A seemingly ordinary afternoon of play turned nightmarish in West Bengal’s Murshidabad when a local primary teacher fired upon innocent children, injuring one. Samir Kumar Mandal’s arrest followed the brazen attack in Banipur, raising alarms about civilian gun use.
The field beside Mandal’s home in Banipur village buzzes daily with children’s laughter and games. Friday saw no difference until cricket and football balls began colliding with his gate and compound. Enraged, the Umrapur Primary School teacher ascended to his terrace and discharged several air gun pellets toward the group.
Chaos ensued as shots narrowly missed vital areas, but one boy wasn’t so lucky, hit and crumpling to the ground. Quick-thinking locals transported him to the hospital amid his cries. A companion detailed the terror: ‘Balls touched his wall; then he started shooting from the roof.’
Authorities from Raghunathganj station responded rapidly, cuffing Mandal overnight. He owned up partially, protesting that his intention was to fire upward only. The injured lad’s dad decried the assault, demanding the full force of law on the ‘irresponsible teacher.’
Police investigations focus on the sophisticated air gun’s origins and legality, countering family claims of Kolkata-sourced paperwork. This case underscores the perils of impulsive violence and lax weapon controls in rural settings.
As the boy recovers, the incident fuels debates on school staff accountability and community safety measures in West Bengal.