Kolkata, 21 February (H.S.): A primary school teacher has been arrested in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district for allegedly opening fire at children playing outside his residence, leaving one minor injured, police said.

According to local sources, the incident took place in Banipur village, where the accused, Sameer Kumar Mandal, lives adjacent to a large open field. On Friday afternoon, around 10 to 12 children were playing cricket and football in the field when the ball repeatedly struck the wall and door of Mandal’s house.

Allegedly angered by the disturbance, the teacher climbed to the roof of his house and fired five to six rounds towards the field. A friend of the injured child told reporters that the group was playing when the accused suddenly began shooting from the rooftop. “Bullets were passing by someone’s ear and over someone’s head. We were too frightened to move at first. Later, we saw that one of our friends had been hit,” the child said.

The injured boy collapsed on the field and began screaming. Local residents rushed to the spot and took him to a nearby hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment, police confirmed.

Upon receiving information, officers from Raghunathganj police station reached the scene and arrested the accused on Friday night. Police said Mandal is employed at a primary school in Omarpur.

A senior officer of the Jangipur Police District stated that a sophisticated air gun was used in the incident. Authorities are investigating whether the accused possessed a valid license for the weapon. The family of the accused has claimed that the air gun was purchased in Kolkata after submitting the required documents.

While being taken to the police station, Mandal told local media that he had fired into the air and had not aimed at anyone. “I fired in the air, not at anyone. I don’t understand how the bullet hit the child,” he said.

The injured child’s father said his son had gone to play in the field near the Kali Temple, as he did every day. Questioning the conduct of the accused, he demanded strict punishment.

Police said a detailed investigation into the incident is underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh