Keonjhar, May 11: Police arrested an anganwadi teacher and her assistant for allegedly throwing hot water at a two-and-a-half-year-old child at the anganwadi centre in Jhumpura here during the school hours on Saturday.

The injured child, Parsuram Munda, has suffered 40 per cent burns. He was rushed to a local hospital, but was later shifted to the district headquarters hospital when his condition deteriorated.

The incident came to light only today after the victim’s mother filed a complaint with Jhumpura police.

The victim’s mother told the police that her child had gone to the Khendera-I anganwadi centre. The teacher, Subhashree Giri, and her assistant, Saudamini Nayak, allegedly poured hot water on him while he was watching eggs being boiled for distribution among students at the centre.

“Seeing my child near the kitchen, the anganwadi worker asked her assistant to pour hot water on him and the assistant did just that,” said Padma Munda, the victim’s mother.

“My child has suffered burns on his face, chest, hand and leg,” she said.

“We have arrested both the anganwadi worker and her assistant,” said Gurubari Hembram, inspector in charge of Jhumpura police station.