Kolkata: A 15-year-old Class IX student of a prominent south Kolkata school ended in hospital and underwent surgery after being slashed with a sharp object by a classmate inside the classroom during school hours on Wednesday. The injured teenager sustained deep cuts on his neck and multiple fingers of the left hand.According to a statement issued by the school, the incident took place around 12.29 pm in the presence of the class teacher while the class was in progress. A boy whipped out a sharp object and attacked a classmate, who started bleeding profusely, triggering panic among the students. Teachers immediately took the injured boy to the school infirmary, where nurses administered first aid before senior staff members took him to Ruby General Hospital and informed his parents.The boy who committed the assault was taken away from the classroom and counselled by school psychologists. Later, his father took him home. The school also filed a report with Gariahat police station.Additional Police Commissioner (crime) Kunal Agarwal said, “We have received a complaint from the school and are registering a case under appropriate sections of law. We have learned from the school authorities that the victim is now stable, and that the accused is an autistic child.”Ruby General Hospital said in a statement that the 15-year-old boy was first admitted to the hospital emergency. “After initial examination and resuscitation, he was taken to the OT. There was a deep laceration on the neck extending up to the face, with underlying muscle injury. Also, there was an extensor tendon injury of the left index finger along with cuts on multiple other fingers,” the statement said. “All the injuries were repaired and the patient is presently stable,” the hospital said after the surgery. The student is being treated by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dipanjan Dey.According to teachers, the immediate trigger of the incident appears to be a squabble between the two boys over a book on Tuesday, which ended with the book getting torn. Some claimed the squabble had turned physical on Tuesday as well, but the teachers separated the two and ensured that both were counselled.After the surgery, the victim’s father told TOI, “I have not spoken to my son yet. When we dashed to the hospital, we saw a deep wound in the neck. He has been in this school since childhood. My younger child also studies in this school. He did not tell us about about any incident in school yesterday. He is usually very quiet. We are still processing this.”South Point High School in a statement said, “The incident has caused considerable distress and shock among the pupils, teachers, staff, and the wider school community. The school is deeply concerned about the physical and emotional well-being of everyone affected by the incident, particularly the children who witnessed or were otherwise impacted by what happened.”The statement added, “The school will take all necessary steps to address the emotional and psychological impact of the incident. The school remains committed to ensuring a safe, caring, and supportive environment for all its pupils and staff while dealing with the aftermath of this unfortunate incident.”A senior school official, who requested anonymity, said, “We will investigate and take not only corrective action but preventive action as well.”(Written with inputs from Dwaipayan Ghosh & Sumati Yengkhom in Kolkata)
