Madhya Pradesh: Rifle handled by teen goes off, 7-year-old boy dies

BHOPAL: A seven-year-old son of a tenant died from a gunshot wound to the head after the 14-year-old son of the landlord allegedly accidentally opened fire with his father's licensed rifle at his house in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district on Saturday night.

The victim's family has alleged murder, claiming in their police complaint that another rifle was used in the firing and later taken away. Police seized the licensed rifle and questioned the minor's father, who works as a private security guard.

The incident has once again highlighted the easy access to licensed firearms in the region, with Morena having the highest number of licensed weapons in the state.

Police said the two sons of the landlord and the son of the tenant, all minors, were playing on the second floor of the house when the 14-year-old reportedly picked up a licensed .315 bore rifle and began handling it. The weapon allegedly discharged accidentally, hitting seven-year-old Rishabh Tomar in the head. He died on the spot.

Hearing the gunshot, family members and neighbours rushed upstairs and found Rishabh lying in a pool of blood. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination.

Police said the matter is under investigation. During inspection, a bullet was found lodged inside a cupboard in the room, raising questions about the sequence of events. A forensic science laboratory team has been called to reconstruct the incident & determine the exact circumstances of the firing.

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