A ninth-grade student in the Zhambyl region has been hospitalized in intensive care following a conflict with another teenager. Relatives link the incident to hazing among rural youth. Police have opened a criminal case and are investigating the circumstances. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The incident occurred on the evening of October 31 in the village of Birlesu-Enbek in the Zhambyl district. According to preliminary data from the regional education department, during the conflict one minor struck another with a fist to the chest.
"As a result, the victim lost consciousness and was taken to hospital. Currently, the minor is under doctors' supervision in the intensive care unit. A criminal case has been registered under Article 107, Part 2, Paragraph 8 of the Criminal Code. A pre-trial investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances of the incident," the education department said.
The victim is connected to a ventilator. According to medics, his condition remains extremely serious and unstable. The teenager is receiving intensive therapy.
According to relatives, the schoolboy was struck for being late to a so-called gathering. They claim that an informal hierarchy exists in the village: older teenagers allegedly force younger ones to carry out errands, collect money from them, and punish them for disobedience or lateness.
The Zhambyl region police department confirmed the criminal case was opened. According to the department, all participants in the incident were detained and taken to police.
"It has been preliminarily established that a conflict occurred between two previously acquainted minors, during which one of them struck the other. The victim has been hospitalized. The investigation continues. The progress of the investigation is under the control of the leadership of the Zhambyl region police department," the police department said.
Earlier, the regional education department provided preliminary data on the incident, and law enforcement agencies launched an investigation. Currently, all circumstances are being established as part of the criminal case.
No additional information on the incident has been released by official bodies. As the investigation is ongoing, the responsibility of those found guilty will be determined by a court decision.