Kendrapara, July 12: A teacher of a government-run school in Kendrapara district was arrested today on charges of inflicting corporal punishment on a student.

The victim, Akash Mallick, a Class I student of a government-run Naranpur primary school within Kendrapara sadar police limits, was caned by the accused leading to a fracture in his right leg.

Alekh Chandra Sethy, the teacher concerned, was arrested and booked under Indian Penal Code sections 294, 325 and 506. He has also been placed under suspension.

The boy’s father had yesterday lodged an FIR with the police. The incident had taken place on July 10. After investigation led to corroborative evidence of the crime, the teacher was taken into custody, said Kendrapara Sadar police station inspector Sarat Chandra Patra.

The accused teacher found the victim loitering around the school veranda and in a fit of rage, beat him up for skipping class. The child had to be hospitalised. Later it was found that his right knee was fractured, the police said.

Kendrapara district headquarters hospital sources said the boy had been advised a month’s rest. It would take 45 days for the fracture to heal. Block education officer Prasant Kumar Mohanty said: “Teachers have been asked not to subject children to corporal punishment. A departmental inquiry into the incident has been conducted. We found the allegation true and have suspended the accused.”

The state government has banned corporal punishment in both government and private schools.

“It has often been found that teachers are not aware of the fact and they are still meting out corporal punishment to students. It has become imperative for teachers to attend workshops and learn the difference between child abuse and discipline,” said child rights activist Binayak Swain.