RAWALPINDI: A college student was injured on Thursday when a bullet, accidentally fired by a security guard deployed at a school, hit her.

Farah Naz, a third year student at Viqar-un-Nisa College for Women was leaving the college when she was hit by the bullet. The bullet came from the gun of a private security guard deployed at a nearby school.

Ms Naz was rushed to the district headquarters hospital where her condition was reported to be stable.

Following the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, the government has made it mandatory for all schools to deploy armed guards at the entrance. Most guards are from private security companies with minimal or no training in handling firearms.

SI Ikram Satti, who is leading investigation of the case told Dawn the victim’s statement had been recorded and the private security guard had been detained for questioning.

Initial investigation revealed that the security guard was checking his gun when it went off and the bullet fired from it hit the girl, injuring her critically.

Police said it appears that the bullet was accidentally fired.

However, the security guard had not received any training in handling or using a firearm.

Moreover, the private company which had provided the security guard could also not produce a licence for the firearm, the police said.

Police have registered a case against the security guard as well as the company for the possession of an illegal weapon.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015

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