The minor student accused of killing a fellow hostel inmate and injuring seven others at a private residential school in Karnataka’s Ballari district is still missing, as per the police. The incident took place at a Gurukul residential school on the outskirts of Ballari, where the Class 9 student allegedly attacked fellow hostel inmates with an iron rod after a minor dispute.
After the attack, the boy reportedly fled from the school hostel and has not been found since. Police mentioned that he disappeared within half an hour of the incident and managed to leave the school premises without being noticed. Authorities stated that there has been no clear trace of his movements after he crossed the school compound.
A search operation, led by Ballari Superintendent of Police Suman Pannekar, is in progress. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from cameras along nearby roads to trace the suspect’s movements and determine his escape route. Ballari Range Inspector General of Police P.S. Harsha confirmed that nine children were attacked during the incident.
The attack occurred late at night at the Gurukul school, resulting in one fatality. In addition to the students, the hostel warden and an institution-affiliated driver were also reportedly attacked and sustained injuries. The injured students and the warden are receiving treatment at the Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Ballari.
Police indicated that the attack happened after dinner while the students were asleep in the hostel. One student succumbed to severe injuries, and the rest were taken to VIMS hospital for medical care. Meanwhile, the victim’s family has raised concerns about the school management’s account of the incident, alleging that the boy might have been stabbed with a knife and calling for a thorough investigation.
