Sivakasi: A government school teacher in Tiruthangal near Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district, was brutally attacked by his own students after he questioned them for returning to school intoxicated. The incident has sent shockwaves through the education community, raising concerns about student discipline and the safety of teachers.
Students Turn Violent After Being Confronted
Shanmugasundaram (47), a political science teacher at a government higher secondary school, noticed four Class 12 students returning late after lunch, staggering and smelling of alcohol. Known for his strict yet caring approach, he questioned their behaviour and warned them that he would report the matter to the principal. Enraged by his intervention, the students—reportedly in a drunken stupor—suddenly attacked him with a liquor bottle.
Eyewitnesses say the students struck Shanmugasundaram on the head, causing the bottle to shatter and leaving him bleeding profusely from his head and wrists. The assailants then fled the scene but were later apprehended by the police. Two of the students were arrested and sent to a juvenile reform home, while cases have been registered against the others.
The injured teacher was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for serious injuries. Fellow teachers and school authorities expressed shock over the incident, condemning the students’ behaviour and calling for stricter measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.