PATNA: Public outcry and government's guidelines against corporal punishment notwithstanding, kindergarten children of a city school were allegedly thrashed with a wooden stick by a teacher. An eight-year-old of them had his hand badly bruised and swollen.After the boy returned home, his parents Tilak Mahto and Indu Devi reached his school, Anant Pragya Niketan, in the afternoon and demanded action against teacher Sahil Kumar. Their protest soon turned into a mini demonstration as parents of the other children joined them.The private primary school, which has around 100 students on its rolls, runs from a residential accommodation in city's Kurji area. Talking to newsmen, principal Sanju Kumari expressed regret over the incident."Sahil has not been appointed by the school as yet. He was conducting a demo class when he lost his temper as the boy failed to answer his question," the principal said.According to her, the school has been running for nearly 15 years and its students belong to the underprivileged sections. "Such an incident never took place in the school in the past," the principal said and accused the parents of exaggerating the injury. "The school is ready to bear the treatment cost," she added.Digha police station's SHO Golden Kumar said preliminary inquiries revealed at least five children were beaten by Sahil. A Siwan native, the teacher lives near Kurji Mor in a rented house. "He is absconding after the incident took place around 10am," the police officer said and added police would take action in the matter as soon as the parents lodged complaints.The Union ministry of women and child development in 2010 issued guidelines banning corporal punishment in schools. The guidelines provided for imprisonment of up to a year in jail or a fine of Rs 50,000 or both for violators. For subsequent violations, the imprisonment can extend up to three years with an additional fine of Rs 25,000.FLASHBACKA Class IX student of DAV Public School-Walmi complex was allegedly beaten up by a schoolteacher and had his right hand fractured and chest injured in December 2016A Class X student of St Dominic Savio's High School was allegedly thrashed by a physics teacher and ended up with multiple fractures in left arm on July 15, 2016A Class IX student of Delhi Public School-Patna reportedly attempted suicide by jumping off the school building after a teacher allegedly thrashed and threatened to suspend him on July 27, 2016

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