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Victim dropped out of college following the incident
Days after The Bhutanese reported on a recent assault at Norbuling Rigter College that left a student with brain damage and loss of speech, the family of another student has come forward describing a similar earlier incident that had not been publicly reported.
The brother of a now 20-year-old former student said his younger brother was assaulted on the night of 13th September 2025, while asleep in his hostel room.
According to the family, the incident occurred around 2:30 am when the victim, then a first-year student in his first semester, was asleep. The alleged main suspect is said to have entered the room with a group and attacked him with an axe.
The assault left the student with multiple and deep head injuries, including lacerations to the parietal, occipital and temporal regions, as well as injuries below the left eye, bruising around the eye and shoulder, and a laceration on the right forearm.
The brother said he decided to speak out after reading last week’s report by this paper of a similar assault at the same college.
“After seeing what happened recently, our family felt we had to come forward. My brother went through something very similar,” he said.
He added that the attack may have been a case of mistaken identity. The victim’s room was near the entrance of the hostel and he was sleeping on the first bed, making him the first person targeted.
According to the brother, a roommate had stepped outside and left the door open, which he said may have allowed access to the room.
Following the incident, he said he was informed by Paro Police that an axe had been seized as evidence. He also claimed that the suspect, a 17-year-old from Paro at the time, had prior cases registered and was out on bail after the case was forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General.
The victim lost consciousness during the attack and was taken to Paro Hospital by a roommate who was also injured while trying to intervene. He was later referred to JDWNRH for further treatment.
He underwent 16 stitches on his head, along with additional stitches below the eye and on his hand. Doctors confirmed there was no internal brain injury, but his thumb joint was dislocated, and the trauma has had lasting effects, according to the family.
The family shared images and videos from the aftermath showing blood-stained floors, bedding and clothing.
Despite surviving the assault, the victim later dropped out of college and continues to struggle with trauma.
The brother also raised concerns about hostel security, saying he had previously heard accounts from students of outsiders entering the premises through a back gate and carrying weapons.
“When I visited my brother earlier, I heard similar accounts from other students. Outsiders would come in on bikes through the back gate and threaten or assault students,” he said.
He added that shortly after hearing such accounts, his brother became a victim.
Following the recent assault reported last week, the family said they hope speaking out will draw attention to what they believe is a recurring issue.
The brother said his sibling had to leave studies due to the incident and that he would not want others to experience the same situation.
