Ballari, March 9 (IANS): Police in Ballari district of Karnataka have traced and taken into custody a minor student accused of killing a fellow hostel inmate and injuring several others at a private residential school. The boy had been missing for several hours after the incident before being located by police on Monday.
According to police officials, the minor was found in the Gangappa Jina area of Ballari following specific information received by investigators. Police teams tracked his movements using CCTV footage from nearby roads and eventually located him. He was brought back for questioning, and further details regarding the investigation are awaited.
The shocking incident took place late Saturday night at a Gurukul residential school located on the outskirts of Ballari. Police said the accused, a Class 9 student, allegedly attacked fellow hostel inmates with an iron rod while they were asleep in the hostel following a minor dispute.
During the attack, one student sustained critical injuries and later died, while several other students were injured. The hostel warden and a driver associated with the institution were also reportedly attacked when they attempted to intervene and stop the assault.
After the incident, the boy fled from the hostel, prompting a massive search operation by the police. Teams from the local police launched an extensive search and examined CCTV footage to track his movements.
Earlier, Ballari Range Inspector General of Police P. S. Harsha had stated that nine children were attacked during the incident.
The injured students, along with the hostel warden, were admitted to Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Ballari for treatment.
Police said the minor will undergo medical evaluation and counselling before being produced before the appropriate authorities. Meanwhile, investigators are trying to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the violent attack.
The victim’s family has demanded a thorough investigation, raising questions about the school management’s version of events and the circumstances that led to the tragedy inside the residential hostel.
