A 16-year-old Class 10 student, Muhammed Shahabas, died early Saturday at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital after suffering critical head injuries during a student clash near a private tuition centre.
Police detained five students in connection with the incident and will charge them with murder. The accused will face proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board.
According to reports, Shahabas was on ventilator support before he succumbed to his injuries. The altercation stemmed from a disagreement during a farewell celebration at a tuition centre in Thamarassery on February 23. Tensions escalated, leading to another confrontation on Thursday.
The clash occurred on Vezhuppur Road in Thamarassery around 5 pm on Thursday. Police reports indicate that about 15 students, including Shahabas and other pupils from the tuition centre, engaged in a violent altercation with another group.
Initially, Shahabas's injuries appeared minor. He received treatment at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital and was sent home. His condition later worsened, requiring his transfer to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where he remained unconscious until his death.
According to media reports, Education Minister V Sivankutty ordered the director of general education to conduct a departmental investigation. The minister expressed condolences and confirmed that the police are conducting a thorough inquiry. The deputy director of education in Kozhikode submitted a preliminary report after an initial investigation.