AT first, it seemed like just one of those quarrels teens have over a misunderstanding.

Voices were raised, threats were issued, but the Form Two (Sec 2) student thought that everything would blow over by the next day.

But the following evening, the student said he saw the classmate he quarrelled with pointing him out to a group of youths on motorcycles.

The youths approched the student, who was with his older brother, who had come to pick him up from school in Batu Caves, Malaysia.

The student told the Malay Mail: 'My brother tried to reason with them, but before we knew it, I was hit with a motorcycle chain.

'My brother tried to stop them, but they assaulted him as well before running away.'

The brothers made a police report.

Meanwhile, the gang attacked another student, a close friend of their first victim.

The second student said five youths approached him and started to search him.

He added: 'They took out my wallet and when they found no money in it, one of the thugs then hit me on the head with a helmet. The others then started doing the same. I started running but they chased me.

'That was when another group of youths, who had gathered at the school bus stop 25m away, began chasing me from the opposite direction.

'I had nowhere to run and, fearing for my life, I ran across the main road. I suddenly felt giddy and fainted right in front of a 24-wheeler. I was lucky the driver managed to stop in time.

'The thugs then stopped chasing me and my friends helped me to my feet. I made my way to the nearest public phone and called my father.'

His father rushed to the scene and took him to the hospital, where he was treated for severe bruising to his body and head.

The next day, the parents picked up their children after class, on advice of the school authorities.

But the youths attacked one of the cars and smashed the rear windscreen.

They also knocked another student unconscious with a helmet before fleeing. The boy was given four stitches. He said he had no idea why he was hit.

The principal, who declined to be named, said: 'The incidents took place outside the school compound and they were the work of outsiders.

'When we were alerted by the students, we called up their parents and asked them to pick their children up from inside the school grounds. We also contacted the police.

'I feel sorry for the students and a full investigation will be carried out.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on 30 Oct 2008.