In Kerala’s Kozhikode district, 16-year-old Muhammed Shahabas died from severe head injuries sustained during a violent clash related to a farewell party. His postmortem revealed a fractured skull, deep facial wounds, and internal bleeding. Although not a student at the involved tuition center, Shahabas was attacked, likely with a nunchuck. Following the incident, five students were arrested and charged with murder. Initially treated at a local hospital, his condition worsened, leading to a coma and eventual death. The police are investigating further involvement, while the education minister and authorities have called for inquiries to address the incident.
New Delhi:
The autopsy report for 16-year-old Muhammed Shahabas, who was viciously attacked in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, has shed light on the severity of the violence. His skull was fractured beneath the right ear, and he sustained deep lacerations on his nose and under his left eye, along with significant bruising. The assault on his chest resulted in internal bleeding.
The altercation originated from a dispute linked to a farewell party at a tuition center in Thamarassery. Although Shahabas was not enrolled there, he inadvertently became a target of the chaos. Authorities believe the assailants utilized a nunchuck—a weapon commonly used in martial arts—to strike his skull.
Shahabas succumbed to critical head injuries while being treated in the intensive care unit at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital, passing away around 1 am on Saturday. Following the incident, five students were apprehended, charged with murder, and presented before the Juvenile Justice Board, according to police reports.
The autopsy confirmed that Shahabas endured a severe skull fracture and brain injuries due to the assault. His body was transported to his ancestral home at 3 pm after the postmortem examination at Kozhikode Medical College, where it was displayed for public viewing prior to burial. Hundreds, including family and friends, came to pay their final tributes.
According to law enforcement, tensions arose when some students from Thamarassery Government Vocational Higher Secondary School mocked students from MJ Higher Secondary School during a dance performance. This conflict intensified over the subsequent days.
After the farewell event, students from various schools posted on Instagram and congregated in town. On February 27, approximately 15 students, including Shahabas, confronted the opposing group on Vezhuppur Road in Thamarassery, resulting in a violent clash around 5 pm.
Initially, Shahabas did not seem to have serious injuries. He was taken to Thamarassery Taluk Hospital and subsequently sent home. However, his condition deteriorated, prompting his transfer to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where he remained in a coma until his passing.
The police initiated a case based on a report filed by Shahabas’s father. Following his death, the charges were escalated to murder. The parents of the accused have been directed to bring the students back before the Juvenile Justice Board. Authorities are also investigating the possibility of additional individuals being involved.
Kerala’s education minister, V Sivankutty, has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident. The Director of Public Education has also called for a thorough investigation. “While cinema may have some impact, it’s crucial that everyone contributes to uplift society. No one should be misguided,” stated Union Minister Suresh Gopi.