A pre-nursery teacher at a New Alipore school has been arrested for allegedly hurling a two-year-old student to the ground, fracturing his right leg.
The incident occurred on Friday. The teacher was arrested on Sunday after the child’s mother lodged a complaint. School officials said she was sacked on Saturday.
“The incident took place in the morning. We were shocked. The teacher herself is a mother of a four-month-old. Her service was terminated the next day,” a school official said.
According to the complaint lodged at New Alipore police station, the teacher allegedly pulled the toddler and hurled him to the ground inside a classroom before 10.20am on Friday.
The child was treated at MR Bangur Hospital, and his fractured leg was put in a cast, school officials said.
The parents have accused the teacher of cruelty towards the child.
Police have registered a case under provisions relating to voluntarily causing grievous hurt and relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act concerning cruelty to a child.
“We have received a complaint and an FIR has been drawn up. The accused has been arrested, and a probe is on,” a police officer said.
The police are examining CCTV footage from the classroom to corroborate the parents’ allegations. They will also speak to school authorities and witnesses to establish what happened.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of very young children in classrooms, where they depend on teachers and caregivers for protection.
A few days ago, a Class IX student of South Point High School was allegedly attacked with a paper cutter by a fellow student following a scuffle inside a classroom.