PE teacher booked for allegedly assaulting Class 8 student in Kerala

The Payyanur police have registered a case against a physical education teacher at SABTM High School, Thayineri, for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old class 8 student of the school in Kannur, Kerala. The teacher, identified as Raghu, was booked in connection with the alleged June 22 incident.

According to the First Information Report, the teacher stopped the student on the school grounds and attacked him with his hands and a stick, causing him injuries.

The police registered the case on July 1 after recording the statement of the student. The charges include Sections 126(2), 115(2) and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, which deals with cruelty to children. The accused has not yet been taken into custody.

Speaking to the media, the student’s mother claimed that the attack was much more serious than reflected in the FIR. She said her son had a high fever the day of the incident and was asked to stay in class and take notes instead of participating in games during the second period.

According to her, the teacher punished pupils who came to the playground late by hitting them twice on the legs, but she allegedly picked up her son, who slapped him on the back about 25 times. She further claimed that when the boy did not respond, the teacher grabbed him by the neck in an attempt to choke him and pushed him against the wall.

“The child was not even able to swallow saliva after the assault. He returned home crying and could not eat lunch. A medical examination revealed serious bruises on his back, the extent of the injury was revealed only after an X-ray and other tests,” she said.

She claimed that though she initially approached the Payyanur police with a complaint, the officers were unwilling to register an FIR. She later approached the Deputy Superintendent of Police’s office and a case was registered. She also said that a complaint has been submitted to the State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights.

The mother further claimed that school management tried to mediate a settlement after the incident. She claimed that the principal and other teachers met the family at the hospital and pressured her and the child’s aunt to refrain from filing a complaint with the police. According to her, in an attempt to settle the matter, the management offered to temporarily remove the teacher from the school.

School officials and police declined to comment on the allegations.

Published – 02 Jul 2026 12:50 IST