BHOPAL: A four-year-old dalit boy was allegedly removed from a private school in Bhind district of Madhya Pardesh after other students refused to sit with him in the class.

The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the alleged caste discrimination against dalit student.

The shocking incident came to light at Gohad tehsil -- 70km from the district headquarters -- after the boy's father Santosh Valmik sought intervention of local administration.

According to Santosh, he had admitted his son Anubhav to National Convent School on July 29. He was given admission after collecting Rs 2,000 as fee. He also received a receipt for it.

On July 30 when he went to school for the first time, other students in the classroom allegedly refused to sit with them or share bench with him. Disheartened Anubhav returned home without attending any class and informed his parents about it, sources said.

When his father went to school and informed the matter, authorities concerned advised him to look for another school reasoning that none of student in the class was ready to sit with him. The school fee was also returned.

Annoyed over the dismissal, Santosh approached sub-divisional magistrate and lodged a complaint against the school operator.

The matter was reported to district collector M C B Chakravarti, who ordered block education officer to probe the matter. "I have ordered an inquiry into the matter. Action will be taken against those guilty," the collector told TOI.