Schoolgirl hit by stray bullet, hospitalised in Khulna
‘Four unidentified young men came to my house and asked for money at gunpoint. They fled when I fired some shots. One of the bullets strayed, hitting the girl,’ contractor Yusuf Ali said
A 13-year-old schoolgirl was hit by a stray bullet, in front of her home, while a contractor shot at alleged extortionists in Khulna city on Friday.
Later, the girl, with a bullet-wound in her leg, was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
Witnesses said Lamia, daughter of Md Jamal Hossain, a resident of Mistripara area and a class-VI student of Iqbalnagar Government Girls High School, was standing in front of her house in the morning. Suddenly, a bullet, from inside the house opposite theirs, hit her and she fell unconscious.
Contractor Sheikh Mohammad Yusuf Ali who owned the house from which the gunshots were fired said, "Four unidentified young men came to my house and asked for money at gunpoint. They fled when I fired some shots. One of the bullets strayed, hitting the girl."
Dr Aniruddo Sarker, physician at the hospital's surgery ward, said Lamia has been admitted at unit 2 of the ward with a bullet injury to her left leg. However, she is now out of danger.
"The bullet did not hit her bone but entered the flesh. She is being kept under observation. An orthopedics doctor will diagnose her on Saturday. Then, her next treatment will be decided."
Khulna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ashraful Alam said, after being informed, a team of police visited the scene of the shooting and recovered a pistol, 10 rounds of bullets and two cartridges. No complaint has been lodged yet.
Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanai Lal Sarkar said police are investigating the matter.