I had heard from this disturbing outbreak of violence at Siddhartha Institute of Engineering and Technology, Puthur, Tirupati district that numerous students are now holding rallies after a student was attacked in a violent attack.
That terror has also revived fear in students and general citizens about safety and discipline, and more recently, the idea that violence at educational establishments is produced for public consumption. Reports said the victim was assaulted by students and neighbours within the district.
The attacks are not so clear-cut, but you can tell from the statements of witnesses and the news shared on social media that it was not an incident to cause physical trauma, emotional and psychological health effects of the attack on the student. The assault has inspired furious responses from classmates, parents and the public overall, including calls for “thrilling” and “fast-moving” action against suspects of intent.
A similar response had emerged from students, who said they have also been anxious and worried about their own campus, as violence and intimidation should not allow students to learn, develop and grow on their own campus, they said. And if anything does go wrong, they say, the school will “facilitate future offences” and “burden others’ shoulders with the responsibility.” It sparked conversations of ragging and fighting among groups of students and a lack of oversight on the campuses.
Brutal attack and violence against innocent student in Sidhartha Engineering College Puthur of Tirupati district the reports say . The culprits shall be arrested and barred from the college #dgpapofficial pic.twitter.com/CnGW2C4EXo
— PV Sunil Kumar (@PV_Sunil_Kumar) May 19, 2026
But authorities have said nothing official about the full extent of the attack, and some college and police officials say they have been asking for an inquiry. Finally, parents are urging students to be monitored more closely by the school system, to get more cameras attached, and to punish students who might be acting aggressively when they get the sense their charges are causing violence.
The prevailing sentiment is that colleges should employ a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding violent behaviour, especially physical assault and harassment. Within local communities, student organisations are also drafting motions to compel the justice of the victim and, in order to protect people accused of wrongdoing, not to be banned from going to trial.
But more importantly, they want justice, with a lawyer and care on the part of the victim. These are crimes that affect the long-term mental health of young people, not just because they will have the stigma of being a victim themselves, but because they are part of a student population on campus.
Educational institutions are committed to being a place that promotes kids’ safety, nurtures discipline and makes all spaces for learning inclusive, positive and healthy. And as public pressure mounts, many of the college administration, including police, will scrutinise how they respond.
But such bold, urgent action towards those responsible might restore students’ and parents’ trust, and send a message that violence in classrooms, schools or other educational settings is unacceptable in any setting.
