Unfair to allow accused students to appear for SSLC exam, says Shahbaz 's father

Thamarassery: Iqbal, the father of 15-year-old Shahbaz, who succumbed to injuries after a clash with school students here, has expressed his deep disappointment over the government's decision to allow the accused students to sit for the SSLC exam.

Iqbal said his son was supposed to go for the exam and that the family was devastated when they found out that the accused would be allowed to write it. While he still has faith in the judiciary, he found the decision deeply disturbing. He pointed out that even students caught cheating in the SSLC exam face consequences, yet those involved in murder are being allowed to write it.

Iqbal criticised the move, saying it could encourage children to commit more crimes. He questioned what guarantee there was that those who came with small weapons and committed such cruelty would not escalate to worse crimes in the future.

He suggested that the accused should have been barred from this year’s exams and allowed to appear next year instead. If the government had taken such a step, it would have sent a strong message that committing such atrocities would have serious consequences. Instead, he believes the decision could teach everyone that no matter what crime they commit, the judiciary and the government will stand with them.

He also urged the government and the judiciary to wake up and ensure maximum punishment for the perpetrators. He stated that if a crime is committed at the age of 15, it should be treated as an adult crime.

The fatal incident took place on February 27. Following their tuition class the students of Thamarassery GVHSS and Elettil School, along with others, including Shahbaz, who were not studying at the centre, got into a physical confrontation. The fight broke out around 6:30 pm near a tea shop on the Thamarassery-Vezhupur road. Locals and shopkeepers attempted to intervene, but another clash erupted nearby.