A 55-year-old school attendant, Lakshmi, at Poornima School in Jeedimetla, Hyderabad, was arrested on 30 November 2025 after a viral video showed her savagely assaulting a four-year-old nursery girl on 29 November.
The footage, captured by a neighbour, depicts the woman slapping, punching, hair-pulling, throwing the child to the ground, banging her head, and trampling her following an incident where the girl soiled her clothes in the washroom.
Jeedimetla police registered a case under relevant IPC sections against Lakshmi and the school management after the victim’s mother-a school staffer-filed a complaint; the child, from Odisha, suffered internal injuries, fever, and trauma, requiring hospitalisation.
Prior complaints of abuse were ignored by the school, and investigations probe workplace friction as a motive, with notices issued to the principal for oversight lapses.
Horrific Details Emerge from Viral Four-Minute Video
The disturbing clip, widely shared on WhatsApp and social media, captures the assault in Shapur Nagar during after-school hours, showing Lakshmi-a six-year veteran-dragging the crying child to an open area by her collar before unleashing a barrage of slaps, kicks, and stomps as the girl desperately tried to stand.
Eyewitnesses noted the violence lasted several minutes, with the attendant even appearing to strangle the victim briefly, leaving her writhing on the ground.
Jeedimetla inspector G Mallesh confirmed no external bleeding but highlighted internal injuries and psychological distress, stating the girl stabilised after medical intervention; parents reported she returned home feverish, refusing food, and disclosed prior beatings that were dismissed.
This graphic evidence has ignited public fury, with netizens demanding accountability from private nurseries handling toddlers.
Prior Warnings Ignored Amid Workplace Tensions
The victim’s mother revealed her daughter had complained of repeated thrashings by Lakshmi weeks earlier, but school authorities took no action despite her status as a colleague, raising questions about internal cover-ups.
Investigators uncovered friction: Lakshmi reportedly resented the younger mother, fearing job loss, which may have triggered the rage when the child soiled herself.
Police are verifying the girl’s official enrolment and scanning for other victims, as prior complaints surfaced in media reports; the school principal faces notices for failing CCTV monitoring and staff training protocols.
This backdrop underscores systemic gaps in Hyderabad’s private schools, where overworked aides often supervise vulnerable nursery kids without checks.
Police Vow Swift Justice as Public Outrage Builds
GD Jeedimetla police detained Lakshmi immediately post-complaint, gathering eyewitness statements, the neighbour’s video, and school records for charges including assault on a minor; further inquiry assesses if negligence aided the attack.
Officials assured comprehensive probes into management lapses, with child welfare activists calling for mandatory background checks and POCSO Act invocation.
The hospitalised girl receives counselling alongside treatment, while parents demand compensation and the school’s shutdown; no official response from Poornima School yet, amplifying scrutiny on Telangana’s education safety norms.
Broader Context: Rising Child Abuse Alarms in Schools
This incident echoes a pattern of nursery violence in India, with similar cases in Delhi and Bengaluru exposing weak safeguards for under-fives; experts cite understaffing and absent training as culprits.
Telangana reported 1,200+ child abuse cases in 2024, prompting renewed pushes for real-time CCTV, parent audits, and empathy workshops.
Activists urge linking schools to child helplines, noting viral videos as vital whistleblowers when systems fail.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Brutalising a defenceless four-year-old in a place meant for nurturing shatters societal trust, demanding zero-tolerance reforms rooted in kindness, empathy, and unwavering child dignity.
Schools must prioritise harmony through vetted staff, vigilant oversight, and dialogue-driven cultures that prevent cruelty; justice here calls for exemplary punishment and nationwide protocols fostering coexistence.
