Chennai: A Class 12 student from the Government Arignar Anna Model Higher Secondary School near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu has died after being brutally assaulted by a group of Class 11 students during a clash on the campus. The boy, who suffered severe head injuries after reportedly being struck with a wooden stick, succumbed around 2.30 a.m. on Sunday following three days of critical care, police said.
The incident took place on December 4 after a confrontation between students of Classes 11 and 12 escalated into violence on the school premises, with 14 Class 11 boys allegedly attacking their senior. School authorities informed the victim’s parents, who first rushed him to the Government Hospital in Kumbakonam and then shifted him to a private hospital in Thanjavur, where he underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot in the brain.
Despite the operation and intensive treatment, the student could not be saved and was declared dead in the early hours of Sunday, triggering shock and anger in the locality. Police have secured all 14 accused, who are minors, produced them before the Juvenile Justice Board and lodged them in a juvenile home.
Patteeswaram Police said a case was initially registered for attempt to murder, but the charges will be upgraded to murder following the post-mortem examination. Investigators are probing the sequence of events that led to the clash, including any prior enmity between the groups, and are also examining the level of supervision and preventive measures in place at the school.
The fatal assault has sparked outrage among parents, teachers and local residents, who are demanding stringent action against those responsible and stronger safety protocols on school campuses. Education department officials are expected to conduct a detailed inquiry alongside the police investigation, as the case once again highlights rising concerns over student violence and campus discipline.
(Inputs from IANS)