12-year-old shot at while trying to foil robbery in east Delhi

NEW DELHI: A businessman’s 12-year-old son was shot in the head by assailants as he tried to raise an alarm to prevent a robbery at his east Delhi residence.
The victim, Priyanshu Tayal, is admitted at Max Hospital in Patparganj and his condition is critical. His father Manoj Tayal, a copper industrialist, is a resident of Bhola Nagar in the Farsh Bazar area.The incident took place when the businessman’s wife and her two children were at home. Around 1.30pm, two men knocked on the door asking for the businessman. “One of the kids answered the door and the men entered the house. The duo held the inmates at gunpoint asking them to maintain silence,” said a police officer.
The robbers began to ransack the house as the family watched helplessly. Suddenly, Tayal’s younger child, Priyanshu, began to cry in an effort to catch the neighbours’ attention. Within seconds, one of the robbers whipped out a pistol and shot at the child, police said. Afraid of getting caught, the men locked the house from outside and fled with cash worth Rs 20,000 and some jewellery. Once they left, the businessman’s wife screamed for help. Neighbours rushed the boy to a hospital and called the police.
Hospital sources said that the child had sustained gunshot injuries in the right side of his head and had undergone a surgery upon. He is still under observation.
Meanwhile, an empty cartridge of 7.65 caliber was recovered from the house. Cops suspect the involvement of an insider as the entry was not forced. A forensic team was also called to collect evidence. According to sources, several people including the neighbours and security guards in the area are being questioned. Call records are also being analyzed.
DCP east Prabhakar said that a case of robbery with an intent to cause death/grievous hurt under Section 397 of IPC has been registered.