COIMBATORE: It might have been just another typical day for 11-year-old Ganesh (name changed). The Class 6 student woke up early in the morning, was made to brush his teeth and had breakfast, and for the first time in his life, in a completely strange locale, away from his family and behind the tall iron gates of the Observation Home for Juveniles in Coimbatore.
He had gone to sleep early on Wednesday, less than 14 hours since he killed his six-year-old friend, at their school in Murugampalayam, KVR Nagar, Tirupur. He woke up and was relatively calm, said sources at the facility who spoke to Express. When asked by councilors if he understood that his friend had died due to his actions, he reportedly confessed that he had killed him in a momentary fit of rage. Ganesh also said that he had not meant for any serious harm to come to the six-year-old, A Sivaraman.
The father of the 11-year-old came to the observation home on Thursday. However, he told officials there that it would be best if he did not see his son, as that would lead to expectations from the child that he would soon be returning home.
“He inquired about his son’s well-being and asked if he had had breakfast. He then handed over some snacks and some clothing for his son.” The parents of the boy are reported to be reluctant to apply for bail right away as they fear that either they or their son could be attacked.
“The boy is only 11 years old and so he will be let free. Moreover, he does not seem like the type who is anti-social by nature, nor do we think that he meant to murder Sivaraman,” said a source. The family of Sivaraman are not the only ones going through a difficult period. Ganesh is also to be given counseling, with the hope that rehabilitation would ensure that he won’t be emotionally scarred.