A Sanskrit school teacher in Chitradurga, Karnataka, was arrested after a shocking video surfaced showing him violently assaulting a nine-year-old student, reigniting concerns over child safety in schools.

The footage, recorded on a mobile phone, shows Veeresh Hiremath, a teacher at Sanskrit Vedadhyayan School in Nayakanhatti, repeatedly striking the child’s head and back before forcefully pushing him with his foot. The attack reportedly followed the child making a phone call to his grandmother. Despite the student raising his hands in defense, Hiremath allegedly continued the brutal beating.

Authorities confirmed the assault occurred in February but came to public attention only recently. “No complaint had been filed at the time. After the video went viral, a formal complaint was lodged, and our team arrested Hiremath from Kalaburagi. Further interrogation is underway to gather all details,” said Ranjith Kumar Bandaru, Superintendent of Police, Chitradurga.

Locals alleged attempts had been made to suppress the incident. Outrage over the video prompted protests outside the school, with residents demanding justice and stricter accountability for teachers.

The young student, deeply traumatized, reportedly attempted self-harm near a local lake following the assault. He has since been transferred to a different school to ensure his safety.

Officials, including Karnataka’s Minister of Women and Child Development, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, condemned the attack. “Such acts are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. We are committed to ensuring the child receives support and that the perpetrator faces the full force of the law,” Hebbalkar said.