Picture used for representational purpose only

CHANDIGARH: A 12-year-old boy was shot dead by his wrestling coach at his residence in Paladi Kalan village of Rai in Sonipat district late on Sunday night.

The boy, identified as Aayush, was sleeping with his elder sister on the roof of his house when the coach, Som Parkash Bhardwaj, murdered him. He has been booked for murder and a case under Arms Act registeted against him at Rai police station.

Aayush, the youngest three siblings of the family, was learning wrestling from Som Parkash at the latter’s place in Dadri district since February last year. His mother and brother too lived there.

In the first week of Juneb this year, Ayush returned home to Paladi and had refused return to Dadri. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Aayush’s brother had some issue with Som Parkash and had brought him back home.

On Sunday, Som Parkash had visited the family and made an unsuccessful attempt to pursue Aayush and his parents to retun for his training in wrestling in Dadri.

Late on Sunday night, the coach visited the family again and went to the roof where Aayush and his sister were sleeping. He opened fire at Aayush from the close range and managed to escape, leaving the budding wrestler dead in a pool of blood.

“As of now we have come to know that Aayush’s refusal to rejoin training led to the incident. Other details could emerge after we arrest Som Parkash. We have sent police teams to arrest the accused. The boy’s body has been handed over to his family after an autopsy,” Anil Kumar, the SHO of Rai police station, told TOI.

