Three school teachers have been held in Japan for alleged assault and abuse of toddlers.
Police said the accused teachers from a nursery school in Central Japan's Susono city have been arrested on suspicion of routine abuse of school kids that includes hitting their heads and holding them upside down.
A criminal complaint by city mayor have also been lodged against school director for allegedly covering up the abuses.
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The Guardian reported that the alleged abuses were meted out in June this year, but the school director allegedly covered up the abuses and made other teachers sign a document to conceal the problem.
Meanwhile, the accused teachers claimed that their treatment of the kids was discipline, while the director denied covering up the abuse allegation saying that he made other teachers signed a non-disclosure agreement only to protect the privacy of those involved.
The issue came to light after a whistleblower made revelations about the harassment incidents at the school in August this year.