Remains of teen bully victim Nhaveen cremated

The remains of teen bully victim T. Nhaveen, whose death yesterday five days after he was assaulted by several youths sparked an outcry on social media, was cremated at the Batu Gantung Crematorium today.

The 18-year-old died yesterday evening at the Penang Hospital where he was admitted on June 10 in a coma following the attack at Jalan Kaki Bukit, Taman Tun Sardon, here.

His mother, D. Shanti, and 15-year-old younger sister, along with about 1,000 family members and friends, paid their last respects at the crematorium.

Also present were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

An atmosphere of melancholy hung over the crematorium where the family members and friends had gathered as early as 7 am, and many people were driven to tears upon seeing Nhaveen's remains.

Several family members and close friends shouted 'We Want Justice' before the start of funeral ritual and cremation at 3.30 pm.

Nhaveen's aunt G. Premalatha said the family did not want anything else but justice for the teenager.

"We hope Nhaveen's soul will be at peace when justice is served. We demand justice because we do not want the same thing to happen to others," she said.

Nhaveen was allegedly beaten with crash helmets and punched and kicked by several youths believed to be ex-schoolmates while buying burgers.

He was found unconscious with serious injuries and burns on his back and having a blunt object shoved into his anus.

A friend, T. Previin, 19, who was also assaulted, suffered a fractured bone beneath his right eye.

The police have arrested five youths, two of them secondary students, to assist in the investigation into the case, changed from the original rioting to murder.

-- BERNAMA