JODHPUR: State education department on Sunday suspended a school teacher for allegedly beating up a Dalit student for touching the mid-day meal meant for non-Dalit students on Thursday. The teacher was arrested by police on Saturday evening following a complaint from the student's father.

"Based on the evidences found at the spot and statements of the students and other independent witnesses, the charges against the teacher, identified as Hemaram Jat, have been substantiated primarily," said a police official.

A delegation of Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) had met the IGP (Jodhpur Range) on Saturday morning and demanded quick action against Jat ahead of his arrest. State coordinator of DSMM, Kishan Meghwal, claimed that the local police refused to register the complaint earlier and it was only after they took up the matter with senior officers, the complaint was registered by local police.

Following his arrest, the education department also swung into action and issued the order of his suspension. Nutan Bala, deputy director (secondary education), while confirming his suspension, said he has been ordered to report to the head office in Jodhpur. "A departmental inquiry would also be initiated against him," she said.

Hemaram Jat, a teacher and the mid-day meal in-charge at Government Secondary School in Berdon ka Bas in Osian block of Jodhpur, had allegedly beaten up Dinesh Meghwal (11) of Class IV mercilessly for touching the plates meant for non-Dalit students of the school on Thursday.

Dinesh's father Malaram said when he saw his son coming home crying, he asked him about what happened and when told about the incident, he personally saw the teacher with complaint but he abused him also on his caste.

On his condition turning worse, Dinesh was referred to Jodhpur's Umaid Hospital from the village's CHC, where he is under treatment. According to the doctors, he is out of any danger and is recovering.

