Nagaon, May 28: The principal of a private school in Diphu was today arrested on charges of beating up a Class X student for misconduct.

Police said Sunrise Academy principal Sohal Prasad Mahato had allegedly beaten Class X student John Engti with a stick yesterday because of alleged unruliness.

Engti, 14, felt pain in his chest after returning home from school and narrated the incident to his parents who later shifted him to Diphu civil hospital for treatment. This morning, he was shifted to a Guwahati hospital, as the preliminary check-up in Diphu revealed Engti had a severe internal injury in the chest.

His parents have lodged an FIR against Mahato at Diphu police station.

A Karbi Students' Association delegation today submitted a memorandum to the police, demanding immediate arrest of the principal.

"This incident is a reflection of the deteriorating educational environment in Karbi Anglong. We demand a high-level inquiry," said the association's leader, Sarthe Teron.

After his arrest, Mahato told the police, "'Engti and his classmate were creating a ruckus inside their classroom in the absence of a teacher. I punished both of them when the matter came to my notice."

Engti hails from an economically underprivileged family of Rangkut in Haura-ghat. He has been studying in Diphu for the last three years by staying with a relative. Sunrise Academy is a popular educational institution in Diphu, having over 2,000 students. Mahato is a founder teacher of the 15-year-old school.

A police source said Mahato was released on bail this afternoon. "A case had been registered and all formalities during the investigation have been completed," he added.