Six-Year-Old Girl Shot After Motorcycle Hits Pothole in Bijnor
A six-year-old girl suffered a bullet wound to her leg on Monday evening in Bijnor after the motorcycle she was riding with her parents hit a pothole, causing an illegal country-made pistol allegedly carried by her father to discharge, police officials confirmed.
Father Arrested Under Arms Act Following Incident
The child, identified as Rahat, was immediately taken to a private clinic for initial treatment and later admitted to the district hospital where doctors began medical care. Her father, Shoaib alias Shaukeen, a resident of Narullapur village, was subsequently arrested under Section 3/25 of the Arms Act for illegal possession of a firearm and negligence.
Police investigation revealed that Shaukeen had been carrying a loaded country-made pistol while traveling with his family. According to Senior Police Officer Krishna Gopal Singh, the father initially provided inconsistent statements when police arrived at the hospital after receiving information about the gunshot injury, raising immediate suspicion about the circumstances.
Accidental Discharge During Eid Visit
The incident occurred as the family was returning home from visiting relatives during Eid celebrations. While navigating the road, their motorcycle struck a pothole, creating a sudden jolt that caused the concealed weapon to fire unexpectedly.
"The bullet hit the girl in her leg during the impact," explained SP (City) Krishna Gopal Singh, detailing the sequence of events that led to the tragic accident.
During police questioning, Shaukeen admitted to carrying the illegal loaded pistol while riding the motorcycle with his family members. He reportedly told investigators, "The weapon discharged accidentally after the bike hit a pothole and my daughter, who was seated behind me, came into contact with it."
Weapon Recovered and Legal Action Initiated
Law enforcement officials successfully recovered the country-made pistol used in the incident and registered a formal case against the accused. Police emphasized that the arrest and charges stem from both illegal arms possession and the dangerous negligence of carrying a loaded firearm while traveling with family members, particularly a young child.
"Action is being taken in connection with illegal possession of arms and negligence in carrying a loaded firearm while travelling with family," stated Singh, underscoring the serious nature of the violations that led to the child's injury.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about illegal firearms and road safety infrastructure in the region, as a routine family journey turned dangerous due to the combination of a poorly maintained road surface and unauthorized weapon possession.
