A 10th grader at a Telangana residential school was brutally beaten by a group of 20 senior students, leaving him hospitalised.

The attack, which reportedly occurred late on Saturday night, remained hidden by the school administration until a video of the incident circulated on social media.

The victim, a Class 10 student from Chada village, has been studying at the Rajapeta residential school since fifth grade. Sources said he was targeted because he serves as the school’s Vice-Captain, a position the senior students were reportedly unwilling to accept.

According to reports, the group of 20 students entered the victim’s room armed with sticks and bats, verbally abused him, and beat him. When a friend tried to record the assault on a cellphone, the attackers switched off the lights and continued the attack.

Five other Class 10 students who tried to intervene were also beaten. Two of them sustained serious injuries and were transferred to a hospital in Bhuvanagiri, while the others received first aid at the school’s dispensary.

The incident gained public attention on Tuesday when the victim’s parents, Lavanya and Sudarshan, saw the videos on social media and rushed to the school. They confronted Principal Sudhakar and the teaching staff, expressing outrage over the administration’s failure to prevent the attack and its attempt to hide the incident for four days.

"They tried to kill my only son," Lavanya said, showing his bruises on the back and chest.

The family staged a protest in front of the school for over two hours, demanding strict action against the Principal, teachers, and all students involved. They also raised concerns about negligence in supervision and claimed that students have access to banned substances like gutka, alcohol, and cigarettes. The parents demanded their son’s Transfer Certificate (TC).

The student confirmed that he was directly targeted for his duties as Vice-Captain. The family has demanded that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered against the 20 attackers.

Responding to the allegations, Principal Sudhakar confirmed the incident and said that special meetings and counselling sessions were conducted over the last two days. He added that seven students, from both Intermediate and Class 10, were found responsible and have been suspended.

The Principal also announced that a special meeting with all parents will be held on December 4 to provide counselling and introduce stricter measures to prevent future incidents.

The handling of the incident, the initial attempts at secrecy, and revelations of disciplinary issues have faced sharp criticism. Reports include unauthorised mobile use, students moving outside freely, and gang-style attacks with weapons.