Malda: A Class IV student at a government-aided primary school here was allegedly caned "mercilessly" by a teacher, prompting the boy to shun the study for five days.

The boy's father came to know about the assault on Tuesday when he inquired with his son.

"My son had not been going to the school for the past five days for some reason or other. On Tuesday, I asked him why he was not attending the school. He then told me that a teacher, Sujay Yadav, had beaten him up mercilessly for not being able to answer to his questions in the class," said the father.

Asked about the incident, the boy said the teacher had beaten him with a stick. "He had told me to remain quiet and he would beat me again if I informed my parents and others about the assault. I told him that I was sick and could not study but he went on beating me up."

The boy studies at Maheshpur primary school.

The father filed a complaint against the teacher with the Malda district primary school council.

Ashish Kundu, the chairman of the council, said. "We have asked the sub-inspector of schools to conduct an inquiry. Also, the accused teacher has been asked to report at the council."

Sources at the school said the accused teacher was also absent for past the few days. "He came to the school on Tuesday but left after some time," said a teacher.

Yadav could not be contacted.