Mumbai: 8-Year-Old’s Hand Burnt by Tuition Teacher Over ‘Bad Handwriting’, Locals Allege Pattern of Abuse
Mumbai: 8-Year-Old’s Hand Burnt by Tuition Teacher Over ‘Bad Handwriting’, Locals Allege Pattern of Abuse ( Representative Image )
In a deeply disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through Mumbai, an eight-year-old boy was allegedly burned on the hand by his private tuition teacher as punishment for poor handwriting. The shocking case unfolded in the Malad East area, where the accused teacher, Rajshree Rathod, reportedly used a burning candle to inflict the injury. She has since been arrested by the Kurar Police on charges of child abuse and cruelty.
The young victim, Mohammad Hamza Khan, a third-grade student from Goregaon, had been attending private tuition sessions at Rathod’s home in the JP Dex building in Malad. According to the child’s family, on the evening of the incident, his older sister dropped him off at the usual class. But later that night, things took a horrifying turn.
At around 9 PM, Rathod called the family, claiming that Hamza was “crying excessively” and needed to be picked up. When his sister arrived, she found her brother visibly distressed and in tears. His right hand appeared to be burned.
Initially, the teacher allegedly brushed off the injury, dismissing it as drama or an overreaction. But once home, the child confided in his family, revealing through sobs that Rathod had deliberately pressed his hand over a candle flame as a form of punishment for his handwriting.
Deeply alarmed, Hamza’s father, Mustaqin Khan, rushed him to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivali West for urgent medical treatment. Doctors confirmed burns on the child’s hand.
Without delay, Khan lodged a formal complaint at Kurar Police Station. Based on his statement and initial findings, police registered a case against the teacher under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to mental and physical cruelty against minors.
Not the First Time?
As the police launched an investigation, disturbing patterns began to emerge. Locals and other parents have alleged that this was not the first instance of harsh treatment by Rathod. Many claim she had a history of using fear-based discipline and abusive tactics on her students — concerns that had previously gone unreported or unnoticed.
In his statement, Khan also mentioned that when he confronted Rathod about the cruel punishment, she openly admitted to the act, saying it was meant to discipline the boy. Rather than showing remorse, she allegedly became verbally abusive toward him during the exchange.
The Mumbai Police have confirmed the arrest of Rajshree Rathod and stated that a deeper probe is underway. Investigators are currently collecting statements from the victim, his family, and other students or parents who may have had similar experiences with the teacher.
Images of the child’s injuries and the accused have also been included in the case file as key evidence.
The incident has stirred intense public anger and prompted calls for stricter monitoring of private tutoring setups. Child welfare activists are demanding stronger safeguards to protect children outside school premises, arguing that many such educators operate without oversight or proper credentials.
