she was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder joint.
Talking to the media on Thursday, Mariammal said the class teacher, besides twisting the child’s arm, also hit her on her head with a pencil.
Budalur police have started investigation into the corporal punishment meted out to the girl.
When contacted G Renganathan, district elementary educational officer, told Express that the assistant elementary educational officer, Budalur, conducted an inquiry into the incident. The incident was also reported to the Director of School Education. Based on the inquiry report action would be taken and charges will be framed against the teacher concerned, the district elementary educational officer said.