Ex-student enters Odisha school during lunch break, stabs Class 10 boy to death

A Class 10 student was allegedly stabbed to death inside a government school in Koraput during the lunch break. Police have detained a former student as investigators examine a possible earlier rivalry and campus security concerns.Emotional scenes were witnessed at the hospital as victim's family members broke down after his death. (Photo: ITG)In a shocking incident that has raised concerns over security on school campuses, a Class 10 student was allegedly stabbed to death inside the premises of a government school in Odisha's Koraput district on Friday. The victim, identified as Mahes Bagh, a student of Bariniput Project High School near Jayapur (formerly Jeypore), was allegedly attacked during the school's midday lunch break. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.According to preliminary investigations, the accused, identified as Rajkumar, is a former student of the school who reportedly passed out last year. Police said he entered the school premises, called Mahes out of his classroom and attacked him with a knife.Investigators suspect the assault may have been triggered by previous enmity, though officials said the exact motive would be established only after a detailed investigation. The accused has been detained for questioning.The incident sent shockwaves through the school, with students and teachers left traumatised by the attack. Emotional scenes were witnessed at the hospital as Mahes' family members broke down after being informed of his death. The school's headmaster said Bariniput Project High School has 383 students from Classes I to X, including 32 students in Class 10. He confirmed that the attack took place during the lunch break and described Mahes as a bright student. The headmaster also confirmed that the accused had studied at the same school before passing out last year.Mahes' father, Murali Bagh, who works at a local shop, said his son had left for school as usual on Friday morning. "After receiving information about the incident, I immediately rushed to the hospital. But we lost our son," he said. Following the incident, senior police officer Archita Mittal and personnel from Sadar Police Station reached the hospital and launched an investigation. Police said they are examining all possible angles, including whether the killing was linked to an earlier rivalry, and further investigation is underway.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 22:05 IST