Panchkula case: Boy played PUBG, claims uncle

The eight-year-old boy accused of brutally assaulting a six-year-old girl at a school in Panchkula used to play PUBG and other aggressive video games, which may have influenced his behaviour, the victim's uncle has claimed. The allegation comes as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the possibility of exposure to violent gaming content.

The boy was sent to an observation home in Ambala on Monday after undergoing a psychological evaluation at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32) in Chandigarh. Police are awaiting the medical assessment report before deciding on further action. The victim, meanwhile, is recovering at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. Her family has expressed hope for her recovery and demanded appropriate support to safeguard her health, education and future.

Speaking about the incident, the girl's uncle alleged that the accused boy regularly played PUBG and other aggressive video games. He also claimed that the boy's father had confirmed his gaming habits. According to the uncle, the boy had initially called the girl 'crazy'. She reportedly responded that she would complain about him for using the word, which allegedly frightened him.

The boy subsequently told her that her father was upstairs and asked her to accompany him. The assault allegedly took place after he took her to another classroom. The victim's uncle suggested that exposure to aggressive games could have played a role in the incident. However, investigators are still examining whether gaming habits had any connection with the boy's actions. No official finding has established a link between PUBG and the assault.

The investigation has also exposed serious questions about safety arrangements at the school. According to police findings, the brick allegedly used in the assault was kept inside the classroom as a makeshift doorstop to prevent the door from closing. The boy allegedly picked it up and repeatedly struck the girl.

Investigators also found that the classroom was located on the first floor and was normally used by senior students. Since their classes had ended, the room was empty when the incident took place. Police have alleged that the security guard shut and locked the classroom door without noticing that the injured girl was still inside.

An investigating officer said the CCTV footage and the boy's disclosure helped police locate the child. Had the footage not been checked and the boy not revealed where she was, the girl could have remained inside the locked room for longer.

The incident came to light after the auto-rickshaw driver who regularly dropped and picked up students informed the girl's family that she had not reached the usual pickup point after school. Her father, who works as a barber, rushed to the school to find her. Police said the boy initially told the family that some other students had assaulted the girl. However, CCTV footage reportedly showed him attacking her.

Investigators alleged that he used a brick and a dustbin during the assault. He also allegedly dragged her by her hair, banged her against a bench and kicked her in the face. During subsequent questioning, the boy reportedly admitted to attacking her and claimed that she used to tease him. The girl's father reportedly fainted after seeing her injuries when the family found her inside the classroom.

The eight-year-old was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board in Panchkula on Saturday and subsequently sent to an observation home in Ambala. He underwent a psychological evaluation at GMCH-32 in Chandigarh on Monday. Police are expecting the assessment report to help determine the next course of action.

DCP Aditi Singh told TOI that the boy had been sent back to the Ambala facility after the evaluation. Further action would be initiated after the hospital submitted its report. Police had earlier planned to conduct a brain-mapping test at PGIMER on Monday. However, the test was not conducted as scheduled. Investigators are also examining the possibility of excessive exposure to violent video games and questioning the boy's parents as part of the probe.

The Haryana education department has suspended the school principal and two teachers following the incident. The principal of the government school in Sector 20 has been placed under suspension. During this period, her headquarters will remain at the District Education Officer's office in Ambala.

Police have also registered an FIR against the school management under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act and Section 125B of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to rash or negligent acts endangering human life and causing grievous hurt. No arrests had been made in the case against the school management at the time of filing this report.

The six-year-old girl is showing signs of recovery at PGIMER, according to officials. Her father described the assault as a horrific act and said the family was praying for her speedy recovery. He also urged the authorities to consider suitable compensation to ensure that his daughter receives the necessary medical care and that her education and future remain protected.