Idukki: Two 18-year-old students have been arrested in connection with the brutal assault of a classmate in Thodupuzha that left him with severe injuries and required the surgical removal of his right testicle.

The arrested are Akshay Saju, a native of Kallumari in Piravom, Ernakulam, and Gautham Krishna, a native of Nechikkattukuzhi in Ambalavayal. The Thodupuzha police produced them before a court, which remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days. They were subsequently shifted to the Kakkanad Borstal School.

The juvenile accused in the case has been sent to a juvenile home at Thiruvanchur in Kottayam. He had earlier been taken into custody and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which released him with his parents. When he was produced before the board again on Friday, it ordered that he be sent to the juvenile home.

Police said the action was taken considering the seriousness of the offence and the juvenile's conduct.

The incident occurred on August 10 when the three assaulted a student from Anakkara who is studying at a private educational institution in Thodupuzha. The student suffered severe injuries to his right testicle and underwent surgery, during which the organ had to be removed.

Police also said the juvenile accused sent an Instagram message to the injured student following the assault. Investigators are examining allegations that the message mocked the victim and contained provocative remarks.

The police had initially not named Akshay and Gautham as accused in the case. However, their names were included in the complaint submitted by the victim. The SFI subsequently organised a march to the educational institution protesting the incident.

The investigation gathered pace after the incident received media attention.

According to police, Akshay and Gautham initially told investigators that they had only witnessed the juvenile accused assaulting the victim. Further investigation, however, established that the two had also participated in the assault.

The two were called to the police station on Thursday night for questioning and were arrested after investigators concluded that they were allegedly involved in the attack, said Thodupuzha DySP Saji Markose.