Alipurduar, June 2: Nine-year-old Parimal Das owes his life to the timely intervention of his teacher.

Nursing his wounds at the subdivisional hospital, the little boy is not sure why he is there and as he stutters the story in broken sentences, a tale of mindless brutality unwinds itself.

?On my way to school last Tuesday I stopped at a house and tasted a piece of mango pickle. The pickle had been put in the sun and I couldn?t help myself,? Parimal said from his hospital bed. ?Suddenly the owner of the house (Rabi Singh) rushed out and started beating me. He tied me to a tree and stripped me of my clothes before wielding the stick,? he added.

The incident took place in Chechakhata, 8 km from here, near Chechakhata R.R. Primary School, where Parimal studies. The injured boy was spotted by his classmates who then informed their teacher Balai Das.

?On hearing about the incident from other students, we rushed to the spot and freed Parimal. We took him to school where he became unconscious. Later we shifted him to the hospital.? Das said Parimal was a very sincere student and a well-behaved boy. ?I cannot imagine why such a boy was beaten up. When I demanded a reason, Singh threatened me and asked me to leave.? The school?s head teacher Meena Das accompanied Balai and informed Parimal?s grandfather Sarat Das with whom the boy stays.

An agitated Sarat lodged a complaint on Wednesday at the Alipurduar police station but nobody has been arrested so far. ?I have received the complaint and we are on the lookout for the absconding culprit. Once arrested strong action will be taken against him,? said in-charge of the police station Sitanath Das.

As the law enforcers fail to bring the culprit to book in four days time, little Parimal is unable to overcome the trauma. ?My whole body hurts and I cannot eat,? he says.