MYSURU: Police on Wednesday booked a case against an anganwadi worker for allegedly branding a three-year-old boy for relieving himself in the day-care centre on Tuesday. The worker has been suspended pending inquiry.Police said Neelamma, who works with Devayyanahundi Anganwadi Centre in Srirampura II Stage, allegedly branded the boy with a red-hot knife.After he came home on Tuesday, the boy told his parents and grandparents that he was branded on his lower limbs by a help. The next day, the boy’s family mobilised support of villagers and protested in front of the centre, seeking action against the woman.ASSAULT ON TODDLERK Radha, deputy director of the women and child welfare department, Mysuru , and SR Nandish, chairman of the zilla panchayat standing committee on social justice, rushed to the centre and held discussions with the family members.The deputy director confirmed to TOI that she received a complaint about the incident on Wednesday. “When we visited the centre, the accused and the teacher denied the charge. When we confronted the boy with the centre staffer, they admitted the boy had been branded. We’ve decided to suspend Neelamma,” she added.Interestingly, the toddler’s parents requested the department to not press charges against the worker. Hence, the department has registered a case with Kuvempu Nagar police about the incident.Radha said the department’s superintendent had recently met parents of the anganwadi students and shared her phone number with them, saying they could contact her if they sense trouble.“We received no complaints since that meeting. During an inquiry over the branding incident today, many parents raised their hands to complain about the accused staffer who they said was very rude with kids. We’ll hold an inquiry into the allegations,” she said. Nandish said the zilla panchayat will release compensation to the toddler’s family for treatment. He said he’s handed in Rs 5,000 as immediate compensation to the family.

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