Overview
- Assistant teacher Sukanti Kar has been suspended pending proceedings after local officials probed reports of corporal punishment in Mayurbhanj district.
- The incident occurred Thursday at Khandadeula Government Upper Primary School in Betnoti block, where 31 students in Classes VI–VIII were struck with a bamboo stick.
- Headmaster Purnachandra Ojha, BEO Biplab Kar, cluster coordinator Debashish Sahu and School Management Committee members interviewed students and parents and found the teacher at fault.
- Officials and the SMC reported injuries including bruises, a reported hand fracture and a girl who briefly lost consciousness and was treated.
- Authorities reiterated that corporal punishment is prohibited across Odisha since 2004, and no police case was cited in the reports as parents pressed for accountability.