Heartbreaking Tragedy Strikes Karnataka: 9-Year-Old Dies in Accidental Air Gun Firing

A shadow of profound sorrow has fallen over Huligere village in Maddur taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka, following a tragic incident that claimed the life of a nine-year-old boy. Shivananda, a vibrant young child, succumbed to an accidental air gun injury inflicted by his own twelve-year-old brother, Mallikarjuna, while they were playing at a farm.

The heartbreaking event unfolded when the two brothers, sons of farm labourers working for Mahesh, the farm owner, discovered an air gun.

In a moment of innocent curiosity, Mallikarjuna picked up the weapon. Unaware of the devastating power it held, he accidentally discharged it. The pellet struck Shivananda in the chest, delivering a fatal blow that would soon plunge their family into unimaginable grief.

Panic ensued at the farm as the severity of Shivananda's injury became tragically clear.

He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Mysuru in a desperate attempt to save his life. However, his condition was critical, and he was subsequently transferred to KR Hospital, where, despite medical efforts, he sadly passed away.

This devastating loss has prompted authorities to take swift action.

Police have registered a case against the farm owner, Mahesh, and the caretaker, Shashi, on charges of negligence. The primary allegation revolves around their failure to secure the air gun, allowing it to be easily accessible to minors. Such an oversight, authorities argue, constitutes a severe lapse in judgment that directly contributed to the tragic outcome.

The case has been filed under sections 304A (causing death by negligence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

This legal action underscores the grave responsibility property owners and caretakers bear in ensuring the safety of those on their premises, especially when potentially dangerous items like firearms are present. The incident serves as a stark and painful reminder of the critical importance of keeping weapons, even seemingly innocuous air guns, out of the reach of children to prevent such avoidable tragedies from ever occurring again.