Primary school teacher brands 11 students with hot camphor

Their crime? They were unable to answer a question asked by the teacher. The students are studying in fourth and fifth standard at the school in Pali village of Villupuram district. 

Both the headmaster and teacher have been suspended by the district Chief Education Officer CEO), S. Mars. The affected students are being hospitalised in Ulundurpet Primary Health Centre on Friday morning and they were discharged after treatment. Further investigation is going on. 

According to officials, a total of 51 students are studying in the Panchayat Union Primary school and as some students were not properly responding to their questions, the teacher used burning camphor on the students on Thursday evening and threatened them with dire consequences if they informed their parents. 

However, the students informed their parents the same night. Agitated by the incident, the parents of the children rushed to the school on Friday morning and entered into a heated argument with the school officials, before taking the children to a nearby hospital. Some parents complained that if any student failed to conform the rules and regulations, teachers should inform to them. 

“In some schools, teachers call up parents of the students, who are poor in studies and who do not attend the class so that teachers can follow up,” said Alamelu, mother of an affected student. However, the teacher justified her action. “I never expected it to become such a big issue. These students do not heed what I say,” she said. 

Speaking to DTNext, Mars, CEO, Viluppuram district, confirmed that he had suspended school headmaster, Varadharajan and teacher, Vaijayanthimala. “Our enquiries reveal that the students have been poor at studies, which angered the teacher. She has branded them with camphor on their knees, calf, thigh and feet,” he confirmed.He said the district collector and other officials were informed of the issue. An official from Villupuram district administration said a departmental enquiry was under way.