Locked in freezer

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Locked in freezer

A TAVUA teacher is alleged to have locked a 10-year-old student in a deep freezer for a few minutes as a form of punishment.

The student’s father claimed his son was so traumatised he could not sleep at night.

Dharmendra Prasad said the matter was reported to police by a doctor who attended to his son.

“The doctor who examined him noticed that his heart rate was too fast,” said Mr Prasad.

“So he asked my son what happened and he told them what happened.

“After what they heard they reported it to police.”

He said his son still had sleepless nights.

“His asthmatic too so the nightmares are not helping him.”

Police spokeswoman Naina Ragigia confirmed the incident.

She said the teacher was questioned while investigations into the alleged incident continue.

Mr Prasad said the incident occurred last week after his son and a group of his classmates were caught by the teacher outside of the classroom during classes.

He claimed the teacher then locked each boy in a freezer that was switched off for a couple of minutes.

“We didn’t know what had happened that day,” he said.

“Later that night he woke up screaming and ran out of his room crying. After he calmed down, then we asked him what happened and he said that his teacher was going to lock him again inside the freezer.”

Mr Prasad said he tried talking the teacher and school head about the incident but they “they didn’t seem concerned”.