KOTA: A 7-year-old boy was on Wednesday night booked for killing a 14-year-old boy living in his neighbourhood by setting him on fire with diesel. With the accused boy still being with his parents, police have sought a local court's advice in the matter and permission to conduct a test to determine his age.
The 14-year-old boy, who had suffered around 60 per cent burn injuries and was undergoing treatment at MBS Hospital for a month, died during treatment on Wednesday, said Manoj Singh Sikarwal, the circle inspector at Udhyog Nagar police station.
According to the 14-year-old boy's statements given before his death, he was set afire by the 7-year-old boy on May 13. "The deceased said that a scuffle had erupted between him and the 7-year-old boy while they were playing near their homes in Prem Nagar Colony under Udhyog Nagar police station on May 13. The deceased boy said the 7-year-old boy, in fit of rage, brought a bottle of diesel from his father's auto-rickshaw parked nearby and poured it over him before setting him on fire with a matchstick," said the circle inspector.
Initially, based on statements given by the boy during treatment, police had lodged a case against the 7-year-old boy for attempt to murder under Section 307 of IPC. After the boy died during treatment on Wednesday, police incorporated Section 302 against the 7-year-old boy.
The accused minor boy and his parents, natives of Sheopur city in Madhya Pradesh, have been living in a rented house in Kota's Prem Nagar Colony. The accused boy's father drives an autorickshaw for livelihood.
After the incident on May 13, the minor boy's family moved to their native place in MP, and the boy is living with his parents there, said police.
Udhyog Nagar police have filed an application at a local court seeking advice in the matter and permission to conduct a medical test to determine the age of the accused minor boy. The dead boy's body was handed over to his family members after an autopsy.
