Teachers accused of pricking boy, 8, with cactus thorns

Government officials in Pingtan, Fujian province, are investigating claims that teachers at a tutorial center beat a boy with cactus thorns, thepaper.cn reported.

A viral online post said an 8-year-old student was punished for failing to complete his homework by three teachers at the Aimier center.

The teachers - surnamed Chen, Jiang and Lin  were said to have hit the boy with rulers, and pricked his shoulders, legs, hands and other body parts with cactus thorns. They also ordered the boy to do physical exercise as punishment.

Authorities said the center is unlicensed while the teachers, who are now in custody, are unqualified.