A 15-year-old student from Kozhikode, Kerala, lost his life after sustaining severe head injuries in a violent altercation with fellow students. The incident, which reportedly involved the use of a nunchuck—a martial arts weapon—took place near a private tuition center in Thamarassery on February 23.

The deceased, Muhammed Shahabas, a Class 10 student at MJ Higher Secondary School, was undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital before succumbing to his injuries.

According to police, the confrontation stemmed from a dispute at a farewell party. Five Class 10 students from the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School in Thamarassery have been booked for murder.

Following the attack, Shahabas initially avoided medical care, choosing instead to stay at a friend’s house. His condition worsened overnight, and after a delayed hospital visit, doctors at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital failed to identify the extent of his injuries. He was later transferred to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where he remained in a coma until his passing.

All five accused students have been taken into custody and will be presented before the Juvenile Justice Board. Kerala’s General Education Minister, V Sivankutty, has ordered a departmental probe into the incident.