Eight-Year-Old Girl Killed in Revenge Shooting Attack in UP's Meerut

Meerut (The Uttam Hindu): An eight-year-old girl was tragically killed in a shooting incident in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district by nine men, five of whom are unidentified. The attack was reportedly a "revenge" assault following a dispute between the girl's brother and the attackers. The incident took place on Sunday evening at Kaland village in Sardhana, when Aafiya was standing on the stairs of her home. The assailants, who were looking for her brother Mohd Sahil, barged into the house and opened fire indiscriminately.

Aafiya was rushed to a community health center in Sardhana, where doctors confirmed she had died from a bullet wound to her chest. According to police, the conflict stemmed from a verbal altercation between Sahil and the attackers that occurred about a year ago, which led to an FIR and a chargesheet. Although the situation had calmed down for some time, a new argument between the two parties reignited on Sunday evening. The reasons for the latest disagreement remain unclear, and police are working to apprehend the suspects.

Meerut SSP Dr. Vipin Tada confirmed that an FIR has been filed against the nine villagers under section 103 (murder), with the girl's father, Mohd Tahseen, naming them in his complaint. Tahseen, who runs a dairy shop, explained that the trouble began when Sahil got into a heated argument with four of the accused—Mashruf, Kaif, Sohrab, and Kamran—while at the market. After the dispute was resolved and Sahil returned home, at least nine men forcibly entered the family's house, started abusing them, and then opened fire. In the chaos, Sahil and his father fled to the terrace, unaware that Aafiya was left behind. The attackers fled the scene after shooting her.