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Phagwara school girl beaten up for incomplete homework
Varinder Singh/TNS

Phagwara, August 27
A fourth grade girl student of a local private school was on Saturday allegedly beaten up by her teacher for not completing her homework. Jasmine had a swollen lip and badly bruised feet when she was admitted to a hospital.

A doctor attending to her told The Tribune that Jasmine was too shaken to speak. The Phagwara police has registered a case on the basis of a complaint filed by Jasmine's mother, Anju Walia.

"She had come to us with a swollen lip on Saturday and was given treatment," said Dr Rajiv Gupta, SMO at the Phagwara Civil Hospital.

Principal of Lord Mahavir Jain Public School Phagwara Rajnish Sharma said the school would investigate the matter. "I was not there at the time of the alleged incident. Such things cannot be allowed. A circular was recently issued in the school that corporal punishment would not be tolerated," said Sharma. Corporal punishment is banned in Punjab.

"After much persuasion, Jasmine told us she was cane-charged by her English teacher for not completing her class work," said Ballu Walia, an uncle of Jasmine. "She is still stunned and is barely able to speak," he said. Jasmine's family lives in a small home in Khalwara Gate locality.

Her mother Anju said Jasmine bore injury marks on her lips, arms and legs. "Jasmine is refusing to eat," she said. "We have registered a case on the basis of Jasmine's statement and investigation is on," said Phagwara Superindent of Police HPS Khakh.