GEORGE TOWN, June 16 — Thousands of people attended the funeral of teenager T. Nhaveen, who died yesterday from injuries sustained in a brutal beating by bullies, at Batu Gantung here today.
Relatives, friends, political leaders and members of the public had gathered at the funeral parlour to mourn the death of the 18-year-old.
The teen's body was brought to the United Hokkien Cemeteries Crematorium at about 3.30pm today amid wailing and loud sobs from his family and relatives.
A relative, J. Chandra Iswari, said she wanted to see justice for Nhaveen.
"We hope something is done to prevent this from happening to others, we do not want to see other families going through what we did," she said amidst sobs.
Nhaveen's best friend, R. Rashmikha, 18, said he had been a true friend to her.
"I miss him a lot. It is unthinkable that someone could do this to him, he was such an innocent boy and he was not a sissy," she said.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who paid his respects at the funeral earlier today, said it is time that schools take responsibility to stop bullying in schools and teachers must be vigilant in spotting such activities.
"These cases must be addressed seriously and the schools must report serious bullying cases to the police," he said.
Lim then claimed Nhaveen's attack would not have occurred if bullying in schools had been addressed.
Nhaveen had been in a coma in the Penang Hospital since Saturday and died without regaining consciousness yesterday.
Nhaveen and a friend, T. Previin, 19, were at a burger stall in Taman Tun Sardon, Gelugor early on June 10 when they entered into an argument with two other teens.
Previin escaped with injuries to his face while Nhaveen had been hauled off to a field in Jalan Kaki Bukit where three other teenagers, believed to be friends of the initial two, attacked him with crash helmets and burnt him with cigarette butts. He had also been assaulted anally.
A brother of one of the five suspected attackers later sent Nhaveen to hospital.
Penang Police deputy chief Datuk Roslee Chik today said all five suspects, who are in custody, will be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the mandatory death penalty.
