Child rights panel seeks report over blind students' caning

The national child rights panel Monday sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh government on the brutal beating up of blind students by their teachers.

"It is definitely brutal. It is something which all of us need to be ashamed about," National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Kushal Singh told IANS.

"NCPCR has asked for a report from the state government in the matter," she said.

Kushal Singh said the commission has issued guidelines for corporal punishment which were circulated by the human resources development ministry to all states.

The director and principal of a school for blind in Andhra Pradesh were Monday arrested for beating up their students.

The arrests were made after parents of the children protested and attacked the Greenfield residential school for blind at Thimmapuram near Kakinada in East Godavari district.

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 spare them but the duo showed no mercy.