Madhya Pradesh: Neighbours open fire in Morena over 1-year-old’s theft claim; family cites child barely stand or walk

BHOPAL: In a bizarre incident, armed neighbours allegedly opened fire at a house in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district after accusing a one-year-old girl of stealing a mobile phone. The incident is suspected to be the fallout of a longstanding neighbourhood and land dispute.A case was registered in connection with the incident and an investigation was underway. The incident was reported from Badgaon Navli village in the Dimni police station limits. According to the complaint, the firing took place on January 8, when Abhishek Tomar and Chhotu Tomar, along with their associates, allegedly opened fire at the house of Bhura Tomar.Bhura Tomar told police that the accused claimed his one-year old daughter had stolen their mobile phone.He said the allegation was baseless, as the child can barely stand or walk. No one was injured in the firing, but the family was left terrified in light of the incident, he said.The complainant alleged that the attack was linked to an old land dispute with Abhishek Tomar, which was recently resolved in his favour. Bhura claimed the accused werenursing a grudge over the loss of the land and carried out the firing to intimidate his family.Bhura further alleged that when he approached Dimni police station to lodge a complaint, the police refused to register the case, citing a counter-complaint accusing his infant daughter of mobile phone theft. Following this, the family approached the superintendent of police during a public hearing on Tuesday. Bhura submitted a written application during the hearing. Police said there is a long-standing rivalry between the. two parties. Prima facie, the allegation of a one-year-old child stealing a mobile phone does not appear to be correct, the police said.