8-yr-old boy shot for refusing to buy cigarettes in Bihar

An eight-year-old boy was shot in the forehead by a local man after he refused to fetch cigarettes. The incident occurred in Govindpur village, Dharhara police station area in Bihar's Munger district.

The boy was warming himself near a fire outside his home when the accused, identified as Nitish Kumar, approached him and asked him to buy cigarettes from a nearby shop. The boy declined, citing the cold weather. Enraged by the refusal, Nitish allegedly pulled out a pistol and shot the boy in the forehead before fleeing the scene.

The sound of the gunshot brought family members and neighbors rushing to the spot, where they found the boy lying in a pool of blood. Villagers helped transport him to the Dharhara Community Health Centre, but he was referred to Munger Sadar Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Later, he was transferred to a higher medical facility for advanced care.

Dr. Anurag from Munger Sadar Hospital stated that the bullet was lodged in the boy’s forehead near his nose. He described the boy’s condition as critical and emphasized the need for immediate specialized treatment to save his life.

Police, led by Sadar DSP Rajesh Kumar, visited the crime scene and recovered a bullet casing. DSP Kumar revealed that Nitish Kumar, the accused, is a resident of the same village and has a criminal record. He was already wanted in another case. "Efforts are underway to apprehend the accused," said DSP Kumar.

The incident sparked outrage, with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Union Minister Jayprakash Yadav strongly criticizing the state government. Yadav cited the case as an example of the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Bihar, terming it a "jungle raj." He accused the administration of failing to ensure public safety amid rising crime rates.