THOOTHUKUDI : In another case of brewing caste enmity among schoolboys, two Caste Hindu boys were allegedly stabbed by four Dalit students in a moving bus following a wordy duel over a derogatory remark written against the name of a Dalit Kollywood actor inside the public transport bus.
Police said P Pon Divakar and B Aravind, both aged 17, studying Class 11 in Karapettai Nadar Higher Secondary School were travelling in a TNSTC town bus on Friday when four 14-year-old Dalit boys – M Muthuraj, V Muniswaran, M Muthumariappan and P Thirupathi, studying in Class 9 in Caldwell Boys’ HSc school who were on way to their school in the same bus picked up a quarrel with them.
Irked by number 9 found scribbled against the name of a Kollywood actor, who also is a Dalit, inside the bus, the Dalit boys picked up a quarrel with the two Caste Hindu students.
They exchanged heated arguments and in a fit of rage, one of the Dalit boys drew out a sharp weapon and stabbed the duo.
Shocked over the act, passengers informed the police immediately. One of the victims suffered deep injuries in the head, hospital sources said. Police arrested the four Dalit boys on charges of attempt to murder and seized a knife from them. They were later sent to the juvenile home.
Activist Fatima Babu said, “It should be taken seriously and efforts should be taken to mend the path of the students.” On the other hand, teachers are wary of handling such sensitive issues. A Gomathi, a government school headmistress said, “We fear them (students) and do not interfere with their personal life, as even scolding attracts a memo and laws too are not in our favour.” Another teacher insisted upon giving importance to value education classes.