Published Sep 01, 2022 | 8:51 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 01, 2022 | 8:52 PM
The incident, which took place last week, only came to light on 29 August after the child's grandmother noticed the burns while bathing him. (Creative Commons)
The Karnataka State Police on Thursday, 1 September, arrested an assistant teacher of an anganwadi centre for allegedly assaulting a three-year-old Dalit boy and inflicting burns on his private parts in retaliation to the fact that the child frequently wet his pants.
“The police arrested the teacher, Rashmi, around noon and will produce her in front of the Judicial Magistrate in the next 24 hours. Her medical report is awaited,” a senior police official from the Chikkanayakanahalli Police Station in the Tumakuru district told South First.
He added that a case had been registered under IPC Section 285 (endangering human life with fire or combustible matter) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act (willfully assaulting a child) in this regard
The child belongs to the Dalit “Korama” community, and is a student of the Godekere village Anganwadi located in the Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru.
The incident, which took place last week, only came to light on 29 August after the child’s grandmother noticed the burns while bathing him.
After the family of the child informed the concerned officials, the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) intervened and sent a counsellor to the victim’s house for the child and his family.
According to local reports, the child is recovering from his injuries after treatment at a local public health centre.
“We have taken suo motu control over the matter and have asked the DCPO to submit a detailed report,” Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Jayashree Channal told South First.
She also said the teacher’s actions were reprehensible. Channal said that children were finally returning to school, and in greater numbers. This incident could prove to be a deterrent to that, she said.
Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL) Convenor C Narasimha Murthy said that leaders of Backward Class (BC) Communities also highlighted the issue on various social media platforms.
Meanwhile, the child, who reportedly lost his mother a couple of weeks ago due to cervical cancer, moved with his father and elder brother from Chikkamagaluru to Godhere after her death.
Both the parents of the child worked as coffee plantation workers in Chikkamagaluru for several years.
As per local reports, the child’s grandmother had asked teachers at the anganwadi, including the accused assistant teacher Rashmi, to toilet-train him, but did not realise she would use such means.
The teachers at the anganwadi reportedly did not hild Rashmi in high regard: After all, she once forged the signature of one of her colleagues.
“A child has to be respected, and protected and nobody has the right to take a child’s life in their hands. This is an illegal act and merits severe punishment,” Murthy told South First.
