Chhimi Dema

Many Bhutanese netizens were disturbed last weekend when video clips of a car running over a dog and a group of boys beating another boy became viral online.

The group of boys from a school in Thimphu were seen beating up the other helpless boy, who just covered his head. All the boys were in their school dress.

Although Thimphu police refused to comment, saying the case is still under investigation, police sources said the incident happened a month and half ago and since it was a case of battery, they would charge the boys to court soon.

The school management said they reported the matter to police after finding their students were engaged in the brawl and said it was too early to comment on the case.

The school principal said that it was unfortunate that the incident happened. “The school is working towards correcting the students’ behaviour.”

He also said peer influence, students from disadvantaged families and dependant policy were the reasons for such problems and students facing disciplinary issues in schools.

 Although it was not clear whether the boys, who were involved in the brawl, were dependents, this is not the first time such incidents surfaced in Thimphu.

A few years ago, video clips of boys beating up another at a futsal ground went viral. In another case, few former college students were found to have made another student kiss his shoes. A video of girls from two schools in Thimphu fighting also went viral online. 

It was learnt that in 2017, a 15-year-old student died following a fight with another student.

Kuensel contacted the education ministry and the National Commission for Women and Children for comments but the officials have not responded.

World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies poor monitoring and supervision of children by parents, harsh, lax or inconsistent parental disciplinary practices, and a low level of attachment between parents and children as some risk factor within close relationships for youth violence.

 According to WHO, globally, youth violence includes “a range of acts from bullying and physical fighting, to more severe sexual and physical assault to homicide.”

Edited by Tashi Dema