Karnataka teacher arrested for brutally beating 9-year-old student over phone call

A Sanskrit school teacher in Chitradurga district was arrested recently after a video showing him violently assaulting a nine-year-old student went viral, reigniting debates over child safety in schools.

The footage, recorded on a mobile phone, shows Veeresh Hiremath, a teacher at the Sanskrit Vedadhyayan School in Nayakanhatti, repeatedly striking the child’s head and back before pushing him with his foot.

The attack reportedly occurred after the student made a phone call to his grandmother. Despite the child raising his hands defensively, Hiremath allegedly continued the assault.

Authorities said the incident took place in February but came to light only recently. “There was no complaint then. After the video went viral, a complaint was filed, and Chitradurga police arrested Hiremath from Kalaburagi. We will further interrogate to know more details about the case,” said Ranjith Kumar Bandaru, Superintendent of Police, Chitradurga.

Residents claimed attempts had been made to suppress the case, while public outrage mounted after the footage circulated online. Protests erupted outside the school, demanding justice and stricter accountability measures.

The child, deeply traumatized by the attack, reportedly attempted self-harm near a local lake following the incident. He has since been transferred to another school for his safety. The case has drawn condemnation from officials, including Karnataka’s Minister of Women and Child Development, Lakshmi Hebbalkar.