Nigerian Journal Sustainability Research

Six-Year-Old Dies After Alleged Slapping by Teacher Over Unfinished Homework in Visakhapatnam

2026-08-22
What Happened

A six-year-old UKG (Upper Kindergarten) student, identified as Pranay Teja (also reported as Pranay Tej and Tammana Pranay Tej), died Thursday, August 20, after collapsing in his classroom at Little Garden School in the One Town area of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. According to police and the child's family, his teacher confronted him over incomplete homework, grabbed his shirt, and slapped him. Moments later, the boy collapsed. School staff rushed him to King George Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

What the CCTV Footage Reportedly Shows

Classroom CCTV footage, which has since circulated widely on social media, reportedly captures the teacher scolding and slapping the child before he collapses, apparently into the teacher's arms, within seconds of being struck. Other teachers present attempted to revive him before he was taken to the hospital. Police have obtained the footage and say it's now central to their investigation.

The Family's Account

Pranay's father, Krishna Prasad, told reporters his son had been completely healthy that morning, with no illness or pre-existing condition, and had initially been reluctant to go to school that day but agreed after being persuaded. He said he only learned the details of what happened after reviewing the CCTV footage himself, and has raised additional concerns about how the school handled the aftermath, alleging that hospital admission notes stated the child had collapsed while playing on school grounds rather than describing the actual incident, and claiming the school failed to promptly notify the family despite having their contact information on file. The family, alongside relatives, has staged protests demanding strict action against the teacher and stronger oversight of student safety in private schools more broadly.

The Investigation So Far

Police have registered a case following the family's complaint and identified the teacher involved as Anuradha, according to some reports, though her surname and further details have not been widely confirmed. Authorities have said the teacher could be taken into custody as the investigation proceeds. Critically, the exact medical cause of death has not yet been confirmed and is expected to be established through a post-mortem examination; one report cited a theory that a heart attack may have been triggered by panic and shock, though this has not been officially verified, and police are also examining whether any underlying condition contributed. Until that post-mortem is complete and the investigation concludes, the specific allegations against the teacher remain unproven.

Official Response

Andhra Pradesh's Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh has publicly expressed condolences over the child's death and said strict action would be taken against those found responsible, including the school's management, in accordance with the law.

The Broader Legal Context

The incident has reignited a long-standing debate in India over corporal punishment in schools. Under Section 17 of India's Right to Education (RTE) Act, physical punishment of students is explicitly prohibited nationwide, meaning that if the allegations are substantiated, the teacher's conduct would have violated existing law regardless of the outcome of the medical investigation into the cause of death.

Where Things Stand

As of the latest reporting, the case remains under active investigation, with the post-mortem results still pending and no final determination made on the precise cause of death or the full extent of any culpability. The family continues to press for accountability, and the incident has drawn broader public attention to questions about discipline practices and child safety oversight in Indian schools.

Sources