Two madrassa teachers in Saharanpur, India, face arrest after a disturbing video surfaced online, allegedly showing them beating a 10-year-old student and igniting widespread condemnation.
Two madrassa teachers were arrested here on Saturday for allegedly beating up a 10-year-old student with a stick, police said. A purported video of the incident showing the child begging for mercy as he is hit repeatedly has triggered public outrage.
The incident, alleged to have happened at Darul Uloom Zakaria madrassa, came to light on Friday after the video surfaced online. Police said the child fled the madrassa after the incident, while authorities are trying to find out the exact date of the incident.
The video shows a teacher raining blows on the child after he was told to lie flat on the floor, while another teacher is seen holding him down.
Amid the boy's cries for mercy, the second teacher at one point holds the boy's legs up, with the teacher holding the stick hitting the 10-year-old repeatedly on the soles of his feet.
The clip which is circulating widely on the internet has sparked outrage.
Circle Officer (Gangoh) Ashok Sisodhiya told PTI that the police have registered a case and arrested both the teachers. The accused have been identified as Junaid (28) and Shoaib (30), and appropriate legal action has been initiated.
A case was registered following a written complaint by Qari Sajid Hasan, a resident of Khanpur Gurjar village, who said that the madrassa is attended by the children from surrounding villages.
Police are also looking for the person who recorded the video. Sisodhiya said strict action will be taken against the culprits.