Tiruvottiyur student death: 12 juveniles detained after fatal assault
Police in Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, have detained 12 juveniles in connection with the death of an 18-year-old Class XII student who was allegedly assaulted by a group of students on Friday evening. The detained teenagers, aged between 16 and 17, are students of the same school and were taken into custody after a case was registered, police said.
The victim, identified as Dhanush, son of Venkatesh, was a resident of Vasanth Nagar, Tiruvottiyur. On Friday evening, a police patrol team received information that an 18-year-old was lying unconscious on vacant land behind the Ajax Bus Stand, near a government school. The team rushed him to Government Stanley Hospital in an ambulance, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Dhanush was a student of Jaigopal Garodia Government Higher Secondary School. According to police, the incident began with a verbal altercation on Thursday. Dhanush and a friend were talking to a female classmate on the school campus when a 17-year-old Class XI student allegedly stared at him, leading to an exchange of words. The school headmaster summoned both students, counselled them, and reprimanded them.
On Friday evening, the Class XI student reportedly met his friends at the vacant ground behind the Ajax bus terminus and told them about the Thursday clash. When Dhanush passed by, the group allegedly called him over, picked a quarrel, and assaulted him. Dhanush collapsed and became unconscious, police said.
Based on a complaint filed by Dhanush’s mother, Lakshmi, 45, the Tiruvottiyur police registered a case and detained 12 juveniles. They were questioned in connection with the assault and would be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board after the inquiry, police said.
Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, individuals below 18 years are not dealt with under the regular criminal justice system. Their cases are handled by the Juvenile Justice Board, which focuses on rehabilitation and reintegration, though the board may order trial as adults for heinous offences in certain circumstances.
Meanwhile, relatives of Dhanush staged a protest near the Tiruvottiyur police station on Friday night. They alleged that around 30 students were involved in the assault and demanded the arrest of all those involved. Police have not confirmed the exact number of attackers and said the investigation is ongoing.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Washermenpet, V. Baskaran, visited the spot and conducted a preliminary inquiry. The police are examining the sequence of events, including the role of each detained juvenile. Further details are awaited as officials collect evidence and statements from witnesses.
The incident has left the local community in shock, with residents calling for a thorough investigation. Authorities have urged people to maintain peace and allow the legal process to take its course. The school administration has not issued a statement yet.
This incident highlights the delicate nature of conflicts among teenagers and the importance of timely intervention to prevent escalation. The police have assured that all legal procedures will be followed strictly and that justice will be served in accordance with the law.
