Teen’s Murder Outside Ahmedabad School Triggers Protests and Bandh
Angry protests erupt after teen killed outside school
Tension gripped Ahmedabad’s Maninagar area after the murder of a 15-year-old student outside Seventh-Day Adventist Higher Secondary School, sparking widespread protests, violent clashes, and a bandh across several neighbourhoods.
For the second consecutive day, grief-stricken residents turned to the streets as organisations including the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and the local Merchant Association enforced a shutdown in Maninagar, Isanpur, and Kankariya. Over 200 schools, colleges, and businesses remained closed in solidarity.
Protests escalated outside the school, with NSUI members clashing with police. Stone-pelting and scuffles were reported before security forces moved in to disperse crowds. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Division I) Krunal Desai confirmed that protestors were detained and a case filed against nearly 500 individuals for vandalism.
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Public anger intensified over allegations of negligence by the school administration. Parents and eyewitnesses claimed that instead of rushing the gravely injured boy to the hospital, school staff first summoned a water tanker to wash away bloodstains at the scene. By the time the student was taken for treatment, he had reportedly succumbed to his injuries.
Police investigations revealed that the accused, initially thought to be a junior student, is in Class 10. He has been detained along with another youth, and two witness statements have been recorded. Authorities believe the incident stemmed from a week-old dispute involving the victim’s cousin, a matter the school had earlier claimed to have resolved internally.
Community frustration also extended to the police, with criticism that the forensic team arrived nearly 12 hours late, raising suspicions of evidence tampering. Leaders of the grieving community have accused both the school administration and law enforcement of mishandling the case.
On the ground, tensions remain high. While many demand swift justice, others have voiced polarising calls for segregated schools along religious lines, exposing deeper societal rifts worsened by the tragedy.
As investigations continue, Ahmedabad remains on edge, with residents demanding accountability, safety, and justice for the slain teenager.
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