Woman dies in accidental firing

LUDHIANA: A woman died after her 18-year-old son accidentally fired from her husband's licensed rifle at her house in Rasulpur village of Jagraon on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as 40-year-old Charanjeet Kaur. Police said her husband, Buta Singh, worked as a security guard at a private bank in Sidhwan Bet.
On Wednesday, Buta had gone to work, leaving his licensed double-barrel 12 bore gun at home.

After lunch, his son Bipanpreet started cleaning the weapon outside the bathroom, while his mother was doing household work near him.

The rifle went off suddenly and two bullets hit Charanjeet on the right side below her chest, police said. A shocked Bipanpreet started crying and on hearing the commotion, neighbours rushed in and informed the police.

Sadar police informed Buta who was at his workplace.

DSP (investigations) Amandeep Singh Brar said splinters from the bullets caused multiple holes in Charanjeet's body and she died on the spot. "We have recovered empty shells from the spot. Prima facie, it does not appear to be a case of murder, but there was negligence on Bipanpreet's part," he added.

Sadar, Jagraon, SHO Jagdeesh Kumar said their neighbours and relatives told that there was no dispute within the family and Bipanpreet, the couple's only child, had a strong bond with his mother. "He has no criminal record and there are no indications of foul play," he added.

Bipanpreet's father was earlier deployed to guard cash, but lately he worked as a helper in the bank. He was not required to carry the weapon with him, so he kept it at home. Earlier, too, the boy had cleaned the weapon at home, the SHO said.

The body has been sent for the post-mortem at Jagraon civil hospital. A case under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC and sections of the Arms Act has been registered against Bipanpreet on the statement of his father. Police said Section 304-A of the IPC was added to the FIR as cleaning a weapon without knowledge was an offence. They added that the statement of Bipanpreet was being recorded.

Bipinpreet is pursuing diploma in diesel mechanics from Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Ajeetwal.