A TEACHER who blinded a girl, 6, by inserting a pin into one of her eyes in central India, will be charged with attempted murder, officials said on Thursday.

The teacher, Parasram Bhaina, was allegedly enraged when the girl, Shweta, could not answer a question posed to her, reported Reuters.

He allegedly also beat her up before poking her in the right eye.

Shweta was rushed to hospital by her father, where doctors said she had lost sight in her right eye.

The incident happened on Nov 19 but police were informed only on Wednesday.

The teacher has disappeared.

'It is a very inhuman and brutal act,' Mr T R Koshima, a senior police officer in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, said on Thursday.

'We will take strong action,' he added. The government said it will bear all medical expenses and asked the police to step up its search for the teacher.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Jan 10, 2008.