Ranchi student dies after being Caned by teacher

Ranchi: On Sunday morning, a Class I student of Rajkiya Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya on the periphery of Ranchi died. The student was hit by his teacher with a stick five days ago for failing to answer a question.

Sujit's father Mahadeo Munda lodged an FIR against the teacher, Md Arshad Hussain, with Chanho police station on Sunday. Munda is a resident of Barhe village in Chanho block near Ranchi.

For failing to answer a question, Hussain hit Sujit on his back with a stick on January 28, police said. "The next day the child complained of severe back pain and told his parents about the incident in school. Munda gave him a painkiller," said Munilal Baraik, SI, Chanho police station. The pain, however, persisted and the child could not attend school from January 29. "The boy died around 6am on Sunday," Baraik added.

"After lodging the FIR, we went to the teacher's house in Balsokra village under Chanho police station but his wife said he was in Ranchi city for personal work," the SI said. The deadbody of Sujit has been sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences for postmortem. The SI added that Hussain is the only teacher in the school that has 10-odd students.

Meanwhile, the teacher was suspended by the district superintendent of education, Jayant Mishra. "Corporal punishment is prohibited so we have immediately suspended the teacher and a new teacher will be deputed to the school from Monday," added Mishra.

Talking about a department level enquiry, said Mishra, "A department level enquiry will be held on Monday keeping in view the postmortem report. We are waiting for the report to know the exact cause of death."

Member of Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Sanjay Mishrasaid this was the first ever case in Jharkhand in which a child has died after being beaten up by a teacher.