The case of a child allegedly dying after being thrashed by a teacher has taken a new turn. The media introduced a caste angle by reporting that an SC (scheduled caste) student was beaten up by his ‘upper caste’ teacher for touching a drinking water pot. The incident reportedly occurred in Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Rajasthan’s Jalore District. The Jalore police arrested the teacher Chail Singh who was charged under Section 302 of IPC and SC/ST Act.

Neo Politico has produced the audio script of the victim, which confirms there is no caste angle to issue. The report also highlights that the case has no relation to the water pot as there is none in the school. The majority of the teachers in the school belong to the SC category.

The website confirmed that the caste angle was brought in after the involvement of the Bhim Army and other ‘Dalit’ organizations. The news portal quotes Gatram Meghwal, who refuted all claims of discrimination made by the media and the victim’s family. Meghwal said he never faced discrimination in the six years he has taught in the school. He further stated children go to the water tank for their needs as the school doesn’t have any water pot.

The portal has reproduced the audio conversation between the deceased’s father and the accused teacher Chail Singh. Neither caste nor the water pot crops up anywhere during the entire conversation. It is clear from the audio that the child was slapped for his misbehavior. The teacher even offered to provide medical aid while reiterating he didn’t beat the student intentionally.

We have reproduced the relevant part of the conversation between the two:

Father: He got injuries from the slap

Teacher: I am not remembering the incident, maybe… he was doing some fun, so I scolded him.

Father: You scolded him right, but he got injuries.

Teacher: I’m ready to admit it’s my fault, but I didn’t do it intentionally.

Father: You do not have the right to hit the ear, could have hit with a stick, now doctors are telling that there is a Vein that got blocked in the head.

Teacher: I didn’t hit hard. He might be suffering from a disease.

Father: The child was not ill, and has been coming to study for the last 3 years.

Father: So if you do this, how will it work? I have already spent 50-60 thousand Rs.

Teacher: I am ready to pay but did not hit hard enough to cause pain.

In the later part of the conversation, the father talks about his son needing an operation, and the teacher offers to bear the operation cost. It is amply evident from the audio transcript that the media has deliberately twisted facts to make a case for ‘casteism’. The media often twists facts to suit its agenda.

(Featured Image Source: The Indian Express)