KIDS NOT ALLOWED OUT AT NIGHT FOLLOWING ASSAULT
Area not well lit and it’s hard to tell what goes on there, says resident
RESIDENTS of Jalan Kaki Bukit here, where T. Nhaveen was viciously assaulted, have prevented their children from hanging out in the neighbourhood after dusk.
D. Jeremy and M. Nathan, both 19, who were met by the New Straits Times near a field in the area, said since the incident, their parents had not allowed them to leave home at night.
Nathan, a college student, said his family was concerned that thugs would be lurking in the neighbourhood or that police might be looking for more suspects.
“I would rather stay at home at night unless my friends ask me to go out to town. I don’t hang around the neighbourhood at night any more.”
According to Jeremy, he was not aware that the field was the scene of a horrific crime.
“I didn’t know it took place here. I know Nhaveen as he lived around here. His home is just there,” said Jeremy, pointing to a house about 100m away.
“However, I don’t know his friend, T. Previin, who was also attacked in the incident.”
A 74-year-old grocery shop owner, who declined to be named, said the area was not well lit and it was hard to see what went on there.
“Although you can see police cars patrolling the area, it is not often. And since the area is dark, it is easy to mistake somone’s identity.”
On June 10, Nhaveen, 18, and Previin, 19, were taunted by bullies before the attack became brutal.
Previin, who was injured, managed to escape and seek help, but Nhaveen was taken to a second location where he was brutally attacked and sodomised.
There were also burnt marks on his body.
Nhaveen was pronounced dead on June 15, six days after seeking treatment at Penang Hospital, without regaining consciousness following the attack.
Police have since arrested five suspects, aged between 16 and 20, to assist in investigations.
Meanwhile, the locals in Previin’s neighbourhood said they did not recognise the five boys who were detained.
K. Devi, 19, said she only knew Previin was from the area but did not recognise anyone else involved in the attack.
“I know Previin lived here as his house is just a few blocks from here.
“But the others, I don’t know them.
“Not even his friend Nhaveen because he lived on the other side,” she said.
When asked to describe Previin, Devi said he was nice, friendly, kind, cheerful and liked to joke.
Devi said most of the “troublemakers” in the area were outsiders.