Pudukottai Police has changed the case relating to the death of an 11-year-old boy who succumbed to serious head injuries on Monday evening at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital after being shot by a stray bullet near a firing range in Pudukottai district recently. .
Teams of Central Industrial Security Force and Tamil Nadu Police were conducting firing exercises when the incident took place.
Pudukottai Superintendent of Police Nisha Parthiban told The Hindu on Tuesday that the police have now been turned over to the case under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC.
The Keeranur police had earlier booked the boy for grievous hurt in a firing incident under sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) and 338 (act endangering the life or personal safety of others) of the IPC. After that the case was registered.
A group of villagers blocked the road at Narthamalai in the district on Monday night, demanding the intervention of the police.
Ms. Nisha Parthiban said that in view of the present situation, adequate force has been deployed in Nartmalai.
Police sources said the weapons used during the firing exercise by the state police have been confiscated and will be sent for ballistic test. Summons were issued to the Central Industrial Security Force personnel to hand over the weapons used for the firing exercise to ascertain the type of weapon with which the bullet was fired.
Meanwhile, the Revenue Divisional Officer, Ilupur MS Dhanduthapani, who conducted a parallel inquiry into the incident, submitted a report to the District Collector on Tuesday morning.
The Revenue Divisional Officer had questioned CISF officials, state police personnel, general public, parents of the minor boy and some revenue officials. Official sources said that during interrogation, Mr Dhandayuthapani inspected the firing range and the boy’s residence, which is located about two kilometers away.