Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Belonia witnessed a clash between two groups of students from Class XI and XII on Monday, stemming from a dispute over New Year celebrations. The altercation resulted in at least twenty students sustaining injuries, prompting concerns from a section of guardians who demanded disciplinary action against the students involved.
The clash originated on the night of December 31st when teachers instructed participating students to conclude the New Year program and picnic by the designated time of 9:30 pm. However, Class XII students reportedly resisted ending the celebration and continued to incite Class XI students to prolong the program. The situation escalated when the Class XI students ignored their seniors, leading to heightened tensions.
On that night, Class XII students were instructed by their seniors not to return the tables, used in constructing the stage, to the dining hall. However, the next morning, the Class XI students, who organized the program, placed the tables in the dining hall. This further fueled animosity between the two groups.
The clash reached a peak on Monday when Class XII students reportedly attacked the junior students while they were having lunch in the dining hall, resulting in injuries to at least 20 students.
On the following day, guardians of the injured students convened at the school and held a meeting with the teachers. A section of the guardians expressed their concerns about the incident during discussions with the media. The incident highlights the need for prompt and appropriate measures to address such conflicts and ensure the safety and well-being of students within the educational institution.