BHOPAL: The Class IX student of Hoshangabad, who attempted suicide after being strip-searched before his classmates by a teacher, is battling for life at a city hospital. His father, Ram Narayan, a dalit , was snubbed by the office of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chohan , when he went to seek compensation on Thursday.

Narayan, a labourer, sought monetary help from the CM's office. He displayed his below-poverty-line ration card and emphasised his dalit status. But the staff at the office sent him back saying the election code of conduct was in force and no relief can be provided.

"I am a poor man. I have already spent Rs 35000 on my son's treatment. I had big hopes on the chief minister," he told TOI.

Meanwhile, the district collector, Hoshangabad, ordered a probe into the incident and sought a report from district education officer.

The incident took place at Bagwada village of Seoni Malwa tehsil on September 17. Rohit Mehra, 15, a student of government senior secondary school, Bagwada, attempted suicide by hanging after he returned from school on Tuesday. His parents were unable to understand why the boy took the extreme step. However based on the information from the students it was learnt that the boy was depressed after being stripped in front of his classmates.

Local villagers rushed to the school after learning about the incident and staged a protest.

District education officer, B L Chaure said, "As per statements given by students present in the class, teacher Pramod Prajapati, asked Rohit to strip in front of the entire class that included girl students, during the quarterly examinations".

Prajapati did this on suspicion that Rohit was cheating. But his academic background suggests that Rohit was a good student. He was probably depressed and ashamed of the incident and took the extreme step, Chaure said.

"I am still to complete the report and will be submitting it to district collector on September 20. But as per the findings so far, teacher appears to be responsible for the incident," he added saying, 'I will also forward the report to district panchayat CEO, because the teacher concerned is 'Varistha Shikhshak' (senior teacher) as per the designation and CEO is the disciplinary authority".

On asked about police action, he said it is for the senior officials to decide. "My role is limited to submit a report on the basis of facts to the district collector," he said.

