An anganwadi worker was arrested on Friday after she was caught on camera attempting to cover a child with gunny bag in a bid to threaten him to stop crying after he was left in the anganwadi by his parents.Police said some of the children, who were admitted in the anganwadi near Paavoorchathram Vennimalai Murugan Temple, were crying inconsolably as they returned to this informal school after the summer vacation.When a child was crying continuously, an anganwadi worker Kalaiselvi, instead of consoling him, threatened to cover him with a gunny bag if he continues to cry.Unable to comprehend the unfamiliar situation, the boy cried inconsolably and Ms Kalaiselvi reportedly tried to cover him with the gunny bag for a few seconds.On seeing this punishment, another child sitting next to him also started crying and the anganwadi worker threatened the child also.As it was captured on video by a passer-by with his mobile phone and shared it social media, Tenkasi District Collector Ranjeet Singh placed Ms Kalaiselvi under suspension.Meanwhile, the Paavoorchathram police registered case against Ms Kalaiselvi and arrested her on Friday.Expressing shock over the incident, BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan on Friday urged the Tamil Nadu government to review the functioning of anganwadi centres.Sharing the video clip regarding the incident broadcast by a media house, Ms. Srinivasan said the anganwadi centre was the first place a child visited without being accompanied by the mother. “Anganwadi workers should be responsible while taking care of children and inculcate in them courage and discipline, especially when there is no safety for women and girls in Tamil Nadu,” Ms. Srinivasan said. Published - June 05, 2026 07:02 pm IST