Hit by a stray bullet, 10-yr-old battles for life

NEW DELHI: A 10-year-old

boy

was critically injured by a stray bullet in east Delhi’s Farsh Bazar while he was returning home from a nearby shop on Thursday evening.

The incident occurred around 7pm when the child, Aman, had gone to a grocery store in Sanjay Amar Colony to get a packet of potato chips for his sister as a Rakhi present. On his way back home, he suddenly fell and called out to his uncle standing outside their house. His uncle found Aman bleeding at the waist and a few minutes later the boy fell unconscious.

The family took Aman to Hedgewar hospital presuming that he was injured by a sharp stone. They were shocked when the X-ray report showed a bullet lodged above his kidney. The child was referred to GTB hospital where he underwent surgery. Doctors said that the bullet had damaged a few vital nerves and admitted Aman to the intensive care unit.

The child’s father, Ranbir, runs a food stall in C-Block and his mother is a household help. Aman studies in a government school in Farsh Bazar.

The child’s uncle said no one in the locality heard the gunshot. Cops are trying to identify the shooter from CCTV footage from the area. They suspect local criminals to be involved in the incident.

Police suspect that the bullet may have been fired to kill someone else in the crowded market but hit the boy. They have not ruled out the possibility of celebratory

firing

. The bullet has been sent for forensic analysis. A case for attempt to murder has been registered against unknown people.

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