Cops to propose gun shop licence cancellation after freak firing

Nashik: The Chalisgaon Road police in Jalgaon have arrested the owner of a gun shop after he allegedly accidentally fired a revolver while cleaning it, wounding a 45-year-old woman's forearm.The police have registered a case against the shopowner under Section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The victim, Suraiyya Bagwan, wife of a fruit seller, was filling a glass from a water jar inside her house in the West Hudco area around 5.30 pm on Saturday when a .32 caliber bullet struck her forearm. The projectile then deflected and hit a nearby tin house.Initially, Bagwan did not realise what had happened and went to a private clinic to have her wound dressed. The news of a firing incident reached the police after the stray bullet struck the tin house. Upon arriving at the scene, officers recovered the bullet. During the initial investigation, it was a significant challenge for the police to determine the trajectory and origin of the shot."When we reached the area, Bagwan had just returned from the hospital. Even the private clinic she visited did not realise the nature of the injury," said inspector Sureshkumar Gushar of the Chalisgaon Road police station."After questioning her, she explained she was injured while filling a glass of water. By calculating the angle from her first-floor apartment, we surveyed locations in the line of fire and discovered a licensed gun shop approximately 40 to 45 metres away."When the police first arrived at the shop, the owner, Juber Pathan, denied that any such incident had occurred. Investigators later discovered the bullet casing lying in the pipe on the shop's terrace. Following this discovery, the shop owner confessed to the police that the revolver had accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it."On the instruction of SP Shrikant Dhivare, we will be writing to the district administration to cancel the shop's licence. The shopowner not only acted irresponsibly while handling the firearm, but also attempted to conceal the incident from the police during the investigation," Gushar said.