Ten-year-old boy shot dead while guarding crops in UP's Shahjahanpur; two taken into custody

Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh: A 10-year-old boy was shot dead as he was guarding crops from stray cattle in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, police said on Thursday.

Police have taken two accused in the case - a school manager and his son - into custody on Thursday, officials said.

Superintendent of Police (Rural), Manoj Kumar Awasthi, told PTI that Ranjit Kumar (10), a resident of Babupur village under the Tilhar police station limits, was guarding his crops from stray animals on Wednesday night when a herd of cows approached his field.

As he rushed to chase them away, Veerpal Singh, a school manager, and his son Akash, who were on the roof of their house at the time, fired a shot from a licensed rifle that hit Ranjit, killing him on the spot.

Police have sent the body for autopsy and taken Veerpal Singh and his son into custody, the SP said.