Principal beats child to death for eraser theft

A second standard student died allegedly after being thrashed by the principal of his school in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, about 40 kms from here, for “stealing” a pencil and eraser. The alleged incident occurred at Dwarika Memorial School at Railamau area on Tuesday.

According to reports, two children who had been admitted on Tuesday by the principal, were allowed to sit in the class. Later on, some children complained that their pencils and erasers had been stolen. During a search conducted in the class, the pencils and erasers were recovered from the two newly admitted students, reports said.

Angry over the alleged theft, the principal Lalit Kumar Verma thrashed the two children, stated to be aged around six years, black and blue. The condition of one of the children worsened later in the day and he was admitted to the hospital.

He succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday night at the hospital. The other child was also being treated for the injuries though his condition was stated to be stable.  A case was registered and the principal has been arrested, the police said.