Shahabaz Murder Case: Nunchuck Attack Broke Skull, Finds Autopsy — Updates

Shahbaz Murder Case: The hostility reportedly began between students when Thamarassery GVHSS students allegedly mocked their MJ School counterparts during a dance performance in farewell.

Shahbaz Murder Case: The brutal murder of 16-year-old Muhammed Shahbaz in Kerala’s Kozhikode district has shocked the state exposing the violent escalation of a student rivalry. The postmortem report has confirmed severe injuries, including a skull fracture below the right ear, deep facial wounds and internal bleeding due to chest injuries.

Shahbaz Murder Case: Chain Of Events 

The tragedy unfolded following a conflict between students from Thamarassery Government Vocational Higher Secondary School (GVHSS) and MJ Higher Secondary School. The hostility reportedly began when GVHSS students allegedly mocked their MJ School counterparts during a dance performance in farewell. What started as a minor altercation escalated into a fatal confrontation on February 27.

On the evening of the attack, around 15 students, including Shahbaz, gathered together based on social media posts on Instagram.  Upon meeting, the students confronted their rivals on Vezhuppur Road in Thamarassery. The altercation took a violent turn when the attackers allegedly used a nunchuck—a martial arts weapon—to strike Shahbaz’s skull. Initially, his injuries did not appear critical and he was treated at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital before being sent home. However, his condition deteriorated overnight, leading to his admission at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries after falling into a coma.

Legal Action

Following his passing, police arrested five GVHSS students, who reportedly confessed that a nunchuck was used in the assault. Based on a complaint from Shahbaz’s father, the initial case was upgraded to murder charges.

The postmortem report confirmed that Shahbaz’s death was caused by a skull fracture and brain trauma inflicted by a weapon.

Digital Evidence 

During investigations, the police retrieved WhatsApp and Instagram chats exchanged among the accused. One of the voice messages after the attack reportedly stated, “Even if one person dies in a group attack, it is not a big deal”, reported The New Indian Express. These revelations suggest that the attackers may have been fully aware of the potential consequences of their actions.

The police have reached out to Meta to gather details about the Instagram groups allegedly involved in planning the clash, reported Mathrubhumi. Authorities have also requested information about the devices used to operate the WhatsApp and Instagram accounts in question.

Recently, the Juvenile Justice Board denied bail to the five accused students, ordering their transfer to the Observation Home in Vellimadukunnu. However, they will be allowed to appear for their ongoing SSLC board exams, as per legal provisions.

The killing of Shahbaz has triggered widespread outrage and calls for stricter measures to prevent such violent incidents among students. The police continue to probe deeper into the sequence of events, digital evidence, and possible involvement of others to ensure justice for Shahbaz and his grieving family.