Afghanistan, July 9 -- An imam in Pakistan was fatally stabbed inside a mosque after he allegedly beat a child student; the suspect reportedly fled the scene.

In a tragic incident in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a religious teacher (imam) was fatally stabbed after allegedly beating a young madrasa student during a religious class.

According to media reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday, July 8, in Mardan district. The cleric, originally from the Bajaur tribal region, was teaching children in addition to leading prayers at a mosque in the area.

Witnesses report that the imam struck one of his young students during class. The child returned home and informed his elder brother about the assault.

The elder brother, enraged b...