Manipur: Teen killed in accidental firing; juvenile & gun owner detained

Imphal: A teenage boy and a man have been detained after a 19-year-old was killed in an accidental firing at Kontha Ahallup Awang Leikai under Heingang police station in Manipur's Imphal East district, the police said on Thursday.

According to the police, Ashem Tondonba Meitei (19), a resident of Kontha Ahallup Leikai and son of A. Gonindro Meitei, sustained bullet injuries in an accidental firing incident and succumbed to his injuries at Raj Medicity, Imphal, on November 25. The incident occurred when the deceased was shot by one of his juvenile friends who was holding a licensed barrel gun belonging to Nandeibam Hemanta Singh (52), son of N. Mangi Singh of Khabam Heibong Makhong under the same police station.

Tondonba and the two juveniles had gone to Hemanta’s residence. One of the juveniles took out the gun, which accidentally went off and hit Ashem Tondonba Meitei in the chest.

The juvenile involved in the incident was picked up and handed over to the Juvenile Justice Board for legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the police stated that the licensed gun holder, Nandeibam Hemanta Singh, has been arrested. He has been charged with allowing an unauthorised person to handle a firearm and failing to store it safely. A case has been registered at Heingang police station under the Arms Act, 1959, for further investigation and necessary legal procedures.

The body of the victim is currently kept at the JNIMS hospital morgue for post-mortem examination.