Student fractures elbow after bullying incident

Classmates were angry he told the Science teacher they were absent from the Science laboratory class about two months ago.

ALOR SETAR: A Form Two boy who suffered a bone fracture in his elbow is believed to have been bullied by two of his classmates in a secondary school in Pokok Sena on April 25.

M. Kavi Varman, 14, said the incident happened at 11.45am during recess when he was standing in class before he was kicked from behind by his two classmates.

“I fell and my right elbow hit the edge of the table, making it painful for me to move my hand, and one of them also twisted my arm. I screamed but my other classmates did not help me, so I ran to the headmaster’s room to make a report.

“The female teacher who taught Science took me to the Pokok Sena Health Clinic before I was told to go for further checks at the Kuala Nerang Hospital. The doctor told me my elbow was fractured and I was given nine days medical leave,” he said when met in his home in Ladang Jabi, Pokok Sena here today.

Kavi said this was not the first time he was bullied by his classmates and believed it was because they were angry that he had told the Science teacher they were absent from the Science laboratory class about two months ago.

“They started harassing me after they were caned by the teacher for skipping class, and the first time, they threw a chair at me, causing bruises and wounds on my right leg. They also threatened me, and I have reported this to the school, but no action was taken,” he said.

His father, K. Marimuthu, 39, said he found out what had happened to his son after getting a call from the teacher who took Kavi to hospital at 3 pm and the school had asked him not to lodge a police report and to resolve the matter quietly.

“The school authorities have come twice to see me to resolve the case without involving the police, but I have no more patience as this is not the first time my son has been harassed.

“I have lodged a police report at the Pokok Sena Police Station on April 27 before I was asked to go to the Kota Setar District Police Headquarters. After this, I hope to get my son transferred to another school as he is afraid to go back to his school,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kota Setar District Police Chief ACP Mohd Rozi Jidin said one of the students involved in the case was detained for investigation and has been released on police bail.

The case is being investigated under Section 325 for voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Meanwhile, Kedah Education Department director Azuyah Hassan in a statement denied the incident was a bullying case as it was understood that the students involved fell while running in class after they collided into the edge of the table, causing it to overturn and hit the student.

“The department was informed that the school had taken action by taking the student to the Pokok Sena Health Clinic before he was sent to the Kuala Nerang Hospital to be examined, and the hospital has confirmed that the boy suffered cracks in the bone in his right elbow.

Azuyah said the school tried contacting the victim’s family on the day of the incident but was unsuccessful and was informed that the boy had lodged a police report. However, he has agreed to attend a meeting with the school on May 3 to discuss the matter.

– BERNAMA