Kerala headmaster booked for slapping class 10 student, rupturing eardrum
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A government school headmaster in Kerala has been charged with assault after slapping a Class 10 student during a school assembly, causing a serious ear injury, police said on Tuesday.
The incident took place on August 11 at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kundamkuzhi, Kasaragod district.
According to police, headmaster Ashokan noticed a 16-year-old student playing with pebbles using his feet during the morning assembly. He summoned the boy to the front, grabbed him by the collar, and slapped him, resulting in a ruptured eardrum.
The student later complained of severe ear pain and was first taken to a government hospital, where doctors confirmed the injury. He is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Police at Bedakam station confirmed that a case was registered against the headmaster on Monday evening.
He faces charges under Section 126(2) (wrongful restraint) and Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act for cruelty to a child.
The complaint was lodged by the victim, and his preliminary statement was recorded.
Authorities said an investigation is underway and the headmaster’s statement will be taken soon.
Meanwhile, officials from the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) visited the injured student and his family on Tuesday. The commission has also filed a separate case and begun an inquiry.
Following the incident, General Education Minister V Sivankutty ordered the education department to conduct a probe. The Kasaragod District Education Officer has been tasked with submitting a detailed report to the minister in the coming days, sources said.