UKG student dies after alleged assault by teacher at Visakhapatnam school

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A six-year-old Upper Kindergarten (UKG) student died after allegedly being subjected to corporal punishment and harassment by a teacher at a school in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The incident occurred under the One Town police station limits in the city.

Footage from the CCTV camera installed in the classroom showed the teacher scolding the student, Tammana Pranay Tej, over his behaviour and then slapping him and trying to strip him. The boy then collapsed in front of the teacher.

The incident sent shockwaves among parents and local communities. Residents and student bodies staged protests outside the Little Garden School, where the incident happened, and the KGH Hospital, where the post-mortem was held. The protesters held the management accountable for the incident and called for the immediate cancellation of the school’s recognition and tighter enforcement of laws to curb corporal punishment across private schools.

Expressing deep anguish over the tragedy, Minister for Education and Information Technology Nara Lokesh condemned the incident and assured swift action against those at fault.

Taking to X, Mr. Lokesh stated, “The tragic death of six-year-old Pranay Tej due to a teacher’s assault at Little Garden School in Visakhapatnam is deeply shocking. Strict legal action is being taken against those responsible and the school management. The government will stand by the family.”

Speaking to The Hindu , the One Town police stated, “We are registering a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Act based on a complaint. We will investigate this case and proceed accordingly”.

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