Four-year-old pulls airgun trigger, injures brother

According to police, Venkatesh (8), studying in Class three, was admitted at Salem Government Hospital in a serious condition after suffering a pellet injury on his neck.

Police said Sumathi (27), a weaver from Thoramangalam village near Jalakandapuram, had separated from her husband Selvaraj (35) over domestic issues. Since then, she has been living with her brother Tamil Selvan.

The couple's two children, Venkatesh and Dharshini (4), were in the care of their grandmother at Semmandapatty near Omalur.

As the school vacation is on, Venkatesh and Dharshini had paid a visit to see their mother.

“Around 9am, the children took the airgun owned by Tamil Selvan. Mistaking it to be a toy gun, the children were playing with it without realising the danger involved. Accidentally Dharshini pulled the trigger, and the pellet pierced the boy’s neck,” police said.

The family members rushed the injured boy to Salem Government Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. The Jalakandapuram police are inquiring about the incident.