Juvenile released after school assault; lawyer cites violent video game use

An eight-year-old boy who attacked a six-year-old girl at a government school in Panchkula, Haryana, was released from juvenile custody on Thursday. The Juvenile Justice Board accepted the defence’s argument that the child has no prior record and that continued detention could harm his education and mental development. The boy’s parents assured the board that they would oversee counselling and behavioural rehabilitation.

Manbir Singh Rathi, representing the boy’s father, told investigators that the child admitted to playing violent mobile games in which players attack virtual characters to earn points. > "When the child was questioned, he disclosed that he used to play aggressive and violent games on his mobile phone. In these games, children attack virtual characters and objects and earn points. The more they attack, the more points they get," Rathi said.

Rathi warned that children might struggle to distinguish virtual actions from real-world consequences and that such habits can become difficult to break. He urged the parents to restrict the child’s access to mobile phones and to arrange proper counselling.

The victim’s uncle, Fazil, also claimed the boy played PUBG and similar games, suggesting a link between the gaming habit and the assault.

The incident, which occurred on October 28 inside a classroom, involved the boy repeatedly striking the girl on the head with a brick, throwing her against a bench, dragging her by her tie and kicking her. The girl sustained serious injuries, was hospitalized in Panchkula and later transferred to a medical institute in Chandigarh before being discharged on Thursday.

The board ordered the removal of any videos, photographs or other material that could reveal the boy’s identity from social media and public platforms. The investigating officer must report compliance by November 27.