A Class IX student of DAV Public School Walmi Complex had to get medical attention after a schoolteacher allegedly beat him up inside the school on Tuesday.

The boy, Daksh Kumar, underwent medical examination at the government hospital in Rajvanshi Nagar, and it was found that he was swelling in his right hand and injuries on chest.

"I was standing near my classroom on the second floor," Daksh told The Telegraph. "The English teacher P.K. Bhuyian, who was passing though the area, pushed me without any reason. He later hit me on my hand and chest."

The boy claimed the teacher had tortured him earlier too, and would never allow him to sit in the front row.

"A few days back, the teacher scolded me saying thatI am not serious about studies. When I asked him why he is after me, he threatened me of dire consequences," Daksh said.

He said he had not attended Bhuyian's class since last Wednesday because the teacher had told him not to.

When the alleged incident occurred, Daksh's mother was in the school to deposit the school fees. When she came to know her son had been injured, she along with her son complained to school the principal. According to Daksh's family, the school administration asked the mother to first get medical treatment for her son. Later, the family members of the boy lodged a complaint against the schoolteacher at Phulwarisharif police station.

Corporal punishment in schools is banned by law and violators can face a jail term of six months. In case of serious offence, the jail term can be extended up to three years.

"Based on the complaint by victim's family members, the police have lodged a case against the school teacher under sections 341 (wrong restraint) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC," said Awadhesh Prasad, the Phulwarisharif police station house officer (SHO). "The police have started the probe and after collecting information about the incident from the school principal and students, police will take action against the teacher."

The investigating officer of the case Mohan Kumar said the school principal had told him it seemed unlikely the teacher concerned would assault a student.

The Telegraph could not speak to the English teacher, but school principal Kunwar Jee Sinha said: "The boy along with his mother first approached me, narrating about the incident. The boy's mother didn't say much about the incident. But three hours later, I don't know what happened that boy's family lodged a police case against the teacher."

The principal said the teacher, who is from Odisha, has been working in the school for the past eight years.

"We have never received any complaint about Bhuyian's rude behaviour from students. The teacher is a cool, quiet and humble person," Sinha added.

The principal said the police complaint notwithstanding, the school would conduct an internal probe into the incident and decide the future course of action on the basis of the outcome of the probe.

Indrajeet Rai, assistant regional director, DAV Patna zone, said: "The matter has not come before me yet, but if the incident is true action will be taken against the schoolteacher concerned."

Rajiv Ranjan Singh, vice-chairman of Bihar Public School & Children Welfare Association, pointed out: "Corporal punishment is banned in schools. The Centre is even bringing a new law under which punishment for corporal punishment will be stricter."

The proposed law intends to include verbal abuse as corporal punishment.