Indian school shut down over slapping row

NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (BBC): Authorities in India's Uttar Pradesh state have sealed a private school after its teacher asked students to slap their Muslim classmate. Officials said Neha Public School was shut down as it "did not meet the education department's criteria."

The school's students would be shifted to a government school or other nearby schools, officials said. Meanwhile, the teacher - Tripta Tyagi - has told NDTV news channel that she was "not ashamed" of her actions.

The child's family has said he was beaten up for getting his times tables wrong. A video of Ms Tyagi telling her pupils to slap their seven-year-old Muslim classmate at a small private school in Muzaffarnagar district went viral on social media at the weekend.

"Why are you hitting him so lightly? Hit him harder," the teacher is heard telling the children, as the boy stands crying. "Hit him on the back... His face is turning red, so hit him on the back now," she added.