On Sunday (1 Dec) evening, an eight-year-old girl in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India was reportedly shot to death in a revenge attack by nine men who had a dispute with her brother at the local market.
Two suspects were later arrested following the shooting. Police investigations are ongoing to nab the rest.
Ms Aafiya was standing on the stairs at her home when she was hit by a bullet after the suspects, who were looking for her brother, stormed in and opened fire aimlessly, reports the Times of India.
The girl was rushed to a community health centre in Sardhana. However, a doctor later confirmed that a bullet had pierced through her chest and she was declared dead on arrival.
Police said Ms Aafiya’s 18-year-old brother, Mr Sahil, had a spat with the accused gang a year ago. The gang later stepped back after a report was lodged against them.
However, both parties got into another fight when they saw each other at the market on Sunday, prompting villagers to intervene and calm them down.
According to Indian Express, Ms Aafiya’s father, 42-year-old Mr Tehseen, said in his police report that the men had barged into his home while he was preparing dinner.
They then started firing their guns indiscriminately, causing him and his three other children to seek shelter.
However, Ms Aafiya was unable to escape in time and was struck by a bullet.
“When villagers rushed to our house after hearing the gunshots, the gang fled by brandishing their weapons. We took Aafiya to the hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival,” Mr Tehseen said.
He filed a report against the nine men following the attack.
The police have identified three of them and apprehended two assaulters from the group.
Efforts are underway to arrest the remaining attackers.
Also read: School principal in India smothers 6-year-old girl to death after she resists sexual assault
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Featured image adapted from ICE Cleaning, for illustrative purposes only.
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