Recently, another case of school bullying occurred in mainland China. A 1st-year student at WuChuan No. 3 Middle School in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province was cruelly bullied by four male classmates in the classroom. The bullies used a mop to hit the student’s face, forcibly put foreign objects in his mouth, and subjected him to physical abuse, leaving the student in agonizing pain and unable to escape. Rather shockingly, other students watching did not intervene but instead applauded. The video of the incident went viral online, sparking strong outrage among netizens.
In a 1 minute and 12-second video circulating online, a male student in school uniform sat at the back of the classroom holding a milky white cup. One classmate used a broom to poke his chest, while another took out a foreign object from a black bag on the floor and forcibly stuffed it into his mouth. Simultaneously, another classmate used the mop to hit the student on the face and head, with someone recording the entire incident.
Subsequently, a student kicked the male student in the uniform, and another person threw a mop at him, which the male student instinctively blocked with his right hand. The whole bullying episode lasted approximately a minute, and the footage is distressing to watch.
According to the Huashang Daily News, the incident took place on February 19th at WuChuan No. 3 Middle School in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province. Despite several attempts, the reporters were unable to reach anyone at the school when contacted for comments.
Netizens expressed deep shock and disgust over the incident, with many expressing anger and sadness, demanding severe punishment for the school bullies.
An official from the Zhanjiang City Education Bureau stated that upon learning of the incident on January 20th, they set up an investigation team to probe into the matter at the WuChuan No. 3 Middle School.
Preliminary findings suggest that both the student who was assaulted and the perpetrators were classmates in the 1st year, with their ages ranging around 13 to 14 years old. The reason behind the assault is still under investigation. The injured student was immediately taken for medical examination after the incident, but the results are pending, and currently, he is resting at home. The investigation revealed that the four male students involved in the assault are classmates and have been subjected to disciplinary measures. They are currently staying at home and not attending school.
Incidents of school bullying in mainland China occur frequently, pushing the issues of underage crime and school bullying into the spotlight once again. The relatively lenient punishment for juvenile offenders under the Chinese law makes the perpetrators less fearful of the consequences, further fueling acts of bullying.