Man killed as muzzle-loader gun bursts in Mandla; nephew arrested

A 45-year-old man, Bharat Singh Marko, died when a muzzle-loader gun burst in Jangaliya village under the Niwas police station area of Mandla district. Police have arrested his nephew, Virendra Singh Uikey, in the case. Police said Virendra was unloading his maternal grandfather's licensed gun at the time of the accident.

According to police, late on the night of Deepavali, Virendra Singh Uikey was handed the licensed muzzle-loader of his maternal grandfather, Ram Singh Marko, who is about 70, to unload it. The gun burst suddenly as Virendra was unloading it. His maternal uncle, Bharat Singh Marko, was standing nearby. Pellets and fragments of the gun hit him in the chest. The injury was so serious that he died on the spot.

After the accident, family members took Bharat Singh to the hospital at Niwas in a private vehicle, where doctors declared him dead. On receiving information, Niwas police reached the spot and began an investigation. Police also had a post-mortem conducted on the body.

According to Niwas police station in-charge Dharmendra Dhurve, police have arrested Virendra Singh Uikey in the case. He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The accused is being produced in court on Tuesday. Police are now investigating why the gun burst and are also examining other aspects of the accident.