india

Updated: Feb 10, 2018 18:08 IST

A class 7 student of a madrasa in Bengal’s Hooghly district who had an operation for hernia, had to undergo another surgery after he was allegedly made to do 330 sit-ups by a teacher.

The boy, Aquib Mullick, was made to do the sit-ups on Thursday by his teacher Mithu Khan for not attending classes for a week at the madrasa in Khanakul in Hooghly district, about 80 km from Kolkata.

No complaint was filed till Saturday although the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, prohibits and has provisions against physical punishment and mental harassment.

“I told the teacher that a surgery was performed on me for treating hernia and I won’t be able to do so many sit-ups. But he did not listen to me and forced me to do it,” Aquib told TV channels from his hospital bed.

However, the teacher said he “did not know” the boy was ill. “I did not force him to do so many sit ups. I am sorry if he was hurt,” Mithu Khan told the media.

Hossain Ali Mullick, the head of the institution, said he will get a probe conducted, and if found guilty, then Mithu Khan will face punishment.

The boy’s father works in Mumbai.

His mother, Sakina Begum said, “My son fell ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. The doctor told us that the stitches have all ruptured. He also chided us for putting the child through such arduous physical labour. I told the doctor that it was the teacher who subjected him to the ordeal.”