Bulldhana Teacher's Iron Scale Attack on Student Sparks Outrage and Legal Action
A shocking incident of alleged corporal punishment has rocked a primary school in Maharashtra's Bulldhana district, where a Class 4 student was brutally thrashed with an iron scale by his teacher, inflicting serious injuries that required immediate hospitalization.
Violent Assault Over Mathematics Question
The disturbing episode unfolded on Friday at a zilla parishad primary school located in Pimpalgaon Raja village of Khamgaon taluka. According to the complaint filed by the boy's father, the student, identified as 10-year-old Pawan Narayan Ingale, was repeatedly struck on his back, thighs, and hands with an iron scale. The violent assault occurred because the child failed to answer a mathematics question correctly during class.
The teacher responsible for this brutal act has been identified as Ravindra Chim, who serves as the class teacher. Following the assault, the injured boy was immediately rushed to Khamgaon Civil Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment for his serious injuries.
Legal Action and Police Investigation
The Pimpalgaon Raja police have registered a formal case against the teacher, naming him in a First Information Report (FIR) under serious charges. The teacher faces allegations of causing voluntarily hurt with dangerous objects, along with violations under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
Assistant Police Inspector Bhagwat Mulik from Pimpalgaon Raja police station confirmed the legal action, stating, "The teacher is yet to be arrested as the offence is bailable. Action has been initiated and further legal steps will be taken after the medical report is received." This statement highlights the procedural aspects of the case while confirming that formal legal proceedings are underway.
Renewed Scrutiny on Corporal Punishment
This incident has brought renewed and intense scrutiny on the persistent problem of corporal punishment in government schools across Maharashtra, despite clear prohibitions from both state and central authorities. The timing is particularly significant as it comes just weeks after a December 13 directive issued by the Maharashtra government.
That directive explicitly reiterated the need for strict adherence to central guidelines concerning student safety and clearly fixed accountability on schools and teachers regarding the protection of children from physical harm. The recurrence of such violence despite these official warnings has raised serious questions about implementation and enforcement.
Official Response and Public Outrage
A district education officer from Bulldhana confirmed that an inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the matter thoroughly. The officer emphasized, "Strict action will be taken immediately after the committee submits its report," indicating that educational authorities are treating this incident with appropriate seriousness.
The episode has triggered widespread anger and frustration among parents and local residents in the community. Many are demanding immediate suspension of the teacher involved and calling for stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The public outcry reflects growing concerns about student safety and the effectiveness of existing protective measures in educational institutions.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in eradicating corporal punishment from schools and highlights the urgent need for better monitoring, stricter enforcement of existing regulations, and more effective accountability mechanisms to protect vulnerable students from such traumatic experiences.
