Remembering T. Nhaveen, a bright young soul whose life was tragically cut short due to senseless violence. Hailing from Taman Tun Sardon in Seri Delima, part of Bukit Gelugor in Penang, Nhaveen had his whole future ahead of him. But at the tender age of eighteen, he was brutally attacked by his former school bullies with helmets and sticks, leaving him clinically brain dead.
What makes this tragedy even more heartbreaking is that he was the only child of a single mother, G. Shanti, who remains traumatized until this day.
This tragedy has sparked widespread attention and left us all questioning - where is the accountability? Who is responsible for this devastating loss?
Previin managed to escape the group, but Nhaveen was not so fortunate. He was found a few hours later in a nearby field, unconscious and badly injured. By the time he was brought to Penang General Hospital in the early hours of June 10, he was reported to be brain-dead. He never regained consciousness.
Let’s look into the timeline of this young ten who succumbed to death:
June 9 & 10, 2017: Nhaveen and his friend, Previin, were at a burger stall in Jalan Kaki Bukit when they encountered two of Nhaveen’s former classmates. After Nhaveen pleaded with them to stop taunting him, the suspects called their friends and began assaulting both Nhaveen and Previin. Previin managed to escape, but Nhaveen was dragged to a field, brutally attacked, and raped with a foreign object. Around 2 AM, Nhaveen was brought to Penang Hospital and declared brain-dead. Five suspects—S. Gopinaath, J. Ragesuthan, S. Gokulan, V. Sharmah, and K. Tatisan—were detained.
June 13, 2017: Police conducted a search for the object used in the attack.
June 14, 2017: Over 200 people gathered for a candlelight vigil at Penang Hospital to pray for Nhaveen and Previin’s recovery.
June 15, 2017: Nhaveen succumbed to his injuries at 6 PM. His severe brain damage led to a coma from which he never regained consciousness.
Sept 28, 2017 : Four suspects alleged to have brutally assaulted Nhaveen brought to court.
May 3, 2021: The trial began, four years after the horrific incident, following numerous postponements.
October 3, 2023: The Penang High Court acquitted and discharged the five men accused of Nhaveen’s murder, citing unclear facts and evidence that did not prove intent to kill.
April 5, 2024: The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) announced it would decide whether to appeal the High Court’s decision after receiving the appeal record, as stated by activist Arun Dorasamy.
Moments before Nhaveen's passing, renowned composer A. R. Rahman tweeted his prayers for Nhaveen's recovery, recognizing the boy's dream of becoming a famous music composer like him. Rahman also called for an end to such inhumane acts.
Seven years have passed, but the pain and trauma persist. The hope remains that those responsible for Nhaveen’s untimely death will face justice.
Source / Image Credit : Malaysiakini, Astro Awani, Malay Mail