The Payyanur police have registered a case against a physical education teacher of SABTM High School, Thayineri, for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old Class 8 student of the school in Kannur, Kerala. The teacher, identified as Raghu, has been booked in connection with the alleged incident on June 22.According to the First Information Report, the teacher stopped the student on the school ground and assaulted him with his hands and a stick, causing injuries.The police registered the case on July 1 after recording the student’s statement. The charges include Sections 126(2), 115(2), and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, which deals with cruelty to children. The accused has not yet been taken into custody.Speaking to the media, the student’s mother alleged that the assault was far more severe than reflected in the FIR. She said her son had a severe fever on the day of the incident and had been asked to remain in the classroom and write notes instead of participating in games during the second period.According to her, the teacher punished students who were late to the playground by striking them twice on the legs, but allegedly singled out her son, beating him around 25 times on his back. She further alleged that when the boy did not react, the teacher grabbed him by the throat in an attempt to choke him and pushed him against a wall.“The child was unable even to swallow saliva after the assault. He returned home crying and could not eat lunch. Medical examination revealed serious bruises on his back, and the extent of the injuries became clear only after X-rays and other tests,” she said.She alleged that although she initially approached the Payyanur police with a complaint, officers were unwilling to register an FIR. She later approached the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, and the case was registered. She also said a complaint had been submitted to the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.The mother further alleged that the school management attempted to broker a settlement after the incident. She claimed that the principal and other teachers met the family at the hospital and pressured her and the child’s aunt to refrain from filing a police complaint. According to her, the management offered to temporarily remove the teacher from the school in an attempt to settle the matter.School authorities and the police declined to comment on the allegations. Published - July 02, 2026 12:50 pm IST