India Outraged After Six-Year-Old Student Dies Following Teacher's Slap
Al Jazeera Staff
A six-year-old boy in Andhra Pradesh, India, died after a teacher slapped him in class, sparking widespread outrage. The government has vowed strict action, and police are investigating the incident.
Authorities in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have launched an investigation after a six-year-old student allegedly collapsed and died after being slapped by a teacher in the classroom.
The incident occurred at a school in Visakhapatnam and was captured on security cameras, with footage widely shared on local media on Thursday (August 21). The case has immediately sparked a wave of anger over school violence in India.
The video, verified by Al Jazeera, shows a female teacher grabbing the student by his collar before slapping him across the face. Moments later, the child collapses and remains motionless.
On Facebook, Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Education and Information Technology, declared: “We are taking legal action against those responsible and the school administration.”
Police are also investigating the cause of death of the student, identified as Pranay Tej. In a post on X on Friday (August 22), Lokesh wrote: “As a father, I am deeply disturbed by what happened to little Pranay Tej. I cannot imagine the pain his parents are going through. Corporal punishment has no place in our schools. No child should be subjected to violence in the name of discipline.”
Lokesh said he has ordered a comprehensive inquiry and demanded strict action against anyone found responsible. Relatives of the boy gathered at the hospital, demanding severe punishment for those involved.
Pranay Tej's father said his son was healthy that morning and insisted on going to school. Police said they have registered a case under Section 194 of the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) after receiving a complaint from the parents, and have handed over the body to the family following forensic procedures. The exact cause of death will be determined once all related reports are available.
A 2018 study by Indian NGO Agrasar found that about 80% of impoverished school-age children in the country had experienced physical punishment by teachers, despite it being legally prohibited.
Palla Srinivasa Rao, president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh, said the government has responded appropriately. “Our Education Minister has formed a committee, and based on the committee's report, we will definitely take action,” Rao told the Press Trust of India news agency.
