Box-knife killing at Seventh Day School: 2 juveniles held, turf rivalry angle uncovered

The murder of a Class 10 student outside Seventh Day Adventist School in Khokhra has taken a chilling turn, with the Crime Branch on Thursday revealing the involvement of two juveniles who had a history of conflict within the school. Investigators believe the killing was the outcome of simmering turf rivalry among groups of students.

On August 13, 15-year-old Nayan was fatally stabbed with a box knife — a stationery shop item carried by the prime accused on a keychain for nearly a month. According to police, the attack was premeditated and linked to a quarrel between the victim’s cousin and the prime accused a week earlier.

The Crime Branch said the prime accused, the son of a kite trader from Jamalpur, comes from a family with a chequered past. His father was arrested two decades ago in a theft case. The second juvenile, who joined the school four months ago after his father’s death, had earlier studied at a reputed school in Satellite.

Both boys are in custody and will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on Friday before being shifted to an observation home. The Crime Branch has recorded statements of at least 15 people, including the principal, teachers, security staff, eyewitnesses and members of the victim’s family.

A senior Crime Branch officer said, “This was not a sudden flare-up. Preliminary findings point to an ongoing group rivalry inside the school.” Parents have alleged that the administration ignored repeated complaints of indiscipline, and the principal is now under questioning.

Investigators clarified that, contrary to initial claims, there is no evidence of tampering at the crime scene that has emerged during the investigation so far. The stabbing occurred outside the school premises near a temple. After being attacked, Nayan was seen in CCTV footage walking towards the school gate and collapsing on the pavement. While the stabbing itself was not captured, around 90 minutes of footage showed the boy in distress before help arrived.

The Crime Branch has flagged lapses in the school’s response. Despite visible injuries, staff allegedly delayed shifting the boy to a hospital, opting instead to provide first aid on campus. An ambulance was called only half-an-hour later. Nayan succumbed to internal injuries from the stabbing.

Meanwhile, Khokhra police have come under sharp criticism for allowing the school to reopen the following day without adequate security. The decision triggered chaos as angry parents gathered on campus, with some resorting to vandalism. Police had to deploy additional forces to control the unrest.

Senior officials have admitted lapses in the initial handling of the case, and disciplinary action is expected against Khokhra Police Inspector N M Panchal.

The incident has sparked outrage across Ahmedabad, with parents demanding stronger safety protocols in schools and stricter accountability from both administrators and police.