Shahabas, set to appear for Class 10 exam on 3 Mar, dies after attack by fellow students
text_fields
A 15-year-old Class 10 student from Kozhikode’s Elettil succumbed to injuries on Saturday morning after being attacked in a clash between two student groups following an incident at a farewell party.
The student, Muhammed Shahabas, had sustained severe head injuries during the confrontation outside a private tuition centre in Thamarassery on Thursday and was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode.
The police have registered a murder case against five students from Govt Vocational Higher Secondary School, Thamarassery, who had initially faced an attempt-to-murder charge but were later released with their parents by the Juvenile Justice Board.
Following Shahabas’s death, the charges were escalated, and the students were asked to appear before the board again. Investigators are now examining the role of other students, as WhatsApp group messages suggest broader involvement, with the possibility of more individuals being added to the list of accused. There is also an ongoing probe into whether any adults played a role in the attack.
The conflict originated from an incident during a farewell party last Sunday, where students of M J Higher Secondary School, Elettil, were allegedly booed by students from the other school while performing a dance.
This led to retaliatory plans, with students mobilising through WhatsApp groups before engaging in a physical altercation on Thursday, which was captured on CCTV. Shahabas, who had gone out to buy snacks, was allegedly taken to the site by a friend and later found near his house with serious injuries.
He was initially treated at a local hospital before being shifted to the medical college, where he was placed on ventilator support. Family members reported that he was unable to communicate before his condition worsened. Leaked voice messages from student groups have surfaced, allegedly showing students celebrating the attack.
In response to the incident, the state education department has announced an inquiry into the matter, with directives issued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.