Chinese pupil, 12, suffers ruptured spleen in attack by classmates

Police in Shenzhen are investigating the alleged beating of a 12-year-old sixth grader, who suffered a ruptured spleen, by two classmates and a 15-year-old dropout, the Southern Metropolis News reports.

The victim’s father said his son, surnamed Han, went to play with two classmates after school near a mall a few weeks earlier. On their way there, a 15-year-old stopped him for money but Han refused and was beaten up.

His two classmates sent him home, but it appears they were part of a plot to extort a “protection fee” from Han.

Han kept the attack secret from his parents until 10 days later, when he was admitted to hospital in critical condition. Doctors discovered that his spleen had been ruptured for days.

Han’s school refused to take responsibility for the incident or pay his medical bills.

Three underage boys are being questioned by police.