Malda student killed by friend’s pistol while making reels; Police arrest suspect

In Malda, 13-year-old Samiul Islam, an eighth-grade student, was killed after being accidentally shot by his friend, Safi Ali. The incident occurred on Thursday when the two teenagers were on the rooftop of Samiul’s house in the Kalachak area. Police reports state that the two were handling a 7mm pistol while making a reel. During their interaction, the gun discharged, hitting Samiul in the head. Despite being rushed to Silampur Hospital, the doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Kalachak Police Station's IC Suman Raychaudhuri confirmed that the investigation began immediately after the incident. "The cause of death was a bullet wound to the head," he said. "We have seized Samiul's mobile phone, which indicated that he and his friend were making reels at the time of the incident." Following a review of the mobile phone, the police discovered evidence that Samiul had been involved in creating videos on the rooftop when the gun fired.

At the scene of the incident, the police found a variety of critical evidence. The 7mm self-loading pistol was discovered next to Samiul’s body, alongside a loaded magazine. The pistol, described as an improvised serviceable firearm, had a length of approximately 4 inches. In addition to the weapon, police recovered a bloodstained blanket and Samiul’s mobile phone. Police confirmed that the gun was not legally registered, and it is currently being traced back to its source.

According to the investigation, Safi Ali, who was with Samiul at the time of the incident, was arrested based on evidence recovered from the scene. "We have arrested Safi Ali following the completion of our initial inquiry," said a police spokesperson. "The investigation revealed that the gun discharged accidentally while Safi was handling it." Safi, who was also a minor, has been taken into custody, and the police are questioning him further to understand the exact sequence of events that led to the shooting.

Samiul’s father, Rajikul Islam, filed a formal complaint at the Kalachak Police Station, detailing the events leading up to his son’s death. The police are also investigating the background of how Safi Ali and Samiul obtained the firearm, as such weapons are not easily accessible to minors. The 7mm pistol is a type of firearm typically used by trained professionals, raising concerns about its availability to young people.

The police have also been working to trace the firearm's origin and are looking into whether the gun was illegally obtained or if it had been in the possession of someone else before it was handed to the minors. Authorities are reviewing footage from nearby security cameras and conducting interviews with neighbors to piece together more details. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have promised to provide more information as it becomes available.