In a shocking incident, a student in one of the government-run schools in Karnataka died after being pushed off the balcony by a teacher from the same school on Monday.

A 10-year-old died after Muthappa Hadagali, teacher at an Adarsh Primary School Naragunda Taluk at Hubballi in the northern part of the state, beat the boy with a shovel before pushing him to death. The victim was Bharat, a student of Class 4.

Shivprakash Devaraju, a senior police officer of Gadak district, said that it is yet to be known what series of incidents culminated in the disaster. “The reason is not clear yet. Prima facie it looks like some family issues among them,” he said.

Muthappa had even thrashed Bharat’s mother, GeethaYellappa, a teacher at the same school. Geetha Barker and another teacher, Nangangouda Patil, were assaulted by the accused when they came in his way and tried to prevent the incident according to the police.

Meanwhile, minister for school education and literacy, B C Nagesh met the student’s mother who is being treated at KIMS Hospital in Hubballi. “What happened at the school was shocking. One would not even remotely imagine such instances to occur in schools. Students and staff who have been affected by the incident will be counselled. The actual cause will only be known after the accused is nabbed. I have spoken to the investigators and sought quick action,” he said in a statement.

However, police said that the accused Muthappa Hadagali, a contract employee of the school, is currently missing.

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