Police book boy who shot, injured Class 10 girl in Ghaziabad

Police said that the boy and the girl were friendly and it appeared that some altercation had led to the incident.

The Ghaziabad Police on Thursday lodged an FIR for attempt to murder and for attempted suicide against a Class 11 boy who allegedly shot and critically injured a Class 10 girl at Vasundhara locality. The minor later shot himself in the head in an attempt to commit suicide.

The incident was apparently witnessed by several slum dwellers who reside near the location in Vasundhara’s Sector-4 where the shooting happened. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Police said that the boy and the girl were friendly and it appeared that some altercation had led to the incident.

The boy — the son of a property dealer — and the girl — daughter of an engineer — studied at the same tuition centre in Vasundhara’s Sector-2C.

“Apart from the attempt to murder and attempted suicide, we have also booked boy’s father as his licensed weapon was used in the crime. We will also recommend cancellation of his arms licence,” said SC Dubey, station house officer, Indirapuram.

The incident was apparently witnessed by several slum dwellers who reside near the location in Vasundhara’s Sector-4 where the shooting happened.

The eyewitnesses said that after the boy shot himself in the head, he apparently lied at the spot for 15-20 minutes, but later got up. Then in a visibly injured state, he got on his scooter and fled from the scene. “After he shot the girl he fired another shot to his head and fell down. Before fleeing on his scooter, he fired a shot in the air. Later, he came to the spot at least thrice in search for the girl who was already taken to hospital by some locals. He also threatened a woman with his gun,” said Mohammad Rehman, an eyewitness.

The police recovered four used cartridges and the gun allegedly left behind at the scene of crime by the boy.

“A bullet pierced her skull and caused major damage to her brain. She was brought in a state of coma and has been shifted to other hospital. A bullet also damaged some part of boy’s brain, but his chances of survival are better than the girl,” said Dr Hemant Garg, head of critical care at Atlanta Mediworld, Ghaziabad.

The two were later shifted to two different hospitals on early Thursday morning after both families reportedly had an altercation at the hospital. The police picked up the boy’s father after the incident.

“I generally keep the weapon in almirah and keep it locked... On Wednesday, I had to rush to work in the morning. When I returned around 7pm, I found the almirah open,” said boy’s father.

The girl’s uncle said his family had no clues what transpired.

“The girl had gone to her tuition and later we came to know that she is critical after being shot. The entire family is at the hospital. Her condition has not improved,” he said.

Following the incident, police traced the injured boy who was found on the streets the streets of the locality while injured.