Headmaster accused of assaulting student in Kasaragod; Minister orders inquiry

The Headmaster of Kundamkuzhi Government Higher Secondary School in Kasaragod has been accused of assaulting a Class X student, allegedly rupturing his eardrum.

The alleged incident took place on August 11 during the school assembly when the 15-year-old boy allegedly moved a pebble with his foot.

According to the boy’s mother, the headmaster called her son to the front of the assembly, held him up by the collar and struck him on the face in front of other students.

Later, the boy complained of severe ear pain and hearing loss and was taken to the taluk hospital. Doctors referred him to another hospital where a ruptured eardrum was confirmed, the mother claimed.

The child is currently undergoing treatment and a surgery has been recommended, she added.

HM denies charges

Meanwhile, the headmaster has denied the allegation and said that he had only reprimanded the boy for misbehaving during the assembly and had not physically assaulted him.

The Youth Congress workers staged a protest in front of the school on Monday demanding that the HM be suspended. The police dispersed the protesting activists.

Meanwhile, Education Minister V. Sivankutty has directed the Kasaragod Deputy Director of Education to conduct an inquiry into the incident. He said that while students can be disciplined according to legal provision, “brutal beatings cannot be accepted.” The Minister added that strict action would follow based on the inquiry findings.