KARACHI, Aug 30: Nine-year-old Usman, who killed a seven-year-old boy and injured the victim’s younger brother while they played with a gun on Wednesday, was sent to Remand Home by a judicial magistrate on Thursday.

Mohsin was killed and Abrar injured when a pistol in the hands of Usman went off by accident in the victims’ house in Orangi.

The children were next-door neighbours and they were playing to enjoy Shab-i-Baraat’s festivities when the incident occurred.

Inspector Sadiq Awan of the investigation police told Dawn that the police produced Usman before the judicial magistrate who sent him to the Remand Home in Nazimabad till Sept 13.

Minors under the age of 12 are sent to Remand Home.

He said the police also had the X-rays of Usman’s bones prepared to ascertain his age. “The X-rays have been submitted to the police surgeon who will issue the boy’s age certificate,” he added.

The investigation officer said that an FIR had been registered with Pakistan Bazaar Police. However, he said, it was the case of an accidental killing. “This was indeed a mistake on part of Usman as he had no other motive,” he added.

He said the father of Usman had gone to Sehwan, Dadu, and he had not returned so far. He said the victims’ father also had not so far approached the police as he had been busy in the funeral of his deceased child and in taking care of his injured child.

However, an official of the Pakistan Bazaar said Usman was booked in FIR No 202/2007 under Section 302 (intentional murder) and 324 (attempt to murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.