12 Teens Detained for Assaulting Schoolboy over Messenger Group Chat
Twelve teenagers have been detained and handed over to police by locals in Panchagarh for allegedly assaulting and stabbing a schoolboy, Sohan Ali (15), following a dispute in a Facebook Messenger group chat. The victim’s family has filed a case naming 17 accused, along with several unnamed others.
Sohan’s elder brother, Rashidul Islam, filed the case at Panchagarh Sadar Police Station on the night of Monday, 1 December. Earlier that afternoon, around 2:30 pm, the attack took place in front of the sub-health centre beside Amarkhana High School in Sadar Upazila.
According to family sources, Sohan is the son of van driver Tariqul Islam from Badinajot village in Amarkhana. He is an eighth-grade student at Amarkhana High School.
The case statement says that about 10–12 days earlier, a quarrel and exchange of abusive language had occurred between Sohan and several accused teenagers in a Messenger group. On Monday, after finishing his annual examination, the accused intercepted Sohan on his way home. A boy named Nur allegedly struck him on the head with a bicycle freewheel, causing serious injury. Another boy, Kaiyum, attempted to stab him in the chest with a knife, which Sohan blocked with his left hand, resulting in a severed wrist tendon. The others beat him with punches and kicks. Hearing his screams, locals rushed to the spot and caught 12 of the attackers, though Nur and others managed to flee. The case statement also mentions that some youths were beaten by locals during the chase.
After the attack, Amarkhana High School Assistant Head Teacher Amirul Islam and other teachers rescued the detained boys from a mob. The local chairman and the head teacher also arrived at the scene. Police from Panchagarh Sadar Station later reached the school, took custody of the detainees, and seized the items used in the assault.
Police said the 12 detained teenagers are between 14 and 16 years old. They study in grades seven to nine at various institutions including BP School, Collectorate School, Jagdal High School, and Jagdal Alim Madrasa. They are residents of Satmera Union, Jagdal Bazar, Khalpara, Prodanpara, Baniapara, Chekramari, and surrounding areas.
Sohan’s father, Tariqul Islam, claimed the attackers intended to kill his son. Rashidul Islam, the case filer, said Sohan had returned home from Dhaka five or six days earlier to take his exams, and he was attacked with local weapons right after finishing them. Sohan is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
Meanwhile, families of the detained teenagers claim their children were not involved in the attack and were detained simply because they went to the location after hearing about a fight among friends.
Panchagarh Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Hil Zaman told BanglaNews that legal action is being taken based on the complaint. As the detainees are minors, they have been placed in the Women and Children Desk, and further steps will be taken as per court directives.
DBTech/Bani/EK/OR
