Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday detained a school principal in Barabanki for questioning over the alleged merciless beating of a class 3 student for "stealing" a pencil and eraser that resulted in his death a few hours later.

The incident took place in Rahelamau Academy, when a teacher found "stolen" pencil and eraser in 11-year-old Shiva's bag during a search and informed the principal. Principal Lalit Verma then allegedly thrashed the 11-year-old Shiva brutally on Wednesday, hours after which the minor died, according to news reports.

His family said that when Shiva returned home he complained of stomach ache and started vomiting blood. They rushed Shiva to Fatehpur hospital where he was declared dead on arrival, sources added.

The police are awaiting his post-mortem report to proceed with the investigation. Meanwhile, they believe that the student died of internal injuries caused by brutal thrashing.

Additional superintendent of police OP Singh said the Biddupur police have registered an FIR against the principal based on a complaint filed Shiva's father Chhavi Raj. Verma has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Verma is said to have a history of ill treating students. He had in the past beaten up another student Sudhir, whose father approached the school authorities and raised a complaint, which went unheard.

"The principal is in a habit of beating up kids, sometimes with a stick, for even small mistakes," Sudhir's father Sajeevan said