The Kharagpur shooting in West Bengal that left a Class 12 student critically injured was caused by an accidental discharge while he was handling a friend’s father’s firearm, police said on Thursday, ruling out the initial gang-war theory. Three people have been arrested and a 9 mm pistol with three rounds of ammunition has been recovered.
The injured student, identified as Akshay Jha, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata. Hospital sources said his condition was critical and that doctors had conducted several necessary tests before deciding the next course of treatment. The bullet struck the left side of his chest.
West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Papia Sultana said the incident was not connected to gang warfare. According to the police account, Akshay had gone to his friend Sagar Kumar’s house in the Old Settlement area on Wednesday morning. Sagar’s father, identified as Venkat Rao, owned the firearm. Akshay allegedly took the weapon and handled it, after which it discharged.
Police said there was initially a false firing, followed by a shot that hit Akshay. Investigators collected bloodstained clothing and blood samples from Sagar’s house. The police account indicates that the firearm was not being used during a public confrontation, although the circumstances surrounding its possession and handling remain part of the investigation.
Police said Sagar became frightened after Akshay was shot and called his friends. They took the injured student to hospital and later allegedly created a story suggesting that he had been attacked. The first account of the incident had led to speculation about a gang-related shooting in the city.
The three arrested people are Sagar Kumar, Kola Yogeshwar Rao and Bishal Jana. Police said all three are residents of the Old Settlement area and are between 22 and 23 years old. Cases have been registered against them under attempted murder and provisions of the Arms Act. Police are searching for one more person in connection with the case.
The police recovery of a 9 mm pistol and three rounds of ammunition has brought the availability and storage of firearms in a residential neighbourhood into focus. The incident also highlights the risks of firearms being accessible to people who are not trained or authorised to handle them, particularly in homes where young residents may have access.
Akshay’s family lives in Ward 20 of Kharagpur municipality, and his father is a railway employee. Police said Akshay and Sagar knew each other and regularly visited one another’s homes. On Wednesday morning, they had reportedly travelled on Sagar’s scooter to get food from a shop. Sagar later said he realised that Akshay had fallen while they were passing through a lane behind a railway event hall in the Old Settlement area.
Sultana said the police would search the addresses of suspected criminals and seize illegal firearms. She also said the administration would not allow ordinary movement in Kharagpur to be disrupted. State minister and Kharagpur MLA Dilip Ghosh said the city had previously seen a period of mafia activity and that firearms were still present in the area. The investigation and the search for the remaining suspect are continuing.
