Bhubaneswar: The Orissa government on Monday said it has decided to make schools punishment-free zones following reports that an 11-year-old student died after he was beaten by his teacher in Bargarh district.

"We have decided to make schools punishment-free zones. We have instructed all the schools that there can't be any punishment in schools," Minister of Mass Education Pratap Jena told reporters.

"We will write the instructions and messages on school walls to ensure that they are adhered to strictly," he added.

He also said that the state education department would take up an awareness campaign among teachers and parents.

Ajaya Kumar Jena died after he was beaten up on January 29 by his class teacher in George High School at Bargarh town, some 380 km from here, for failing to answer a question, Jena's uncle Krushna Chandra Barge told the sources.

After beating Jena, the teacher asked some students who had answered the question to also punish him.

The class 6 boy complained of severe chest pain after the teacher and seven students beat him up. He was later admitted to a local hospital where he succumbed on Saturday.

The matter came to light after Jena's uncle lodged a complaint at the city police station on Sunday.

Taking a serious note of it, the district magistrate has been asked to file a report within 48 hours. IANS