NEW DELHI: The investigation of the case of an 11-year-old boy, a resident of Jagatpuri in east Delhi, who was diagnosed with a bullet injury in his head, has sent the cops in a tizzy as to who could have shot the child. Meanwhile, even as the child's parents have alleged improper treatment at the Hedgewar hospital, the doctors there clarified that he had only been treated for ahead injury on the basis of statements given by those who brought him there.
While acknowledging the fact that the boy was brought to the hospital for treatment on February 2, Rajesh Kalra, medical superintendent, Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan, said, "The parents of the child said that he may have fallen into a pit while playing. The doctors gave him a tetanus injection and stitched and dressed the wound. He was discharged after that. Now that other claims have arisen, we have set up an enquiry panel that will give its report in three days." The hospital authorities said that a doctor needs to have a history of the patient and in this case the parents were not aware of it.
However, the child's parents have accused the hospital of negligence. "How could such a big government hospital not advise an x-ray or a CT scan. Our child could have died if we had not brought him to the Jain Neuro Centre," said Sunil Bhargav, the child's father. According to him, the boy was playing outside a temple and waiting for the bhandara when he suddenly fell down.
Meanwhile, police sources said on Monday that the nature of injury suggests that a bullet of caliber .315 bore had hit the boy pointing towards a country-made pistol being used in the shooting. The cops have been questioning local miscreants of the area to find out if they were involved. Sources said that the police detained two persons for questioning, but they were later released as no evidence of their involvement was found.
"We have registered a case of attempt to commit culpable homicide under section 308 of IPC and are investigating the matter. The motive behind the incident is unclear while the suspects are also not known. Probe is on in this regard and very soon we will get a breakthrough in the case," said Prabhakar, DCP (East).
Meanwhile, the doctors at Jain Neuro center, where the child is being treated, removed a 1.5 inch bullet from the child's head 72 hours after he received the injury. The doctors said that Nakul is out of danger and will be discharged within a week if he showed steady signs of improvement.
When TOI spoke to the child, he said, "I was sitting with two of my friends when I heard a loud noised, like that of a cracker and the next moment I fell in the drain. My friends raised an alarm and soon I was taken to the hospital. I don't know what has happened to me."
The child's parents said that when they got the child back from Hedgewar hospital after treatment, his head again started to ooze out blood. The boy also began to vomit and complained of severe headache. He was then taken to a local clinic where a CT scan was advised. In the CT scan report, a metallic/glass piece was detected in the right part of his head. He was taken to a neurology specialty hospital in the area on February 3. During operation, the doctors found out a bullet inside his head. The parents were shocked to hear this and approached cops for help, who registered a case on February 4.
