A 16-year-old boy was killed after his father’s rifle accidentally fired inside their home in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Saturday night in Loyee Dhar village of the Mughal Maidan area. According to officials, Pyare Lal, a member of the Village Defence Guard, was cleaning his service rifle at around 9.30 pm when the weapon suddenly went off.
“The rifle discharged accidentally while it was being cleaned, and the bullet hit his son,” a police official said.
The bullet struck Anuj Kumar, a Class 10 student, who died on the spot. Family members raised an alarm following the firing, after which police teams rushed to the house.
“The body was shifted to Chatroo Hospital for post mortem examination,” the official added.
Police have started inquest proceedings to determine the exact circumstances that led to the accidental firing. The rifle involved in the incident has been seized and sent for forensic examination. Statements of family members are also being recorded as part of the investigation.
Locals described the incident as deeply tragic and said the family is in shock after losing the teenage boy.
