Ahmedabad school stabbing triggers violent protests, exposes lapses in student safety

Ahmedabad was gripped by tension on August 21 after a 15-year-old Class 10 student, stabbed outside his school by a younger peer, succumbed to his injuries, sparking violent protests that left teachers assaulted and school property vandalized.

The Class 8 assailant, a 16-year-old from the same institution, allegedly attacked the victim with a knife on August 19 afternoon following a week-old altercation. The boy died early August 20 at a private hospital, triggering an outpouring of anger that soon spiraled into mob violence. Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal joined the demonstrations, citing communal fault lines, as both the victim and the accused belonged to different communities.

By mid-morning, protesters stormed the school, thrashing teachers, targeting the principal, and damaging classrooms before police managed to restore order. Senior officers, including JCP (Crime) Sharad Singhal, rushed to the spot and assured demonstrators of a Crime Branch-led probe. “We are examining CCTV footage to ascertain if evidence was tampered with. While the prime accused is in custody, another juvenile is being questioned,” Singhal confirmed.

The victim’s grieving family staged a procession with his body to the school gates before completing last rites. His father, devastated and demanding justice, told reporters, “If there was an earlier quarrel, my son would have told me. I appeal to Gujarat Police and the government to stand with us.”

School under scanner for alleged negligence

Adding to the outrage, the District Education Officer (DEO) issued a notice to the school management for its alleged failure to act swiftly after the attack. Preliminary findings accuse the institution of negligence on two counts: not informing education authorities and failing to provide immediate medical help when the blood-soaked student collapsed inside the premises.

Witnesses claimed the boy lay unattended for nearly half an hour before being shifted to hospital. The DEO’s report warned that if negligence is established, the ICSE-affiliated school risks losing its state-issued No Objection Certificate (NOC). Notably, neither the principal nor management representatives were present when officials visited the campus, and the school has yet to respond to the notice.

Political and social ripples

The incident has ignited broader debates over safety in educational institutions. Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi called the tragedy a “wake-up call,” urging the government to address systemic lapses and reinforce Gandhian principles of non-violence in school curricula.

The DEO has also reminded all schools in Ahmedabad of the mandate under the School Safety Policy 2016 to constitute disciplinary committees involving principals, teachers, and students to ensure vigilance across campuses, playgrounds, and entry-exit points.

For now, while the Crime Branch investigates the shocking act of juvenile violence, the city of Ahmedabad is left to grapple with a sobering question: How did a student carry a knife to school, and why was no one there to save a boy bleeding at its gates?