Chita, a Class 6 student of a government school at Huka in Rohtas, about 150 km from here, was beaten by her teacher on Saturday.

“Chita told me and her mother that the headmaster and a teacher ordered her along with two other students to clean the toilets.

When she refused citing her bad health, she was beaten with a stick by the teacher,” her father Sunil Kumar said.

“Frightened Chita fell ill after being beaten for no fault. She was admitted to local health centre for treatment,” he said. “After I lodged a complaint and demanded action against the school teacher, the education officer assured me of action,” Kumar added.

School headmaster Surajdeo Singh said that in the absence of a sweeper in the school, the responsibility to clean the school toilets was shared by students. Singh, however, denied that Chita was beaten after she refused to clean the toilets. “I will take action against the teacher if she was found guilty,” Singh said.

Deputy village body head Nand Kumar also expressed his unhappiness and demanded action against the teacher.