HYDERABAD: A 10-year-old boy was allegedly shot dead by a landowner over a petty issue in the Husri area on Saturday.

The boy, Tahir Mallah, died instantly after he received a single shot, according to his parents.

The bereaved family is resident of Bacho Mirbahar village of the Seri area which falls within the jurisdiction of the Husri police station. The boy’s mother, Ms Begum alias Beego Mallah, lodged a murder FIR (No. 180/24) under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against Agha Zubair Pathan, the landlord, and his associate, Mahmood Mallah.

Agha, said to be closely related to a politician, has fled the area to escape arrest.

The complainant stated in her FIR that she, her husband, Mittho Mallah, and other relatives, Sher Mohammad and Gulzar Ali, were busy farming on Agha’s lands when the suspects visited them.

“Agha used abusive language against us on which we objected. Agha was angry over the loss he had suffered in farming and tried to hold us responsible for it. He asked us to leave at once,” she further stated.

Agha then resorted to firing shots at the family in a fit of anger and fled the place, she added.

A bullet hit Tahir and he fell on the ground, the complainant said. The boy was taken to the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH), where he was pronounced dead, she said.

Agha Zubair sped away on Mahmood Mallah’s motorbike, she said.

Hyderabad SSP Dr Farrukh Ali later told the media that Mahmood Mallah had since been arrested.

Soon after the incident, the bereaved family and their relatives blocked the Hyderabad-Tando Mohammad Khan road demanding registration of the murder FIR and arrest of the suspects.

DSP Raheem Chandio proceeded to the venue of the protest and tried to pacify them.

Agha is said to have fled to Karachi.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024