A disturbing episode unfolded in a private school in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, on Tuesday, when a Class 8 student launched a hatchet attack on his classmate during school hours. The trigger: a petty disagreement over the exchange of a pencil that occurred nearly a month ago.

According to sources, the assailant had smuggled the small axe into the school premises by concealing it within a book inside his school bag. He struck his classmate in the middle of the classroom, leaving him with bleeding injuries. A social science teacher, who stepped in to de-escalate the fight, was also wounded in the process.

Both the student and the teacher were immediately transported to a private healthcare facility. Medical professionals confirmed that their injuries were not life-threatening, though they had suffered deep cuts.

The boy responsible for the assault voluntarily appeared before the Palayamkottai police station shortly after the incident. Officials from the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee have since initiated a detailed inquiry into the matter.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Suresh, informed reporters that the two students had previously been close, even sharing a bench. However, a minor fallout over a pencil had led to silence and growing tension between them.

This shocking act of school violence has raised alarms over emotional well-being among schoolchildren and the urgent need for early conflict resolution mechanisms within educational institutions.

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