14-year-old boy detained after stabbing Class IX classmate over Instagram video row in Pune

PUNE: A Class IX student sustained multiple injuries after a 14-year-old male classmate allegedly stabbed her with a knife outside their classroom in Pune on Friday afternoon. The incident, which occurred at a private school in the Mahalunge village area, was reportedly triggered by a dispute over a social media video.

The accused boy had recorded videos of female students dancing during a school excursion to Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani on October 17 and 18, and uploaded them to his Instagram account. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pimpri Chinchwad) Vitthal Kubade noted that the dispute stemmed from these videos, leading to arguments among students before the boy was forced to delete them. Police suspect he harboured a grudge over the confrontation.

The attack took place at 2.15 pm on Friday outside the classroom. The victim suffered injuries to her face and chest but remains stable and out of danger. School authorities provided immediate first aid before shifting her to a hospital in Baner. The injured student has been in the school since kindergarten, while the boy had taken admission only last year.

Bavdhan police have detained the 14-year-old assailant and registered a case under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for attempt to murder. The minor has been sent to a juvenile observation home. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Pradip Jadhav confirmed the registration of the FIR, stating, 'The girl sustained injuries to her face and chest. She is stable and out of danger. We are in the process of registering an FIR for attempt to murder'. Senior Police Inspector Arvind Pawar detailed the sequence of events leading to the attack.

The management of the school, identified as Vibgyor School in Mahalunge, expelled the boy in accordance with its disciplinary procedures. In a statement, the school expressed sadness over the incident, noting, 'We are aware of and deeply saddened by the incident that occurred on our campus on Friday involving two students. Right now, we are focused on the students and their families, and our immediate priority is their health, safety and well-being'.

This incident highlights the growing intersection of adolescent social media usage and physical safety within educational campuses. The escalation from a digital dispute over consent and privacy to a physical assault underscores the need for robust digital literacy and conflict resolution mechanisms in schools to manage peer grievances effectively.

To prevent such occurrences, school authorities have announced the implementation of stricter campus safety measures, including mandatory bag checks for all senior students with immediate effect. On-campus counsellors have also been deployed to support students dealing with the aftermath of the event.