Kasaragod: Hosdurg Police on Thursday booked 15 Class 12 students for assaulting a Class 11 student for wearing shoes to school near Kanhangad.
The incident happened at the bus stop outside the aided higher secondary school at Chittari on Monday, said the police. The boy's parents filed a complaint after the video of the ragging went viral on social media and messaging apps.
It is said the teenager had kept quiet fearing further assault from his seniors.
In the footage, a group of senior students is seen slapping the boy on his face, grabbing him by his hair. The gang continues to beat the student despite him apologising.
Police have named five Class 12 students in the FIR registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, said an officer of the Hosdurg station. The other 10 students are unidentified.
They have been charged with unlawful assembly [Section 189 (2) of BNS], rioting [Section 191 (2) of BNS], wrongful restrain [Section 126 (2) of BNS], voluntarily causing hurt [Section 115 (2) of BNS], read with Section 190 of BNS (unlawful assembly with common intent).
"The victim is 17 years old, but only after investigation can we confirm the age of the accused," said the officer. If the Class 12 students are above 18 years and convicted, they would face a prison term up to two years.