Chennai: A 11-year-old boy who was hit on his head by a stray bullet from a firing session of CISF personnel died four days after undergoing surgery in Thanjavur MCH on Monday. The boy, K Pugazhendhi from Kothamangalapatti, was at his grandfather's home nearly 2 km away from the firing range when the incident took place.
However, soon after the announcement of the boy's death, the residents of Narthamalai and Kothamangalapatti blocked the road demanding Rs 1 crore compensation for the family. They also demanded the government to permanently close the firing range.
Following this, the district SP Nisha Parthiban visited the spot and held talks with the protesters.
In the meantime, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh to the next kin of the Class 8 boy. The CM also assured that an investigation has been ongoing and action against the culprits would soon be taken.
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Meanwhile, Illupur Revenue Divisional Officer Thandayuthapani, who has been trusted with the investigation, conducted an inspection on the firing site and the residence of the boy's grandparents. Based on the inspection, the RDO submitted a report to Pudukottai Collector Kavitha Ramu on Tuesday.
The Collector has issued orders to temporarily close the firing range.
On December 30, Pughazendhi was hit by a stray bullet and he was admitted to Thanjavur MCH after a referral from Pudukottai MCH. In Thanjavur MCH, the doctors performed a four-hour surgery to remove the bullet from the brain and reportedly removed a 9 mm bullet from the patient’s head.