A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in Karnataka’s Somanalli village, Sirsi, when a 9-year-old boy, Kariyappa, was fatally shot by a pellet from an air gun accidentally fired by his 7-year-old younger brother during playtime. The incident, captured on CCTV, has left the local community in shock and sparked an urgent police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the devastating accident.

Kariyappa, the son of Basappa Undiyar, a worker at a local household, was playing with his younger sibling near a plantation when the incident occurred. According to police reports, the children accessed an air gun kept on the property to scare away monkeys. In a tragic moment, the younger brother inadvertently pulled the trigger, sending a pellet into Kariyappa’s chest. The young boy succumbed to his injuries on the spot, leaving his family and neighbors devastated.

Authorities, including Additional Superintendent of Police Jagadish, Deputy Superintendent of Police Geeta Patil, and Circle Police Inspector Shashikant Verma, swiftly responded to the scene to conduct a preliminary inquiry. The CCTV footage, which recorded the incident, is now a key piece of evidence being analyzed by the Sirsi Rural Police Station to reconstruct the sequence of events. “The footage clearly shows the accidental nature of the shooting, but we are investigating how the children gained access to the air gun,” a police official stated.

Also Read: Colossal Landslide in Kinnaur District Blocks NH-5, Threatens Nathpa Dam

Kariyappa’s body was transported to Sirsi Hospital for a post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death. A case has been registered under relevant sections, and the police are probing whether negligence in securing the air gun contributed to the tragedy. “We are speaking to the family and property owners to understand how the weapon was left accessible,” said DySP Geeta Patil, emphasizing the need for stricter safety measures around such equipment.

The incident has raised alarm about the dangers of unsecured air guns, often perceived as harmless but capable of causing severe harm, especially in the hands of children. Local residents have called for increased awareness and regulations to prevent such accidents, particularly in rural areas where air guns are commonly used to protect crops or deter animals. The grief-stricken family, supported by the community, is grappling with the loss of their young son, while authorities work to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies.

Also Read: 3 Engineering Students Die as SUV Overturns in Gujarat