Blind students' caning: NHRC seeks report from Andhra

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Tuesday asked the Andhra Pradesh government to submit a report on the merciless caning of children at a residential school for blind in the state's East Godavari district.

The NHRC has issued notice to the chief secretary, Andhra Pradesh and district magistrate, East Godavari calling for a report in the matter within four weeks, said a statement from the commission.

The director and principal of the Greenfield residential school for blind at Thimmapuram near Kakinada in the district were arrested for beating up their students after the parents of the children protested and attacked the school.

The district collector has ordered a probe into the incident, which came to light after four days.

Video clips of school director K.V. Rao and principal Srinivasulu caning the blind children were released to the media Monday, leading to an outrage.

The director himself is blind and was seen mercilessly caning the children with the help of Srinivasulu, who was holding the students.

The clips showed the children pleading to be spared but the duo showed no mercy.

The commission said that it has observed that the contents of the news report "raise a serious violation of human rights of children who became victim of corporal punishment".