Shimla |
In a deeply disturbing case that has sparked widespread outrage, three teachers, including the headmaster of a government primary school in Shimla district, have been booked for allegedly torturing an eight-year-old Dalit student over a prolonged period and subjecting him to unimaginable cruelty — including placing a live scorpion inside his pants.
The shocking incident took place at the Government Primary School in Khaddapani, under the Rohru sub-division of Shimla district. According to a complaint filed by the child’s father, the headmaster, Devendra, and two teachers, Babu Ram and Kritika Thakur, had been physically and mentally abusing his son for almost a year.
Pattern of Abuse and Intimidation
The father alleged that the continuous beatings caused severe injuries to the boy, including bleeding from his ear and damage to his eardrum**. In one of the most horrifying acts, the accused teachers allegedly took the Class 1 student to the school toilet and placed a scorpion inside his trousers, leaving him traumatized.
When the child tried to confide in his parents, the teachers allegedly threatened him with arrest and expulsion if he dared to speak about the abuse. The father also claimed that the headmaster warned him against approaching the police or posting about the incident on social media, allegedly threatening that his family would be “burned alive” if they made the matter public.
Caste-Based Discrimination Alleged
The complaint further reveals a disturbing environment of caste-based discrimination at the school. The father stated that students from the Nepali and Harijan communities were made to sit separately from Rajput students during meals, a clear violation of the Right to Equality and constitutional safeguards against caste-based segregation.
Adding to the controversy, the complainant also alleged that Kritika Thakur’s husband, Nitish Thakur, had been illegally teaching students in her place for nearly a year**, raising serious questions about the school’s administration and oversight.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
Following the father’s complaint, the Rohru Police have registered a case against the three accused under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
Section 127(2) – Wrongful confinement
Section 115(2) – Voluntarily causing hurt
Section 351(2) – Criminal intimidation
Section 3(5) – Common intent in criminal acts
The accused have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act for cruelty towards a child and under sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which penalize acts intended to humiliate or degrade members of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
A senior police official said that a communication has been sent to higher authorities seeking directions on whether the investigation should be led by a gazetted officer, given the sensitivity and seriousness of the case.
Recurring Incidents in Rohru Raise Alarms
This case is not an isolated one. Just last week, a teacher at another government school in Gawana, Rohru, was suspended after he allegedly **beat a student with a thorny bush. Earlier, in a tragic incident, a 12-year-old Dalit boy from Limda village in the same sub-division died by suicide after allegedly being locked inside a cowshed by upper-caste women for entering their home.
These repeated incidents point toward a worrying pattern of caste bias and child abuse in some of the remote schools of the Shimla district, highlighting the urgent need for stricter monitoring, accountability, and sensitization within the education system.
Demand for Justice and Accountability
The case has drawn strong condemnation from social activists and Dalit rights organizations, who have demanded immediate suspension of the accused teachers, a fair probe by a senior police officer, and psychological support for the child.
“This is not just an act of cruelty — it is an assault on a child’s dignity and humanity. The administration must ensure that those responsible are punished under the harshest provisions of the law,” said a member of the Himachal Dalit Adhikar Manch.
As the investigation proceeds, this horrifying case serves as a grim reminder that caste-based discrimination and corporal punishment — though outlawed — still persist in certain corners of the country’s education system, demanding urgent systemic reform.
*Reported by himsatta.com | For responsible and inclusive journalism in Himachal Pradesh.* A Web generated news report
