An 11-year-old Class 5 student at a government school in Karnataka’s Shimoga district has been accused of adding pesticide into the school’s drinking water tank. The shocking incident occurred in Hoovinakone village in Hosanagara taluk, and could have led to a major tragedy if not detected in time.

According to the police, the student was upset because his classmates were not listening to him. He held the title of “chief minister” in school, a student leadership position, and reportedly wanted to assert control. Out of frustration, he brought pesticide used on ginger crops from his home and secretly poured it into the school’s main drinking water tank.

Two of his classmates witnessed him doing it, but he allegedly threatened them to keep quiet. The contaminated water was discovered just before lunchtime, when school staff noticed a foul smell and unusual colour in the water while preparing the midday meal.

Fortunately, the school authorities acted quickly, stopped using the water immediately, and made sure that no student consumed it. Their alertness likely saved dozens of children from falling seriously ill. Investigators said the boy may have been inspired by a previous incident in the same school, where a Class 2 student had mixed phenol from the school’s bathroom into another student’s water bottle.

Police have taken the boy into custody and said he acted alone. He is being handledas per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, which deals with crimes involving minors.

Before it became known that a student was responsible, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had strongly condemned the act. On social media, he wrote that such an act, intended to harm several innocent children, is no less than a terrorist act. He also praised the school’s kitchen staff for their quick action, which helped avoid a serious disaster.