Koraput: Police on Sunday caught four minor students of a sevashram (government-run residential school for SC and ST students) for attempting to murder a Class-I student of the school.

Two of the accused are students of Class-IV, while the other two are Class-V students of Mahadeiput Sevashram under Koraput sadar police limits.

The victim, identified as Suraj Bhoi, is undergoing treatment at Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Koraput and his condition is said to be stable.

The incident took place on January 10 and Bhoi's parents lodged a complaint on Thursday and a case was registered.

"One of the accused had an altercation with the victim around 20 days ago. The senior student, along with his three friends, on some pretext, took Bhoi to a nearby stream and thrashed him," said investigating officer Arjun Banra.

"They left Bhoi in an unconscious state in a nearby drain and returned to school," he added.

After the student failed to return to hostel that night, the school authorities informed his parents who reached the school on Thursday and spotted him lying unconscious.

"His hands were fractured and he had injuries on his face. Once his condition improved, he narrated the incident and identified the accused students," said Banra.

"The accused students confessed to the crime during interrogation and they were arrested under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board," the officer said.

Koraput district welfare officer Jagannath Soren said: "We will conduct an inquiry and take necessary action if any dereliction of duty is found on part of the school authorities."