India, Sept. 14 -- An assistant teacher in a government upper primary school in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district has been suspended after she allegedly thrashed 31 students with a bamboo stick for not touching her feet after the morning prayer.

The incident took place on Friday at Khandadeula Government Upper Primary School under Betnoti block's Pratimadeipur cluster. According to officials, assistant teacher Sukanti Kar arrived late to school and, while taking classes for students of classes VI, VII and VIII, questioned them on why they had not offered her the customary gesture of respect after the prayer session.

When some students admitted they had not touched her feet, she allegedly beat them mercilessly with a bamboo stick. Several stu...