Another incident of caste-based pride led to a clash among class 12 students in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli. Just months after a tragic attack on a Scheduled Caste teen and his sister by three teens from a dominant caste in August 2023, another clash has erupted, resulting in injuries and hospitalizations within the district has shocked many.
This time, the conflict unfolded at Rosalind Chelliah Government Higher Secondary School in Maruthakulam village, in Nanguneri Block in Tirunelveli District. Students hailing from Ponnakudi, Mayaneri, and Maruthakulam villages attend this school.
Reports indicate that during the afternoon break on 1 July 2024, students from Ponnakudi and Mayaneri areas clashed, involving students from grades 10 to 12. The altercation resulted in serious injuries to a class 12 student, who suffered wounds on his hand and back. School authorities intervened, dispersing the students involved and conducting inquiries with those implicated in the violence.
The injured students were swiftly transported by ambulance to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for urgent medical attention. Witnesses from Ponnakudi alleged that the clash erupted when students from Mayaneri targeted them with caste-based insults, precipitating the violence based on regional and caste affiliations.
One of the injured victims recounted, “Upon our arrival, they assaulted us claiming we were also residents of Ponnakudi. They targeted me specifically based on my caste.”
Another victim, a student, stated, “There was a quarrel between two 10th class students, it seems a boy from my village has called up and talked. In response to the threat, the Mayaneri boy had called and threatened that he will cut and stab him. Today he went and asked why he had called and made threats, in response ten to fifteen members beat him together… the two were fighting and the fifteen members surrounded them and witnessed the altercation.“
The victims alleged that prior incidents in the area had been based on caste distinctions.
"நீ அந்த ஊர் தானனு சாதி பெயரை சொல்லி அடிச்சாங்க"… நெல்லையில் மீண்டும் நாங்குநேரி போல் நடந்த சம்பவம்.. சாதி ரீதியான பிரச்சனையில் மருதகுளம் அரசு பள்ளியில் நடந்த தாக்குதல் – மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் கூறிய அதிர்ச்சி தகவல்#Nellai | #School | #Students | #Attack |… pic.twitter.com/HrSbyLA6ls
— Polimer News (@polimernews) July 1, 2024
Concerned relatives of the injured students expressed dismay over the recurring clashes among students from different communities at Rosalind Chelliah Government High School. They criticized the school administration for purportedly failing to prevent such incidents.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions and violence stemming from caste-based prejudices among students, highlighting the urgent need for community dialogue and effective measures to promote harmony and safety within educational institutions.
(With inputs from ETV Bharat)
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