Tinsukia: The death of a 13-year-old student following alleged corporal punishment at a private school in Assam’s Tinsukia district has triggered widespread outrage across Upper Assam, with the police arresting a teacher and widening the probe into the institution’s functioning.
Utpal Taye, a Class VIII student of Sankardev Sishu Niketan under Phillobari police station, died on Friday night at the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh, where he had been undergoing treatment since Thursday. Police and family members alleged that the boy was beaten by a teacher on the school premises.
Scenes of grief unfolded at the family’s residence on Sunday as Utpal’s mother, Dipti Rekha Taye, repeatedly lost consciousness. Family members said she would briefly regain consciousness, cry out her son’s name, and faint again, reflecting the depth of the family’s trauma.
Utpal’s father, Ganesh Taye, recalled his son’s aspirations. “He wanted to become a scientist. Even during holidays, he would make scientific models and win prizes at exhibitions. I sent my only son to school for a better future. A teacher cut that life short,” he said.
The boy is survived by his eight-year-old sister, Vaishnavi. Relatives said she is struggling to comprehend her brother’s death.
Police have arrested the accused teacher, Sanjib Sharma (45), and remanded him to judicial custody. “The accused teacher has been sent to jail,” Tinsukia Senior Superintendent of Police Mayank Kumar Jha confirmed on Sunday.
A case (No. 2/2026) has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father. The school principal has been detained for questioning. “A thorough investigation is underway, and no one responsible will be spared,” said Ajit Sonowal, officer-in-charge of Phillobari police station.
Utpal’s grandfather and local guardian, Bhupen Deori, demanded stringent punishment. “We want a comprehensive inquiry into the role of all school staff, the harshest penalty for those responsible, and compensation for the parents,” he said.
Public anger remained palpable in the area, with protests reported near the school and nearby markets. Residents condemned what they described as excessive punishment by the teacher. “Discipline is meant to reform, not destroy. This has crossed all limits,” a local resident said.
The incident has renewed attention on the prohibition of corporal punishment under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, Supreme Court directives, and child protection laws, which criminalise physical and mental abuse of students.
Educationists said the tragedy exposed systemic failures, including inadequate teacher training, weak disciplinary frameworks, and the absence of child-safe mechanisms in some schools. They warned that without strict accountability and oversight, educational spaces risk becoming sites of fear rather than learning.