Teacher burns student’s fingers

SHIMLA - A teacher in Himachal Pradesh allegedly burnt the fingers of a Class VI student after accusing her of stealing a mobile phone.

According to a complaint lodged with the education department Tuesday, the victim’s parents said Seema Devi of the Government Senior Secondary School in Shillai in Sirmaur district committed the crime Monday.

“The teacher forced their daughter to put her fingers over a lighted candle, saying if her fingers burnt, it would mean she was the thief,” an official said.

Deputy Director Jagdish Negi said: “We are inquiring into the matter.”