KOZHIKODE: Iqbal, father of Shahabaz, who was killed by his classmates in Thamarassery, said that those responsible for his son's death are politically influential. He told media that the accused should be given maximum punishment and that the parents of the accused were witnesses to the clash. Iqbal clarified that he suspects that the accused were under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack.

‘I have faith in the government and the court. The accused are children of a policeman and a teacher. The police should not yield to influence. The issues should end here. There should be no thought of revenge,' said Iqbal. Meantime, the police have intensified the investigation into Shahabaz's death. Statements of more will be taken. It will be investigated whether anyone else was involved in the incident besides the five students arrested earlier.

For this, the statements of the students who were on the spot and people who were in nearby shops at the time will be recorded. The police have collected all the CCTV footage of the roads near the tuition center where the clash broke out. The police have intensified the investigation after Shahabaz' family alleged that his murder was planned.

Shahabas was a student of Vattoli M J Higher Secondary School in Elettil. Shahabas was beaten up by a group of students from Thamarassery School on Thursday evening following a dispute at the tuition centre. Shahabas was first admitted to Thamarassery Taluk Hospital and later to the medical college after he started vomiting at night. Shahabas, who was undergoing treatment in the ICU, died at 1 am yesterday. The police have charged five 10th class students accused in the case with murder.