Headmistress, teachers punish girls with hot oil, suspended

25 students at a government girls’ school in Bastar division were punished by teachers for one student relieving herself outside the toilet. The teachers forced the students to pour hot oil on each other’s palms. The incident was captured on video and went viral, leading to an inquiry and the suspension of the headmistress and two teachers. The victims, aged 11-12 years, suffered blisters on their palms. The Kondagaon district education officer claimed that the oil used was not very hot, but parents have alleged that the teachers brought the oil from the mid-day meal kitchen.