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A 16-year-old Class 12 student was allegedly beaten to death by a group of students near the Tiruvottiyur bus terminus in Chennai on Friday, August 14.
The deceased, identified as Dhanush, was a resident of Vasantha Nagar in Tiruvottiyur and studied at Jai Gopal Garodia Government Higher Secondary School in the area.
According to reports, Dhanush’s close friend Jaikesh, also a Class 12 student, had a dispute with Dhanushkumar, a Class 11 student, two days before the incident. The dispute was reportedly over a seniority issue, with Dhanush supporting Jaikesh.
Teachers intervened on Thursday and called the students involved, following which the matter was reportedly resolved.
Jaikesh was absent from school on Friday. After school hours, around 4.15 pm, Dhanush was waiting for a bus when Dhanushkumar and a group of students allegedly took him to a vacant area behind the school, near the Tiruvottiyur bus terminus.
Dhanush was allegedly assaulted by more than 10 students. He reportedly collapsed during the assault and suffered seizures. The group then fled the spot.
People who heard the commotion found Dhanush lying unconscious and alerted the police. His school teachers also reached the spot and helped take him to Government Stanley Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The police have sent Dhanush’s body for a postmortem examination.
The Tiruvottiyur police have registered a murder case and are questioning students, teachers and witnesses to establish the circumstances surrounding the assault and determine the motive.
Further investigation is underway.