Celebratory firing kills 10-year-old, another injured in similar case

Deceased’s family say they did not see who fired the bullet

Rihan Malik was at a birthday party when the incident happened on Monday night.

A 10-year-old boy died when a bullet hit him during celebratory firing in north-east Delhi’s New Usmanpur on New Year’s Eve, the police said on Tuesday.

They are yet to make any arrests in the case.

Rihan Malik, a Class III student of a private school, was attending a birthday party-cum-New Year celebrations when the incident happened.

However, the family did not see who fired the gun, the police said.

Rihan’s 45-year-old father Yasin Malik, who owns a meat shop in Usmanpur, said the boy was invited to a neighbour’s birthday party on Monday evening.

Around 40 children

“The neighbours had a DJ and about 40 children aged between 10 and 20 years were present for the celebration along with the host family,” Mr. Malik said.

The victim who was at the party since 8 p.m., was dancing with his friends. They were gearing up for the New Year but around 10.30 p.m., a gunshot was heard, he said.

Shot in the face

“I was standing at the door and looking at the celebration from a distance. I heard the gunshot when someone said the bullet hit my son in the face. I ran towards him and saw him bleeding profusely. I held him but he was unconscious,” the father said.

The locals rushed the boy to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The family said they suspect that a few people, who were not residents of the colony, had entered the celebration carrying a weapon and committed the crime.

“There are a few videos taken by those present at the function, which have been taken by police,” said the boy’s uncle Mustafa Ahmad (38), who runs a restaurant in the area.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East) Atul Kumar Thakur said a case under Section 302 (punishment for murder) has been registered and three suspects are being questioned.

“The prime accused has been identified after questioning those present at the spot and with the help of video footage that was available,” he said.

In another incident, a 13-year-old boy sustained injuries on his shoulder after a bullet hit him during celebratory firing in north-east Delhi’s Welcome, the police said on Tuesday.

One accused held

Sohil, a Class IX student of a government school, is undergoing treatment at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. Accused Sakib (23), a resident of Welcome, has been arrested in the case.

His maternal grandmother Munni Begum said the boy along with a few others was celebrating on her house’s terrace when the bullet hit him around midnight.

No gunshots heard

“We did not see who fired the bullet. In fact, we could not even hear the gunshot because people were bursting firecrackers,” she said.

The boy was rushed to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital from where he was referred to GTB Hospital. “He was present with the boy during celebration but later fled the spot,” the officer said.