A 12-year-old boy was shot dead at a birthday party in the Krishna Nagar area of Lucknow on Monday evening in an incident that has sparked outrage and a bitter dispute between the victim’s family and the police over whether the killing was deliberate or accidental. The boy, Unaiz Khan, a Class VII student, was declared brought dead at Lokbandhu Hospital. A bullet had struck him in the middle of his forehead.
Police have described the incident as accidental firing but registered an FIR for murder against the friend’s father, Sanjeev Tripathi, a real estate contractor, and his son Navneet, based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father.
How the Evening Unfolded
Unaiz had left home around 3.30 in the afternoon with friends to attend the 13th birthday celebration of a classmate at Sanjeev Tripathi’s residence in LDA Colony, Barigawan. His father, Zamir Khan, recounted the moments before his son left. “Four persons came in a car and took my son. I had asked him not to go as he was observing a fast. But my son said that his friends would be upset if he didn’t attend the birthday party after school,” he said.
Around 7 in the evening, the family began receiving calls saying Unaiz had been admitted to hospital. When they arrived, they found his body had been left unattended. They were shown the body only at around 9.30 that night, by which time it was clear the boy had sustained a gunshot wound directly to the forehead.
Family Says It Was a Planned Killing
The victim’s family strongly rejected the police’s accidental firing theory. Unaiz’s aunt raised pointed questions about the circumstances of the party. “Who holds a party for just four boys? At least fifteen boys attend a party, even if it is hosted by poor people. Those four boys were given a revolver to kill themselves. Will a 12-year-old not be shot in the forehead at point-blank range?” she said.
She alleged that after the shooting, the accused called the family and asked, “Why did you send your boy to us?” The family said this indicated prior intent.
The family clarified that while there had been a fight between Navneet and another friend of Unaiz about a year earlier, Unaiz himself had no personal dispute with the accused and had since moved to a different school while maintaining his friendship with the boys. The complainant also alleged that Sanjeev Tripathi had previously threatened him during a parent-teacher meeting at school.
What Police Say
ACP Rajneesh Verma of Krishna Nagar said a preliminary inquiry suggested that minors at the gathering may have found a revolver kept in the house and that it discharged accidentally. However, based on the family’s complaint, a murder case has been registered. The FIR was lodged at Krishna Nagar police station under Sections 103(1), 351(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Six people have been named in the FIR, including Sanjeev Tripathi, his wife, three minors and an unidentified driver. Police said that since three of the accused are under 18 years of age, proceedings against them will be conducted under the Juvenile Justice Act and they will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
Three minors who were present at the party have been detained for questioning to help reconstruct the sequence of events. Investigators are examining forensic evidence, call records and witness statements to establish what exactly happened.
Anger in the Community as Body Returns Home
When Unaiz’s body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem on Tuesday and brought to Behasa village in Sarojini Nagar, a large crowd gathered outside. People raised slogans against the police, alleging inaction and delay. Some in the crowd reportedly said the last rites would not be performed until arrests were made in the case.
The family has also urged authorities to secure all CCTV footage from the area before it is tampered with or deleted, calling it crucial evidence for a fair investigation.
