Warden makes scheduled tribe students stand upside down

The Telangana state Human Rights Commission (HRC) on Monday served notice to the District Education Officer (DEO) of Siddipet district, seeking an explanation over the harsh punishment given to two scheduled tribe boys by a hostel warden, the video of which has gone viral.

The state HRC asked the DEO to submit the report on or before February 26 in response to a petition filed by child rights organisation 'Balala Hakkula Sangham'.

The incident occurred at a hostel in Zaheerabad where warden Yadaiah made two scheduled tribe boys stand upside down and thrashed them with a rubber pipe when they lost balance. The class VII boys were apparently punished for quarreling over a petty issue. The boys were made to stand on their hands, stretching their legs against a wall.

Balala Hakkula Sangham said at a press conference that the boys had fought over some petty issue, after which hostel warden Yadaiah punished them.

The warden defended his act, saying he only meant to discipline the boys.

He was supported by district tribal welfare officer Manemma who said Yadaiah punished the boys only after repeated warnings yielded no results. "The parents of the boys were also informed several times about their bad behaviour," she said.