Chhattisgarh principal arrested for assaulting student over 'Radhe Radhe' greeting

A school principal in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district was arrested for allegedly assaulting a nursery student and taping her mouth shut after the child greeted her with 'Radhe Radhe', a traditional Hindu salutation, police said.

A 3.5-year-old girl was allegedly subjected to physical punishment by the principal of a private school for greeting her with “Radhe-Radhe”.

The incident occurred at Mother Teresa English Medium School in Bagdumar village, under the jurisdiction of Nandini police station. The accused principal, identified as Ela Even Kaulveen, was arrested following a formal complaint and a preliminary investigation.

According to the child’s family, the incident took place on Wednesday morning around 7:30 am. The girl reportedly greeted the principal with “Radhe-Radhe” prompting an allegedly aggressive reaction.

The principal is accused of slapping the child, taping her mouth shut for nearly 15 minutes and subjecting her to further physical punishment.

The girl narrated the incident to her parents after returning home in a distressed state. Her father, Praveen Yadav, immediately approached the Nandini Police Station to lodge a complaint.

Visible marks of injury on the child’s body reportedly corroborated the allegations of physical assault.

ASP Padmashree Tanwar said that the principal punished the child for not responding to a question. However, the actions taken were excessive and unjustified.

“The child’s mouth was taped shut for almost 15 minutes, and she was beaten. We have arrested the principal and registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code,” ASP Tanwar said.

The incident has sparked strong reactions across the district. Members of the Bajrang Dal reached the police station shortly after the complaint was filed, demanding strict action against the school administration and accusing it of promoting religious discrimination under the guise of discipline.

They also alleged that such incidents reflect a deeper intolerance within some educational institutions and called for a broader enquiry into the school’s functioning.

A case has been registered under applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those pertaining to child abuse and causing hurt. Authorities have confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway to establish the facts and determine accountability.

Additionally, the Education Department is expected to initiate an independent enquiry, which may result in administrative action against the school or its management based on the findings.

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