Teacher on “Teacher’s Day” arrested after 21 students hospitalized in classroom beating
Police in eastern India arrested a schoolteacher on Friday after he allegedly beat dozens of students for failing to read aloud in class, sending 21 of them to hospital, officials and parents said. The incident took place on Thursday morning at Ostichak Surendra Jogendra Vidyapith, a government-aided school in Egra, East Midnapore district of West Bengal. According to parents, English teacher Biplab Panda lost his temper when eighth-grade students could not answer his questions during a reading session. “He began hitting the children one after another,” said a parent outside the school. “By the end, many of them were injured and some fainted.” School authorities admitted 21 students to a local hospital. Doctors said the children were treated for bruises and trauma and were later discharged. News of the incident triggered outrage among guardians, who accused the school of initially shielding the teacher. On Thursday afternoon, parents padlocked the school gates and staged a sit-in demanding Panda’s dismissal and arrest. “The teacher should face strict punishment. We cannot allow our children to be tortured like this,” said another parent. As tensions escalated, police from Egra station deployed officers outside the school to maintain order. “The situation was volatile. We had to ensure the safety of the children and staff,” a senior officer said. On Friday morning, police confirmed Panda had been arrested on the basis of formal complaints lodged by guardians. His detention came on the same day India marked Teachers’ Day, observed annually on Sept. 5 to honour educators. Local education officials have launched an inquiry into the conduct of the school administration amid allegations it attempted to hide the teacher. Child rights activists also condemned the incident. “Corporal punishment is banned in India, yet such cases persist. Authorities must enforce accountability,” said a Kolkata-based campaigner. Police said Panda would be produced in court over the weekend. He faces charges of assault and cruelty to minors, which carry prison terms if proven. The West Bengal education department has asked for a detailed report from the school within a week.
