Corporal punishment in the name of imposing discipline cost the life of a Class 10 student in the old city of Hyderabad on Thursday. The police said Mohammed Ismail Hussain, 14, a student of Royal Embassy School in the old city succumbed to multiple complications after he was made to do sit-ups the whole day on September 4. His crime: he was found talking to his friends and did not do his homework.

On that fateful day, class-teacher Mubina Begum found him talking again despite repeated warnings in the past and decided to teach him a lesson. So, she ordered him to do sit-ups in every class till the school closed for the day.

“After doing a few sit-ups, he complained of pain in the legs and urged the teacher to be spared. But the teacher was unrelenting. Despite excruciating pain, he continued doing the sit-ups and could not stand by the time school was over,” Ismail’s father Mohammed Siddique Hussain said.

“We admitted him to a local hospital but there was no improvement. Doctors said he had developed multiple complications and on their advice we shifted the child to Princess Durru Shehvar Children’s Hospital at Purani Haveli,” the father said, adding that it was to no avail.

“We have registered a case under section 304 (A) — causing death due to negligence — against the school management and teacher and will take action,” ACP Sai Krishna said.

However, no arrest has been made so far. A police officer said the case was being investigated.