Hatadihi/Keonjhar: In a shocking incident, a Class 6 student died after being allegedly beaten by his teacher for not completing his homework in Hatadihi block of Odisha's Keonjhar district on Thursday. The deceased minor was identified as Montu Jena, son of Aparna Jena and Muna Jena of Bidyadharpur village which comes under Balibarei panchayat. He was studying in the sixth grade in Balibarei High School. 

According to the parents' complaint, Montu had been suffering from tuberculosis and undergoing treatment in Cuttack. After his recovery, he resumed going to school. Since his health was fragile, Montu's mother Aparna had reportedly requested the school authorities to be lenient and not subject him to any kind of pressure. 

However, two days back, Montu's health suddenly nosedived after he was allegedly beaten by one of his teachers for not completing his home assignment. After coming home from school, he complained of uneasiness and started vomitting. Parents rushed him to Anandpur sub-divisional hospital but Montu succumbed while his father was arranging an ambulance. Following his death, Montu's family accused school teachers of subjecting him to harsh punishment and beating him despite their pleas to consider his health condition. They also claimed that the doctors returned the body without postmortem.

On the other hand, school headmistress Aparna Behera dismissed the allegations. She said the school premises have been declared punishment-free zone and teachers refrain from any kind of physical force on students.