Teen brutally assaulted in Kochi school, 5 students booked

KOCHI: A disturbing incident of campus violence has come to light at a prominent private school in Tripunithura, where a 15-year-old boy was brutally assaulted by a group of teenagers in the school washroom.

The attack, which left the victim with a broken nose and dislocated teeth, is the latest in a series of rising violence cases in schools across the district. The Hill Palace police registered a case against five students on Wednesday, including four senior Plus 2 students and a classmate of the victim.
According to the FIR, the incident occurred on Monday around 10:15am in the first-floor washroom. The trigger was reportedly the victim questioning an 18-year-old accused about ending a relationship with a girl student who was friends with him.
The victim and his friends were in the washroom when the first accused and others confronted them. The 18-year-old rhetorically asked the victim if he dared to hit him, after which another student repeatedly punched the victim in the face. The others allegedly shouted that the victim ‘had it coming'
The victim's father said his son's face swelled severely, requiring surgical intervention for the nasal fractures once the swelling subsides. "Even a single punch to the nose would cause bleeding, but they punched him six or seven times. His friends who witnessed the attack said the sound of the punches was horrifying, and they feared for his life," he said.
The victim is currently recuperating at home. "He just started Class X and was eager not to miss a single day of the new academic year," the father added.
The father expressed his intention to let the legal process take its course without seeking personal retribution. "Initially, my son felt a desire for revenge, but I explained the legal consequences to him. He has now mentally recovered and is focusing on his studies," he said.
The Hill Palace police were alerted about the incident by the hospital where the victim sought treatment. "We have recorded the victim's statement. We are proceeding cautiously as most of the accused are minors and have exams," a police official stated.
The accused have been charged under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 117(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 191(2) (rioting), and 190 (common objective) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.