Singapore — Netizens called for harsher punishment – at least expulsion – of several schoolgirls filmed ganging up to beat up a student.
A video that went viral on social media including WhatsApp messenger on Tuesday (Jan 18) shows two girls beating up a third in a car park. At least two others were present, one of whom filmed the clash while the other stood by.
In a statement on Tuesday (Jan 18), the Ministry of Education (MOE) said that disciplinary action had been taken against the girls.
MOE said: “The school is aware of the incident and has taken educative actions, including counselling the students involved and engaging their parents.
“We take a serious view on acts of violence and appropriate disciplinary actions have been taken”, it added.
MOE did not elaborate on what sort of disciplinary action had been taken against the bullies and declined to say which school it was referring to.
The incident apparently took place a week ago, with the 30-second clip showing two girls kicking and hitting a girl wearing a blue pinafore uniform.
One of the two girls shouted “I also not happy with you” before hitting the girl in the uniform. After this, the second girl pulled the girl’s hair from behind, then threw her to the ground before repeatedly hitting her on the head and kicking her, including once on the face.
Netizens were quick to call for much harsher punishment for the attackers, with some adding it was not a fight that took place, but an incident of physical assault.
Facebook user Theresa Lee commented that it has been usual for schools, parents and the system to be “way to soft” on perpetrators. Other commenters agreed that the violent students needed to “pay” or they would only bully their victim again. 
The Singapore Police Force confirmed on Tuesday that a report had been filed and investigations are ongoing. /TISG