Kolkata: A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death outside a private tuition centre in Baruipur on Monday evening while allegedly trying to stop a fight between two groups of classmates. Police have arrested five youths in connection with the murder.The cause of death was initially believed to have been caused due to a dispute over a football match. A senior police officer clarified on Tuesday that the real issue was over who was whose best friend. “The students initially concealed the first day’s dispute and claimed the fight had broken out because one side had lost a football match. But they never imagined that the rivalry over their mutual friend would escalate into such a tragic incident on the second day.”The victim, Prasenjit Biswas, popularly known as “Boch”, suffered a fatal stab wound to his neck during the clash at Palpara. Investigators said he had gone to the spot after being called by a friend, Surja Bramha, who feared trouble after tuition class.Police said most of those involved were students of classes 9 and 11 who attended private tuition at the residence of teacher Gopal Chandra Pal. The dispute reportedly began on June 29, when two girl students, Bristi and Shilpa, had an argument during class. Tension grew on July 3 after Surja, who supported Bristi, and Ripon Bazikar, who backed Shilpa, got into a scuffle. The two boys, once close friends, became rivals after that incident.According to investigators, both groups had agreed to meet after Monday’s class to settle the dispute. Sensing that the situation could turn violent, Surja asked Prasenjit to be present. As students came out of the tuition centre, Ripon’s group allegedly attacked Surja and his companions. During the assault, one of the accused allegedly took out a knife. Prasenjit intervened to protect Surja and was stabbed in the neck in the scuffle.He collapsed on the road and was taken to Baruipur Sub-Divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The killing sparked tension in the locality, with angry residents blocking the road outside the hospital and demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible.Police said the clash took place around 8.30 pm, when members of both sides gathered near the tuition centre. Ripon allegedly arrived with Sahiru, Sahin and others, while Surja came with Jagannath Sarkar, Mayukh Sarkar, Souvik Panja and several others.A police team led by Baruipur police station officer Arghya Mondal began an investigation. Three suspects were first detained, and two others were later picked up. Police said all five have been arrested and investigators are verifying the sequence of events and the role of each accused.
