Mumbai: A tutor from Malad East has been arrested for burning the palm of her 8-year-old student with a lit candle as punishment for poor handwriting. The incident took place on the evening of July 28, at a private tuition class conducted at JP Dex Building, Gokuldham, Film City Road, Malad East.
According to the complaint filed at Kurar Village Police Station, the victim, Mohammad Hamza Khan, a class 3 student of Lakshdham School, had been attending tuition classes run by a woman named Rajshree Rathod. On the evening of the incident, Hamza's sister Rubina dropped him off at the class as usual around 7:00 PM.
Also Watch:
Later, around 9:00 PM, Rathod called the boy’s father, Mustakeen Gulam Rasool Khan, a local egg vendor, asking him to pick up his son. Khan then sent Rubina to fetch Hamza. When she arrived, she found her younger brother in tears, with a visible burn injury on his right palm. On questioning the tutor, Rathod allegedly dismissed the injury as drama and said the boy was simply avoiding study.
Once home, the boy told his father that the tutor had punished him by holding his right hand over a burning candle due to his poor handwriting. Khan immediately confronted Rathod, who reportedly admitted to the act, claiming it was meant to discipline the child. An argument ensued, during which Rathod allegedly abused Khan.
The child was taken to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivali West for medical treatment. Following this, Khan approached the Kurar Village Police Station to register a complaint. A case has been filed against the tutor under relevant sections of Pocso and BNS for voluntarily causing hurt and cruelty to a child. Police are investigating the incident further.
