Kolkata: A pre-nursery educator at a private school in New Alipore has been arrested after allegedly “assaulting” a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler inside a classroom in the garb of punishing him, causing the child to suffer a leg fracture, police said.
The corporal punishment incident occurred on Friday around 10.20 am, according to police. Following a medical evaluation, attending doctors confirmed that the child had sustained a severe fracture to the right leg. School authorities confirmed that they are extending full cooperation to the Kolkata Police in their ongoing investigation, while simultaneously initiating an independent internal inquiry into the matter to ascertain how the lapse occurred and to ensure strict corrective measures.
The toddler had recently been enrolled in the pre-nursery section. He was reportedly crying and throwing a tantrum in the classroom, a common behaviour among children of his age. The severe impact left the child weeping in intense pain and fear. School authorities immediately alerted the family, who rushed the minor to MR Bangur Hospital. The management of the New Alipore school expressed shock over the incident.
During the preliminary probe, investigating officers visited the school premises and seized internal closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the classroom. The video evidence reportedly corroborated the sequence of events leading to the assault. Police subsequently arrested the teacher, who was produced before a local court.