GEORGE TOWN, 16 June 2017:
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday said police would change the status of the Penang teen assault case – reclassified as murder (Section 302 of the Penal Code) following the boy’s death.
T. Nhaveen, who was beaten up brutally by a group of teenagers on Saturday would be cremated at the Batu Gantung Crematorium at 2pm today after family members pay their last respects.
Nhaveen, a teenager who was bashed up using helmets as well as tortured with a sharp object which penetrated his anus, died at the Penang Hospital at 6pm yesterday – after being in a coma for the past five days.
His mother, D. Shanti was seen to have fainted several times at the hospital due to shock and grief, and the single parent was then taken back to her home in Jelutong. The 18-year old died at the Penang Hospital at 6pm yesterday.
“We urge the police to take immediate action and investigate the case in detail. We want those involved to be arrested and subjected to legal action,” said Nhaveen’s uncle R. Thiyagarajan, when met at the Penang Hospital’s Forensic Department.
After news of the death of the teenager – who aspired to become a musician – broke out, family members and friends began flooding the compound of Penang Hospital’s Forensic Department.
Nhaveen, suffered serious injuries after being bullied and beaten by a group of teenagers early Saturday morning at Jalan Kaki Bukit, Taman Tun Sardon, here.
In the 2.10am incident at Jalan Kaki Bukit, Nhaveen and T. Previin, aged 19, were buying burgers when they spotted two individuals known to them and they allegedly started mocking each other, before six others arrived.
Nhaveen and the teenager were believed to have been hit with crash helmets, as well as punched and kicked by the group. Previin, who was also injured and currently being treated at the Penang hospital, however, managed to escape and informed his uncle about the incident.
Following the incident, the police arrested five youths including two Form Four and Five students.
Northeast district police chief ACP Anuar Omar said the five were also believed to be involved in the case of a 19-year-old boy who was beaten and blackmailed in the incident in Jelutong on May 5.
“The teen who worked in a 24-hour convenience store lodged a police report after he was beaten and blackmailed by the five, including the two students. However, the victim withdrew the report refusing to prolong the case.”
Anuar said yesterday the teen – who had swellings on the body, sustained in the beating incident last month – however made a police report again and wanted the police to reinvestigate the case because the same suspects were involved in the Nhaveen incident.
The tragic news of Nhaveen received not only local but also international attention on social media.
India’s iconic music composer A. R. Rahman, who was Nhaveen’s idol, posted on his Twitter: “Dear Nhaveen, prayers & love for a speedy recovery. Let all acts of savagery end & people come to senses…Peace!” with replies to the tweet from the public informing Rahman of Nhaveen’s death.
A Chennai-based online news portal in India also tweeted about Nhaveen, with the headline “This #Malaysian ‘brain dead’ teen wanted to be like #ARRahman.”
Apart from that, a petition was started on www.change.org by R. Mukhesh entitled ‘Justice For T. Nhaveen And For All Bullied Victims’ that has so far gained 4,782 supporters.
A leading Tamil music director-cum-actor from India, Vijay Antony shared on his Facebook page the petition with the status ‘RIP (Rest In Peace)’.
Malaysian actress Ida Nerina shared on her Facebook page: “My heart just got wrenched for the poor mothers of Nhaveen and Zul (Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain). Wrenched and twisted.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also posted on his Twitter that justice and stern action would be taken over Nhaveen’s death. Najib expressed his condolences to the teenager’s family.
Meanwhile, netizens such as Luqman Abdul Samad who goes by the Twitter handle @LuqmanSamad said “Late T. Nhaveen and allahyarham Farhan (Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain) could (have) become great musician and great soldier one day if they lived longer…RIP.”
Another Twitter user, Sherlina or @sherlinakr said: “Rest in power, Nhaveen and Zulfarhan. May all of us look out for one another.”
