Boy accused in Ballari hostel rampage case taken into custody

The Ballari Police have traced and secured the juvenile who is accused in a rampage case at a hostel attached to Gurukul International School in Ballari city on Saturday night that left one student dead and seven injured.

He was traced after a 36-hour extensive search operation.

Addressing a joint press conference in Ballari on Monday, Inspector-General of Police (Ballari Range) P.S. Harsha and Superintendent of Police Suman D. Pennekar said that multiple police teams combed the city and the boy was, based on reliable information, traced at Gangappa Jina area of Ballari.

After tracking his movements through CCTV footage, a police team located him and brought him back for questioning.

The teams also analysed footage from 7,500 CCTV cameras installed across the city and activated intelligence networks during the operation, which ultimately led to the securing of the minor accused, the officer explained.

As per law

Dr. Harsha said that since the case involved a juvenile in conflict with law, the investigation will follow procedures laid down under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

He also requested that the media not reveal the identities of the accused or the injured students, as they are all minors.

The boy will be produced before the authorities concerned after medical evaluation and counselling.

Investigators are also questioning him to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the attack.

Apart from the police, the investigation team will include a general physician, a clinical psychologist, a psychiatrist and a counsellor from the District Child Protection Unit.

The officials will handle the case strictly in accordance with provisions of the Act, he added.

The investigation will examine all possible angles behind the incident and also look into the role of the school, if any.

A requisition has been sent to the Department of School Education seeking a thorough inspection of the institution to ascertain whether there were any irregularities.

Larger questions

“More than a case, this incident has raised larger questions and challenges about parenting, the upbringing of children and the role of educational institutions in providing a supportive ecosystem,” Dr. Harsha said.

Search operation

Ms. Pennekar said that police teams combed public places, isolated locations across the district and roads connecting neighbouring States during the search operation.

The teams also checked pilgrimage routes used by devotees travelling to Srisailam Temple and Mantralayam Temple in Andhra Pradesh before finally securing the juvenile.