Accused Vidya Ram was caught on Wednesday

BAREILLY: Curiosity turned dangerous for a 10-year-old girl when she was allegedly shot by a middle-aged man when the minor asked him whether the gun he was carrying was a toy. The girl is recuperating in a hospital , while the accused was arrested on Wednesday and sent to jail.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening at Paltha village under Kurh Fatehgarh police station area in Sambhal district. The victim’s father, Ajay Pal Maurya, was working in his farm with his wife, while his daughter Kamini and son were playing in a nearby ground.

Maurya told TOI that he saw accused Vidya Ram carrying his single barrel gun roaming near the area where their children were playing.

“When my daughter asked him whether the gun he was carrying was toy, Vidya Ram took an aim at her and pressed the trigger. My daughter received bullet injuries and fell down. Before I could reach the spot, he escaped,” Maurya said.

He said his daughter was hit in her hand and stomach, and is undergoing treatment in a nearby community hospital. “The doctor told me that my daughter is safe and is being treated for her injuries in her right hand and stomach,” Maurya said.

The station house officer of Kurh Fatehgarh, Brijendra Singh, told TOI that following a complaint filed by the victim's father a manhunt was launched, and based on a tip-off Vidya Ram was arrested.

“We recieved an information that Ram had come to a barber shop at Khataita tri-junction area. As soon as we reached there, we caught Ram and seized his gun. An FIR has been registered against him under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC,” Singh said.

