Class 11 student shot dead in clash between school groups

 

By Sumesh Rajan | October 23, 2026

Chandigarh, INDIA: A 17-year-old Class 11 student was shot dead and two others, including an autorickshaw driver, were injured after a group of motorcycle-borne juveniles allegedly opened fire at them in Chandigarh’s Sector 22 late Thursday October 22 night. Police suspect the attack was triggered by a rivalry between two groups of school students, which escalated following a physical confrontation and the circulation of a video on social media.

The deceased has been identified as Naitik, a resident of Sector 22 who was studying at a school in Sector 32. The shooting occurred around 11.15 pm near Sanatan Dharma Mandir in Sector 22-B while Naitik and another teenager were travelling in an autorickshaw.

According to police, the victims and the suspected attackers were school students who had previously attended the same institution. However, the victims had recently shifted to a school in Sector 32. Investigators believe that a rivalry between the two groups, reportedly continuing for nearly two years, may have contributed to the violence.

The incident was preceded by a confrontation between the groups in Sector 34 around 10.15 pm on Thursday. During the altercation, some students were allegedly assaulted, while others reportedly recorded videos of the fight and circulated them on Instagram.

Police suspect that members of the group who were assaulted became enraged after the videos were shared online and subsequently decided to retaliate.

Investigators said three juveniles allegedly armed themselves with pistols and began searching for members of the rival group. They reportedly spotted Naitik and his companions travelling in an autorickshaw and followed the vehicle on a motorcycle.

When the autorickshaw reached Sector 22-B, the attackers allegedly intercepted it near Sanatan Dharma Mandir and opened fire at close range.

The sudden gunfire triggered panic among devotees visiting the temple and pedestrians in the surrounding area. Witnesses reportedly scattered for safety as the attackers fled on their motorcycle.

Naitik sustained a bullet injury to his chest, while another teenager and the autorickshaw driver were also injured in the firing.

Following the shooting, a police patrol reached the spot and rushed the injured to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. However, Naitik succumbed to his injuries. The other injured persons were admitted for treatment, with the second teenager reported to be in critical condition.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur said that both the victims and the suspected attackers were school students. She confirmed that three suspects were detained within an hour of the incident.

Following the attack, police cordoned off the area and deployed forensic teams to collect evidence from the crime scene. Checkpoints were established at several locations, while multiple police teams launched a search for the fleeing suspects.

Acting on preliminary information, police detained three juveniles around midnight for questioning.

Investigators are examining the alleged rivalry between the two groups, the circumstances surrounding the earlier confrontation and the role of the video circulated on Instagram. Police are also trying to establish how the suspected attackers obtained the firearms used in the shooting and whether anyone else was involved.

Station House Officer Sudesh Kumar confirmed that Naitik was studying at a school in Sector 32.

Police suspect that the shooting was an act of retaliation following the earlier brawl, although the exact motive remains under investigation.

The killing has raised serious concerns over escalating violence among school students, particularly the alleged involvement of juveniles in an armed attack following a dispute amplified through social media.

Further investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and determine the involvement of all those responsible.