A 23-year-old man was hit by a bullet accidentally fired by his ex-serviceman father who was said to be angry at him.
Pramod Kumar, a resident of Sarsuna, near Behala in southwest Kolkata, was carrying his licenced gun in what police described as a “drunken state” on Thursday night. He fell and the trigger got accidentally pressed.
The bullet ricocheted off the stairs and hit son Pawan in the leg. He was rushed to Vidyasagar State General Hospital in Behala, from where he was shifted to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.
Pawan's condition was stable following surgery, doctors said on Friday.
Police have seized the gun and sent the empty cartridge for a forensic test.
Pawan told the police in the presence of doctors that he had no complaint to lodge against anyone, said an officer.
“The accused has a valid gun licence,” said a senior officer of Sarsuna police station.
The police said Pramod was from Jharkhand and shifted to Calcutta some time ago. After his stint in the army, he settled down in Sarsuna and built a small house in Naskarpara. He was opposed to Pawan chatting with friends till late at night outside the house, the police said.
Pawan’s wife has apparently told the police that on Thursday night her father-in-law pulled out his double-barrel gun and stepped out brandishing it at the local youths when his son intervened.